Gautom Medhi - a Successfull Assamese Entrepreneur in the USA

In the beginning of April 2007, during my Spring Break, I had traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to visit some good friends I know for many years. We stayed with Mantu and Silpi Baishya during our visits. During this trip to Omaha, one of the friends I visited was Gautom Medhi. I have known Gautom for more than fifteen years years, from the time we were graduate students in Northeast USA although he is younger than me. I even attended his wedding about ten years ago.

Gautom graduated from has an MS in Civil Engineering and had worked for a reputed civil engineering company in Omaha for several years. Then, after his marriage to Lynn-Lee, he started his company in 1996. It used to be located in his basement in Omaha, but a few years ago, as his company continued to expand, he moved it to rental space. Finally, last year, he bought an historic 100-year old building and renovated it for his company’s main office.

Recently, Gautom had visited Colorado on business a few times. He stopped by my house a couple of times to renew acquaintance. When I was in Omaha recently, I visited him and his family, as well as his business.

Gautom’s company is called Associated Engineering (AE), Inc. The main office is in Elkhorn, Omaha. Elkhorn used to be separate city, but was absorbed into Omaha recently. Gautom’s office is located in a building in the historic part of Elkhorn. To reflect his company’s commitment to civic responsibilities and to better reflect his company’s mission and vision, he renovated a 100-year old building in a historic part of town and moved his main office. He has a branch office Lincoln, Nebraska, as well.

Gautom’s company employs 15 people at this time. He employs civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental specialists. He has projects all over the Western United States. He travels often to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Missouri and other states. He is looking to expand his operations all the time. If one goes to his company’s Web site (www.ae-pc.com) and looks under “Career Opportunities”, one can see announcements for four positions: a Senior Civil Engineer, a CAD Technician, a Survey Party Chief, and an Instrument Technician.

Gautom’s company has a wide-ranging expertise. Its main expertise is Structural Engineering: construction of highway, railway and pedestrian bridges; school buildings, shopping malls, churches, hospitals, etc. The company has recently done quite a bit of work with cell phone companies. His work starts with site acquisition, surveying, zoning drawing, construction drawing, structural analysis, environmental studies, permit issues, and all the way to construction management. The company has so far worked with more than 2600 cell phone sites. He also works with municipal organizations with sewer and street and sewer rehabilitation, bridge design, and trail systems.

Gautom’s company has US Small Business Administration (SBA) certification. The company also has City of Omaha Protected Business Enterprise certification.

Contributed by Jugal Kalita, Colorado Springs, CO, USA