The Man Behind the Momentum: A Q&A With Halff’s Atlanta Operations Manager Randy Strunk

Randy Strunk is Halff’s Atlanta operations manager, leading efforts to expand the firm’s new office in the region.

Randy Strunk has loved building things since he was a kid — now, he says he “just gets to use bigger Legos.” That’s why he pursued a career in civil engineering, where he gets to watch his designs be installed in the field. “I really enjoy that piece of it,” he says. “I enjoy helping communities a lot.”

Randy is the operations manager for Halff’s Atlanta office, which opened in June 2025. After 17 years with his previous firm, Randy was looking for an opportunity to build something new. That momentum ultimately led to the launch of Halff’s Atlanta office.

Today, the Atlanta office includes a growing staff with a “jack-of-all-trades” mentality. “I always say that we’re client driven, not just service driven,” Randy says. “I’m a civil engineer; that’s what I do. Whatever you need, we’ll figure it out for you.”

In this Q&A, Randy highlights why Atlanta made sense for Halff, why Halff made sense for him and expert insights on key issues driving the region.

You have a 20+ year career in the industry. One year ago, you went beyond merely joining Halff — you also launched a new Atlanta office for the firm. Why was that the right career move for you?

I was at my previous firm for 17 years. I wanted my next step to be entrepreneurial. I even thought about going out on my own and opening my own business, but I also have five kids — opening your own small business with five kids is very scary. Joining Halff allows me to get the best of all worlds: I get to grow Halff’s Atlanta presence just like a small business while also having the backing of a great company in Halff.

In addition, I could tell through meetings with Halff leadership that there was such an alignment in values. That focus on quality and on improving people’s lives is who I am as a person, it’s who I am as an engineer, it’s who I am as a client manager and it’s who Halff is as a firm.

Halff launched its Atlanta office in 2025. What made Atlanta the right place for Halff to plant its flag?

Halff is largely based in the Southern U.S., so I think it’s a natural fit for the firm to move into Atlanta. The market is just booming in the city and throughout Georgia. That’s on the municipal side, at the state level, at the federal level and within private development. There’s just so much going on here, and it’s wise to have an office here to lean into that.

You specialize in stormwater and erosion control. What should the Atlanta market be thinking about when it comes to prioritizing stormwater needs?

In Georgia, there are three main things I keep hearing frequently as I talk to clients, and number one is funding. Unlike water and sewer projects, there aren’t always dedicated funding sources to pay for stormwater maintenance and upgrades. Finding that funding to help these communities get proactive is a big concern.

Secondly, we have to talk about standardization. Things like erosion control are standard no matter where you go in the state of Georgia, by law. But that’s not the case with stormwater; stormwater in Atlanta is very different than stormwater in rural Georgia, and that can lead to quite a few issues. So getting everybody on the same page with the way stormwater should be treated in Georgia is a major topic right now.

The third one is resiliency. We all know storms and floods are going to come. It’s just a matter of time. But oftentimes, people don’t want to do the new infrastructure project until after the flood happens. It’s essential to invest in infrastructure ahead of time so that when the flood does come, you’re prepared.

Funding, standardization and resiliency are essential priorities as Atlanta considers its stormwater needs, Strunk says.

You’re also passionate about transportation — what should the Atlanta market be considering when it comes to its transportation needs?

Traffic calming is a big issue within Atlanta right now, and infrastructure plays a big role in that. Traffic calming techniques prompt drivers to drive more slowly by integrating structures like chicanes, roundabouts and narrower lanes. Those are highly effective and create a safer environment for drivers and pedestrians alike. And you’re not impacting traffic as far as queue lengths — you’re just slowing it down a bit.

It was recently announced that communities across Georgia are receiving a total of $74 million in low-interest loans from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to support those water, wastewater and solid waste projects. What should these communities keep in mind as they pursue funding?

Make sure you’re positioning well for the funding — and that’s not just what you’re doing ahead of time to be first in line for the funding. It’s also being prepared for when you actually receive the funding. Seamless management and documentation of that funding is key.

It’s also critical to make sure that you actually have a funding strategy that isn’t about grabbing for the very first funding opportunity that comes along for your project. Entities should be looking at all of their projects and asking, “What are the right funding strategies that go with each one of these projects to be able to build them?” Maybe it’s a long-term, 20-year project, or maybe it’s a short-term project for the next year. Whatever it is, you’ve got to piece together the puzzle of how that funding goes together before you decide what to approach and when.

Halff has a team dedicated to creating those targeted funding strategies for communities. Elizabeth Range-Pendell, Lisa King and the Funding Resources team within Halff do a fantastic job of helping communities pursue and administer funding.

You joined the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors earlier this year. Tell us about your role.

I’m on the board of directors, and my job is essentially to help Gwinnett County continue doing what it’s always done, which is to be great for business. I’ve lived in Gwinnett now for 13 years, and I’ve worked in Gwinnett for almost 20. Gwinnett County really is driven by trying to be a great place to do business, and that’s exactly what the chamber of commerce supports. So serving on the board helps me to ensure that continues to happen.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the future?

It all boils down to one thing, which is growth. It covers a multitude of different things. But my passion for building extends into my passion for building Halff in Atlanta, building our relationships with clients, building the staff here and building us up to be the greatest company we can be in Atlanta. I really have a big passion for that.

There are so many folks in the Atlanta market who have yet to hear of Halff, and I’m excited to introduce our name to them.

About the Firm

Halff is an award-winning, employee-owned full-service infrastructure consulting firm with more than 75 years of expertise. Established in 1950 by Dr. Albert H. Halff, the firm continues to advance his vision of creating resilient communities through thoughtful design and technical excellence.

Today, Halff operates from more than 30 offices across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Our firm works together to provide comprehensive services from our Mobility, Places and Communities, and Water and Environment solutions. Our professionals remain committed to delivering smart solutions that improve lives and communities by turning ideas into reality.