Long-time Louisville Engineering Firm Ushers in a New, Woman-Owned Era
Forst & Associates becomes one of the only women-owned, mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) engineering firms in Kentucky.
Susan Forst Mersch, President, Forst & Associates
For more than 40 years, Forst & Associates has helped shape the skyline of Louisville, Kentucky and beyond. As a consulting engineering firm that provides mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services across the United States, their work goes largely unseen – behind the walls and in the duct work of commercial, governmental, industrial, educational, and multi-family residential buildings.
But if you’ve visited bourbon distilleries, dined at regional fast casual restaurants, or attended sporting events at local universities , then you’ve likely enjoyed the atmosphere of a building that Forst & Associates helped to raise or renovate.
Jim Forst launched the firm in 1983. During his four-decade tenure as president, Jim has built a firm with a reputation for being both a reliable partner to its clients, while prioritizing work/life balance among its employees – a legacy that his daughter, Susan, plans to build on.
Entering its Woman-Owned Era
Now, the firm has a new leader at the helm – Susan Forst Mersch, Jim’s daughter.
In 2022, Susan became the majority owner & operator of James E. Forst & Associates, making the company one of the only women-owned, mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) engineering firms in Kentucky. This year, the firm became certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the state of Indiana.
Susan has vivid memories of visiting jobsites with her father as child – back when Forst & Associates was just a start-up. Since joining as vice president of mechanical engineering in 2008, she’s helped grow the firm with projects across the country. (Jim and Susan are accredited in more than 20 states). A graduate of Assumption High School and with an Engineering Degree from University of Dayton, Susan was a natural fit to lead Forst & Associates into the future.
“When my dad started his business over 40 years ago, he wanted to build a team of high-performing engineers who could do fulfilling work, but also prioritize their families and their lives,” said Susan. “That was uncommon at the time, especially in the field of engineering, but it’s served us well, and it positions us well for the future.”
As a mother of two, Susan understands the demands of parenting and wants to cultivate a culture that attracts top talent by continuing to prioritize purpose-driven work and work-life balance.
“We have decades of proof that if you invest in good talent, treat people right, and nurture relationships, you can build a successful business, “says Susan. “And that extends to our client relationships as well. We are responsive. We are thorough. We are proactive problem-solvers who are team- and solutions-oriented. These things, combined with our engineering expertise and reliable consulting, are what keep our clients coming back.”
Closing the gap on women in STEM…
Susan is also passionate about nurturing the next generation of engineers, particularly women.
“Women often have a different perspective about how a space will be used,” says Susan. “And since we make up half the population, that’s an important perspective to include when making design decisions.”
A perspective that’s still largely missing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, women are still vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) space. While computer and engineering occupations make up the largest portion (80%) of the STEM workforce, women represent only about 25% of those engineering occupations.
Lasting Legacy, Bright Future
“Our mission has always been to engineer high-quality, efficient, cost-effective solutions, and I’m proud of the way we’ve done that on thousands of projects across the country” says Jim. “But I’m even prouder of the culture, the partnerships, and the legacy we’ve built. I’m eager for Susan to take all of this to the next level, as I know she will. The firm is sure to thrive for another 40 + years, under her leadership.”
About Forst & Associates
Forst & Associates, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm that provides mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services across the United States. For more than 40 years, the firm has successfully designed thousands of new buildings and renovations for a diverse range of projects including commercial, governmental, industrial, educational, and multi-family residential buildings. Close collaboration with project partners – including architects, contractors and owners - enables the firm to design the most efficient, high-quality yet cost-effective solutions, which lead to functional, comfortable, enjoyable spaces for clients and their customers.
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