Allstates Technical Services history

Allstate headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois, 1967

BE&K was incorporated in April 1972, its name drawn from the first letters of the last name of the company's three founders: C. Peter Bolvig, William F. Edmonds, and Ted C. Kennedy.

"Allstate's activities in the area of corporate social responsibility and change must be intensified," Chairman of the Board Arch Boe said in 1977.

In 1981 the company formed Poyry-BEK, a joint venture with the Finland-based company of Jaakko Poyry Group to serve as a high-technology consulting firm to the pulp and paper industry.

Sears Financial Network, 1982

In 1983 the company launched BE&K Communications in Atlanta to pursue cable television, fiber optics, and other communications projects.

Engineering News-Record offered a picture of BE&K's reputation in a 1990 article: "BE&K arguably is the country's most aggressive open shop contractor.

Another 1992 startup was QBEK, a quality-control inspection service.

New York Stock Exchange initial public offering, 1993

Mike Goodrich was named CEO in 1995, replacing Kennedy, who stayed on as chairman.

BE&K added to its environmental business with the acquisition of Terranext in 1997, the same year that BE&K Maintenance became BE&K Industrial Services and BE&K Telecommunications was established.

In the meantime, Kennedy turned over the chairmanship to Goodrich in 2003, but continued to remain involved with the company.

In 2014, Allstate introduces Drivewise Mobile, the industry's first mobile telematics app.