Brothers Work, Succeed Together Simpsons Talents Complement Each Other In Engineering Firm
Fifty years in business is quite a milestone for Simpson Engineers. But for Chuck Simpson, another achievement is how well he and his business partner and older brother, Dick, have gotten along all these years.
Both graduated from Eastern Washington University in civil engineering. Both lived in the same dorm. The two have hardly been separated since their college days.
Their father, Clarence, started the company in 1946, in a small building on Argonne Road, right next to the brick house where the boys and their sister spent much of their childhood. Clarence provided much of the surveying and engineering design for numerous Valley subdivisions, shopping centers and private lots. Dick joined his father in 1968; Chuck in 1969. Clarence, who stayed active in the company until he was 80 years old, died in 1987.
Dick, who is 61, says he loves working with his younger brother.
“We have a tie that runs deeper than two strangers running a business together,” says the avid runner. “When you have someone to depend on in good or bad times - that’s nice.”
The last time they fought was 47 years ago when Chuck teased Dick about liking a girl. “I ran through the yard and hid under mother’s skirt,” says Chuck. “We hardly fought ‘cause he was always so much bigger than me.”
Having missed only a handful of school or work days all their lives, they take their jobs and families seriously. Both are active in Millwood Presbyterian Church. Dick has been the assistant Scout master and district commissioner for the Boy Scouts. Chuck has never missed any of his three children’s ball games at West Valley. The brothers see enough of each other at work that they don’t spend holidays together. Those are set aside for their own immediate families.
“We were raised with the idea that you had to build for the future,” says Dick.
“That you had to set goals,” says Chuck, finishing his brother’s sentence.
While both admit having strong personality differences, the two have made it work to their business advantage.
Dick, the one who’s more of a planner, handles the long-term projects. Chuck, the reactor, manages all the day-to-day dealings with contractors.
Since 1990, the two have been involved in the planning of the Spokane Valley Mall. They’ve worked with Hanson Industries in the mall’s platting process. And they designed the Indiana Avenue extension that will serve the mall. But they also have their hands in lots of little jobs around the Valley.
“We didn’t want to get so big over the years that we’d be administrators and not engineers,” says Dick. “We don’t run a business the way you’re supposed to.”
They don’t advertise or have their logo on the cars they drive. They resorted to purchasing business cards 10 years ago “just for the people who ask for them.”
The company has grown from its humble beginning to employ 10 other engineers. Simpson Engineers is licensed in both civil engineering and land surveying - a rarity, they say, in the industry.
The two dedicated Bloomsday runners have a motto that describes the way they run the business.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary - that’s what our father always said to us,” says Dick. “If you don’t keep on working, you won’t be successful.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: Saturday’s People is a regular Valley Voice feature profiling remarkable individuals in the Valley. If you know someone who would be a good profile subject, please call editor Mike Schmeltzer at 927-2170.