About Us

Our team features professional and experienced engineers, surveyors, and designers who call northern Arizona their home. We pride ourselves on our ability to work with existing natural features to optimize the value of the constructed product while preserving the unique beauty of the Southwest.

We manage numerous multi-million dollar, large-scale projects from the initial planning stages through design document assembly, permit approval, and construction management. We also serve clients with smaller projects such as residences or commercial properties that may need grading or property surveys. SWI provides high-quality civil engineering and surveying services to our clients regardless of the size of the job.

History

Shephard-Wesnitzer, Inc. (SWI) opened its doors in Sedona on March 16, 1990, through the efforts of John Wesnitzer and David Shephard.

Mr. Shephard spent 20 years in Alaska, where he had worked for the U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service, and his own firm. Mr. Wesnitzer came to Sedona from Maine after spending the first 12 years of his engineering career in Wyoming designing roads, irrigation canals, dams, and pipelines. Both men shared a love for the natural beauty and challenges of the Southwest and met in Sedona in 1990.

SWI began with four employees in Sedona and has grown to 27 employees with four offices in Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, and Cottonwood. The Cottonwood office opened in 1995, with the Flagstaff office quickly following in 1996. The Prescott office opened in 1999 and since then, we have grown steadily and strategically.

Mr. Shephard retired in 2006. Today, John Wesnitzer serves as President with his wife, Nancy, as Treasurer. Art Beckwith and Guillermo Cortes have also joined the leadership rank as Vice-Presidents. Mr. Beckwith joined SWI in 1994 after a 16-year career in northern California. He currently co-manages the Sedona office with Mr. Wesnitzer. Mr. Cortes joined SWI in 1995 after graduating from Northern Arizona University. He began his career as an intern for the Arizona Department of Transportation while attending NAU and remains SWI’s lead Transportation Engineer. Mr. Cortes remains in Flagstaff and manages the Flagstaff office.