MONROE - An owner of Fehr Graham will shortly take his leave of the business after helping it grow into a tri-state operation with nearly 200 staff.
Todd Weegens joined Fehr Graham in April 1990, determined to improve his career as its 18th employee.
"When I sat down with the owners at the time, they were very aware of my intentions," Weegens said.
A Lena native, Weegens graduated from Lena-Winslow High School before obtaining a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1983, graduating magna cum laude. He went on to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation and said before he applied to Fehr Graham, he was looking to join a private industry. When the opportunity to move to Freeport to be closer to his child came around, he seized upon it.
From there, he became an owner in 1992.
"When I came to Fehr Graham, I thought one of the things I really could do was to help the company grow," Weegens said.
He noticed a number of company clients were in the Rockford area, but no physical location had been established in the city. In 1993, Fehr Graham opened a Rockford office and Weegens ran it for the next seven years before returning to Freeport.
In 2010, when Monroe's Hans Anderson retired, Weegens came to the city to oversee the local office.
"I really enjoyed my time up there quite a bit," Weegens said, noting that like his hometown, Monroe has a small town feel but provides a variety of things for residents to do.
Weegens said he looks forward to his retirement because he can spend more quality time with his nine grandchildren, who range in ages from 8 months old to 19. He's still uncertain about his plans, though, and how he feels about leaving.
"I'm not quite sure yet," Weegens said of how it feels to leave the business after nearly three decades. "I've been focusing on wrapping things up ... I'm planning to go some place warm and figure out my next steps."
So far, he knows he wants to spend his free time traveling, riding his motorcycle and playing golf, though Weegens also noted he probably will not be able to give up work entirely. He is set to retire from Fehr Graham on his birthday, the final day of December.
Todd Weegens joined Fehr Graham in April 1990, determined to improve his career as its 18th employee.
"When I sat down with the owners at the time, they were very aware of my intentions," Weegens said.
A Lena native, Weegens graduated from Lena-Winslow High School before obtaining a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1983, graduating magna cum laude. He went on to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation and said before he applied to Fehr Graham, he was looking to join a private industry. When the opportunity to move to Freeport to be closer to his child came around, he seized upon it.
From there, he became an owner in 1992.
"When I came to Fehr Graham, I thought one of the things I really could do was to help the company grow," Weegens said.
He noticed a number of company clients were in the Rockford area, but no physical location had been established in the city. In 1993, Fehr Graham opened a Rockford office and Weegens ran it for the next seven years before returning to Freeport.
In 2010, when Monroe's Hans Anderson retired, Weegens came to the city to oversee the local office.
"I really enjoyed my time up there quite a bit," Weegens said, noting that like his hometown, Monroe has a small town feel but provides a variety of things for residents to do.
Weegens said he looks forward to his retirement because he can spend more quality time with his nine grandchildren, who range in ages from 8 months old to 19. He's still uncertain about his plans, though, and how he feels about leaving.
"I'm not quite sure yet," Weegens said of how it feels to leave the business after nearly three decades. "I've been focusing on wrapping things up ... I'm planning to go some place warm and figure out my next steps."
So far, he knows he wants to spend his free time traveling, riding his motorcycle and playing golf, though Weegens also noted he probably will not be able to give up work entirely. He is set to retire from Fehr Graham on his birthday, the final day of December.