Michael Kroll, President & Principal, Fort Lauderdale, Miller Legg

In an interview with Invest:, Michael Kroll, president and principal of Miller Legg in Fort Lauderdale, said that 75% of the consulting and engineering services firm’s projects are tied to the public sector in areas that include transportation, parks and recreation, and infrastructure projects – areas that continue to present growth opportunities.

What have been some of the main highlights and key milestones for Miller Legg in Broward County and Greater Fort Lauderdale over the last 12 months?

One significant achievement is that we have been able to expand our staff. We have grown organically, which has been good, though it has been a challenge. Recruiting and onboarding new team members is one of the biggest challenges in our area, but we have succeeded in growing our staff by about 12%. That is a decent increase in size.

Additionally, we have been recognized as a best place to work for eight years in a row. This achievement reflects not only our success in growing a great team but also our efforts in retention. Retaining talent is something we work very hard at, and we are proud of this recognition.

On the external front, our backlog continues to grow in both public and private sector work. This growth demonstrates the abundance of opportunities in South Florida, particularly in Broward County. Our revenue has also increased by over 10% from last year, which is indicative of the new projects we have launched and the opportunities in the market.

Which services or markets will be the main drivers for growth moving forward for Miller Legg?

All our services have been growing, which is encouraging. This includes landscape architecture, civil engineering, environmental services, and geomatics (surveying and subsurface utility engineering). It is rewarding to see growth across all the services we provide.

In terms of markets, approximately 75% of our work comes from the public sector. Within that, we are focused on parks and recreation, infrastructure projects, and Florida Department of Transportation work. These three areas are where we see the most opportunities and backlog of growth.

On the private sector side, we have been actively involved in redevelopment projects in Broward, Miami-Dade, Naples, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast area. We have also seen significant activity in hospitality projects and our institutional marketwhich includes higher education and healthcare clients such as colleges, universities, hospitals, and medical agencies. These sectors continue to grow, driven by the population increase in Florida, especially South Florida, which creates a steady demand for new and improved facilities.

What is your assessment of the infrastructure landscape, especially with respect to your work in the public sector?

The infrastructure landscape offers tremendous opportunities. South Florida is at the forefront of addressing challenges such as sea level rise and climate change. Much of our infrastructure, built 30 to 50 years ago, was not designed with these challenges in mind, so it requires upgrades and improvements.

Additionally, with the ongoing population growth, infrastructure needs increased capacityto meet the growing demand for services. This creates significant opportunities for projects focused on resilience. For example, we are working on projects that address sea level rise, coastal impacts, and drainage issues caused by changing flood elevations. Making water and sewer systems more resilient is another priority, as these systems need to meet capacity requirements while adapting to evolving environmental conditions.

We are heavily involved in upgrading wastewater lift stations, transmission lines, and other critical infrastructure to ensure they remain functional and resilient in the face of climatic changes.

How has extreme weather in recent years, including the last hurricane season, changed the way Miller Legg advises or consults with clients?

We are increasingly involved in vulnerability studies, assessing infrastructure and facilities that are at risk due to flooding, sea level rise, and climate change. Based on these assessments, we help clients develop capital improvement plans to mitigate these risks.

For example, we work on projects involving seawalls, living shorelines, and strengthening coastal areas. We also focus on improving critical infrastructure, such as lift stations and roadways, so that they are elevated and resilient against future adverse impacts. The goal is to ensure that as these trends continue, our clients’ infrastructure remains functional and effective.

Moreover, we are increasingly advocating for proactive measures. Many of our clients, especially public agencies, are recognizing the value of preparing for these challenges now, rather than reacting later. In the past, some were hesitant about the upfront costs, but now they recognize the long-term benefits of resilient infrastructure. These measures not only address current challenges but also prepare us for future environmental changes.

How do green spaces, such as parks, assist with managing storm events and related challenges while maintaining their recreational value?

Parks and open green spaces can indeed play a crucial role in managing stormwater. However, the extent to which they can help depends on the type of park. For instance, soccer fields cannot regularly flood and remain functional for play. But many active or passive parks can be designed to serve as temporary water retention areas during major storm events. These spaces can store water, treat it at a basic level, and then release it gradually into the regular drainage system. This approach reduces the impact of floodwaters on communities while improving the quality of water that eventually flows into critical ecosystems like the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, or the Atlantic Ocean.

By strategically using these green spaces, we can reduce nutrients and pollutants from stormwater before it reaches these habitats. This not only helps mitigate flooding but also protects and enhances our pristine marine environments. It is a dual-purpose solution that balances stormwater management with environmental conservation.

Are there any major projects in Broward County that you are particularly excited about?

There are several exciting projects underway. One example is our work with West Lake Park. We are completing the final phase of a three-mile living shoreline for Broward County. This project is adjacent to Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Instead of merely armoring the shoreline with a seawall, we are using a naturalistic approach. We are creating new mangrove habitats, seagrass beds, and other ecosystems that enhance biodiversity while strengthening the coastal edge.

This project demonstrates how we can achieve environmental protection and infrastructure resilience simultaneously. The Broward County Parks Department, along with the Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, are actively collaborating on this effort, which showcases a truly holistic design approach.

What challenges do you face when working on large-scale projects like these in both the public and private sectors?

The biggest challenge we face right now is fluctuating construction costs. Over the past three to five years, we have seen significant swings in pricing, making it difficult to predict costs accurately. Many of our clients built their budgets five to seven years ago, without anticipating these changes.

This creates frustration because clients often ask how we could not have predicted the current costs. We work hard to address this by bringing in construction managers early in the process to deal with real-time cost estimates and adjust designs accordingly. This ensures that projects remain as close to budget as possible. However, these  remain a challenge for both the public and private sectors alike.

Looking ahead to the next two to three years, what are Miller Leg’s top goals and priorities in Broward County and the surrounding region?

Transportation will remain a major focus for us. We see significant opportunities in developing multimodal systems that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. While we do not specialize in highway design, we are heavily involved in creating greenways, municipal streets, and other systems that enhance connectivity.

For example, I chair Broward County’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and we are working on projects funded through the County’s Mobility Advancement Program (MAP). These projects aim to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, which is critical for a successful multi-modal transportation system. If people cannot easily get from transit stops to their destinations, whether it is work, home, or shopping, it diminishes the system’s effectiveness.

Beyond transportation, we will continue addressing infrastructure needs driven by population growth and environmental challenges. Our focus remains on building resilient systems that can withstand the adverse impacts of our changing climate.