Ross Eubanks, Chief Operating Officer & Principal, Dunaway

In an interview with Invest:, Ross Eubanks, chief operating officer and principal of Dunaway, discussed the firm’s 70-year legacy, Houston’s infrastructure demand, technology investment, and employee ownership. “One of Dunaway’s greatest strengths is our ability to see what comes next for a community,” Eubanks said.

What does Dunaway’s 70th anniversary represent?

Dunaway was founded in Fort Worth in 1956 as a small survey firm. Over seven decades, we have consistently expanded geographically and added services for our clients and markets. We are proud to join a relatively small group of companies that can say they have operated for 70 years.

This year is a chance to celebrate past accomplishments while looking toward the next seven decades. We have built our philosophy, culture, leadership, and company with longevity in mind. The goal is an enduring firm that creates a legacy for thousands of employees and families well into the future.

What changes are shaping Houston and Dunaway’s priorities?

I am a Houston native, and the economy has changed significantly over my lifetime. Oil and gas still play an important and interconnected role, but Houston has spent decades diversifying and has become one of the country’s most diverse cities.

Industrial activity is a major movement in the local market. Houston’s ports support the import and export of goods and materials; the transport of freight in and out of our city is a massive industry, and the region has a workforce capable of supporting manufacturing and logistics. Those strengths are driving industrial development.

For Dunaway and the broader design industry, artificial intelligence is another major shift. We have invested substantially in using new technology within our workflows. AI-native companies are also entering the market and seeking partnerships with design firms to combine existing capabilities with technology that can scale quickly. Every company in our industry is responding to that disruption. Dunaway has invested in resources, tools, and partners so that we can remain ahead of the changes.

How does independent ownership position the company?

The engineering industry has experienced significant consolidation by private equity and capital investment groups. Highly fragmented industries are attractive to them, and companies can be combined into large platforms with substantial capital behind their growth.

Our vision is to be the leading independent, multidisciplinary design firm in Texas, and “independent” is important. Dunaway is employee-owned and does not rely on outside investment. Our employee ownership model helps create continuity for clients. The teams our clients work with today are often the same teams they’ll work with years from now, allowing us to build stronger relationships, institutional knowledge, and a deeper understanding of their goals.

What is the Dunaway difference?

The Dunaway Difference is built on three foundational components, represented by the waves in our logo: Core Values, One Heart, and Profitable Growth. Together, these three pillars create an experience that is uniquely Dunaway.

Our One Heart culture emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose — everyone rowing in the same direction toward a common goal. Also, we continuously seek to exemplify our seven Core Values in everything we do, and through Profitable Growth, we create opportunities and an environment where employees are empowered to grow, lead, and innovate.

One example of this in action is our dedicated innovation team, which we established about two years ago. Dunaway continues to invest significantly in innovation and prioritize technical excellence to help shape the future of the firm and the industry. Our innovation team actively explores new tools, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance workflows, improve efficiency, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our clients and communities.

Where do you see the greatest infrastructure demand in Houston?

Water and wastewater infrastructure is a major need. Many facilities are aging or overwhelmed, and municipalities across the Houston metropolitan area are investing to improve existing systems and add capacity. Transportation is also a major need, including projects for TxDOT.

Dunaway provides a broad range of services, including surveying, civil and structural engineering, planning and landscape architecture, construction inspection, environmental services, GIS, subsurface utility engineering, and right-of-way services. That range enables us to address infrastructure challenges from multiple perspectives.

How are data centers affecting adjacent industries?

The topic receives substantial attention, but the economic footprint extends beyond the facilities themselves. 

Manufacturers and service providers supply the components, systems, infrastructure, and resources needed to develop and operate data centers, including piping, network systems, electrical infrastructure, and water. These related companies occupy industrial space and contribute to Houston’s manufacturing momentum. The opportunity includes the entire technical and industrial support system, not just the individual data center. Energy is another priority, particularly as growth and new development place greater demands on grid capacity.

How does diversification help Dunaway navigate changing markets?

Persistent interest rates have materially affected single-family and commercial development. However, education and healthcare remain important, population-driven markets, and Dunaway’s diversification across disciplines and sectors helps us respond when one market faces headwinds.

One of Dunaway’s greatest strengths is our ability to see what comes next for a community. We can begin with raw land, help plan and lay out a community, and remain involved as growth creates demand for transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, schools, healthcare facilities, and parks. As a multidisciplinary firm, we’re positioned to support that growth every step of the way.

K-12 education is a key example. The Houston metropolitan area has more than 60 school districts, and we’re already working with about a quarter of them, even though our Houston office opened in June 2023. Healthcare is another strong market, where our longstanding partnership with Kelsey-Seybold has included work on more than 50 clinics across the Houston area.

How do you help clients move projects forward?

We want our clients to see Dunaway as a trusted adviser, not simply a means to deliver a project. With seven offices across Texas, our continued growth has strengthened our local presence while connecting clients with the depth of resources and expertise across the firm. A client may come to us with one need, but our multidisciplinary structure allows us to look across services and identify a more complete solution.

Many of our services are also at the tip of the spear — the first work required to turn a vision into a real project. We try to join the conversation early, anticipate challenges, and help clients navigate them. That includes evaluating opportunities on the front end to identify the right site, understand market conditions, and address potential challenges before they become larger problems.

Ultimately, it’s about helping our clients make informed decisions, move their vision forward, and create places that improve the communities where people live, work, learn, and connect.