History

In 1987, Katz, Okitsu and Associates (KOA) was formed through a partnership between Moses Katz and Walter Okitsu who previously worked together at the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

KOA’s first project was the Crenshaw Shopping Center for the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles. At first, KOA specialized in traffic signal design then expanded into geometric design, traffic impact studies, and street lighting.

Soon, KOA was preparing freeway communication plans for Caltrans, worksite traffic control plans for the Alameda Corridor Grade Separation project, and traffic impact analysis for all of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail transit projects in the 1980’s and 1990’s. By the end of the 1990’s, KOA was one of the largest transportation engineering and planning firms in Southern California, with offices in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino Counties.

In December 2022, KOA joined Lochner, a national transportation infrastructure firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, providing planning, environmental, design, construction engineering and inspection, and right-of-way services for surface transportation, rail, transit, and aviation clients. Together, we have more resources and capabilities for delivering innovative solutions and enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.

History

In 1987, Katz, Okitsu and Associates (KOA) was formed through a partnership between Moses Katz and Walter Okitsu who previously worked together at the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

KOA’s first project was the Crenshaw Shopping Center for the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles. At first, KOA specialized in traffic signal design then expanded into geometric design, traffic impact studies, and street lighting.

Soon, KOA was preparing freeway communication plans for Caltrans, worksite traffic control plans for the Alameda Corridor Grade Separation project, and traffic impact analysis for all of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail transit projects in the 1980’s and 1990’s. By the end of the 1990’s, KOA was one of the largest transportation engineering and planning firms in Southern California, with offices in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino Counties.

In December 2022, KOA joined Lochner, a national transportation infrastructure firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, providing planning, environmental, design, construction engineering and inspection, and right-of-way services for surface transportation, rail, transit, and aviation clients. Together, we have more resources and capabilities for delivering innovative solutions and enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.

We Believe In Our Team

Through the hard work of our employees, KOA has been able to sustain growth and prosper over its 35 years in business.

Meet Us

Our Company Timeline

1987

 

Moses Katz and Walter Okitsu started Katz, Okitsu & Associates

 

1988

 

After outgrowing Moses’ home, Katz, Okitsu & Associates opened its first office in Monterey Park and named Walter Okitsu as President

 

1994

 

Opened a second office located in San Diego COUNTY

 

1994

 

Opened a third office located in orange county

 

1995

 

Incorporated on January 2

 

2002

 

Opened a fourth office located in san Bernardino County

 

2002

 

Graduated from disadvantaged business enterprise status

 

2003

Moses Katz retires from KOA

 

2004

jimmy lin is named ceo

 

2007

Changed name to koa corporation

 

2007

acquired Crain & Associates, enlarging our services for private development

 

2008

acquired cbm Consulting, expanding our services into construction management

 

2017

celebrated our 30 year anniversary and rebranded with a fresh new look and logo

 

2020

Became an Employee-Owned firm with the majority of the shares controlled by an ESOP

 

2020

Min Zhou named as the new CEO

 

2021

Crain & Associates is fully merged into KOA and became the Culver City office

 

2022

KOA graduated from its small business enterprise status

 

2022

KOA named a great place to work

 

2022

KOA acquired by H.W. Lochner