From RaganSmith to Pape-Dawson: A New Engineering Power in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN – January 07, 2026 – The name RaganSmith, a fixture in Tennessee’s engineering landscape for over nine decades, has officially been retired. In its place now stands Pape-Dawson, a move that finalizes the full integration of the respected local firm into the operations of one of the nation's fastest-growing civil engineering companies. Announced this week, the rebranding marks the culmination of a strategic process that began with Pape-Dawson's acquisition of RaganSmith in March 2024.

This transition is far more than a change of letterhead. It signifies the fusion of a firm with deep-rooted local expertise and a 93-year legacy with the expansive resources and technical depth of a national powerhouse. For Tennessee, a state experiencing unprecedented growth and facing significant infrastructure demands, the consolidation reshapes the competitive environment and signals a new era of capability for large-scale development projects.

A Strategic Blueprint for National Expansion

The absorption of RaganSmith is a key piece in Pape-Dawson's meticulously executed national growth strategy. Fueled by a 2023 strategic investment from private equity firm Palm Beach Capital, the San Antonio-based company has embarked on an aggressive campaign of mergers and acquisitions, transforming itself from a regional leader into a national contender. The RaganSmith acquisition was its inaugural entry into the Tennessee market, and its full integration now solidifies that crucial foothold.

This move is part of a much larger pattern. In the last few years, Pape-Dawson has completed at least seven acquisitions, methodically building its presence in key growth markets. The firm has established a formidable base in Florida through the acquisition of five firms, including Poulos & Bennett and GradyMinor, while simultaneously strengthening its home turf in Texas and expanding into Louisiana and Oklahoma with the purchase of KSA Engineers. The company has also broadened its service-specific expertise, notably acquiring Coffman Associates, a national airport planning firm, to bolster its aviation practice.

This strategy mirrors a broader consolidation trend within the civil engineering industry, where firms are scaling up to handle increasingly complex projects and capitalize on federal initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). By acquiring established, culturally aligned firms, Pape-Dawson is executing a playbook designed to blend local trust with national-level capacity, positioning itself as a go-to partner for critical infrastructure work across the country.

Merging Local Legacy with National Resources

Before the acquisition, RaganSmith was a powerhouse in its own right. Founded in 1933, the firm grew to 170 team members across offices in Nashville, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro—epicenters of Tennessee's economic boom. It built a sterling reputation on a foundation of civil engineering, surveying, land planning, and environmental services, becoming a trusted name for developers and municipalities alike.

The rebranding aims to preserve that legacy while augmenting it with new capabilities. “RaganSmith has long been defined by a deep, genuine commitment to Tennessee’s communities,” said Cara Tackett, Chief Operating Officer for Expanding Markets at Pape-Dawson. “By moving forward as one brand, we are building upon RaganSmith’s strong reputation and providing added capacity to project teams to promote a consistent client experience.”

The nearly two-year period between the initial acquisition and the final rebrand suggests a deliberate, phased integration. This approach allowed the companies to align their business systems, project management processes, and corporate cultures without disrupting ongoing work. For former RaganSmith leaders, the move is about scaling up their impact.

“Our history as RaganSmith is the foundation of everything we do, but our future as Pape-Dawson allows us to scale that excellence,” commented Allen Ramsey of RaganSmith. “Operating as one team streamlines our ability to collaborate and ensures that we remain the first choice for complex and impactful projects across Tennessee and beyond.”

Beyond the Name: Expanded Capabilities for a Growing State

The integration promises tangible benefits for clients in Tennessee. While RaganSmith already offered a robust suite of services, it now operates with the full backing of Pape-Dawson's extensive, multidisciplinary portfolio. This unlocks a new tier of expertise for the Tennessee market, particularly in specialized areas.

Clients now have direct access to advanced structural engineering, a core Pape-Dawson service, as well as sophisticated capabilities in water and wastewater infrastructure, hydrologic modeling, and flood-resilience planning—all critical needs in a state managing rapid urbanization and changing environmental conditions. Furthermore, with Pape-Dawson's enhanced aviation practice, the firm is better equipped to support the expansion and modernization of Tennessee's airports.

This unified structure is designed to create a seamless, end-to-end service for both public and private sector clients. A large-scale mixed-use development, for example, can now be handled by a single entity that provides everything from initial land surveying and environmental assessments to traffic analysis, structural design, landscape architecture, and construction management. This streamlined approach can lead to greater efficiency and more cohesive project outcomes.

As Tennessee continues to attract new residents and businesses, the demand for sophisticated infrastructure solutions will only intensify. The transformation of RaganSmith into a fully integrated part of Pape-Dawson creates a formidable new entity in the state, one equipped with the history, local knowledge, and national power to play a defining role in shaping its future.