Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Gary H. Elzweig is a graduate of Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the States of Florida and Colorado. Gary has 45+ years of experience in engineering, construction, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A), and is an expert in building and scaling businesses in these sectors through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. He has a proven track record of leading 50+ successful M&A transactions, transforming companies, and driving significant revenue and EBITDA growth, and is noted for spearheading the development of national platforms and executing innovative strategies in the engineering and technical service sectors. Gary has recieved Ernst & Young’s “Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” Award and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). — Innovations: • Instrumental in passing Florida Statute §553.791, the Private Provider Law, enabling developers to use privately licensed inspectors and plans examiners. • Developed the Condominium Defect Mitigation™ program, reducing construction liabilities and recognized by insurers as a risk management protocol. Professional Affiliations: • Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) • Columbia University Engineering Council – Board Member (Emeritus) • Broward County Board of Rules & Appeals – Past Chairman • Miami Dade County’s Development Process Advisory Committee – Past Member • Florida Engineering Society – Representative on Governor’s Task Force Certifications: • Registered Professional Engineer, Florida and Colorado. • Board Certified Structural Engineer (SECB) (Inactive) • Special/Threshold Inspector (Active) • Building Inspector (Inactive) • Radon Measurement Professional (Inactive) • ACI Concrete Masonry Inspector • ACI Concrete Technician (Inactive) Personal Accomplishments: • Single father to two accomplished daughters: one a Duke University graduate who recently founded an environmental consulting firm, and the other a Columbia University graduate now helping build Welz Partners.
Gary formed Obsidian Group Holdings, LLC, dba: Universal Engineering Sciences Holdings, LLC (UES), to acquire and build a national engineering services platform anchored by Universal Engineering Sciences, LLC, a 56-year-old company founded by Sy Israel in 1964. Sy and Mark Israel grew Universal Engineering Sciences, LLC into a respected leader in geotechnical and environmental engineering, inspection services, construction materials testing, construction QA/QC, and building code compliance services throughout Florida. As Co-Founder, President, Vice Chairman, and Chief Strategy Officer of Universal Engineering Sciences Holdings, LLC (UES), Gary led the platform-level acquisition, integration, and growth strategy that built UES into a national blue-chip engineering services platform. Working in partnership with Sy and Mark Israel, who continued leading Universal Engineering Sciences as the platform’s cultural backbone and operating company, Gary expanded UES to $629 million in revenue and EBITDA of $105M through 30+ acquisitions in under five years, helping transform the company into one of the largest and most recognized engineering services firms in the United States, with more than 90 offices and 4,000+ employees nationwide. During his tenure, UES was recognized as Zweig’s #1 Hot Firm of the Year Award for an unprecedented 4 consecutive years. Gary exited the firm in September 2024 with an 18x MOIC.
Two award winning engineering entrepreneurs, Gary H Elzweig and Brian C Kramer, teamed up to acquire Quality Built®, a national Third-Party Risk Management Solutions firm which was on the brink of failure. At the time, Quality Built® was a 16 year old professional construction service leader best known for its work in Total Quality Management, servicing residential and commercial clients nationwide. Beth Michaelis and Stan Luhr, the founders of Quality Built®, remained on with the newly restructured firm as President and Vice President, respectively. Gary served as the Chairman while Kramer served as its CEO. Gary led the reorganization and rebuilt the firm, including overseeing and guiding the acquisition and integration of West Coast Property Consultants in December 2011, into a highly successful national firm that now specializes in Mass Inspection Engagement Management Services. Gary exited the company after 3 years with a 10x MOIC.
In 2002, Gary formed Code Administration, Plans Review & Inspection Services, Inc. (CAPRI Engineering), a structural engineering, inspection, and construction materials testing firm with an aggressive business plan and handful of determined employees. Three years later, CAPRI’s annual revenues exceeded $50 million with 16 offices and in excess of 400 employees nationwide. Gary exited the company after recapitalizing the firm with Stonepoint Capital.
After successfully merging PEICO into US Labs, Mr. Elzweig held executive responsibility, influencing strategic corporate decisions for all five US Labs subsidiaries, including PEICO, which included 30 offices nationwide and 750+ employees, while continuing to serve as PEICO’s CEO & President. Mr. Elzweig and his partner took US Labs public in 1997 and later sold it in a tender offer to Bureau Veritas.