Taylor Parker, Principal, Branch Manager, Bohler

Taylor Parker, principal and branch manager at Bohler, spoke with Invest: about the growth of its Miami office and how it positions itself in the growing Florida economy. She detailed the “Bohler Way” workforce philosophy and how Bohler leverages technology and sustainability efforts in land development.

What are some of the most significant milestones and achievements for the Miami office in the past 12 to 18 months?

Since opening in 2020, we have cultivated and strengthened our relationships with clients and have established a permanent presence in South Florida. Our Miami office has recently integrated planning and landscape architecture into our program. We provide our clients with well-rounded, full-service consulting that puts us in a strategic position to help the Tri-County area in the land development community. We have an ambitious and talented group of people in the Miami office, and our ability to collaborate seamlessly with the other offices in the state has allowed us to work simultaneously on multiple projects and tackle regional challenges together with the synergy we have created in the Florida region.

How would you explain the “Bohler Way” philosophy and how it influences the company’s approach to site design and project execution?

The Bohler Way is a philosophy that drives our approach to every project, ensuring that clients receive exceptional service and innovative solutions. At its core, Bohler’s purpose is to empower the ambitious to become accomplished — not just within our team, but also for our clients. Our six key values — building relationships, being bold, winning together, giving it our all, taking ownership, and having fun — create a culture of collaboration and accountability. Through our market sector diversity, experience, and firm-wide alignment, known as “One Bohler,” we leverage the collective expertise of our entire team to provide clients with strategic guidance, seamless execution, and a partner they can rely on.

What are some of the most pressing trends shaping land development and engineering in Miami and the broader South Florida market?

South Florida’s rapid growth is driving a surge in mixed-use developments as people seek more convenience, community, and sustainability. Soaring land costs have created challenges for developers, leading many to explore opportunities under the Live Local Act. This legislation helps expedite approvals, allows for increased density and height, and offers tax benefits while requiring 40% of units to be workforce housing — helping to address affordability concerns. I recently authored an article with Bohler to educate clients on how Live Local provides critical solutions for the region’s development market.

How would you describe the regulatory environment in South Florida and the impact it has in project approvals?

South Florida’s approval process is complex, requiring coordination between city, county, and federal agencies. To navigate entitlement challenges effectively, we advise clients to engage land use attorneys early and have upfront discussions with jurisdictions to gain support. Understanding which agencies have authority over a project — and how their reviews interact — is critical. Bohler’s deep knowledge of local processes and strong relationships with city officials allow us to streamline approvals, whether by running civil permitting alongside entitlements, expediting reviews, or leveraging third-party reviewers when needed.

Taking a broader look at the economy, how have ongoing changes in the market impacted your organization?

Within the residential sector, there is an increasing focus on affordable housing and leveraging available resources to boost density while ensuring projects perform as intended. The growing demand for housing also creates opportunities for Bohler’s clients across other sectors, such as retail and industrial.

The sustained population growth is triggering the need to improve roadways, utilities, transportation systems, stormwater management, and other utilities. How far along a particular municipality is in its infrastructure upgrades dictates how our designers approach a project. 

How is Bohler incorporating sustainability principles into its projects?

We’re seeing more agencies push toward green building initiatives and low-impact designs. Considering the numerous ecological challenges impacting our world, engineers have the ability to provide solutions that will minimize environmental damage while still providing the community with its needs and playing a vital role in creating sustainability. We’re guiding developers to implement more low-impact design strategies for stormwater management and landscaping and working with architects to elevate buildings above the rising water table. One notable project is the Babcock Ranch development, located northeast of Fort Myers. Bohler has contributed to the commercial portion of this project, which is the first solar-powered town featuring a massive solar farm that generates surplus energy sold to other areas. Bohler’s team implemented reclaimed water systems for irrigation and onsite operations to provide fill and aggregate across the development and implement sustainable building practices. They are growing produce onsite for their food and beverage operations through an onsite farming program. 

How are you leveraging technology and innovation to improve efficiency and project outcomes?

At Bohler, we leverage technology to streamline project execution and improve client outcomes. By continuously evaluating our processes and gathering feedback from our teams, we identify inefficiencies and implement innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and save time. We are currently piloting multiple programs to integrate into our workflows, optimizing project management and delivery. In addition, our proprietary project management software is designed to improve coordination, workload management, and execution, ensuring a seamless experience for our clients.

What emerging opportunities in the industry are most exciting to Bohler, and how is the company positioning itself to capitalize on these opportunities?

The mission-critical sector, particularly data centers, presents a significant opportunity in land development. Bohler is focused on expanding, training, and developing teams across our footprint to become subject matter experts and a trusted partner in this fast-growing market. Our Director of Market Advancement for Mission Critical, Megan Baird, PE, ensures that data center clients receive consistent, high-quality service and strategic guidance. With over 12 years of experience and involvement in more than 7.2 GW of data center projects, she helps clients navigate zoning challenges, leverage incentives, and accelerate speed-to-market.

Would you like to expand on anything we’ve discussed or add anything we may have missed?

One area where Bohler continues to excel is in retail development. Leveraging our strong relationships with nationwide retailers, speed-to-market approach, and expertise in local municipal regulations enables us to deliver agile, cost-effective solutions. We are a trusted partner in retail development, driving growth and client satisfaction in this competitive region.