Our History and Founder

Converse Consultants traces its roots to Frederick J. Converse, who began his engineering career in 1916 as an instructor in Rochester, New York. He later worked with the U.S. Bureau of Aircraft Production, performing physical testing of aircraft components, and provided engineering services for military facilities and war-related projects across the western United States. Mr. Converse went on to serve as a Design Engineer for the Los Angeles City Bureau of Power & Light and began teaching civil engineering in 1920 at the Throop Institute, now known as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California.

While continuing his academic role at Caltech, Mr. Converse formed several professional partnerships—first with R.V. Labarre in 1933, then as a sole proprietor in 1936, and later with Donald R. Warren in 1940—ultimately establishing the present-day firm in 1946. Passionate about soil and foundation engineering, Mr. Converse became a respected leader in the field and his name became synonymous with “soils engineering.” He was known not only for his technical expertise, but also for his integrity and gentlemanly character.

Since its founding, Converse Consultants has provided professional services in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, groundwater and environmental sciences, and soils and materials testing and inspection. The firm is committed to delivering responsive, high-quality solutions that foster long-term relationships. Its clients span public agencies and private sector organizations across transportation, water/wastewater, education, residential, commercial, and other market sectors.

Today, Converse Consultants is an employee-owned corporation and maintains a consistent presence in the states its offices are present in. Its success is built on a foundation of client satisfaction, a well-trained and experienced staff, a strong culture of retention, and an openness to innovation and new technologies.

The 1936 International Conference on Soils Mechanics and Foundation Engineering launched soil mechanics, today known as geotechnical engineering, as a recognized discipline of civil engineering. The theoretical and experimental work of the men pictured provided the foundation of modern geotechnical engineering. Our founder (no. 15) Fred J. Converse (then a professor at Caltech) is credited mostly with work on pile engineering for deep foundations.