SAM

Founded in 1994 by Samir “Sam” G. Hanna, SAM Companies (SAM) originated as a local land surveying firm in Austin, Texas. Mr. Hanna, who arrived in the U.S. from Egypt in 1970, identified an opportunity to create a specialized surveying company independent of larger engineering firms, focusing on advanced technology and high-quality service. From its initial focus on land surveying, the company methodically expanded its service offerings to include a comprehensive suite of geospatial and construction phase services.

The company's business model revolves around providing end-to-end geospatial data solutions and construction services to a diverse client base. This includes clients in the oil and gas, electric, transportation, railway, public sector, and telecommunications industries. Revenue is generated on a project basis by delivering these specialized technical services. SAM operates as one of the largest full-service geospatial and construction-phase services firms in North America, distinguished by its capacity to manage large-scale projects. The firm's growth has been fueled by a combination of organic expansion and a robust strategy of strategic acquisitions, having completed over sixteen acquisitions in a seven-year period to broaden its geographic presence and technical capabilities.

SAM's core service is its Managed Geospatial Services™ (MGS™) framework, which transforms vast amounts of complex spatial data into actionable intelligence for clients. This service integrates various data collection technologies, including aerial, mobile, and terrestrial LiDAR, photogrammetry, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Beyond data acquisition, the company provides subsurface utility engineering (SUE), geographic information systems (GIS), utility coordination, and construction services through its subsidiary, SAM-Construction Services, LLC. This comprehensive approach allows clients to have a single point of contact for a wide range of surveying, mapping, and construction oversight needs, which helps to mitigate risk and improve project decision-making.

Christopher M. Solomon, who joined the company at its inception in 1994, now leads the firm as President and CEO, taking over daily management from Mr. Hanna in 2017. His leadership has continued the company's trajectory of growth, focusing on both market and geographic expansion. A significant milestone in the company's history was in 2014, when Austin Ventures acquired a majority stake, providing capital to accelerate market share expansion and pursue acquisitions. Keywords: geospatial services, land surveying, construction services, subsurface utility engineering, utility coordination, LiDAR, aerial mapping, photogrammetry, geographic information systems, Managed Geospatial Services, infrastructure development, AEC industry, geospatial data, construction staking, hydrographic surveying, transportation infrastructure, energy sector, public sector projects, telecommunications mapping, digital twin