A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure

Robert Kincart founded A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure (ACT) in 1987 as a small, multi-disciplinary environmental engineering and field service firm in Central Florida. Robert, president of ACT, has accumulated several decades of experience in the field. He holds a degree in chemistry, and worked for a large, international environmental company before striking out on his own nearly 25 years ago.

“When all of the environmental regulations came into law in the mid-80s, no one wanted to deal with them,” Robert explains. “Being the younger generation at the time, the responsibility came to me. I managed all of the environmental regulations with that business and eventually figured out I could start my own company with this new opportunity.” A-C-T stands for American Compliance Technologies, which describes the business’ niche well. Robert and his team work with regional businesses to obtain environmental compliance, specifically dealing with prevention and incident recovery.

The company’s work is concentrated in the Southeast United States, although ACT is capable of working all over the country and even into Canada and Mexico. The staff of roughly 100 people includes seasoned professionals who bring a layer of diversity to the business. The crew practices environmental science, engineering, general construction and management, emergency response, waste management and OSHA compliance training among other services. The team strives everyday to bring value to customers, while simultaneously keeping sites safe and protecting the environment.

A Standout Team

ACT embodies broad capabilities, but also innovation and forward thinking. “We are problem solvers,” Robert notes. “Our customers come to us with environmental issues that they don’t know what to do, often a problem that has destroyed property values. We can fix it. We do an assessment. We meet with our clients and find what their objectives are and then we prepare a road map for them. The plan we provide allows them to return the property to the value it should be at or to eliminate any liabilities associated with the property. If anything, problem-solving has become our niche over the years.”

The crew has been involved with a number of different initiatives and projects in recent years. Each new project comes with specific challenges, every one of them different than the project before. “A lot of what we do is just making other people’s businesses better,” says Robert. “We work with fertilizer companies to make sure they can deliver fertilizers to farmers. We have worked with cities to make sure they can have clean parks. We work with private companies to make sure they stay within environmental compliance requirements.

Right now, we have a joint venture with a local college, Pensacola State,” he continues. “We will be doing their alternative energy training, as well as their solar training. We do environmental safety and health training. This project is a public- private partnership that we will be starting in the next few months.”

Creating and Maintaining Value

Above all else, ACT stands apart from other companies by providing value, a trait that has floated the business through a troubled economic climate. Environmental and safety compliance is a major expense for companies and ACT strives to make every service more than worth the investment. “We have taken an attitude that we want to provide exceptional service,” Robert elaborates. “As other companies are falling short, we are getting more opportunities.  Another important element is that the health and safety program here is exceptional. We have an A rating with the- IS Networld Rating, which companies are using to rate potential service providers and this is helping us win bids.

“Our greatest asset is our team,” he adds. “For the last six or seven years when the economy went crazy, we really looked at how to maintain our staff while still providing exceptional service. We have been voted one of the best places to work on a local, state and national platform. Most of what we do is performed in house, probably around 80 percent. When we are dealing on a national basis we sub out first response work and fieldwork. We provide overall management but have to hire subcontractors for labor and lab testing.  We do construction work with an environmental twist. We have a set network of reliable suppliers and local subs.”

As the market continues to change and ACT grows, the team is looking ahead. The business has achieved a leading position, soaring far beyond other safety and environmental compliance firms. “I like building things,” Robert says. “My favorite part of this business is watching it grow and prosper. We are all about our reputation here and we are upholding that.” He has two children involved in the business, both of whom add to the company’s capabilities and drive. As time goes by, Robert foresees them playing a larger role in A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, potentially continuing the family business into the next generation.