Coffman Engineers Acquires S.S. Dannaway Associates

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Coffman Engineers, Inc., a mid-sized, multidiscipline engineering firm, has acquired Honolulu-based fire protection engineering firm S.S. Dannaway Associates, Inc (SSDA).

SSDA is the Pacific Rim’s leading fire protection engineering firm. They bring to Coffman 14 staff members and more than 30 years of experience through offices in Honolulu and Guam. Coffman has more than 360 employees with eight office locations serving clients across the United States and overseas.

Coffman Engineers Founder, Dave Coffman, said: “I am particularly excited about the fire protection engineering growth at Coffman with the addition of Sam Dannaway and his staff. We have a great deal of respect for the successful business Sam has built, their technical capabilities, and their dominance in the Pacific Rim fire protection market. We are privileged to provide SSDA employees a great place to work, commitment to their career growth, and support for SSDA clients with the excellence in services they have come to expect.”

Founder and President of S.S. Dannaway, Samuel S. Dannaway, added: “All of us at S.S. Dannaway Associates are thrilled to join the Coffman team. We are very excited that our fire protection group will play a key role in fulfilling the Coffman commitment to providing quality fire protection engineering throughout the United States and important international markets.”

SSDA’s employees will remain in their current office location. Samuel Dannaway, PE, FSFPE, will become VP of Fire Protection Technology at Coffman. Other SSDA partners Robert T. Bigtas, PE; and Jay T. Higashi, PE, will become principals at Coffman and lead the Pacific Region fire protection group.

The addition of the SSDA staff brings Coffman’s Honolulu presence to more than 40 multidiscipline engineers and support staff, and also grows the companywide fire protection engineering group to 40 professionals located across the country.

Stop Assuming, Start Assigning: How To Communicate Actionable Tasks
October 2026

Communication is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behavior to express or exchange information or to express thoughts, feelings, etc., to another person. It is such an important part of a successful business and for construction projec

New CMHA Manual Advances Masonry Storm Shelter Design
October 2026

A new manual from the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) provides structural guidance to help engineers, architects, and mason contractors design and build ICC 500-compliant tornado shelters using reinforced concrete masonry. Funded by the

Masonry Cosmetics Recommits as a Gold in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is pleased to announce that Masonry Cosmetics will recommit as a Gold Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

CrewTracks Continues as a Cornerstone in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is delighted to share that CrewTracks will continue as a Cornerstone Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.