FEBRUARY 16-22, 2025
ENGINEERS WEEK
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS
PHOTOS BY SOUBANH PHANTHAY, COURTESY OF THE CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER IN BANGOR
ENCOURAGING YOUNG ENGINEERS
BY BDN SPECIAL SECTIONS
Have you ever noticed that many kids’ have a natural propensity for engineering — from stacking blocks to building ramps for toy cars to creating towers out of sugar packets while waiting for breakfast at a restaurant. That inclination to build and design is not only cultivating fun and creativity, it helps kids develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Our state is known for training some of the best engineers in the world thanks to incredible college programs like those at the University of Maine in Orono, but there are also lots of local opportunities for young engineers-in-training. If you have a student with a particular interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), here are just a few of the local programs designed to help them learn and grow.
The Next Generation of Engineers
The University of Maine in Orono offers a variety of science and technology focused summer camps. Bear-Bots Robotics Camp summer camp, for example, is held in July at UMaine’s new Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, which boasts a 10,000-square-foot biomedical engineering research lab suite, dozens of work spaces for 3D printing, electronics development, and more, plus teaching labs and meeting rooms.
The Bear-Bots camp focuses on building and programming a VEX V5 robot, encouraging middle school aged kids (rising 7-9 graders) to work in groups and problem solve. It’s also a chance to explore UMaine Engineering and learn from current students and faculty.
For older students, the UMaine Pulp & Paper Foundation offers a Consider Engineering camp three times throughout the month of July. The four-day overnight program consists of 34 high school students who have completed their junior year of study and are well-suited to becoming engineers. The camp is free of charge (a heads up that admission is competitive) and gives students opportunities to experience the rewards and challenges of both college life and technical careers. Students participate in about 20 activities and are introduced to nearly two dozen UMaine faculty, engineers, and engineering students. The application deadline for current high school juniors is April 15, 2025.
Wondering if camps like this really encourage students to consider engineering as a future career? Staff say some of UMaine’s engineering camps have almost 90 percent success in recruiting participants to college programs at UMaine or other universities. For a more complete list of UMaine’s educational summer camp offerings, visit umaine.edu/summercamps/academic.
Up for a Challenge
The Challenger Learning Center in Bangor has been encouraging young makers and tech-curious kids since 2004. It’s one of 35 Challenge Learning Centers around the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, all designed to foster local students’ interest in science, math, and technology. The organization was formed in response to the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986 as a way to memorialize the astronauts who were onboard and continue their educational mission – to learn, to explore, and to inspire.
Summer camps at Challenger Maine offer a unique experience that promotes group work, hands-on challenges, and deeper exploration and appreciation for STEM topics.
“Almost all our camp weeks have an element of engineering introduction for students,” said Kirsten Hibbard, Executive Director at Challenger Learning Center of Maine.
Camps include an Astronaut Academy (for students entering 5-8 grades), Robot Tech (for those entering grades 2-4), Camp Curious (for young campers entering grades 1-2), and more.
Through these Challenger Maine camps, kids explore spacecraft simulators, train like an astronaut, code Lego machines, and engineer arcade games. Challenger Maine even offers a Motion Makers Camp, working in collaboration with Bangor’s Cole Land Transportation Museum. Those campers get hands-on experience to learn about the science behind classic vehicles.
“It was an amazing opportunity to learn about STEM and transportation in coordination with Cole Transportation Museum,” said one parent whose 13-year-old attended the camp last summer. “He enjoyed the Lego robotic snow plow activity and the combustibles demo.”
For more information, visit astronaut.org/parents-public/ camps/summer-camp.
SARGENT CORPORATION: A LEGACY OF BUILDING PEOPLE AND PROJECTS
COURTESY OF SARGENT CORPORATION
AApproaching its 100 th anniversary, Sargent Corporation has been a pillar of Maine’s heavy civil construction industry since its founder, Herbert E. Sargent, began hiring out his REO dump truck during Maine’s warmer months. What started as a one-truck operation has grown into a company of over 525 employee-owners working across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Headquartered in Orono, Maine, Sargent operates from regional offices in Fremont, New Hampshire; Ashland, Virginia; and Greensboro, North Carolina. The company specializes in site work, airport and highway construction, landfill projects, underground utility installations, renewable energy projects, environmental remediation, steel fabrication, and the supply of aggregates and asphalt.
Central to Sargent’s legacy is its commitment to its people. Leadership, including CEO Herbert R. Sargent—grandson of the founder, has prioritized preserving the company’s culture. After seeing the original H.E. Sargent company pass through multiple owners, Herb R. Sargent re-established control of the business in 2005, merging their construction company, Sargent & Sargent, with the original firm to form Sargent Corporation.
In 2013, the company took a transformative step by converting to a 100% employee-owned business through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This move addressed succession planning and safeguarded the company’s culture. The ESOP gave employees a direct stake in the company’s success, fostering a shared sense of purpose and ownership.
The company has weathered tough economic seasons and tackled complex projects, including big-box retail developments, landfill projects, and airport constructions in Maine and Virginia. This period of growth saw the rise of leaders such as Douglas Morrison P.E., Vice President of New England Operations, and Justin Porter, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Operations—both of whom exemplify Sargent’s dedication to promoting talent from within.
In 2018, Sargent’s leadership sought to enhance its operations by inviting employeeowners from all levels to participate in strategic planning. This initiative led to the establishment of Sargent’s Core Purpose and Values. The Core Purpose—“To build and be faithful stewards of the Sargent legacy and the resources entrusted to us”— honors the company’s history while guiding its future. The Core Values—Investing in People, Honing Our Craft, Doing the Right Thing, and Winning in the Field—anchor the company’s culture and decision-making.
Sargent’s commitment to its values is evident in its projects. A standout example is the Back Cove West Storage Conduit project in Portland, Maine, completed in 2023. This complex project involved installing precast concrete box culverts below sea level, requiring extensive collaboration and innovation. Superintendent Adam Tenan led the team in designing a solution that minimized bedrock removal and trench depth, utilizing custom equipment such as a specialized widened excavator and a gantry crane. The project’s success earned Sargent its first national AGC Build America Award in 2024.
As the company nears its centennial in 2026, it remains focused on strategic growth, such as expanding into North Carolina, while maintaining its core values. In 2024, Eric Ritchie was named President and COO, working with Herb R. Sargent to continue fostering mentorship and growth within the company.
Sargent’s story is about resilience, innovation, and dedication to its people. From a single dump truck to its current role as a leader in heavy civil construction, the company continues to build exceptional projects and careers. Looking ahead, Sargent’s next century will be defined by the same foundational commitment to its people, projects, and purpose. For more information, visit www.sargent.us and listen to the “On Track” podcast on iTunes and Spotify.
A MISSION THAT MATTERS
OUR ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS PUT THEIR SKILLS AND INTELLECT INTO A MISSION THAT MATTERS – BUILDING THE SHIPS OUR NAVY’S SAILORS AND OUR NATION DEPEND ON
COURTESY OF GENERAL DYNAMICS BATH IRON WORKS
Renowned for our quality and innovation, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has designed several of our Navy’s most important ship classes, including the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers and the DDG 1000 Zumwalt class — the most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world.
BIW employs hundreds of Engineers and Designers helping to build the world’s most advanced and capable ships so U.S. Sailors can defend freedom of navigation around the world and return home safely to their families.
BIW is the premier designer, builder and life-cycle manager of surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, offering employees career variety and frequent opportunities for advancement. We have engineering, technician, designer and management roles across the breadth of disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Structural (Civil) and Systems engineering as well as Ship Operating Engineers.
The Engineering Department offers deckplate support for engineering and design products throughout fabrication, assembly, installation, system set up, testing and trials. When a BIW ship heads into the Gulf of Maine for sea trials, BIW employees are at the helm, running and testing the systems we designed and built.
BIW Engineers and Designers are also responsible for ships already in the fleet, supporting modernization, maintenance and repair of DDG 51 and DDG 1000 ship classes. BIW maintains a presence in several homeports around the world, offering the opportunity for travel and extended stay at ports within the U.S. and overseas.
We are collaborating with the Navy on design of the next-generation surface combatant, DDG(X), ensuring we have important work for years to come.
Engineers can apply to join our Engineering Development Program or the Production Development Program — two-year programs that enable candidates to experience different roles in the shipyard to gain a broader understanding of the company, its processes and its business operations.
We are part of the General Dynamics family of businesses, a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people across 65 countries worldwide and generated $42.3 billion in revenue in 2023.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING MINOR RETURNS TO MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
BY CASEY BERNARD
This spring, for the first time in more than 30 years, a select few Maine Maritime Academy engineering students will graduate with a minor in nuclear engineering. For decades the only reminder of the nuclear engineering program at MMA was the atomic symbol on a bronze plaque in front of Andrew’s Hall where engineering classes are held. The minor was part of the engineering curriculum through the 1980s, but when the national nuclear industry saw a decline due to the focus on inexpensive fossil fuels and renewable energy in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, interest waned and the minor was disbanded.
In the early 2000s, engineering department staff members were having conversations about bringing the nuclear engineering offering back as awareness of climate issues and the need for finding sources of clean energy grew. But, it wasn’t until the end of 2022 that Dr. Paul Wlodkowski, professor of engineering, approached Jerry Paul, the president of the academy at the time, to discuss the opportunity for bringing the coursework back to MMA. Paul was a 1989 graduate with a minor in nuclear engineering himself and worked for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. He recognized the opportunity for the school and by January 2023, Wlodkowski became chair of a working group to begin designing the course plan. Wlodkowski met with former nuclear engineering faculty and those who had industry experience. By the fall of 2023, students were able to select nuclear as their minor in engineering. Currently, 15 students are enrolled, with 11 seniors due to graduate with the minor this spring.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
THE ABS CENTER FOR ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND RESEARCH ON THE MMA CAMPUS COURTESY OF PULSE MARKETING
TRANSFORMING THE POWER INDUSTRY
BE A PART OF THE TEAM THAT IS TRANSFORMING THE POWER INDUSTRY OF NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE
COURTESY OF VERSANT POWER
At Versant Power, we are committed to our dedicated people who help us deliver our mission to provide safe, reliable power to communities in northern and eastern Maine. Versant Power offers full benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance; paid vacation, personal time, and holidays; 100% tuition reimbursement; a 401(k) match; and opportunities for professional development.
We are looking for talented and driven engineers to join the Versant Power team! Our engineers work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where they can see the results of their work every day. They can gain experience and grow in the profession while helping us improve our system and transition to a clean energy future.
There are always new projects to work on, and Versant Power engineers are encouraged to get involved in a variety of projects on the electrical distribution and transmission systems, including planning, protection and coordination, line and substation design, underground facilities, and communication equipment. Distribution system planning includes modeling and analyzing the electrical distribution system, using studies to determine immediate needs, forecasting future electrical system needs and identifying opportunities to improve the system.
Here are some of the engineering positions that we are currently recruiting for:
Electrical Engineer – Distributed Generation: This position encompasses engineering duties for Distributed Generation (DG) primarily on our distribution system. Work closely with our internal DG team as well as with solar developers as they work to interconnect to our system. This will involve project screening, system impact studies, and project estimating.
Electrical Engineer – Distributed System Planning: Under the general direction of the Manager, Asset Management, this position encompasses electrical engineering duties under a variety of focus areas, including transmission and distribution protection analysis, substation planning, design, specifications, procurement, and commissioning. T&D Engineer: Duties include designing, planning, and developing technical specifications and guidelines associated with T&D overhead lines, with some support for underground lines. The primary focus will be on Distribution, with support for Transmission.
Electrical Engineer – Power Systems Quality: Under the general direction of the Manager, Asset Management, this position encompasses electrical engineering duties for grid power quality focusing on our transmission and distribution system. The Power System Quality Engineer will work closely with the asset management group and other departments to address various grid power quality issues.
Electrical Engineer – T&D Planning: Under the general direction of the T&D System Planning Program Manager, this position involves electrical engineering duties under a variety of focus areas, including transmission and distribution planning, substation planning, design, specifications, procurement, and commissioning. If you’re interested in joining our team, visit www.versantpower.com/about/careers. You can email any questions to recruiting@versantpower.com.
Among the six maritime academies in the United States, MMA is currently the only one offering a minor in nuclear engineering.
“MMA has the right stuff to make this happen,” Wlodkowksi said. “Nuclear is a natural extension of MMA’s steam curriculum.”
According to Wlodkowski, maritime nuclear is a burgeoning field. Compact nuclear reactors that work like a long-term battery could replace current diesel generators. These 4th generation nuclear reactors take up less space allowing for more cargo and, because the waste from nuclear reactors can be recycled and is carbon-free, ships can go much faster than ships that are forced to move slowly in order to conserve the amount of fossil fuels they burn. The U.S. Navy currently uses nuclear energy in submarines, aircraft carriers, and other ships in its fleet. Graduates with experience in nuclear engineering could have a future career working on ships that use nuclear reactors for propulsion.
Students minoring in nuclear engineering at MMA would not be limited to careers in maritime nuclear. Other opportunities include careers working in nuclear medicine and land-based nuclear energy plants or desalination plants. There is a current movement in the industry for exploring ways to use nuclear power for running data centers, especially for AI that requires a significant amount of energy to generate results.
The coursework for the minor in nuclear engineering is rigorous. Students have to have a strong understanding of atom physics as well as understand issues of safety and government policy. Educating the public about the safety and use-cases for nuclear energy could be a career path for students as well. Interest in the minor is strong among the students. In the first semester offering the minor, there were more students wishing to take the first course than spots available.
Wlodkowski, who represented MMA on a panel discussion on maritime nuclear energy at the American Nuclear Society Conference, said the minor in nuclear
engineering is a way for MMA to lead the way in shaping the mariner of the future and to be leaders in tackling the climate crisis. He also sees opportunities for the state of Maine to become a potential location for nuclear-powered data centers. As a clean energy solution to reduce carbon emissions, he said, “You cannot go carbon-free without nuclear energy.”
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DR. PAUL WLODKOWSKI (FAR RIGHT) SITS ON A PANEL OF THE AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY CONFERENCE
A CORNERSTONE IN THE HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY
COURTESY OF KLEINSCHMIDT
For more than 50 years, Kleinschmidt has stood as a cornerstone in the hydropower industry, delivering exceptional engineering, regulatory, and environmental services across North America. What sets us apart?
An unrivaled blend of technical expertise and a steadfast commitment to fostering the brightest talent in the sector. Hydropower requires not just technical precision but also creative problem-solving—and that’s where Kleinschmidt excels.
At the core of Kleinschmidt is our team of nearly 100 engineers, representing a wide spectrum of hydropower disciplines—from civil engineering to hydrology. Spanning across North America, with a significant concentration of 25 engineers in Maine, our collective expertise boasts an average of 22 years of specialized hydropower experience. This depth of knowledge ensures we consistently deliver high-quality, reliable outcomes. Our technical design drawings, specifications, reports, and other deliverables are meticulously crafted to meet the rigorous standards of technical, regulatory, and legal requirements.
Our comprehensive engineering services underscore our team’s technical excellence and versatility. From revitalizing aging infrastructure and designing new hydropower facilities to conducting condition assessments and supporting design and construction efforts, our team is adept at tackling complex challenges with practical, sustainable solutions.
What truly drives Kleinschmidt is our people. As an employee-owned firm, we prioritize cultivating top talent and creating a culture that emphasizes professional growth, continuous learning, and innovation. This commitment extends to environmental stewardship, reflecting our belief that sustainability is as vital as technical excellence in shaping the future of hydropower.
Kleinschmidt’s reputation is built on our decades of experience, the deep expertise of our team, and our unwavering focus on talent development. By pairing industry-leading technical skills with a dedication to fostering the next generation of hydropower experts, we continue to lead the way in sustainable energy. As we look ahead, our unique combination of innovation, expertise, and employee empowerment solidifies our position as pioneers in sustainable hydropower development.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS VOLUNTEERING AT CROSS PARK IN GLADSTONE, OREGON.
SAPPI SETS THE STANDARD FOR ENGINEERING CAREERS, INNOVATION
COURTESY OF SAPPI NORTH AMERICA
Paper permeates nearly every aspect of our lives—it’s in our clothes, our cars, our pantries and, of course, our mailboxes. Sappi North America is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability to meet consumer demands, especially when it comes to creating new paper and packaging products to replace or minimize the use of plastic.
Sappi has made strategic investments in excess of $600 million to expand into the packaging business at our Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, including the rebuild and conversion of Paper Machine 2, which will make it the most modern and technologically advanced machine in the industry and double our capacity to produce sustainable paperboard. These investments position us to meet the robust demand in North America for a more environmentally sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. Our paperboard is used in premium packaging for a variety of goods and food-service items, such as plates, dishes and cups that are a sustainable alternative to Styrofoam.
With such forward-thinking investments, Sappi epitomizes the legacy of innovative papermaking in Maine, where it all started with our invention of coated paper 150 years ago. Sappi’s history of investing in sustainability, new technology and state-ofthe-art machinery led us naturally to the packaging business.
Sappi scores highly with third-party organizations that rate sustainability in the pulp and paper industry, and we are committed to procuring materials from suppliers who operate within sustainability standards. We emphasize how our active forestmanagement process leaves forests better than when we found them, noting that Maine has more forest land now than it did 100 years ago.
Due to our innovative leadership, Sappi keeps its eye on the future. Investments and
capital flowing to our mills in Maine ensures the company’s long-term viability. The massive investments in Somerset Mill are truly setting us up for the next generation and beyond.
Sappi is a leading global company in the pulp and paper industry with offices and mills in Boston, Maine, Minnesota, South Africa, Europe and more. The company is driven by our vision to bring unity to all Sappi locations and pursue growth opportunities in the wood fiber industry. The work here is challenging and interesting, and the pay is competitive. But most importantly, Sappi is full of seasoned engineers ready to mentor younger staff.
Sappi works closely with the University of Maine’s Pulp and Paper Foundation to support students who express an interest in the pulp and paper industry, ensuring the next generation of paper engineers is the best and brightest. We work with local institutions to offer competitive co-op programs and career development opportunities.
Our 130 local engineers come from a variety of institutions, including the University of Maine, Maine Maritime, Northeastern University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and more.
For hundreds of years, the paper industry has been a staple of Maine’s economy, and Sappi North America’s mills and offices in Skowhegan, Westbrook and Portland have remained a bright spot throughout that time. Our company has set the gold standard for environmental practices, and we continuously update our processes to drive innovation and sustainability.
SPOTLIGHT ON ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
COURTESY OF WBRC INC.
Every major building represents the work of electrical engineers. Their work keeps buildings powered, lit, comfortable, online, and code compliant. Electrical engineering is key to fire safety, telecommunications, sustainability, and emergency resilience. Yet most of us remain in the dark about what these specialized engineering professionals do and how they do it. So, we asked WBRC’s electrical engineering team of Phil Badger, Steph Laplant, Bob Curran, and Kyle Mahar to enlighten us. Read the full Q&As and learn more about the team at wbrcinc.com/electricalQandA.
LAPLANT: I always liked architecture. When I decided to go to college there weren’t any accredited architecture programs in Maine, so I thought, “Let’s try engineering!”
MAHAR: I liked art and thought blueprints were neat, so my high school advisor introduced me to drafting classes. After a few years drafting at WBRC, the electrical team “claimed” me, and I developed into an Electrical Engineering Designer.
BADGER: I started as an electrician. I always knew I wanted to get licensed, but I was unsure if I wanted to be an architect or an engineer. As I continued to work in the trades, I realized I really like the electrical side of it.
MAHAR: I like doing the 3D modeling. I really look forward to figuring out the challenges and making sure everything is modeled well.
BADGER: Growing the business [as Department Manager.] I also enjoy the financial side of things.
CURRAN: I had retired in 2020, but I loved [the industry] so much that I came back to work.
LAPLANT: I love healthcare. I learn something new every time I do a project, because each project has many unique needs.
MAHAR: I think the education projects are really interesting. You have a set of guidelines to work with, but you can also get creative.
BADGER: I like athletic projects because a lot of entertainment thinking goes into them. You’re designing an experience, a show that you’re working on.
CURRAN: My favorite are smaller projects with repeat clients. They’re satisfied with us and keep giving us work because we’re doing a good job.
CURRAN: We have very cooperative coworkers with lots of experience.
LAPLANT: Everybody has a chance to voice their opinion. Half of the people in the company have worked here at least 10 years and I think that says a lot about us.
BADGER: We’re a collaborative group and we all get along. We get together often to enrich that team environment.
LAPLANT: Talk to some of the people that work here, ask them what they love about it. My 26-year work anniversary is coming up in June, so it’s clear that I think WBRC is a great place to work!