BUILT ON QUALITY, KNOWN FOR SOLUTIONS.
Our Philosophy
We believe materials testing is more than just an end-of-project report. When testing is used to actively guide quality, projects are more likely to succeed. That’s why our focus is on not only Quality Control and Quality Assurance, but also on Independent Assurance throughout every phase of a project.
We are committed to maintaining the highest internal quality levels. Our Algonquin, Beloit, and O’Hare labs are accredited by AASHTO, and this accreditation is recognized by the Illinois Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration for acceptance and referee/third-party testing. Our engineers and technicians are continually enhancing their skills, with many holding the highest levels of certifications.
We take pride in our dedicated, professional team and the strong relationships we have with our clients. We hope our expertise, experience, and philosophy align with your project needs, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
Thank you for being part of a company that is Built on Quality. Known for Solutions.
A message from the president
"Twenty years now, where'd they go?"
I've always liked that line from the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock" — or maybe you recognize it from the Chevy Truck advertising campaign. It's a reminder of how fast life goes by and to make sure you enjoy the ride. In the case of STATE Testing, the twenty years is already 26 years, and my time in this industry is 42. With that longevity comes some reflection on how we got here and the road that lies ahead.
One of things I'm most proud of in our industry is our standing among our peers. I share this as humbly as I can: everyone knows who number one is. I'm also aware of the responsibility that comes with this reputation, and how easy it would be to fall from the grace we've been blessed with.
The first and foremost reason we find ourselves in the position we're in is our agency partners and their trust in us. There is a reason every major agency in Chicagoland has us under contract, and that is our leadership in innovation. You name it - a state-of-the-art binder lab, FTIR capabilities, profile smoothness testing, MIT scanning, reflectivity testing, sustainability - we're willing to invest in the future with new technology and equipment.
The second reason for our success is the engineers and technicians that deliver the high-quality results the agencies need. Our team is simply the best, from our industry-leading technicians to our deep bench of professional engineers with a passion for materials engineering. One of things I am most proud of is the extremely low turnover rate we've experienced as a firm. We haven't lost very many, in fact we've pretty much just added. Our team has made it our mission to make the agencies we work with the best they can be.
So that brings us to the future. While I absolutely love what I'm doing, I realize I'm way closer to the finish line than the starting gate. These next 5 years as my transition to the next leadership team. The coolest thing is the 20 and 30 somethings that we have assembled as part of our upcoming leadership - I'm so excited for the opportunity in front of them! I also understand our role and responsibility in mentoring the diverse group of our subconsultants that we’ve had the honor to work with. It’s been incredible to witness the growth that many of these firms have achieved.
So it's simple, keep the course we're on and transition our young leaders to take the reins and charge on, helping our agency partners be the best they can be. I am so thankful for our clients’ continued belief and trust in us.
JAY BEHNKE, P.E.
President & Founder of STATE Testing
