Over the years he has risen through the ranks from consultant to senior consultant, managing consultant, director and now associate partner.

Advisers who do hit the right numbers are elevated to a higher rank, initially to associate partner and then as high as 'triple' partner.

Last year the benchmark salary for a senior consultant was 50,000; for a project manager 66,000; for an associate partner 83,000; and for a partner 115,000.

In 1977, he became the associate partner in the firm.

The organization has since also contracted with a number of associate partners to serve some special purpose districts including water and sewer districts, public hospital districts, and transit districts.