FO
CUS
Fuss & O’Neill’s Newsletter
WHAT’S INSIDE
WINTER 2021
Message from the President
Message from the President
“The times they are a-changin’”. These were the lyrics of the iconic Bob
What’s New?
toward pressing issues like social justice and climate change, a situational
Dylan song and album of the same name way back in 1964 during the turbulent decade of the 1960s. These words are as true today as they were then. A changing presidential administration, more enlightened attitudes change to remote learning and working due to an escalating global
FOcus on Teamwork
pandemic, and changing economic stresses are but a few of the challenges
FOcus on Renewable Energy
experienced. Through it all we have met these challenges, faced them with
FOcus on Safety Employee FOcus FOcus on Vermont
that we have been confronted with to an extent that most of us have never courage and conviction, and – with your continued assistance, support, and self-sacrifice – shall prosper and eventually emerge even stronger. During times like these we must draw even closer than we were before – we must work together even more collaboratively, trust and support one another even more completely, and communicate with each other even more effectively. The pressures that we all feel are the same pressures that will drive us to even greater heights of performance and success, provided that we reach out to one another to offer and to receive support. No person is an island – particularly during such unique and tumultuous times. I constantly recommend to my employees the following advice: take the time to offer your support to one another and to accept the support of others. Resist the temptation to “go it alone”, as we are truly not alone. I want to sincerely thank our clients, teaming partners, and employees for keeping us headed in the right direction. What we say, what we do, and how we relate to one another make a difference and help us evolve. Stay safe and healthy. - Kevin Grigg, PE CEO
District NHV
Montgomery Mill
New Haven, CT
Windsor Locks, CT
What’s New?
Awards
New Corporate Shareholders Mark Vertucci,
Kevin Johnson
PE, PTOE
PE, PTOE, NETTCP
Mark leads the Traffic Department in the company’s Manchester, CT headquarters. Mark started as an intern with Fuss & O’Neill in 1997 and, this past August, he became an owner of the company. Focusing on all facets of traffic engineering, Mark’s leadership has significantly contributed to his department’s, and the company’s, success.
Kevin, Fuss & O’Neill’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, is a firm owner as of last August. Kevin joined the firm in 2019, and has spent his career in the transportation industry, managing a wide range of projects for municipalities and Departments of Transportation throughout New England.
ENR
Certifications
Beehive Bridge Svigals + Partners, Pirie Associates Architects, and Richter & Cegan, Inc., Martin Laviero Contractor, Inc., and Sign Pro King Open School William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.
CT Crew Montgomery Mill Beacon Communities and Crosskey Architects Aspen Green Crosskey Architects District New Haven
Diane Mas, PhD, REHS/RS, WEDG
Arnold Robinson, Deborah Denfeld, AICP, NCI, WEDG
PE, CHMM, CET, WEDG
Diane, Arnold, and Deborah all received WEDG®1 (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines), a program of the Waterfront Alliance, certification. WEDG certification brings access to nationwide resources. The program administers project review, professional education, and community engagement, with the aim of reducing risk, streamlining permitting review, and fostering relationships between landowners and community members. These resources and knowledge will be passed on to Fuss & O’Neill’s clients, creating more resilient businesses and communities throughout New England. WEDG® and the related logo are trademarks owned by the Waterfront Alliance and are used with permission. 1
District NHV, LLC, Urbane NewHaven, Ken Boroson Architects
CT Society of Civil Engineers Achievement in Civil Engineering New Haven Bioswale Project
2020 RI APA - Excellent Comprehensive Plan Bay Spring Resilience Plan Town of Barrington, RI
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Fuss & O’Neill is proud to announce our partnership with Rosario and Associates as part of our ongoing efforts to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into our culture. Rosario and Associates is a minority-owned firm specializing in change management, organizational development, diversity, cultural competency, as well as equity and social justice consulting. Throughout the next year Rosario and Associates will collaborate with company leaders and our Diversity, Equity, and
In Memoriam
Inclusion Committee to build a foundation
Mervin “Merv” was a lifelong Fuss & O’Neill employee with a career lasting
of equity work that fosters parity for all
more than 73 years. Merv first started his career at the age of 16 for Griswold
historically disadvantaged employees. We
Engineering (now Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.), and his only leave was to fulfill his service
are excited to begin this challenging and
in the United States Army. Merv’s dedicated work in the Survey Department as
important work with Rosario and Associates
a Field Crew Chief was unparalleled and admired by all. Later in his career, his
to continue to make Fuss &O’Neill a best
commitment to the preservation of our records led to Fuss & O’Neill’s first true
place to work.
GIS system, with cards and indexes that cross-referenced information in order to find maps by street, town, and project name. During his 73-year tenure, Merv exemplified qualities in leadership, commitment, and loyalty. His legacy surrounds us and will live eternally at Fuss & O’Neill. We miss you Merv!
Retirement
Hindsight is 2020.
Jolanta Mazek
Foresight is
worked as a Drafter at Fuss & O’Neill for 32 years. She trained many employees and worked with all departments, most recently with the Traffic and Transportation
2021
Department in Manchester, CT. Jolanta has seen the progression of the art of hand drafting and lettering, to Leroy lettering, to AutoCad, and to it’s present Civil 3D! We wish her all the best!
Visit Our Careers Page for Current Job Openings! https://www.fando.com/ careers/
A new year, full of potential. Let’s design the future together.
FO CUS on Teamwork
Elliot Hospital Cancer Center Manchester, NH Certain projects are what engineers call “career projects” – those projects that are so special that they only come along once in a career. Sometimes those projects are special due to their unique challenges, sometimes it’s because of the positive impact the project has on a community, and sometimes it’s because of the project team. In the case of the Elliot Hospital Cancer Center Expansion Project (a 22,000 ft2 expansion and a new multi-level parking structure) in Manchester, NH, this “career project” ticked all three checkboxes, and then a couple more. We remotely chatted with project team members to find out what made this project so special. This past summer, the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care opened its doors at Elliot Hospital, providing radiation and medical oncology using state-of-the-art technology in a state-ofthe art space. The Cancer Center expansion was “a project a decade in the making, which had many starts and stops for a variety of reasons,” explained Ann Lawrence, System Director, Facility Planning and Real Estate and SolutionHealth, the managing company for Elliot Hospital. “This was a brand new team to us, and between the parking garage and the Cancer Center, there were a multitude of things we needed to move around on campus, but the team really pulled through.” Ann credits the collaborative approach and the weekly meetings with team members for keeping the schedule on track and costs within budget, thanks to the real-time feedback and communication, which led to quick decisions and results. “If something worked, we kept doing it, but if we needed to course correct, we could adjust pretty quickly. Decisions were made when they needed to be made – it didn’t take weeks for things to get done, and I think that open line of communication was what made this very positive and very successful.”
The Team
CLIENT SolutionHealth/Elliot Hospital Ann Lawrence – System Director, Facility Planning and Real Estate Brad Smith – System Director, Facility Operations and Clinical Engineering at SolutionHealth ARCHITECT Environments for Health (E4H) Architecture Bill Repichowskyj, AIA, NCARB – Partner/Lead Designer Steve Ramsey AIA – Associate CIVIL ENGINEER Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. Brian Pratt, PE – Project Manager GENERAL CONTRACTOR BOND Building Construction, Inc. Stacey Rivera – Project Manager Josh DiGloria – Director of Sector Operations (Healthcare/LS/SPG) Ken Snee – Site Superintendent Chris Fogg – Director of Integrated Services HEALING GARDEN DESIGNERS Paul Mansback – L. Newman Associates Brandin Swisher – Alliance Landscaping STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Alan Simon – Simon Design Engineering
“From the kickoff meeting, we worked to implement a “Lean” approach, and we really just established a level of trust across all team members,” said Stacy Rivera, project manager from BOND Building Construction, Inc. “Lean Construction” is an approach BOND aims to implement on many projects, which is designed to maximize process efficiencies and maximize where value can be added throughout the project. For the projects at the Elliot, design and construction activities had to be sequenced appropriately to meet the needs of the campus. Since
Photo was taken prior to March 2020
the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care Project would eliminate approximately 50 parking spots from an already overcrowded parking lot, the parking structure was designed and built first to open up additional parking that would be needed for staff and patients. At the start of construction, as part of their Lean Process, BOND Building Construction set up weekly co-location meetings in an on-site field office called “the big room” to allow for hands-on collaboration and communication. “Once a week the team would come together, which allowed everyone to be able to use the resources of each other together, which streamlined communication. It went through the whole project and helped us hit the key dates and budgets.” “The collaboration meetings were huge,” added
Design consultants, owner, and subcontractors collaborating at a weekly meeting. on-site meetings gave him the opportunity
expected to be, and intersected with a
to provide insight. “I really enjoyed that I
footing for the structure. “Having everyone
was there when decisions were being made
on site, we were able to coordinate with
in meetings I normally wouldn’t attend, for
the structural subconsultant (Simon Design
instance, the architectural design meetings.
Engineering) and other project partners quickly,
Many times I would be working in the corner
and were able to redesign an offset footing
and I’d overhear a conversation about a wall
to accommodate the pipe location.” During
or a door being moved, and being right there,
the construction of the Cancer Center,
helped me understand the changes and how
underground utilities, including the hospital’s
they may impact the civil design.” Brian also
main steam line and a chilled water line,
noted that team members would sometimes
were bridged around column and foundation
spend time together on meeting days after
designs to ensure continuous service to the
the work days were over, socializing and
hospital.
further strengthening those relationships even away from the job site.
Bill Repichowskyj, AIA, NCARB, a Partner at Environments for Health (E4H) Architecture,
Back on the job site, during the construction
thought being on site facilitated project team
of the parking garage, this hands-on
interaction and camaraderie, and was an
approach helped Brian and the rest of the
advantage in helping design an appropriate
team adapt quickly when they encountered
space for those that would use it. “Later on
underground pipes and utilities in an
in the design process of the Cancer Center, we
unexpected location. “Underground existing
were able to engage with a user group – nurses,
utilities in an urban site are almost always the
physicians, medical personnel – to come over
biggest challenge in a redevelopment site,” said
and meet with us to discuss their needs. I think
Fuss & O’Neill was the project’s civil engineer.
Pratt, who found two 66-inch reinforced
they enjoyed the process of being part of the
Brian Pratt, PE, who spent nearly two years
concrete pipes that ran under the garage
team, and I know that helped our design team
working one day a week on site, said that the
that were 30 feet off from where they were
as well.”
Josh DiGloria, Director of Sector Operations from BOND Building Construction. “I really looked forward to those meeting days. I think we all enjoyed the day together at the colocation space, and there was really a shared sense of mission during the project, and it made for an efficient process for us all.”
The Solinsky Center for Cancer Care was
The use of creative thinking and new
designed to provide a modern, calming
technology also made this project special.
environment for oncology patients. The
“One day when we were having our co-location
design provides patients with semi-private
meetings, Ann (Lawrence) and Brad (Smith, also
infusion areas that incorporate natural
with Elliot Hospital) walked in and said they
finishes, calming hues, and ample natural
needed to double the space for their Emergency
light with floor to ceiling windows. The
Department, so we switched gears quickly and
project includes a 14-chair infusion bay,
put some thought to that,” said Pratt. Quickly,
linear accelerator, phlebotomy lab and
the E4H design team took over part of the
blood draw rooms, 10 exam rooms, USP
co-location room and worked with BOND
800 pharmacy, physician and administrative
Building Construction to create full-scale
offices, conference room, and staff lounge.
mock rooms to aid the design. Exam rooms
A meditation room offers an area of respite
and trauma rooms were mocked up, and
indoors, and a healing garden is included
eventually one of the architectural models
in the landscape design. Ann (Lawrence)
was given to the construction team to create
shared a testimonial from a former patient
a 3D display, which allowed users and other
that basically said “‘I wish this would have
interested parties to really “experience” the
been here when I was going through my
potential of a new emergency department.
treatment’ and that’s really heartwarming to
“We gave BOND our model, and they utilized
hear about a place we were able to provide.”
software to develop a 3D, augmented reality
Lawrence is excited about what the Solinsky Center can provide patients. “The Cancer Center is AMAZING, and the feedback we get from it is phenomenal. The healing garden just brings a smile to everybody’s face, and the care that the patients are receiving is just great.” She noted that the healing garden had many moving parts including implementing the “tree of life” and other recycled materials that caused her a bit of trepidation, but as it came together, she really came to appreciate the creativity and the passion that the team had for making this space the best it could be. “I remember talking to Brandin (Swisher, landscape contractor) and Paul (Mansback, landscape architect) on the phone, and it brought tears to my eyes. I just knew they put everything they had into that garden, and when you’re sitting in the infusion bays and you’re looking out at that area, it’s just breathtaking.”
walkthrough of the Cancer Center,” said Repichowskyj. “Users were able to try this out using 3D goggles, which I know they showed at their annual Gala event, allowing people to envision what could be.” Though the Emergency Department Expansion has not yet started construction, the success of this project and the bond formed amongst team members are carrying forward. “This is probably one of the proudest projects I’ve worked on, and that’s a tribute to this entire team – everyone put their heart and soul into this project,” added Lawrence, who spoke about future project goals for the Elliot Hospital campus. “We don’t want to break this up as we start construction on the Emergency Department (ED) – we want the same team moving forward. The camaraderie, and the trust, it was all there, and to me, that was very important and what we look for in our project teams.”
FOCUS on Renewable Energy
Renewable sources of energy are good for the planet and good for the economy. Renewable energy helps conserve natural resources, reduces pollution, reduces the need for imported fuels, and creates new jobs. Fuss & O’Neill is proud to help our clients as they explore alternative energy opportunities. Here, Kevin Sullivan, PE, LEED AP (Vice President and Boston Office Manager) tells us how he’s witnessed the growth of this market and how it’s helping his clients.
Questions for Kevin:
1
You graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1994. Was renewable energy something that was talked about or taught at that time?
Ha - I’m not that old! Actually, at one point in history, “renewable” energy was just “energy” and solar, wind, and hydro have been around since ancient times. But to answer the question, in the mid-1990s, renewable energy was talked about, but was really in its infancy and was not really taught the way it is today.
2
How has this field developed since you started your career?
Exponentially! I had done a couple of wind projects and one solar project before starting at Fuss & O’Neill in 2011. We had one solar project in 2012, three in 2013, and, since then, it has risen dramatically in eight short years. We have done more than 100
solar PV projects and now have more than 200MW generating. A 1MW project was once a large project; now 5MW is normal, and we have done a couple projects over 20MW. In addition to these, we have worked on microgrid, combined heat and power (CHP), fuel cell, and even medical waste recycling to power projects.
3
Alternative and renewable energy are specialties of yours. Why did you choose to focus on this area of service?
Honestly, I originally got into it just because I thought it was cool to create energy. But it has become much more - the clients that I have met, the relationships that have been made, and the projects that I have been a part of have been exceptional. To be part of an industry that is constantly changing and improving has been exciting. And to know that I have been even a small part of creating more than 200MW of clean power is still pretty cool.
4
Can you explain, in simple terms, the benefits of renewable and alternative energy?
First, there is a difference: “alternative energy” is any energy source that does not use fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, and natural gas) and “renewable energy” comes from natural sources that don’t run out. The benefits are far reaching. They mitigate climate change by reducing pollution and greenhouse gases, provide resiliency by reducing our reliance on foreign fuel sources, and provide a more resilient power grid. With new technologies such as battery storage, the energy sources are proving to be viable sources of backup power. Other new technologies, such as electric vehicles and electric heat pumps, consume a tremendous amount of electricity; energy sources such as these allow the utility to provide that power. And there are certainly financial benefits to clients in the form of reduced electric bills.
5
If a company or a community wanted to implement renewable energy practices, how would they start this process? Are these changes difficult or costly to achieve?
I would always suggest talking to experts who have experience and so that you can really define and achieve your goals. Are you doing this just to save money or do you want a showpiece that people can see and learn from? It is important to understand the size and scale of these projects, as well as the power demands that you are looking to offset. It is important to account for where you are considering installing the system. If the project is solar, is it groundmounted, a greenfield or a brownfield, is it roof-mounted, and, if so, how old is the roof and can it handle the load or do you want a canopy system over a parking lot? Cost and complexity are relative to your goals. But any client, for the most part, can enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a developer, where it could cost them next to nothing for a system. The developer, more or less, leases the land or the roof for a predetermined amount, installs and maintains the system for a period of time (usually around 20 years), and then sells power back to the client at a reduced rate. For more information contact: Kevin Sullivan, PE, LEED AP 800.286.2469 x4704 ksullivan@fando.com
FOCUS on Safety
ZerO Priority
2020
Critical Errors At least one of these four possible errors is involved in many safety incidents:
Congratulations Team Fuss & O’Neill! O Recordable OSHA Accidents in 2020!
Eyes Not on Task
The health and safety of our employees, partners, and clients is our priority. With so much on our minds these days, we want to focus on personal safety awareness.
Mind Not on Task
There are four states of being that can cause or contribute to critical errors:
Rushing
Frustration
Being in the Line of Fire for the Hazard
Losing Balance and Inadvertently Falling into the Path of the Hazard
Fatigue
Complacency
It is good practice to self-monitor if you are exhibiting any of these behaviors. If you can recognize that you are in one of the four states, STOP and change your situation. Slow down, relax, take a break, and stay focused on the task or assignment. A large portion of our work is performed outside of the office. As our colleagues and clients, you bring unique insight to safety practices. If you see something that we can improve upon, we want to hear about it. If you have safety policies that you practice that you think would help us, we would love for you to share them. Please send your safety observations and tips to: rlevandoski@fando.com
More than 90% of all injuries - at work, at home, or on the roadways - are caused by one or more of the aforementioned four states causing or contributing to one or more of the critical errors. The state of being comes before the error, which allows us to FOCUS on the state so we don’t make the error, and, therefore, don’t increase the risk of accident or injury.
Employee
WELCOME BACK! KURT SMITH Business Line Manager
We see ourselves as partners in execution. I believe that what we do here is more than simply consulting engineering.
2
We are excited to welcome back Kurt Smith to our Environmental and Facility Services Business Line as a Business Line Manager. Kurt previously worked for Fuss & O’Neill for more than 15 years and was instrumental in developing new markets for Fuss & O’Neill. We remotely chatted with Kurt to learn about his new role and why he chose to return to Fuss & O’Neill.
1
What is your role here at Fuss & O’Neill?
My current role is Business Line Manager in the Environmental and Facility Services Business Line. I work with our leaders on business development efforts, new market development, and I assist technical staff with project and client management. Business and new market development sounds like a sales role to most people, and to some it may be, but the true depth of the role is more than that. It’s about deeply understanding our clients’ industries and businesses. We like to understand their position in their respective market, how they approach their projects, and what is absolutely critical to their business and the project at any given time. It requires that we understand where they are now, where they have been, and where they are headed.
What brought you back to Fuss & O’Neill after more than a year hiatus?
The people here is the easiest answer, but also my new perspective. From July 2019 to early March 2020 I worked in an emerging industry; it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, and I am glad I did it. During that time, I hired Fuss & O’Neill as a consultant, and the relationships I had built with my team over the years definitely made my job easier. I always felt that we (Fuss & O’Neill) offered more value than just being AEC project people. I can now say, having had an opportunity to be on the other side of the table working with Fuss & O’Neill, that is true. After my first month back, I recognize the diversity and quality of work that we do and the talent that we have provide an immense opportunity that I can leverage as a project developer. There is tremendous value having that expertise at your fingertips. It provides me a personal freedom that I hadn’t realized prior to my departure. The biggest thing that I missed while I was gone was the people. Trust is an amazing thing. The more you work with someone and build trust in a team environment, there is little you cannot accomplish together. We have built an amazing team of talented people in every department of the company. That took a lot of time and careful thought on everyone’s part. I’m happy to be back.
3
What has been the biggest challenge working during COVID?
The challenges and constraints of COVID-19 are obvious. Particularly when you consult on a national level with the current public health environment. We have overcome the element of having face time with coworkers and clients. That was all mechanical in nature and our corporate services folks did a great
FOCUS
job of providing business continuity while taking carefully calculated steps to do so. We have a great Environmental Health & Safety program at Fuss & O’Neill and I’m wholly comfortable with the tough decisions our organization has made in the wake of this pandemic to keep us all safe and healthy. Much of this happened in my absence. The biggest struggle for me is to understand where we can do the most good for the communities and clients we serve. I think the pandemic has evolved much like our efforts in responding to climate change and intelligently addressing climate resilience. Some of the problems are obvious and require an immediate response, and some are preventative and require a longterm approach. I am actively listening to our employees, clients, and our network of teaming partners in their response to the public health crisis. I think our role in this historic effort is diverse and tough to pin down. I don’t think there’s an easy or comfortable answer to any of it.
Good for Farmers, Good for Consumers, and Good for the Earth Vertical farming allows more crop production in less space. In fact, 1 acre of an indoor area offers equivalent production of at least 4-6 acres of outdoor capacity. And vertical farming requires less water. Vertical farming produces crops with 70% to 95% less water than required for normal cultivation.
FOCUS on Vermont
Our White River Junction, VT office has the distinction of being our northernmost office and is full of hard-working engineers, scientists, and support staff. The work they do in Vermont and surrounding states focuses on natural resource protection, transportation improvements, and land development. And we think what they do outside of the office is pretty interesting too! We socially-distance chatted with our Vermont friends to learn more about their work, office culture, and how they enjoy their bucolic Vermont home.
Phil Forzley, PE
raised here and I think they stay for access to the outdoors and the clean air and water. Office Manager, Vice President, and No matter where you live in our area, forest, trails, lakes, and ponds are right outside Water Resources the door. We can go on a hike or trail run Engineer practically out the back door!” Phil worked in our Connecticut headquarters for more than 15 years before heading up the Vermont office. We asked him what the biggest differences between the two locations are: “Here in VT, I’m essentially responsible for expanding a small business, making it profitable and a fun place to work. In HQ, we were well established and the biggest challenges were getting the work done effectively. There’s great bones to work with here. The entire staff in VT, NH and ME are exceptional. With Josh Robinson’s move to VT we are providing environmental and hazardous materials services to clients, so folks are developing new skills. The staff here makes fun of me because I can’t raise animals, and I think their mission is to teach me the ways of the north country. Most were
Phil is known for his love of the outdoors (as evidenced by his previous answer) and for being quite the foodie. We asked about his favorite local trails and restaurants. “Many favorite bike rides are here. They all go past lakes and have big climbs and descents. The harder the ride, the better, and there’s plenty of that. On the gastric front, the Flying Goose Pub has a spectacular view of Mt. Kearsarge, their own brewery, and good burgers. I’m in my second year on a wait list for an assigned beer mug and, according to the bartenders, I easily have two years to go. I’m fortunate enough to live on a lake, and when I’m not working, cycling, or eating, I sit and watch the water and listen to the loons. That alone is enough to keep me here.”
Jake Fowler, EIT Project Engineer
Jake is a diverse civil engineer that serves our municipal and land development clients. When he wears his transportation services hat he notes that Vermont roadway projects are challenging because there is so much diversity in them. Each project has its own unique challenges whether it be the existing grade, existing superelevation, detours, or other roads that connect. Detours in Vermont are especially challenging since you may not see another possible route to the destination for miles. However, some things are close, like the King Arthur Baking Company, which is right up the road. It is, and has been, a staple of the area for many years. From coffee to sandwiches, they make pretty much everything we need to keep us running here in the office!.
Steven Goodwin Engineering Technician
Steven serves as both a resident engineer and construction inspector on active project sites. While he primarily serves our VTRANS team, Steve is a great office resources because he’s flexible and enjoys helping our CDV group with field work. He notes that it’s very exciting watching projects transform from plans to tangible developments in his home state of Vermont.
Kristin McGary
Administrative Assistant Kristin works closely with everyone in the VT office and is very proud of how strong the team is together. She believes there’s nothing they can’t do together! She really misses seeing everyone and their monthly office breakfasts and lunches together. She’s really looking forward to these and other group events once office life returns to “normal”.
Dan Monette, PE Civil Engineer/ Project Manager
Dan is a New Hampshire native and recently started beekeeping, maintaining two bee hives from which he harvested 12 gallons of honey last year (roughly 144 pounds)!
When he’s not tending his 120,000 winged babies, Dan fills a critical PM role. He helps our office juggle the many client and project demands, which include roadway, culvert, dam, and stormwater improvement projects. Dan and his wife Sarah have a 2 1/2 year old son and are expecting another baby Monette in June!
David Rosengarten Hydrogeologist
David is an unlikely skier for a Miami, FL native. He did his undergrad at CU Boulder as a snowboarder, then got an AmeriCorps water quality job at NY State Parks and learned to love skiing the icy east. He thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail then met his wife while at graduate school at UNH Durham for Hydrology. He’s been planted in New England ever since! When he’s not tackling the slopes, David has dedicated his career to helping our clients navigate their regulatory challenges while enhancing and protecting our natural resources. His favorite species is the beaver, which is a very industrious creature that efficiently works to engineer its habitat. David’s love of both carpentry and his career path make this adorable rodent an obvious choice for his favorite!
Josh Robinson
Environmental Scientist
Josh grew up in Vermont and has always had a love of the state and its people. He worked in our Providence office until his wife recently finished her pediatric residency program at Brown University and they made the decision to move back to where they grew up to use their skills to help the communities that provided them with such great opportunities. They are both outdoor enthusiasts that spend their free time hiking, biking, skiing, and exploring the Green and Adirondack Mountains. Shown here, they have an orchard with peaches, pears, plums, cherries, and apples! Josh works on many brownfield redevelopment projects, and he is excited about bringing his skill set to North Region clients and help them turn blighted properties into projects that enhance the community while protecting human health and the environment. Josh is helping our clients to address challenges presented by subsurface soil conditions and past use of what we recognize now as hazardous building materials.