Through Primera’s lens, 2024 was a year full complete with its challenges, success stories, and everything in between. Our teams accomplished a great deal together, and we proudly expanded our geographical footprint to include new offices in Atlanta and Denver. As Primera continues to evolve, we are excited to reflect on the moments that defined this memorable year.

To close out 2024, we’re reflecting on the most popular stories posted to our website. Here’s a look at the achievements and milestones that best capture Primera’s standout moments:

1. Our biggest news this year was our successful acquisition of Corey Electrical Engineering. Based in Denver, Colorado, Corey provides electrical engineering services and like Primera, was woman-owned. This strategic move to acquire Corey was a significant milestone exhibiting Primera’s commitment to National expansion.
2. Primera was named as one of Crain’s Largest Engineering Firms. This newly-published list is made up of Chicago’s top-tier engineering firms, and ranks local companies by the number of licensed engineers. Primera’s robust team of 50 engineers licensed in the Chicago area (in addition to its 300+ engineering professionals) earned Primera a spot on the inaugural list.
3. Each year, Primera’s LEED accredited professional, John Antonoglu, conducts a report on Primera’s carbon footprint. This year, we’ve taken a significant step by adopting the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, a universally recognized industry standard for tracking and reporting carbon emissions.
4. It’s no secret that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, and Primera’s Consulting team has their finger on the pulse. Primera’s Data Analyst, Andrew Wahrer, explains how Primera Consulting is utilizing AI for image classification and more.
5. We were proud to congratulate Jill Deichmann on being reappointed to Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago (RTMC)’s Board President. Jill has been involved with RTMC for the past 30 years, giving back to her community by dedicating her time and contributing her architectural knowledge and skills.
6. Primera’s participation in ComEd’s Power Up Academy has proven to be a huge success. The Power Up Academy is a fast-tracked career training program meant to fill technical roles and meet the demand within the industry. Primera’s Kayla Reefer, spotlighted in the story above, is just one of the many successful graduates from ComEd’s new program, giving opportunities to job seekers of any and all backgrounds.
7. People are Primera’s number one priority. To uphold the core value of being “people people,” Primera promotes transparency and communication within our teams, our company, and with our clients. The Great Game of Business (GGOB) allows Primera to adhere to these values by meeting weekly as a company to share our finances, strategies and overall performance. In his thought leadership article, Hunter Braciszewski explains the benefits and impact of GGOB at Primera.
8. Primera’s CFO, Melissa Clark, was named to Crain’s 2024 Notable Black Leaders earlier this year. Melissa has been instrumental in Primera’s growth, creating our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, setting up our 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the Primera Foundation, all while managing Primera’s day-to-day accounting and finance efforts. Her outstanding contributions to Primera coupled with her extensive repertoire of community involvement makes her beyond deserving of this recognition.
9. The Primera Foundation hosted a brand-new fundraising event this year, and boy was it a success! Forward Focused: People, Places, and Possibilities raised nearly $60,000 for the promotion of STEM education throughout our communities. Featuring some of the industry’s most influential figures, the fundraiser consisted of a panel discussion and networking reception. Be sure to save the date for next year’s Forward Focused on Wednesday, September 24^th, 2025.
10. As a full-service engineering and design firm, Primera always has boots on the ground, literally. Throughout Illinois and Indiana, Primera’s construction team was hard at work this past year on several projects with several agencies, transforming communities near and far.

As always, thank you to our clients, partners, friends, and every relationship we make, for joining us on our journey. We are looking forward to an even better 2025!