The city of Jacksonville was founded in 1822, just over one hundred years ago. Since then, it has grown exponentially to be the 14th largest city with a population of over 800,000 and the 2nd largest city by landmass. To become a city of its size and scale, there must be a good foundation. That foundation comes from engineers who design, build, and ultimately create the city.
Legacy Engineering was founded in 2005, but its story begins long before then. Foster Ellis started the Ellis family’s engineering tradition through contractor work in the 1920s. He built some of the first neighborhoods with standard electricity and air conditioning in Jacksonville, as well as more than 40 churches around the First Coast. Foster’s son, John I, continued this career and began several companies focused on building and engineering. The tradition kept going with John I’s son, John II. He worked for his father’s company Ellis & Associates after it was sold in the 80s. Eventually, John II created his own company: Legacy Engineering. It was named for the several generations of engineers in the Ellis family, which continues to this day with his son John III.
John Ellis III started his career in engineering with large-scale corporations like Disney and Lockheed Martin. He eventually decided that he wanted to learn more about the business side of things and pursue his MBA at the University of Florida. John III’s passion for business came from wanting to put good out into the world. After graduation, John III came to his father’s business for a few months to help organize the company before continuing with his newfound career. This was nine years ago. He discovered that he can still use this business to have a positive impact on the local community of Jacksonville.
Legacy Engineering has always been focused on the values of family and kindness. The company ensures that its vision of “Building Better” is demonstrated in every aspect of the work. There are three pillars of the vision: Building Better Team Members, Building Better Buildings, and Building a Better World.
The employees of Legacy are thought of more as members of the family. Each person has the opportunity to go through communication training to better benefit their professional and personal lives. There is a group of people at the company that is referred to as the “Cares Team.” These people check up on employees and work on solving any issues they may be having. The team does this day-to-day but has also begun setting up “growth plans” for each member of the Legacy family. The plans are designed to push employees toward discovering their potential as people. The company puts an emphasis on helping its employees not just professionally, but personally.
As an engineering-based testing and inspection company, Legacy strives to excel at what it does. Building better buildings involves more than just the work. It involves constant communication with clients and using that communication to build not just effectively, but efficiently as well. The company’s client base is made up of commercial and residential work. One of the more recognizable commercial projects Legacy has worked on includes a new JEA Headquarters in downtown Jacksonville, which was completed in the fall of 2022. The company had an instrumental part in completing the project within the scheduled timeline. The head superintendent of the onsite construction specifically commended Legacy for its communication and how that impacted the efficiency of the project.
The third pillar of the Building Better vision is externally focused. Legacy is passionate about working to create a better world. Right now, this looks like giving back to the local community through donations of monetary and physical work. The company’s philanthropy is a big part of its effort to create real positive change in its home base of Jacksonville. Legacy gives to the Northeast Florida Young Life mission on a monthly basis and donates its services to other organizations like The Covenant School of Jacksonville and Seamark Ranch.
Legacy’s philanthropy is just beginning. John III’s vision of the company’s future involves its own charity and physical events to help the local community, and eventually, the world. Foster Ellis started the foundation of the city of Jacksonville, and John Ellis III plans to continue improving this city with each day.