Harold Nowak and Jim Fraus form Nowak & Fraus, PLLC with their first office on Dewey Street in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Our History
Where It All Began
Founded in 1969 by Harold Nowak and Jim Fraus, NFE began as a small consulting firm dedicated to providing engineering and surveying services throughout Southeast Michigan.
Over the decades, NFE has grown into a multidisciplinary firm serving municipalities, developers, public agencies, and private clients across the state. While our capabilities have expanded, our commitment to responsive service, technical excellence, and lasting client relationships has remained at the core of everything we do.
Today, NFE continues to build upon that foundation, helping shape the infrastructure, developments, and communities that support Michigan’s future.
Over the decades, NFE has grown into a multidisciplinary firm serving municipalities, developers, public agencies, and private clients across the state. While our capabilities have expanded, our commitment to responsive service, technical excellence, and lasting client relationships has remained at the core of everything we do.
Today, NFE continues to build upon that foundation, helping shape the infrastructure, developments, and communities that support Michigan’s future.
Milestones Through the Years
From a small Southeast Michigan consulting firm to a trusted multidisciplinary organization serving communities across the state, NFE’s history is defined by growth, innovation, and long-term client partnerships.
1969
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2022
Spanning 50 years, NFE has provided services on over 150 projects in the Golden Corridor (Big Beaver Road from Coolidge Highway to John R.) in Troy, Michigan.
For 50 years, NFE has worked on the development of many major office buildings in Southfield, Michigan, including Lear Corporation Headquarters.
Since the 1970’s, NFE has provided site design services on over 100 industrial/office buildings for the General Development Company.
Jim Fraus becomes President of NFE.
Nowak & Fraus’ annual income exceeds $1 million.
NFE is selected as the Municipal Engineer to the City of Madison Heights and still provides engineering services to the City today.
Spanning 40 years, NFE has worked on the Pine Knob development which includes the music theater, parking facilities, and all of the surrounding residential developments.
NFE is selected as the Municipal Engineer to the City of Huntington Woods and still serves the City in that capacity today.
Due to growth, NFE moves to 1310 N. Stephenson Highway in Royal Oak, Michigan.
NFE acquires the assets of Hoyem-Basso Associates together with the assets of their predecessor firms of McAlpine Engineering and Arthur W. Gillespie Associates.
NFE is selected as the Municipal Engineer to the City of Hazel Park and still provides services to the City today in that capacity.
NFE is the site design engineer for the Palace of Auburn Hills. Unfortunately, the doors closed in the fall of 2017 when the new stadium was built in Detroit.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to the City of Pontiac and today still provides engineering services to the City.
Headquartered in Royal Oak, NFE opens an office in Pontiac.
Spanning 25 years, NFE has worked on the City of Pontiac’s Centerpoint Business Complex, formerly owned by GM.
Spanning 20 years, NFE has provided services to over 74 local school districts.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to the City of Birmingham and still provides consulting services to the City today.
The NFE Pontiac office moves to a new building at 46777 Woodward Avenue and holds its first annual Woodward Dream Cruise Party.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to the City of Royal Oak and today still provides engineering services to the City.
NFE is selected as Consultant Engineer to York Township and still serves the Township today in that capacity.
NFE is selected as Consultant Engineer to the Village of Oxford and still provides services to the Village today.
The firm’s name changes to Nowak & Fraus Engineers (NFE).
Rob Lavoie is appointed President after Jim Fraus retires.
NFE closes its Royal Oak office and consolidates all employees into the Pontiac office.
NFE is selected as Consultant Engineer to West Bloomfield Township and still provides engineering services to the Township today.
NFE obtains an ISID contact with the State of Michigan; and since that time, has regularly assisted many state departments (DTMB, MSP, DOC and DNR) with their important projects.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to the City of Rochester Hills and still provides services to the City today in that capacity.
President Rob Lavoie retires; Chad Findley, Tim Germain, and Jeff Huhta are named as Managing Partners.
NFE opens a Detroit office to better serve its clients and future clients doing work in the City.
NFE celebrates their 50th anniversary.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to Independence Township and still provides consulting services to the City today.
Bruce Van Doorn Sr., achieves 50 years of service with Nowak & Fraus. It is remarkable that any individual could achieve such a milestone.
Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) during their awarded Sterling Height Parks and Recreation won an award for Dodge Park and MDNR won an award for Wilderness State Park.
NFE is selected as Consulting Engineer to the City of Lake Orion.
In June 2021, NFE promoted several team members for their hard work and contributions to the firm, Brad Brickel, Jason Longhurst and Steve Sutton were promoted to Principal.
Our Macomb office moves to a more central location.
Growing to Meet Our
Clients’ Needs
As Michigan’s infrastructure, development, and environmental needs evolved, so did NFE.
Over the years, the firm expanded its expertise beyond traditional engineering and surveying services to include transportation engineering, land development, landscape architecture, environmental consulting, construction engineering, parks and recreation planning, and advanced geospatial solutions. This growth has allowed NFE to provide clients with integrated solutions while maintaining the personalized service that has defined the company from the beginning.
Over the years, the firm expanded its expertise beyond traditional engineering and surveying services to include transportation engineering, land development, landscape architecture, environmental consulting, construction engineering, parks and recreation planning, and advanced geospatial solutions. This growth has allowed NFE to provide clients with integrated solutions while maintaining the personalized service that has defined the company from the beginning.