The South African moved to Rotorua in 1994 with his Kiwi wife Ingrid, attracted by the outdoor lifestyle.
After 10 years travelling to his job with Beca in Tauranga, followed by two years with Dobbie Engineers in Rotorua, he decided to strike out on his own again, after previously owning his own practice in South Africa.
"I always wanted to go out on my own but never knew when the right time was so one day I just decided, no, that's it I am going to do it."
In 2010 he started Index Engineering.
"We do all mechanical engineering but specialise in pressure equipment - steam piping, geothermal systems, boilers, all those things connected with health and safety regulations."
In the first year the company worked almost exclusively for pulp and paper mills in Kawerau and Kinleith, but has since diversified, wary of putting all its eggs in one basket.
Mr Snyman has also gone through the time consuming process of becoming a registered design verifier, a specialist who checks out the safety of design plans.
"It was a lot of money to get all those registrations done but at the end of the day it's worth it."
He is now one of only three registered design verifiers in New Zealand and the only one north of Wellington. Understandably, that means he is "flat out".
Just over a year ago Mr Snyman employed engineer Nicky Hayes, who he is training to become a design verifier.
"She has about a year to go then we will lodge her application.
"She will be the first woman [design verifier] in New Zealand, probably the world."
Mr Snyman said the award judges had seemed impressed by what he had achieved in a relatively short time.
"Right at the beginning they asked me what was my vision, what sort of clients was I looking at and what sort of software and equipment I use.
"I said I wanted to get this specialised equipment and we did and I said to them I wanted to go for Mighty River Power as a client and I did, I am now a preferred supplier to them."
He said the report received from the judges this week would be equally as valuable as the winner's trophy because the judges had been able to assess his business with fresh eyes.
"Part of the feedback from the judges was 'what sort of engineering are we doing' because it's not clear from our logo."
As a result he plans to incorporate the term Industrial Design Expertise, which is what Index stands for, into the company logo.
With business booming, Mr Snyman is interviewing for a graduate engineer so he can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
"I'm already doing too much time," he said.
"When I started the business I said after 5pm I am not touching the cellphone, it's switched off and weekends are mine.
"It doesn't work if you just work all the time."
But the work keeps rolling in - as our interview ended Mr Snyman received a call from an Australian company awarding Index Engineering a big new project.
Emerging business?
It's fair to say Index Engineering has emerged.
