Justin Zelekovitz, Branch Manager – Pittsburgh, Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
In an interview with Invest:, Justin Zelekovitz, branch manager of Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates in Pittsburgh, discussed how economic uncertainty and strategic relocation have shaped the company’s growth and opportunities. “Growth is important, but real success is giving people the tools to build a better future for themselves and their families,” said Zelekovitz.
What key changes over the past year have most impacted your operations, and in what ways?
For us, it always starts with the economy. Economic factors consistently influence the civil engineering and construction sector. Dating back to last year, one of the biggest themes was uncertainty, especially with the presidential transition. This created hesitation in the market, with many construction budgets being paused due to concerns over future funding, rate cuts or hikes, and the potential for inflation of materials.
This uncertainty directly impacted our office’s operations and our immediate outlook. We typically plan on a one-, three-, and five-year cycle, but significant events like political changes or abrupt economic shifts can force us to adjust mid-plan. At the end of last year, those changes slowed down the city’s economy and, in turn, our entire industry.
How is your team finding ways to grow?
When we opened our Pittsburgh office in Bridgeville in 2021, it was a great location by I-79, but small. Post-COVID, we weren’t sure how the market would respond, but we saw immediate success, achieving ROI in just two years. By year three, we’d outgrown the space.
Our new location in Fox Chapel is within the RIDC business park off of Route-28, which is leased by RIDC, who is also one of our clients. Being here keeps us close to a major highway, but with better access to the city and the northern markets, which we weren’t as focused on before. We’ve maintained our West Virginia presence, expanded into Ohio, and are now targeting Erie and the northeast corridor between here and our State College office.
What recent successes from your Pittsburgh office would you like to highlight?
Moving to our new location has already paid dividends. We currently hold the contract for construction materials testing and special inspections for Carnegie Mellon University’s new Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences. It’s a state-of-the-art facility and our largest project to date. We’ve just completed the first year of a three-year build.
Before that, we worked on ECHO Realty’s Market District Giant Eagle in Shadyside, also known as the Meridian, which included retail space with apartments above. That project ran from 2023 into early 2025 and was our previous landmark before CMU.
With growing demand for engineering and environmental services in Pittsburgh, how are you investing in talent development and retention?
We focus heavily on local universities — University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, Penn State, Slippery Rock University (which launched its civil engineering program in 2019), and IUP. These schools are untapped resources for young talent. We bring students into our internship program, train them, certify them, and give them real project work experience so they leave with hard and soft skills they can apply immediately.
This year, we had six interns — our largest group yet — and about half of them typically stay with us after graduation. We keep them connected to our culture, even inviting them to our annual Christmas party. That sense of belonging and being valued is key to retention.
What sets Pittsburgh’s economy apart as a market for engineering and construction services?
Pittsburgh is a “big, small city.” It has the feel of a major metro, but everyone knows each other, often through school, work, or community connections. Even if we’re not working in the same building, we’re often on the same projects and supporting or recommending each other.
It’s also forward-looking. The city embraced the autonomous vehicle and tech sectors, becoming one of the top hubs in the country when companies like Uber, Waymo, and Argo were located here. Leaders like former mayor Bill Peduto and new mayor Corey O’Connor are deeply committed to Pittsburgh’s growth, and that energy carries through the community. The city constantly evolves while maintaining its unique culture and strong sense of family.
What are your key goals and priorities for the next two to three years?
From a corporate perspective, the goal is to grow into a $100 million company. At the Pittsburgh level, while we are focused on expanding our environmental, geotechnical, and materials testing services, my main priority is to expand headcount, creating more jobs, opportunities, and a platform for people to enter the engineering field. Growth is important, but real success is giving people the tools to build a better future for themselves and their families.
