Latitude 33 Marks 33 Years of Growth, Expands into Arizona

Latitude 33
Latitude 33’s Headquarters in San Diego, CA

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 28, 2026) — Latitude 33 Planning, Engineering & Surveying is celebrating its 33rd anniversary with a growing Southwest presence, including a Phoenix office opened this year.

Founded in 1993, the San Diego firm has grown from four to 75 team members and now generates annual revenue of $18 million to $20 million. Its portfolio spans major residential communities, healthcare campuses, universities, airports and civic facilities. The firm attributes its growth to close client relationships, principal involvement and investment in its people.

Building a Foundation

Latitude 33 was founded by four partners, including planner Randi Coopersmith and civil engineer John Eardensohn, who envisioned a collaborative company with principals directly involved in every client relationship and project.

A breakthrough came in 1996, when the firm partnered with Pardee Homes on Pacific Highlands Ranch. Other early clients and projects included Scripps Health, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, and Eastgate Tech Park. As its portfolio grew, the firm focused on recruiting strong leaders and building lasting relationships.

An ownership transition in 2019 established a new leadership team. Matthew J. Semic, PE, who led the firm’s commercial markets, became president and an owner alongside Chief Financial Officer Kris Taylor. Senior Principal Giovanni Posillico, PE, also acquired an ownership stake. In 2026, Taylor’s role expanded to chief financial and administrative officer.

The leadership team developed a growth strategy focused on broadening services, diversifying projects and entering new markets while preserving the firm’s collaborative culture.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built in 33 years,” said Semic. “This milestone represents a level of maturity for our firm—we have an exceptional team, trusted partners who share our commitment to collaboration, a clear understanding of where we excel, and a track record we’re proud of. After taking calculated leaps and learning invaluable lessons, it feels as though we’re entering our prime. We’re grateful for the people and communities who have been part of our journey.”

Projects That Shaped the Firm

Latitude 33’s growth has closely followed San Diego’s evolution. Projects central to that growth include:

  • Pacific Highlands Ranch: The firm contributed to the 2,652-acre community for more than 25 years, culminating in the opening of Aperture Del Mar Phase 2 and the Pacific Highlands Ranch Library in 2024.
  • County of San Diego Operations Center: Latitude 33 worked on the 47-acre campus for nearly two decades. With more than 15 structures, the development incorporated design and construction practices centered on sustainability and employee wellness.
  • UC San Diego: The firm’s work includes the $2.5 billion to $3 billion Hillcrest Medical Campus Redevelopment, the $428 million Triton Center and the $185 million Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute.
  • San Diego International Airport: Latitude 33 served as landside civil engineer for the $3.8 billion New Terminal 1 project and continues to work with the airport on the Terminal 2 East Connector Building.

Latitude 33 also holds small business certifications at the state, federal and local levels and is pursuing Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification for its military sector work.

Expanding Across the Southwest

Latitude 33’s geographic expansion has largely followed existing clients into new markets. In addition to its company-owned San Diego headquarters, the firm has opened four offices since 2023:

  • Sacramento, established in 2023: Serves clients in the northern portion of California’s Central Valley.
  • Downtown Los Angeles, established in 2024: Serves Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties, supported by a fully staffed survey team in Burbank.
  • Inland Empire, established in 2025: Serves Riverside County and the Coachella Valley.
  • Phoenix, established in 2026: Supports contracts in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Yuma and surrounding markets.

Recent project awards, including 1,200 student housing units at UC Santa Cruz, are further extending the firm’s reach along the California coast.

“We’re celebrating our 33rd anniversary because we have embraced challenges and viewed them as opportunities to grow,” said Taylor. “We’ve intentionally built the operational procedures and organizational structures necessary to support that growth—but our greatest investment has always been our people. We don’t hire to fill positions; we hire people who help drive our organization forward.”

Posillico said those relationships remain central to the firm’s direction.

“Ultimately, our greatest measure of success isn’t the projects we’ve completed, but the relationships we’ve built along the way—the people who have trusted us, grown with us, and helped shape who we are today,” he said. “Those relationships are the foundation of our past and the inspiration for our future.”

About Latitude 33 Planning, Engineering & Surveying

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in San Diego, Latitude 33 provides public sector and land use planning, public outreach, entitlement services, civil engineering, surveying and mapping for public agencies, developers and property owners.

Its expertise spans aviation, life sciences, residential, education, healthcare, military, commercial, retail, civic and hospitality projects. Women account for 40% of the firm’s engineers.

For more information, visit latitude33.com.