Robert Grubic is retiring as CEO of the engineering firm that has borne his name for just over four decades.
- As of the end of this year, the next CEO of Harrisburg-based Herbert Rowland & Grubic will be Jason Fralick, who has been its president since 2019.
- Grubic plans to remain chairman of the board at the employee-owned company.
- “HRG is stronger and more cohesive than ever, making this an opportune time for me to transition from company operations and focus on promoting HRG through business development and community involvement,” Grubic said in a statement.
- In addition to his role at HRG, Grubic is on the board of Millersburg-based Mid Penn Bancorp.
- He also has been involved with Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, United Way of the Capital Region and the college of engineering at Villanova University, his alma mater.
The background: Herbert Rowland & Grubic, known as HRG, was founded in 1962 as Herbert Associates. Its three founders were Harry Herbert, Robert Rowland and John Strangarity.
- The firm became Herbert Rowland & Grubic in 1980, seven years after Grubic came aboard.
- OVerall, Grubic has worked for the company for 49 years as it steadily expanded from its base in Harrisburg.
- It opened its first branch office in 1991 in State College and eventually expanded statewide and into West Virginia and Ohio.
- It has local offices in York and Chambersburg, in addition to its Harrisburg headquarters.
- The company has about 290 employees, who provide civil engineering, surveying, environmental and related services for public- and private-sector clients in a range of industries, including health care, manufacturing and real estate.
Who’s next: Fralick will become CEO at the end of the year.
- He first joined the firm as an intern in 1991.
- Before being named president, he was western region vice president. Before that, he was manager of the firm’s State College office.
