Founded in August 1986, the multidisciplinary firm has grown into a national presence with nearly 400 employee owners across 18 offices in 13 states. Stanworth, who joined in 1999 and oversaw the 2006 transition to an ESOP structure, credits the company’s sustained performance to a collective effort. Under her direction since 2010, the business secured a spot on the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms list, ranking 231st nationally in 2026.
BL Companies Marks Four Decades of Architecture and Engineering Growth
A milestone anniversary arrives for the Meriden-based firm, which celebrates 40 years of operation and two decades under an employee stock ownership plan. As the company reflects on its trajectory, it prepares for a leadership transition following the upcoming retirement of longtime President and CEO Carolyn Stanworth.
Industry recognition has followed this expansion. The ESOP Association’s New England Chapter named BL the 2025 Company of the Year, marking its second time receiving the honor. Furthermore, the Zweig Group ranked the firm 11th among large multidiscipline workplaces in its 2026 Best Firm to Work For list. As Stanworth prepares to step down at the end of the year, the company has appointed VP of Operations Derek Kohl and General Counsel Julia O'Brien to serve as co-presidents for the next chapter.
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