IPD: Engineering expands with new department, employees

SYRACUSE — IPD: Engineering, a Syracuse–based engineering firm, had been working to add a structural-engineering department since opening its doors nearly five years ago. The firm’s customer base “typically has a need” for structural engineering, says Sam Cosamano, president and co-owner of IPD: Engineering. The firm on Aug. 25 announced the addition of a structural […]

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SYRACUSE — IPD: Engineering, a Syracuse–based engineering firm, had been working to add a structural-engineering department since opening its doors nearly five years ago.

The firm’s customer base “typically has a need” for structural engineering, says Sam Cosamano, president and co-owner of IPD: Engineering.

The firm on Aug. 25 announced the addition of a structural department and three new employees for the division, who had joined the organization a few months earlier.

Cosamano spoke with the Business Journal News Network that same day.

The company, which launched in 2009, operates in a 5,400-square-foot space at One Webster’s Landing in Syracuse.

IPD: Engineering provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); plumbing, fire protection, electrical, and structural-design services.

“We would like to provide our customers with as many services as possible, so this [new department] was a natural fit for us. It was a natural progression. We just needed to find the right person,” says Cosamano.

That person was Jeremy Fudo, a project engineer from Auburn who joined IPD: Engineering in April after operating his own business, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

Fudo, who is licensed in 10 states, and will operate IPD’s structural department, which currently includes four people, the firm said. 

He has more than 18 years of experience designing and evaluating various types of structures, according to the news release.

IPD announced the hiring internally back in February. 

He had been handling structural engineering for “mutual customers,” meaning the customer would hire Fudo as the structural engineer and IPD: Engineering to handle the engineering for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. 

IPD became familiar with Fudo through those working relationships, says Cosamano. 

Fudo started doing some work for IPD and the firm “really liked” his efforts, and so did IPD: Engineering’s customers. 

“We made him an offer and he accepted it,” says Cosamano.

Besides Fudo, the company also hired David Schug of Clay as a structural designer. 

Schug had operated his own business, a structural design and drafting business in which he would support structural engineers like Fudo, who handled projects on their own but needed some support. 

They had worked together for a long time, says Cosamano. And based on that working relationship, Fudo wanted “to work with him [Schug] exclusively,” he added. 

When Fudo started at IPD: Engineering, the firm made Schug an offer as well, says Cosamano.

Brian Stanton of Camillus also joined the company and fills a dual role as mechanical and structural engineer, according to the news release.

“He has a more of a background in mechanical [engineering] but wanted to move into the structural arena,” says Cosamano.

Since opening five years ago, the employee count at IPD: Engineering has grown to 18 full-time workers with annual revenue approaching $3 million, according to the firm’s news release.

Besides Cosamano, the firm’s owners also include Sam Gramet, the company’s vice president, and David Nutting, IPD’s CEO.

Nutting also serves as the CEO and chairman of VIP Structures, which operates in the same building. IPD: Engineering is a sister company to VIP Structures, according to Cosamano.

IPD: Engineering services clients in the education, health-care, manufacturing, and property-development sectors, according to its release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com 

Eric Reinhardt: