James Taylor Named to CSE 40 Under 40 List for 2026
Featured in Nevada Business Magazine
James Taylor, P.E., principal and CEO of ACS Group, has earned a spot on Consulting Specifying Engineer’s (CSE) 40 Under 40 list for 2026, as featured in Nevada Business Magazine. The recognition highlights emerging leaders in engineering who have made meaningful contributions through technical achievement, professional leadership, and community involvement.
CSE is a trade publication serving the building systems and engineering community. Each year, 40 professionals under the age of 40 are selected for their accomplishments both inside and outside the profession.
As a co-founder of ACS Group, Taylor has established himself as a recognized leader in fire protection engineering and life safety consulting. He launched the firm in 2020 with a focus on technical rigor, performance-based design, and the kind of complex code analysis that generalist firms routinely hand off. What began as a two-person operation has grown into a multi-city fire protection engineering consultant with offices in six cities, a team of 22 professionals, more than 275 clients served, and over 770 completed projects.
ACS Group is known for work in specialized and high-stakes markets, including mission-critical fire protection design, electric vehicle facilities, and performance-based fire engineering on complex building types.
“James leads with clarity, accountability, and a genuine investment in people,” said David Neschke, principal and co-founder of ACS Group. “He has built a culture where technical excellence and professional growth go hand in hand, and his ability to align teams around a shared vision continues to drive the firm’s success.”
Beyond project delivery, his leadership extends into firm culture and long-term organizational health. He has led executive alignment initiatives focused on communication, accountability, and sustainable growth, with a consistent emphasis on developing the next generation of fire protection engineers. Outside the office, James is active in the Southern Nevada community. He serves on the board of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Las Vegas chapter, mentors emerging business leaders, and volunteers at Our Lady of Las Vegas School. He also participates in outreach efforts supporting underserved populations through food and clothing drives.
His selection for this recognition reflects the kind of firm ACS Group has become: technically driven, people-first, and committed to raising the standard of fire protection engineering.