Business Details
40 Years
experience
Your Trusted Civil Engineering Partner in Hendersonville, NC
Founded in 1986, WGLA Engineering has built a reputation as a trusted provider of civil engineering and land planning services. Our team includes professional engineers licensed across multiple states, with decades of collective experience serving private developers, industries, and government agencies. We prioritize technical excellence, assigning licensed engineers as project managers to ensure precision and accountability. As a local Hendersonville-based firm, we maintain strong relationships with permitting agencies across Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, streamlining project approvals.Our stability is evidenced by long-tenured staff, including principals with over 20 years of service, and a workforce that averages 10+ years per employee. We balance the capacity to handle large-scale projectssuch as 4,000-acre communities and municipal utility systemswith personalized attention that smaller firms provide. Our commitment extends beyond projects; we actively support local charities and encourage community engagement through employee participation in civic organizations. This holistic approach ensures we deliver not just engineering solutions, but lasting value to the communities we serve.
Services
Civil Engineering
Land Planning
Construction Management
Municipal Engineering
Stormwater Detention Design
Roadway Design
Erosion Control Plans
Water Treatment Systems
Site Development
Permitting Assistance
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of combined leadership experience with licensed engineers in multiple states
- Our local agency relationships expedite permitting processes in three-state service areas
- Project teams maintain 10+ year average staff tenure for consistent service delivery
- We balance capacity for large-scale developments with personalized client attention
- Active community involvement informs practical, sustainable engineering solutions
Associations and certifications
- NCDOT
Services
Civil Engineering
We provide comprehensive civil engineering solutions including roadway design, erosion control, and utility systems. Our engineers develop site-specific plans for grading, paving, and drainage that meet regulatory standards while optimizing functionality. With NCDOT pre-qualification in roadway and site design, we ensure projects align with both client needs and public infrastructure requirements.
Land Planning
Our land planning services create strategic layouts for residential communities, commercial centers, and industrial parks. We balance zoning regulations with practical considerations for water management, traffic flow, and environmental impact. This approach enables efficient permitting and sustainable development across projects ranging from small retail sites to 4,000-acre master-planned communities.
Municipal Engineering
We specialize in municipal infrastructure projects including water treatment facilities, wastewater systems, and utility networks. Our team assists local governments with grant acquisition, system planning, and regulatory compliance. By maintaining strong relationships with regional agencies, we streamline approval processes for public infrastructure improvements that enhance community services.
Construction Management
Our construction management ensures projects stay on schedule and within budget through coordinated bidding, contract administration, and field inspections. We provide cost estimating, procurement assistance, and quality control during all phasesfrom initial planning to final construction observationensuring designs translate effectively into built environments.
Stormwater Detention Design
We create customized stormwater management systems that prevent flooding while meeting environmental regulations. Our designs integrate detention basins, drainage networks, and erosion control measures tailored to site-specific topography. These solutions protect both private developments and public infrastructure from water-related risks through proven engineering methodologies.
People
G. Thomas Jones III
Principal/Partner
Licensed professional engineer with 25+ years of experience in site grading, stormwater systems, and road construction. Graduated from Clemson University in 1992 after working at NCDOT from 1993-1997. Specializes in coordinating complex infrastructure projects from planning through construction administration.
William R. Buie
Principal/Partner
Civil engineering expert with extensive municipal project experience since 1992. Joined WGLA in 1998 after working at Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates. Focuses on water/wastewater systems and land development planning for government and private sector clients across multiple states.
Jared DeRidder
Principal/Partner
Licensed engineer specializing in utility design and site development. Joined WGLA in 2014 after working at NCDOT and AREVA nuclear facilities. Brings nuclear industry precision to municipal infrastructure projects while managing multi-phase developments across the firm's service region.
Questions
What geographic areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, maintaining strong working relationships with local permitting agencies in these regions.
What project types do you handle?
Our experience includes residential communities, commercial sites, municipal infrastructure, and industrial developments ranging from small-scale renovations to 4,000-acre master-planned communities.
How do you ensure project compliance?
Our engineers are licensed in multiple states and maintain NCDOT pre-qualification in roadway design. We combine regulatory expertise with field experience to ensure all projects meet current standards.
What makes your firm unique?
We combine the technical capacity of larger firms with personalized service, supported by staff averaging 10+ years tenure and principals with 20+ years of collaborative experience.
