KCA’s Journey Since 1976

In the early days, KCA operated primarily out of Jack Campo’s station wagon—surveying and designing subdivisions throughout the Tampa Bay area. At the firm’s inception, Jack served as the visionary and marketing leader, Allen Kisinger led surveying services, and Jose LaRussa played a pivotal role in operations and the development of CEI services.

Foreseeing growth in the local government bridge inspection market, Jack Campo invited Ed Burkett to join KCA. On April 15, 1977, KCA secured its first bridge inspection win. Soon after, Ed officially joined the firm, and KCA went on to earn additional bridge inspection contracts for Charlotte and Manatee Counties that same year.

KCA played a key role as part of a four-member team overseeing construction inspection for the new $245 million cable-stayed Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Following the tragic 1980 collapse of the original bridge after a freighter collision, the new Skyway rose as an iconic symbol of resilience and innovation. Today, it stands as Florida’s “flag bridge” and the state’s second-longest bridge.

KCA expanded beyond Florida by opening its first North Carolina office in Kannapolis in 1997 and securing its first CEI contract with NCDOT for the US 17 widening in Edenton. The following year, KCCS, Inc. was established as a subsidiary dedicated to CEI services in Florida, headquartered in Tampa with regional and project offices across the state.

A major milestone in KCA’s history came with the Tampa Downtown Interchange project, first awarded in 1996, with the bulk of design efforts spanning 2000–2009. This $100 million, system-to-system, three-level interchange included operational improvements featuring seven new bridges and eighteen bridge widenings. The project also introduced a signature curved, steel plate girder flyover with seven spans and integral end diaphragms at two piers. Extensive public involvement, including the relocation of historic homes, was a key component of this transformative effort.

KCA relocated its corporate headquarters to a 28,000-square-foot office in Tampa City Center, establishing a strong presence in the city’s Central Business District. The following year, Stephen McGucken, PE, was appointed CEO and Paul Foley, PE, was promoted to President, marking a pivotal leadership transition during a period of significant growth.

KCA provided CEI services for three groundbreaking projects totaling $356 million, including North Carolina’s first implementations of several innovative designs—a rare two-level turbine interchange with sweeping high-capacity ramps, a split-diamond interchange, and a diverging diamond interchange. This transformative program earned national recognition, ranking No. 1 on Roads & Bridges magazine’s 2012 “Top 10 Roads” list.

KCA played a major role in the $585 million I-275 project—the most significant transportation investment in Pinellas County since the US 19 expansion. As a key partner, KCA delivered MOT, roadway, structures, drainage design, and S&PM services for the first segment of TBNext and the initial Express Lanes on I-275. During this period of growth, KCA also expanded its footprint by opening new design offices in Fort Myers, FL and Raleigh, NC (securing our first design project in NC: NW Cary Parkway Bridge Rehabilitation for the Town of Cary).

KCA continued its growth trajectory with several key milestones. In 2021, KCA began design and Owner’s Representative services for the Cape Coral Bridge Replacement in Lee County, creating a signature gateway for the City of Cape Coral through the replacement of the westbound span and widening of the eastbound span. The following year, KCA secured its first South Carolina win with the SCDOT Bridge Preservation contract, marking an important foothold in a new state. In 2023, KCA expanded westward, opening its first Texas design office in Dallas under the leadership of Cliff Hall, PE.

As KCA enters its 50th year, the firm has grown from a three-person startup in Tampa to a team of more than 410 professionals across nearly 15 offices in four states. With 12 specialized service lines and a reputation for quality, integrity, and responsiveness, KCA continues to be a trusted consultant for numerous clients across the Southeast. Our recent success with the award-winning Sanibel Causeway Emergency Repairs project stands as a testament to our reliability, technical excellence, and ability to deliver when it matters most.