History

In early 1982, Kerry Smith began preparations to fulfill a vision of owning his own company. He asked two co-workers to join him as partners (Bill Stella and Marv Trietsch), developed a business plan, fashioned a logo based upon the name Capital Design Group and sought office space in downtown Indianapolis. The Indiana Secretary of State rejected the name Capital Design Group, but Circle Design Group was approved. All was well because the company would be in the “capitol” city and the “circle” was the center of the city. He had fashioned a circular “CDG” logo, and so it still worked! The company opened for business on July 1, 1982. Rita Smith would join 11 days later and Jeff Wylie several months later, both as partners. Our office amenities included a land line, folding tables as desks, folding chairs, small drafting boards, a portable typewriter, a PIP Printing right next door and Marbaugh was a few blocks away. These five entrepreneurs forged a path forward always trying to improve based on lessons learned and striving to be the best MEP design firm in the Midwest. Life was good.

As part of a re-envisioned business plan, Rita Smith became the sole owner of Circle Design Group. The company continued to grow to over 30 employees and continued to nurture its reputation for great work. Long term relationships matured, and we were awarded unique and challenging projects, in Indiana and throughout the Midwest. Life was good.

It is election season and Ross runs into Rita and Kerry at a political fund-raiser (none of them are politically inclined). A seed is planted, and they spend one month realizing how closely matched they are, four months of understanding how they mesh and could successfully implement a merger, five months of preparations with attorneys and CPAs, and one month to close the deal. Life is about to get better.