After decades of steady growth, design firm Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson now is making more dramatic moves. During its 44-year history, the firm, based in Sparks, Md., earned a place among the region's largest design firms through consistent organic expansion. Last year, JMT took more aggressive steps, making four acquisitions that strengthened its Mid-Atlantic base and stretched into other areas. Thanks to its acquisitions and continued work on prominent Mid-Atlantic infrastructure projects, the multidisciplinary firm saw its 2014 revenue jump by nearly 20%.