Our History

As a primary innovator in the technological advancement of the vehicle emissions testing industry, Gordon-Darby has pioneered many new techniques and processes that have subsequently become standard in today’s Inspection & Maintenance (I/M) programs. In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), we have continually strived to improve the I/M industry with the ultimate goal in mind: cleaning up the air we breathe.

The pursuit of this goal has led our company to achieve many industry “firsts” that have become standard practices in I/M programs throughout the United States.

However, in 2012/2013, Gordon-Darby expanded on its I/M experience by implementing and managing one of the largest and most complex automated fishing and hunting license sales systems in the country for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)—the upgraded Texas License Connection (TLC) system—delivering the new system on-time with absolutely no disruption in service and in a manner that was totally seamless and transparent to customers. This detailed design approach ensured that end users (both the agency and the public) were able to utilize the new system on day one without requiring re-learning the system and yet added new features and usability that only enhanced their experience from the prior product offering Texas was using.

In 2023, Gordon-Darby expanded its position in the electronic fishing and hunting license sales system marketplace by acquiring the Agency Management Solutions (AMS) Business Unit from Kalkomey Enterprises, which included its technology investments and key members of the AMS management and operational staff that joined the Gordon-Darby team. The AMS Business Unit operates automated fishing and hunting sales systems in Massachusetts, Nevada, and New York. Gordon-Darby recognized that this was an opportunity to grow its fishing and hunting sales business in the right way, as it shares a common “family type” culture and devotion to customer service with the AMS Business Unit and its employees. This is not surprising as both businesses were founded on the same principles of having a “family type” culture and a focus on customer service and treating people the right way.

Brief summaries of Gordon-Darby’s major accomplishments are listed below.

2023

Gordon-Darby Acquired the Agency Management System (AMS) Business Unit which includes Fish and Game Licensing Contracts in Massachusetts, Nevada, and New York, as well as the AMS employees and technology.

2020

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) awarded Gordon Darby a new 5-year contract to operate and manage the Texas Information Management System (TIMS)

2020

Awarded a new four-year contract to run the centralized vehicle emission testing program in Arizona as well as a new Remote Sensing vehicle emission testing pilot program.

2019

Awarded renewal of the New Hampshire OBD and safety testing program management contract.

2018

Awarded contract extension of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) license sales system.

2015

Implemented “Two Steps, One Sticker” in the Texas vehicle inspection program. Bob Tefft named President.

2014

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Gordon-Darby implement a free Gas Cap Distribution Program in the Phoenix and Tucson vehicle inspection program.

2013

Awarded renewal of Arizona vehicle emissions inspection program (VEIP) contract. Awarded renewal of Texas information management system (TIMS) contract. Implemented new license sales system for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

2012

Awarded the New Hampshire OBD and safety testing program management contract. Awarded Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) license sales system contract.

2010

Awarded contract extension for the New Hampshire OBD and safety testing program management.

2009

Implemented an updated vehicle emissions inspection system for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

2008

Awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,469,171, Method and System for Vehicle Emissions Testing at a Kiosk Through On-Board Diagnostics Unit Inspection.

2007

Completed on-time Texas information management system implementation. Awarded contract by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to design, develop and operate the new Texas information management system.

2005

Developed and implemented a VID system that included historical data as part of an emergency procurement in Washington, DC.

2004

Through 2005, awarded, developed and implemented a decentralized OBD and safety testing program with the state of New Hampshire. Developed and demonstrated a Gordon-Darby patented, user-friendly, tamper-resistant self-serve OBDII kiosk at the annual Mobile Sources/Clean Air Conference held in Colorado.

2002

Developed and demonstrated an extremely fast and user-friendly vehicle information database (VID) and data warehouse system at the annual Mobile Sources/Clean Air Conference held in Colorado.

2001

Awarded a new emissions testing contract with the state of Arizona, developed and implemented numerous updates to the program through 2002.

1999

Worked with EPA on additional research projects for the development of alternative test cycles and OBD II-related issues. Through 2000, worked with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) on modifications to the Arizona emissions program.

1998

Served on an EPA-organized subcommittee investigating technical issues with I/M checks of vehicle on-board diagnostic (OBD II) systems.

1997

Installed a high-volume ASM pilot lane for the State of New Jersey less than seven weeks after project approval. Worked with EPA on additional research projects investigating preconditioning concerns in enhanced I/M testing.

1996

Worked with EPA to collect additional Phoenix, Arizona, program data on the industry issue of inadequate preconditioning concerns with IM240 testing. Designed and implemented a fully automated, high-volume ASM pilot lane in one of our Tampa test stations.

1995

Implemented IM240 testing for 1981 and newer vehicles in the Phoenix, Arizona, program.

1994

Participated in the I/M technical review committee responsible for finalizing IM240 equipment specifications, quality assurance and testing procedures.

1993

Implemented the Louisville, Kentucky, inspection system upgrade under a new contract awarded in 1992.

1992

Designed and implemented the first fully automated, high-volume IM240 test lane in the world.

1991

Gordon-Darby BAR90 analyzer units were certified by the Ohio EPA for sale to reinspection facilities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Designed, implemented, and began operation of inspection programs in the Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, metropolitan areas. Designed, implemented, and began operation of Arizona’s inspection program in Phoenix and Tucson.

1990

Designed and implemented the first BAR90-type centralized system in the nation for three counties in Indiana.

1988

Designed, implemented, and began operation of decentralized anti-tampering system in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio.

1987

Designed and implemented the first totally automated safety and emissions inspection program in the nation for Memphis, Tennessee.

1984

Designed, implemented and began operation of the vehicle inspection program for Louisville, Kentucky.

1982

Gordon-Darby founded.