Jeff Harrington, future founder of HGI, graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in fire protection engineering. He begins his career doing property loss control engineering.
YEAR IN HISTORY 1986
On the first Monday of June 1986, Jeff Harrington founds Harrington Group. Begun as a sole proprietorship, the plan was to sell PLC experience and skills to medium-sized insurance brokers and insurance agencies throughout the Southeastern US.
YEAR IN HISTORY 1987
Harrington Group is incorporated as a C-Corp, changing years later to an S-Corp.
HGI moves out of Jeff’s basement and into its first leased office.
YEAR IN HISTORY 1988
Harrington Group continues to grow due to the dedication and tenacity of Jeff Harrington. During this year, he meets with principals of every prominent MEP firm in every major city in Georgia, and continues to gain clients through cold calls and in-person visits.
YEAR IN HISTORY 1989
Jim Rucci joins Harrington Group as the first employee.
HGI began a relationship with Industrial Developments International that continues to this day.
YEAR IN HISTORY1990
The company continues to grow, picking up senior-level team members and larger clients.
YEAR IN HISTORY1991
The company hits a difficult slump during the recession. Jeff and Jim Rucci go without salary for months to keep HGI afloat. With only two weeks of viability left, they land a company-saving project.
YEAR IN HISTORY1994
Over the interim years, Harrington Group continues to grow and gain back some of the losses from ‘91. HGI’s offices move from the ReMax building to a larger space in Lilburn, GA.
YEAR IN HISTORY1995
Company continues to maintain net profits and collection of receivables within healthy ranges.
YEAR IN HISTORY1996
A year of stability! This marks the first year of the decade that HGI breaks even, financially.
Jeff learns and implements Open-Book Management.
YEAR IN HISTORY1997
A year of success! Net profits are 13%
YEAR IN HISTORY1998
Jeff and Jim establish the company’s core ideology, values, and purpose.
Jeff studies and establishes Built to Last Key Principles that continue to define the company to this day.
A difficult year for the country and the company.
Following the September 11th attacks, business comes to a halt for HGI: projects are paused by clients, no receivables are collected, and more. Staff numbers are reduced, and other cost-cutting measures are put into place. The company establishes a “new normal” and finds stability.
YEAR IN HISTORY2002
HGI’s growth returns, staff are added back.
YEAR IN HISTORY2007
HGI establishes a Charlotte Office.
Signs of economic strain begin to show across the country, Jeff and Jim Rucci begin planning for the worst, focusing on hard work and careful management.
YEAR IN HISTORY2008
The housing bubble bursts and the Great Recession begins.
HGI moves quickly and decisively to cut overhead and keep the company afloat. The recession impacts the company severely for only three months before growth returns.
YEAR IN HISTORY2009
Normal operations and growth return to HGI. The leadership’s decision to operate the company in slow-growth mode pays off and leads to more exponential growth in the coming years and to the present.
YEAR IN HISTORY2010
The company begins its first significant projects for a leading internet retail company.
HGI begins to develop expertise in combustible dust hazard assessment and mitigation.
YEAR IN HISTORY2011
Leadership trial-runs new methodology for measuring PM performance, new performance metrics, and PM Scorecards to much success.
YEAR IN HISTORY2012
HGI fully implements the new PM performance methodology, a “PM-Centric Model,” that becomes an intrinsic part of the company’s operations and continues to show successful results to this day.
YEAR IN HISTORY2014
Nolan McCarthy joins the team and quickly becomes the first Associate Project Manager.
YEAR IN HISTORY2015
Angie Fuqua signs on with Harrington Group.
Jeff Harrington announces his intention to retire in 2020.
YEAR IN HISTORY2016
Jim Rucci becomes Principal Emeritus.
YEAR IN HISTORY2018-2020
Harrington Group continues to see record growth, adding eight full-time engineers.
YEAR IN HISTORY2020
Jeff Harrington retires, redeeming his shares and transitioning all management and corporate governance to remaining owners and COO.
HGI hires thirteen engineers and three support staff with more additions in the works.
YEAR IN HISTORY Future
HGI’s future is bright. The foundations laid by Jeff and Jim have proven successful and will continue to be our base as we continue to organically grow in multiple market segments and fire protection disciplines.
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