A resolution commending Volkert, Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and its century of service to the State of Alabama and the United States.
This is a Senate resolution that formally commends Volkert, Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, recognizing the company’s century of service to Alabama and the United States. The resolution outlines Volkert’s founding in 1925, pivotal projects and roles in major infrastructure ventures (bridges, highways, and port development), contributions during World War II, and ongoing impact as a large, employee-owned engineering firm with deep ties to Alabama. It notes Volkert’s leadership in notable projects (e.g., Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, interstate bridge work, and preservation efforts) and its status as a significant employer with national reach. The resolution asks the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy to Volkert’s leadership (CEO Thomas Hand and COO Leon Barkan). Overall, the measure is an honorary acknowledgment of Volkert’s historic and ongoing contributions to infrastructure, engineering, and economic development.
Key Points
- 1Founding, early impact, and regional beginnings
- 2- Volkert, Inc. was founded in 1925 and established its Mobile office in 1926, with early work including developing the bridges of the Mobile Bay Causeway and participation in the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project after the 1927 flood.
- 3World War II contributions and corporate evolution
- 4- During WWII, Volkert helped expand the Alabama State Docks and built dry docks for Liberty Ships. It partnered with the Waterman Steamship Company, later becoming part of Waterman under David Volkert’s leadership. The company established its Mobile headquarters in 1946 and was renamed in 1963 after a 1954 acquisition.
- 5Major infrastructure milestones
- 6- Volkert contributed to early development of the National Interstate Highway System and designed landmark projects such as the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (opened 1969, the world’s longest bridge over water at the time), the Interstate 10 Twin Bridges/Mobile Bayway (1978), Interstate 565 (1991), and the Cochrane Africatown Bridge (1992). It also played a role in port and highway modernization across Alabama.
- 7Preservation, disaster response, and major projects
- 8- The firm helped preserve naval heritage with work on the USS Alabama and USS Drum, supported recovery and reconstruction of Alabama’s Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina (Bayou La Batre), and worked on major Alabama upgrades including the I-22/I-65 interchange and the I-59 renewal in Birmingham.
- 9Recognition, status, and current profile
- 10- Volkert is headquartered in Mobile and is described as having more than 1,500 employee-owners in 60 offices across 25 states (including over 250 Alabamians). It is consistently ranked among the top 100 engineering firms in the United States and has been inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. The resolution notes its 100th anniversary on February 4, 2025, and provides for an enrolled copy to be sent to Volkert’s top executives.