9 0 years building communities WHERE IT ALL STARTED The 1930s H2M started small in 1933 when our founder, Henry "Gus" Holzmacher, P.E., began providing engineering and land surveying services out of his home in Bethpage, NY. As Long Island's population grew and developed, Gus received his first big project in 1935, building one of Long Island's first water district facilities for the South Farmingdale Water District. The following year, as the threat of World War II loomed on the horizon, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, a military and civilian aircraft manufacturer, became Gus' primary client. In 1936, the Grumman Corporation retained Gus for outline and topographic surveying. World War II and the Grumman Corporation would kickstart a chain reaction for Gus in the next few years. "As the Great Depression
ended with the buildup for
World War II, [Gus]...built a
part-time engineering practice,
working nights and weekends." -Robert "Bob" Holzmacher, P.E., Former President of H2M,
excerpted from an article he wrote about the company's history (1999) The 1940s Back in 1944, at the height of World War II, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation retained H2M's founder, Gus Holzmacher, P.E., to provide topographic surveys for the expansion of airplane runways at Grumman's Bethpage, NY facility. This project was the catalyst for H2M's consistent growth ever since as it provided the firm with proof of experience to the greater Long Island community. Throughout the 1940s, the firm enjoyed slow and steady growth as we continued our work with the South Farmingdale Water District. After the war, the passage of the G.I. Bill and the success of the first "Levittowns" resulted in an increased need for water distribution system extensions across Long Island. In 1947, Gus earned enough work to move his business out of his home and into a dedicated office in Hicksville, NY. Throughout the decade, the firm moved into a new office and hired some of its first full time employees to support the growth and allow the firm to continue building communities across Long Island. "An important concept that
must never be overlooked -
we do work that is truly
meaningful...what could be
better than doing what you
love and doing it with people
who respect what you do and
appreciate your hard work?" - John Molloy, P.E., Former President and CEO,
excerpted from a company newsletter (2008) The 1950s The 1950s was a decade of exponential growth for H2M. In 1951, Gus was retained by the Bethpage Water District as a Consulting Engineer and in 1952 the District hired Gus again to oversee the expansion of its facilities. In 1953, Bob Holzmacher, P.E. joined his father's firm to help manage the project backlog. In 1955, Norm Murrell, P.E. joined and in 1956 Sam McLendon, P.E. came on board and set up an environmental testing lab. These three gentlemen would eventually shape the future of H2M. The firm continued expanding its client base throughout the decade, being retained by Plainview Water District, Hicksville Water District, South Huntington Water District, the Village of Farmingdale, Dix Hills Water District, Smithtown Water District, and Port Jefferson Water District. In 1959, construction of a new office in Melville, NY began to help serve the growing firm. "It's been exciting helping
Long Island grow and it's very
satisfying to see the visible
evidence of our contribution
throughout Nassau and
Suffolk Counties." - Bob Holzmacher, P.E., Former H2M President,
Excerpted from LI/Business Newsweekly (1982) The 1960s The 1960s started strong with H2M moving into its new office in Melville, NY. In December of 1960, the firm held its first open house to celebrate this major milestone. In 1961, after the passing of Gus Holzmacher, P.E., Bob, Sam and Norm reorganized the firm and renamed the company, "Holzmacher, McLendon, and Murrell." Sam McLendon was named partner of the firm, ending its status as a sole proprietorship. The firm continued building its portfolio of work throughout the decade, building the Plainview-Old Bethpage public pool and park in 1962 and a manmade lake at Byron Lake Park in Oakdale in 1967. In 1968, H2M worked with the Suffolk County Comprehensive Public Water Supply Study, which took 18 months to complete and solidified H2M's status as a premier professional services firm on Long Island. "I take great pride in that I
was able to work with Bob, Sam,
and Norman. Each was so
unique and passionate about
what H2M does." - Liz Uzzo, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, H2M's Chief Human Resources Officer (2023) The 1970s In 1970, H2M converted from a partnership to a professional corporation and officially adopted the H2M name. The firm assisted Long Island towns with obtaining federal funding through the 1972 Clean Water Act. In 1974, John Molloy, P.E. began his career at H2M where he would later become President and CEO. Environmental projects became such a large part of the company portfolio that the firm created an environmental engineering discipline to specialize in tackling these kinds of problems. "At the end of the day, for a
lot of the services we offer,
we're helping to make the built
environment better...
we're trying to protect the
water in the first place...
then it's about reducing the
impacts to the groundwater
and surface water afterwards." - Steve Hearl, P.E., H2M's Practice Leader of Collection and Conveyance (2023) The 1980s The 1980s began Norm Murrell's crusade against lead and solder, which resulted in every town on Long Island banning the use of these materials, the ultimate New York State legislative ban, and in 1985 the U.S. Senate passed lead-free legislation. H2M also built one of the first Scavenger Waste Treatment Plants in the country in 1985 and began operating in New Jersey. In 1987, the architecture discipline was officially formed and Rich Humann, P.E., current President and CEO, joined the firm. In 1988, H2M moved into 575 Broad Hollow Road in Melville, NY. "My father served his local water
districts and the water industry
as a whole throughout his career.
I believe he was most proud of
his crusade to eliminate
lead from drinking water." - Brian Murrell on his father's "Get the Lead Out" advocacy campaign (2023) The 1990s In 1991, an era came to a close as Bob Holzmacher, P.E., Sam McLendon, P.E., and Norm Murrell, P.E. decided to retire together and Harold Dombeck, P.E. took over as President and CEO of H2M. In 1992, the firm had its first architecture fire district client with North Massapequa and one of its first projects for USPS, a long-standing client of H2M's, in Mount Kisco, NY. The firm's first ground-up fire station architectural design was constructed for Hicksville Fire District in 1993 and the firm's first school district client was Connetquot School District in 1994. In 1995, John Molloy, P.E. took over as President and CEO. In 1997, the forensic services discipline was founded and the first post-tension underground water storage tank on Long Island was built for the Plainview Water District. "In thinking about the
90th anniversary, I have been
thinking about how much
things have changed...
but some things have remained
the same. It amazes me that
we have so many clients that
have remained with H2M for
40, 50, even 60 years.
We must be doing something right." - Dennis Kelleher, P.E., H2M's Chief Market Director (2023) The 2000s The 2000s was a decade of major advancement across the world, and H2M was no different. The decade is full of "firsts" for the firm, starting off right away in 2000 when the firm completed its first directional drill design. In 2001, H2M completed its first major structural engineering project for the Town of Riverhead Sewer District Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, and in the same year the firm hit 200 employees, a major mark of growth to come. In 2006, H2M became the first firm in the country to develop perchlorate removal techniques and a new office opened in Suffern, NY to better serve the Lower Hudson Valley. "Not too many companies are
around for 90 years, but it's not
about the number. It's about
how stable the company is
and how great the company is
in terms of the services
we provide, the work that
we do, and the people who
work here. It's just a great
company. Period." - Joe Mottola, R.A., H2M's Chief Operating Officer (2023) The 2010s H2M continued its years of firsts throughout this decade. In 2010, the firm worked with its first major developer, RXR Realty, to design the Ritz Carlton Residencies at North Hills. In 2012, the firm had its first dormitory project for DASNY. In 2013, Rich Humann, P.E. took over as President and CEO and the firm moved into its current headquarters at 538 Broad Hollow Road in Melville, NY. In 2014 an office opened in Westchester, NY, H2M got involved in major storm recovery projects after Superstorm Sandy, had its largest private development project with the Ronkonkoma Hub Transit Oriented Development, and was retained by the Oyster Bay Sewer District to plan, design, and build the first treatment plant in New York State to reach EPA goals for wastewater plant discharge. In 2015 H2M opened an office in New York City. H2M made history in 2016 with its design of the first wastewater reuse plant in New York State to irrigate a golf course, the firm hit 300 employees, and established an office in Albany, NY. In 2018, H2M built the first 1,4-dioxane removal AOP plant in Nassau County for Bethpage Water District, and reached 400 employees. "We have a saying here:
do things 'the H2M way'...
I take great pride in shepherding
our company to over 500
employees in 13 office locations
while at the same time
committing to a culture that
allows individuals
to be empowered and thrive." - Rich Humann, P.E., H2M's President and CEO (2023) The 2020s Our current decade has brought continuous growth and innovation for H2M. In 2021, the firm consulted on the first 3-D printed home in the United States to receive a building permit and Certificate of Occupancy. In 2022, H2M reached 500 employees and had two major office moves, and four new office locations, relocating its Albany, NY office to Troy, NY to provide a more vibrant office community to its staff, the New York City office moved to a new location as well, and opening new offices in Windsor, CT; Butler, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL; and Pittsburgh, PA.

Not only is 2023 the year of H2M's 90th anniversary, but it also marks the firm's inclusion into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Now boasting 13 offices with more than 500 employees, H2M continues to grow and expand into new markets and geographic regions. H2M is proud of where it has been and where it's going. The legacy of their founders continues nine decades later and lays the groundwork for a future that is entirely their own. Building Communities Since 1933 H2M architects + engineers