Everett Cowan

Senior Advisor
o:  615.292.9495
c:  615.406.7172

Everett founded AE Guidance, LLC and affiliated with Compass Executives in January of 2011.  He is a graduate of the University of Louisville in Civil Engineering and was selected as the Distinguished Alumnus in 2004.

Prior to forming AE Guidance Everett had a long career in the Engineering and Architectural business, almost all of which was in the Nashville area. He moved to Nashville in 1970 to start the engineering department of Miller Wihry and Lee and rose to the position of managing director of the office.

In 1982, Everett joined MCI Consulting Engineers and as President helped grow that civil engineering business to over 140 people in seven years. The firm was sold in 1987 to ERC Inc. MCI provided a wide range of civil and environmental engineering services to private and public clients.

In 1989, Everett was recruited to head up the Civil Engineering Division of Gresham Smith and Partners and remained with the firm for 21 years. He moved up in the management structure of GSP ultimately becoming President and COO. The firm grew to encompass 18 offices throughout the country with over 800 employees and annual revenue of 150 million. GSP provides services to many market segments including health care, transportation, water services, environmental, aviation, land planning, corporate and industrial.

Since forming AE Guidance, LLC the firm has provided management advisory services to many AE firms. These services have included executive coaching, operational analysis, strategic planning, project management training, succession planning, ownership transition and merger and acquisition assistance.