COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 54199

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1907–1999founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBell and Howell Company
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAsplundh Tree Expert Co.
1928
FoundedSkidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEG & G Incorporated
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedElektra Entertainment Group
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGreg Manning Auctions, Inc.
1966
FoundedEnvironmental Systems Research Institute Inc. (ESRI)
1969
FoundedNutriSystem, Inc.
1971
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedMDC Partners Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedWarrantech Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedGate Gourmet International AG
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedKurzweil Technologies, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedAsk Jeeves, Inc.
1996
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedMetso Corporation
1999
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Bell and Howell Company →
Active · founded 1907
Bell and Howell Company is one of the leading suppliers of equipment and services for information-related services and…
Asplundh Tree Expert Co. →
Active · founded 1928
Asplundh Tree Expert Co.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP →
Active · founded 1936
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), established in Chicago in the 1930s, attained standing as one of the most…
EG & G Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
EG & G Incorporated is a diversified technology company that develops and provides products for public and private…
Elektra Entertainment Group →
Active · founded 1950
Elektra Entertainment Group is a division of Atlantic Records Group, a business unit of Warner Music Group, the largest…
Greg Manning Auctions, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
In early 2000, GMAI discontinued its partnership with eBay in favor of online retailer Amazon.com, citing…
Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. (ESRI) →
Active · founded 1969
Headquartered in Redlands, California, Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc.
NutriSystem, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
NutriSystem, Inc., formerly an operator of weight-loss centers, offers its services on the Internet, providing diet…
MDC Partners Inc. →
Active · founded 1980 · Canada
MDC Partners Inc.
Warrantech Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Warrantech Corporation operates as a third-party administrator of extended warranty services, providing its services to…
Gate Gourmet International AG →
Active · founded 1992 · Switzerland
Gate Gourmet International AG is a leading supplier of in-flight food service for the global airline industry.
Kurzweil Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Kurzweil Technologies, Inc.
Ask Jeeves, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Ask Jeeves, Inc.
Metso Corporation →
Active · founded 1999 · Finland
Metso Corporation, a leading worldwide manufacturer of forestry, pulping, and paper machinery, is the product of the…
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