West Fargo–based Vistal is expanding its national footprint and technical capabilities with the recent acquisitions of WHS, headquartered in Rock Springs, Wyoming and FARR Technologies of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The additions significantly broaden the services and geographic reach of the employee‑owned enterprise.
Vistal is an employee-owned holding company with subsidiaries focused on civil engineering, surveying, and communication infrastructure. Before the acquisitions, Vistal employed roughly 350 people across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Colorado. With WHS and FARR joining the enterprise, Vistal’s workforce now exceeds 430 employees and spans more than a dozen locations across the Upper Midwest, Mountain West and beyond.
WHS brings deep expertise in civil engineering, planning, surveying and material testing, serving clients from the Dakotas to Texas and Louisiana. Founded in 1967 as William H. Smith and Associates, the firm operates from Rock Springs, Green River and Lander, Wyoming, along with offices in Colorado and North Dakota. WHS will retain its name and brand as a Vistal company.
FARR Technologies strengthens Vistal’s communications engineering capabilities. The firm delivers fiber and wireless broadband engineering services to clients from Oregon to New York. FARR will be integrated into the Communication Network Engineering (CNE) brand, doubling CNE’s capacity and expanding its ability to pursue larger and more complex projects.
Vistal CEO Shane Waslaski said the acquisitions reflect strong alignment in values, leadership and long‑term strategy. “WHS and FARR Technologies are a natural fit in Vistal’s employee‑owned culture,” he said. “Together, they strengthen our enterprise through their unique expertise, new markets and meaningful support of our long‑term growth.”
WHS President Will Dolinar said Vistal’s employee‑ownership model and resources made it the ideal partner for the company’s next chapter. CNE President Blake Griffin added that integrating FARR Technologies will allow CNE to “move faster and think bigger” for clients.
(Source here.)
