Ron Keller P.E., Terry Schleicher and ES MacWilliam, lived in the local Sebastian area for several years working for different companies and while working on a couple common projects they realized there was a need for a local engineering firm to provide both geotechnical and structural engineering. Keller, Schleicher and MacWilliam Engineering and Testing was founded in May of 1990 with the mind set to deliver fast, quality, cost-effective engineering and soil work for businesses located on the Treasure Coast. The firm began work for production home and commercial builders and quickly grew into providing geotechnical and material testing for site developers. As the Sebastian area began to grow, so too did Keller, Schleicher and MacWilliam Engineering and Testing. In 2000, they moved into their current Headquarters off US Highway 1 and have been a staple in the community ever since. Even though the firm began to operate more like a large corporate firm, the three principles kept true to their core values as they considered their employees as part of the family, which set them apart from their competitors.
In 2009, Julie Keller P.E. rejoined the firm where her engineering career started and took over as president for Ron Keller who was set to retire. Under her leadership and guidance, Keller, Schleicher and MacWilliam Engineering and Testing began to do business as KSM Engineering and Testing, then expanded not only the service area from the Treasure Coast into the Space Coast and Palm Beaches but also expanded the firm’s engineering services. At the end of 2018 after 28 years with KSM Engineering and Testing, Terry Schleicher announced his retirement. In 2019, Bryan Dahlke P.E. joined the firm as Vice President of Engineering with his primary directive being to bring the firm’s unique approach to the Central Florida market. In September of 2019, KSM Engineering and Testing opened the doors of their new Orlando office and laboratory in Sanford. At the end of 2019, the firm was awarded with not only the National, but Florida and Orange County Women Business Enterprise certification.
May 2020, brought the 30th anniversary of KSM Engineering and Testing. While two of the original principles have retired, their drive, passion and commitment lives on thru the new principles as the begin the next chapter of KSM Engineering and Testing.
Chronology of Our Company
1990 – Keller, Schleicher and MacWilliam (KSM) Engineering and Testing was founded by Ron Keller, P.E., Terry Schleicher, and Edgar “ES” MacWilliam with the mindset to deliver fast, quality, cost-effective engineering, and soil work for businesses located on the Treasure Coast. The firm began work for production home and commercial builders and quickly grew into providing geotechnical and material testing for site developers. As the Sebastian area began to grow, so too did KSM.
2000 – KSM moved into their new Headquarters off of US Highway 1 and have been a staple in the community ever since. Even though the firm began to operate more like a large corporate firm, the three principles kept true to their core values as they considered their employees as part of the family.
2009 – Julie Keller P.E. rejoined the firm where her engineering career started and took over as president for Ron Keller, P.E. who was set to retire. Under her leadership and guidance, KSM expanded not only the service area from the Treasure Coast into the remainer of Florida’s East Coast and refined the firm’s engineering services.
2018 – After 28 years with KSM Engineering and Testing, Terry Schleicher announced his retirement.
2019 – Bryan Dahlke, P.E. joined the firm as Vice President of Engineering with the vision of bringing the firm’s unique approach to the Central Florida market.
2019 – KSM Engineering and Testing opened the doors of their new Central Florida office and laboratory in Sanford. The firm was awarded with several Woman Business Enterprise Certifications and laboratory becomes CMEC Certified.
2020 – KSM celebrates their 30th anniversary. Even with two of the original principles retired, KSM Engineering and Testing holds true to their original core values of drive, passion, and commitment with the new owners as they begin the next chapter of KSM Engineering and Testing.
2022 – Eric McAra, P.E. joined KSM Engineering and Testing as Office manager. Under him leadership and guidance, KSM expanded the firm’s engineering services into Municipal, County, and State work.
2022 – KSM’s Central Florida laboratory becomes CMEC Certified.
2023 – KSM Engineering and Testing is awarded DBE with FDOT and GOAA as well as WBE with City of Orlando and Osceola County.
2024 – Eric McAra, P.E. becomes a partner of KSM Engineering and Testing. KSM earns it’s work group prequalification’s with FDOT.
Julie E. Keller, P.E.
President.
Julie Keller, P.E., graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Ms. Keller has worked for over 23 years in the construction/engineering field. She started at KSM when she was 15 sweeping the floors and worked for the company until she left for college. In college years, she worked at various geotechnical firms and did time studying the effects of sinkholes. She has had a few years’ experience as a construction inspector as well as several years of experience in the geotechnical engineering field. She worked 4 years for a land development company in Central Florida and therefore is very familiar with land development regulations. She specifically took the job in land development to better understand the needs of her clients from a geotechnical side. She is also a structural inspector and has been the engineer on various residential and commercial structural projects. All her work experience has been in Florida and therefore, she is very knowledgeable with various municipalities and their regulations.
Mobile Phone: 772-370-3545
Email: julie@ksmengineering.net
Edgar “ES” MacWilliam, Jr.
Vice President of Operations
Mr. MacWilliam has over 40 years’ experience in the local construction industry of which the last thirty four years has been concentrated in soils and construction materials testing. His work included everything from operating drilling equipment where he would perform Standard Penetration Test (SPT) borings to being on construction sites performing materials testing. ES helps with the day-to-day operations within the company, mentoring of employees, client communications, scheduling of field work for a variety of projects, along with upholding Safety and the standards to which KSM completes the field work. Mr. MacWilliam has a long history in the soil testing industry and has held various soil and concrete certifications from his numerous years in the field.
Mobile Phone: 772-633-3222
Email: esmac@ksmengineering.net
Eric A. McAra, P.E.
Vice President of Engineering
Eric A. McAra, P.E., graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Business Administration. Eric has over 20 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer and has directed hundreds of geotechnical projects throughout the State of Florida. Eric’s expertise includes geotechnical consulting for private sector clients, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), municipalities and counties. Eric has worked on detailed design studies for the Private and Public Sector clients throughout the State with a primary focuses in Central Florida and East Coast. Eric actively involved in a number of organizations throughout the state such as the Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA), Florida Engineering Society (FES),and American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE).
Mobile Phone: 407-737-0463
Email: ericm@ksmengineering.net
COMPANY AFFILIATION
KSM believes in being a part of various organizations so we are able to inform our clients the latest subsurface improvement techniques along with value engineering options to aid during the design or execution of their project. Below is a list of organizations KSM is proudly a part of:
- Women-Owned Business Enterprise National Council (W.B.E.)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce
- Florida Environmental Assessors Association
- Home Builders & Contractors Association of Brevard
- Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA)
- Florida Home Builders Association
- Women Transportation Society (WTS)
- National Women in Construction (NAWIC)
- American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE)
- Florida Engineering Society (FES)
