2017 RESPEC Annual Report by RESPEC

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

inside the 2017 Annual report 2 3 4 5

ACHIEVING SUCCESS THROUGH GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION MARKET DIVERSIFICATION AND CORPORATE GROWTH RESPEC ACQUIRES SSG, LTD. ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE: TRANSFORMING OUR CLIENTS’ VISIONS INTO REALITY

Board of Directors Walter D. Jones, Lead Director* Todd J. Kenner Jason T. Love John S. L. Morgan Stephen T. O’Rourke* Alfred J. Serrano* Marvin D. Truhe*

California Wildfire Emergency Response

Officers

Sand Creek Stabilization Design

Proof of Concept for a Water Rights Information System

Todd J. Kenner Chief Executive Officer/ President

Independent Assessment of the 16TAN Pipeline Oil Spill

New Processes for Remote Coal Mine on Isla Riesco

Indian Health Service, Systems Engineering and Support Services

GIS Support for Electric Utility Line Validation

Mine Planning for Eagle Materials

Helena Valley Flood Mitigation

Meeting Rapid Growth Demand for Underground Air Storage

TexasSure Vehicle Insurance Verification

Engaging Public Process for Deep Borehole Field Test

Ed-Fi Real-Time Data

Due Diligence as a Lender’s Technical Advisor

17 ACHIEVING COMMUNITY BRILLIANCE WITH STEM EDUCATION

Philip A. Welling Chief Financial Officer/ Treasurer

Dale R. Atkinson Chief Technology Officer Cameron P. Hook Chief Information Officer

Samantha L. Lapin Senior Vice President, Data & Technology Solutions Jason T. Love Senior Vice President, Water & Natural Resources John S. L. Morgan Senior Vice President, Mining & Energy Kerry L. DeVries Vice President Rick R. Moser Vice President

Leo L. Van Sambeek Vice President

Karla R. Lipp Corporate Secretary

*External Director

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Achieving success through growth and diversification Achievement. If we could claim only one word in 2017, it would be achievement. Across the

company, we achieved much as a team. By executing our Vision 2020 strategic plan, we continue to diversify our market presence, expand our client base, and make strategic investments. Our

year-over-year growth in 2017 was 18 percent, which resulted in a gross revenue of $48 million. We expanded the RESPEC family by hiring an additional 71 professionals.

RESPEC’s market and client diversification is evident. Our professionals provided consulting solutions for a vast range of challenging projects. We improved Chilean mining efficiencies at the southernmost tip of the world and explored advanced ways to store renewable energy

underground in North America. We developed a computing system to provide real-time, motorvehicle information in Texas and addressed major challenges in New Mexico’s public education system. Our team performed an independent assessment of an environmental cleanup in

Saskatchewan and provided geospatial solutions for a major utility provider in the Midwest—

all demonstrating that RESPEC is a world-class integrated technology solutions provider.

In 2017, we focused our market investments to diversify and expand our technology offerings. Our acquisition of SSG, Ltd., further extends RESPEC’s capabilities in software solutions, data

management, and digital transaction management. RESPEC now has a significant presence in

Texas and increased data solution offerings for commercial customers. We also began a strategic partnership with the Educator and Student Open Learning (EASOL) organization whose focus is developing a nationwide model to advance student achievement in the K–12 education market. Both affiliations strategically align with RESPEC’s offerings in data and technology solutions. Our continued growth and success contribute directly to our employee-owners. In 2017,

RESPEC distributed 63.6 percent of pretaxed, prebonus earnings directly to employees through the 401(k) Plan, ESOP, and year-end incentives. This commitment illustrates what it means to be a successful employee-owned company. We are proud to present this year’s annual report and

celebrate the achievements of our talented professionals. It is only through your efforts that we continue to achieve. Thank you.

// Todd Kenner, CEO/President

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Market Diversification and corporate growth Gaining Top Clients RESPEC has a history of valuing and maintaining lasting client relationships. Building new client relationships translates into long-term collaborations. In 2017, we gained five new clients who become part of RESPEC’s top 20 clients. We provide them with technology services in their market sectors of health care, telecommunications, and public safety.

Adding New Services As an integrated technology solutions provider, RESPEC

constantly explores adding new technical services to provide value to our clients. In 2017, we incorporated real-time, data

system programming in an open-source environment for the K–12 education market. We also added software solutions integration for billing and revenue financial management.

Expanding Our Reach Through acquisitions and organic growth, RESPEC expanded its presence in Texas. Meeting a long-time strategic goal for

growth in the state, we made many hires within the water and natural resources markets of San Antonio and Austin. Our

Dallas acquisition of SSG, Ltd. further expanded RESPEC’s data and technology solutions business. Our work with the

state’s TexasSure Vehicle Insurance Verification program is

another exciting first in serving the public sector in Texas. We are excited about continued growth in the Lone Star State.

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RESPEC Acquires SSG, LTD. A strategic acquisition that expands our technology offerings while diversifying our private-sector solutions

In 2017, RESPEC acquired SSG, Ltd., a leading software professional services company that provides solutions for billing and revenue

management, data management, custom software development, and

digital transaction management. RESPEC is very pleased to increase its customer base with an impressive list of long-time Fortune 500 clients

and extend our product and service technology offerings. Strategically diversifying our private-sector solutions, the acquisition leverages our collective and complementary know-how to develop scalable, custom technology solutions for commercial and public-sector clients. As a result, RESPEC’s clients will benefit from our significantly expanded

capabilities in premier software professional services with products for business management.

Acquiring an Oracle Gold Partner recognized for achieving Global

Oracle Billing and Revenue Management Specialization, RESPEC offers

extensive expertise and knowledge in successfully addressing complex, usage-based billing challenges. We have also gained valuable strategic alliances with Hortonworks and Informatica, both used in developing robust “big data” solutions. This strategic acquisition is certain to

expand RESPEC’s ability to provide clients with even more choices for valuable integrated solutions.

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ACHIEVING THE

IMPOSSIBLE TRANSFORMING OUR CLIENTS’ VISIONS INTO REALITY

In 2017, RESPEC continued to provide a diverse, world-class offering of solutions for technology, engineering, and science challenges, thanks to the collective talents of our 280+ professionals. In the data technology arena, we delivered solutions that transform client data into robust business intelligence. For natural environment clients, RESPEC professionals designed technical innovations that enhance the quality of life while stewarding natural resources for the future. The projects on the following pages highlight just a few of RESPEC’s greatest achievements this year. At home and around the world, RESPEC professionals have a reputation for transforming client “impossibles” by using our know-how to engage, analyze, and solve the world’s most difficult problems.

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California Wildfire Emergency Response Ensuring safety in Northern California after the massive wildfires

The most destructive fires in

California’s history began burning on October 8, 2017, in the Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties in the heart of Northern California’s wine country. “This is truly one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tragedy that California has ever faced,” said California’s Governor Jerry Brown. “The devastation is just unbelievable; it’s a horror that no one could have imagined.”

responded to assist in the Northern California fire recovery. RESPEC joined the emergency response team to screen burned properties for high-hazard materials and household hazardous wastes. Working as a subcontractor to Weston Solutions, RESPEC sent its team of eight to join other environmental assessors on the EPA’s Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START).

While the raging firestorm made headlines, little was said about the massive damage assessment and cleanup that would be required after the fire. Emergency response teams were needed to scour the ashes. Mountains of dangerous residential debris were left behind by the 250 wildfires that destroyed at least 8,400 homes and killed 42 people. At the request of local, state, and federal authorities, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The devastating wildfires razed homes and left massive debris containing toxic household products that could catch fire, react, or explode. Our team helped perform initial property assessments to identify hazards, including remaining household products and asbestoscontaining building materials. We safely disposed of household products found that contained hazardous ingredients, such as paint, compressed gas cylinders, ammunition, solvents, oils,

batteries, or pesticides. RESPEC’s staff also operated air-monitoring stations that measured gamma radiation, mercury vapors, volatile organic compounds, and various other gases that could pose safety hazards to workers. We successfully completed fieldwork and supported data management/GIS operations for the project. Working with Weston Solutions on EPA START contracts for Regions 8 and 9, our team supports emergency response efforts related to wildfires, as well as floods and spills. We are very proud to work on these environmental efforts to help restore Northern California and make wine country safe again.

To support the EPA’s emergency response efforts for the massive Northern California wildfires, RESPEC’s intensive safety monitoring and hazardous cleanup services helped restore the popular wine country area.

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By meeting critical design requirements for aesthetics, stabilization, and expanded functionality at Sand Creek, RESPEC’s team created protective infrastructure and planted almost 9,000 trees and shrubs, including sandbar willows, cottonwood poles, and native grasses.

Sand Creek Stabilization Design Stabilizing a severely eroded creek with vertical grade control

As part of the

City of Colorado Springs’ 20-year program to correct its neglected flood-control system, RESPEC was selected to perform a high-priority, stormwater capital project at Sand Creek. The project is located in a watershed with regional and local parks, where outdoor enthusiasts demand creekside trails for jogging, hiking, biking, and “fat biking” (a new trend featuring super-wide bicycle tires for traversing land and water). Focused on a section of Sand Creek in desperate need of recreational access, RESPEC was hired to design long-lasting channel improvements that would be maintainable and aesthetically pleasing as well as within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) project budget. Our team’s main technical challenge was stabilizing 2,500 linear feet of the severely eroded creek by providing 38 feet of vertical grade control. In addition to stabilization, the City also wanted to implement trail access and incorporate a way for fat bikes to navigate the trail and creek bottom. RESPEC was selected based on our team’s expertise and knowledge of Sand Creek and similar creek improvement challenges. Our design required 66,000 cubic yards of fill material to reestablish the degraded channel and design five rigid gradecontrol structures. Additional challenges included protecting a nearby major sanitary sewer, coordinating with property owners,

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performing landscape restoration, and incorporating design elements for fat-bike access. Working with the City’s Stormwater Division and Parks Department, RESPEC’s team held meetings with local stakeholders to establish design expectations. A key element in the design process included analyzing gradecontrol structure alternatives. RESPEC developed a report to compare three grade-control structure types, costs, and benefits that are related to the project. Based on our design team’s recommendations, the client selected boulder gradecontrol structures. The solution criteria included durability, maintenance, constructability, material availability, aesthetics, construction cost, fat-bike navigability, safety, and environmental considerations. With fat-bike access and revegetation as critical design requirements, RESPEC’s team explored design solutions that would allow the biking community access. By planting native grasses and almost 9,000 trees and shrubs to stabilize the channel, RESPEC’s unique result at Sand Creek is very aesthetic with expanded functionality. RESPEC’s project design successfully met all of the City’s project goals. Construction began in January 2018.

In the spirit of can-do, RESPEC’s team supported a critical Montana modernization project during challenging economic conditions for the state while maintaining the highest levels of quality and productivity.

Proof of Concept for a Water Rights Information System Working smart to modernize during economic challenges

Like many states

experiencing economic downturns, Montana required a creative solution to implement a planned, modernized Water Rights Information System (WRIS). The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) had approval to proceed with the WRIS but needed additional assurance that the proposed software architecture and design would work within conservative funding goals. Based on RESPEC’s recommendations, Montana’s DNRC team asked vendors to bid on a proof-of-concept phase to detail how they might prove the architecture and technology proposed. Out of six responders, RESPEC won the business because of our know-how.

Our team knew the customer’s needs, had insight into their financial and technical challenges, and understood their business processes. The client was confident that we could support a modernization effort within their comfort zone. Focusing on the first phase of a large project, the RESPEC team outlined the critical tasks that would allow the DNRC to meet its budgetary goals. Our proposal assured the client that we could limit costs without sacrificing quality. The team used Agile methodology for software development and project management. We also proposed to limit the scope of the proof of concept and perform just

enough scaled-down work to prove recommendations. By condensing all planned visits into one on-site visit in Helena, Montana, we addressed the DNRC requirements and saved valuable labor hours. To include the customer in design sessions and hold sprint reviews, the rest of the project was performed remotely (via phone, Skype, and Internet). RESPEC is a proud partner who supports the DNRC on this multiyear journey. We are confident about meeting their needs despite shifting state budgets and challenging economic conditions.

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Independent Assessment of the 16TAN Pipeline Oil Spill Independently assessing environmental impacts on the North Saskatchewan River

RESPEC’s Canadian team is proud

to work on the oil spill assessment for the North Saskatchewan River project and use water science to protect the subsistence traditions of a ceremonial First Nations’ waterway. Fed by melting snows and glaciers, the river has been a vital resource for over 10,000 years and is held sacred by Saskatchewan’s indigenous people. On July 20, 2016, a 16-inch, crudeoil pipeline ruptured near the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, approximately 18 miles northeast of Lloydminster, Alberta. The 66,000-gallon spill caused heavy oiling of shorelines approximately 30 miles downstream. Evidence of oil extended as far as 270 miles from the release point. Husky Energy, the owner of the ruptured 16TAN pipeline, completed the mapping of the oiled shorelines and downstream

sampling of water and sediment quality. First Nations bands along the river expressed concern that oil was damaging the water quality, the river’s fishery, traditional and medicinal plants, and wildlife in the riparian corridor. The Saskatchewan First Nations

Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (SFNNRCE), which represents 74 First Nations communities, was instructed by its membership to complete their own oil-spill assessment. The SFNNRCE retained RESPEC to begin reviewing the water quality, sediment quality, and cleanup actions to ensure that Husky Energy’s actions protect the river’s health and that First Nations’ traditional, ceremonial, and sustenance uses of the river are not impacted. A preliminary review of Husky Energy reports validated some findings and actions by the oil company but raised questions and

concerns regarding minimizing impacts to the river and mitigating long-term effects on aquatic life. RESPEC planned and initiated a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) to validate the residual impacts of the oil remaining within the river system. We began a forensic analysis to verify that the oil was related to the spilled oil incident. The SAP targeted sediments on the river shorelines within or near First Nations communities where weathered oil and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) chemicals in oil can cause longterm impacts to fish, aquatic life, and riparian vegetation. RESPEC’s team will work with the SFNNRCE to complete the full report and final results of the analysis during the summer of 2018. We look forward to continuing work as the project enters the long-term monitoring phase.

RESPEC is very supportive of Saskatchewan First Nations as they use science and integrated technology solutions to protect a traditional-use river of great cultural significance dating back thousands of years.

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With a reputation for delivering excellence even in extreme conditions, RESPEC’s team braved a remote island in Chile to review Mina Invierno’s material-handling practices and improve the coal mine’s operating capacity.

New Processes for Remote Coal Mine on Isla Riesco Overcoming adverse conditions to improve material-handling practices Located on one of Chile’s largest islands

near Patagonia, Isla Riesco, the Mina Invierno coal mine project showcases RESPEC’s adventurous team spirit and ability to perform work in extreme conditions. A terrain of ice fields and glaciers at the southernmost tip of the world, Mina Invierno translates as “Winter Mine.” The remote island’s inhospitable environment is home to the largest coal reserves in Chile. Mina Invierno supplies coal to industries in Chile and other countries. With unpredictable winds and rain, the island’s local conditions also include geological, meteorological, and operational challenges, which result in substantial equipment downtime for the mine. RESPEC’s team is conducting an independent review of the mine’s material-handling practices to find solutions for the overburden-haul fleet. RESPEC’s mining professionals prepared a report on water-handling, water-drainage, and mine road and ramp designs, and advised on an overburden shovel selection. RESPEC’s goal is to create a definable, repeatable process for Mina Invierno to address its material-handling issues.

Indian Health Service, Systems Engineering and Support Services Serving the nation’s Native American population with modern architectural design

RESPEC is proud to work with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) as they improve a comprehensive, integrated, health information platform to support a broad range of clinical and business functions across the nation. One project goal is to replace the current IHS delivery platform, Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), which was derived from the legacy Veteran Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA).

By partnering with GDIT on a 5-year contract, RESPEC will reengineer and provide full-lifecycle software development, architecture, and operations support services to assist the IHS to align the RPMS with current best practices in application architecture, design, and management. This effort includes improving data modeling and mapping, transitioning to a true serviceoriented architecture, and harmonizing disparate graphical user interfaces into a common interface framework. The platform-independent context features support for the Internet, mobile, and other hardware infrastructure.

RESPEC’s team began by implementing a validated project management methodology and a proven, modified Agile development methodology. We used tools that serve as the foundation for delivering viable solutions across approximately 20 defined tasks. After successfully integrating the work load and tasks of five disparate contracts into one cohesive approach in just 1 year of operation, our collaborative IT team will now develop a new, more modern architectural design to better serve the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native populations with federal health services.

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GIS Support for Electric Utility Line Validation Modeling secondary electrical assets using Smallworld software

Providing electricity

and natural gas to 1.2 million customers in eight states, Black Hills Energy in Rapid City, South Dakota, required a better way of tracking electrical assets to help them improve work-order planning for upgrades and repairs in South Dakota and Wyoming. With incomplete GIS records of its electrical assets, Black Hills Energy needed to perform a validation of all assets in the field and model them in GIS. Using Smallworld (a software designed for asset management of electrical utilities), the

client provided on-site software training to six RESPEC professionals to support their GIS effort. RESPEC’s team was responsible for adding all secondary assets of the electrical system (i.e., wire, poles, and meters) into the client’s GIS system. Our team members from Rapid City, South Dakota; Missoula and Bozeman, Montana; and Decatur, Georgia worked remotely to provide GIS support.

February 2018. The successful completion

With 196 circuits in western South Dakota and Cheyenne, Wyoming, RESPEC successfully completed the work on this project in

Hills Energy.

of this large internal project will result in

compliance for Black Hills Energy’s future

audits that are associated with all of its internal assets. Collaborating with our hometown utilities company, RESPEC appreciates

augmenting its know-how with Smallworld software training, upgrading the client’s

system, and working with our friends at Black

Mine Planning for Eagle Materials Stringent quality control increases reserves and extends cement-plant longevity while promoting community relations

With a global reputation for superior RESPEC worked closely with Eagle Materials to produce a mining sequence to fit their requirements, and our mine plan optimized the limestone deposit and extended the life of the cement-plant facility.

cement quarry mine planning that ensures landsurface restoration and resource maximization, RESPEC collaborated with Eagle Materials to create improvements for its cement manufacturing facility in Fairborn, Ohio. By addressing opportunities related to the elemental rock chemistry in their limestone deposit, RESPEC created solutions for integrating proper rock chemistry blending in the mining process to ensure that quality control targets are delivered during the cement manufacturing process.

The client owns many land parcels that require mine planning suitable for high-quality cement production, land rehabilitation, and extraction sequencing. All of these items are paramount and must be performed in a manner that addresses sensitive community relations. RESPEC delivered the mine plan and has been asked to provide additional support to the Fairborn Operation. Quarried limestone accounts for roughly 85 percent of the raw materials that are required in manufacturing Portland cement. Without the limestone, no saleable cement product is created. RESPEC’s mine plan was environmentally engineered to factor this issue in and ensure optimal restoration of the land surface for future agricultural, residential, and public use. RESPEC worked closely with Eagle Materials to produce a mining sequence that fits their requirements, and our mine plan optimized the limestone deposit and extended the life of the cement-plant facility. By identifying geologic and chemical characteristics of the limestone rock layers, we successfully developed a quality control “blending plan” to mix low-quality and high-quality stone together to achieve the client’s stringent quality control targets. RESPEC’s team was pleased to offer the mining and geologic expertise that allows the client to use nearly 20 percent more limestone than previous mining practices.

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Helena valley flood mitigation Working with diverse watershed stakeholders on a complex terrain

located in Lewis and Clark County and home to the

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Helena Valley is set near ten mountain ranges in Montana. Historically speaking, the geographically complex area has suffered repeated widespread flooding that resulted in millions of dollars in damages. After a large flood in 2011, Lewis and Clark County began a comprehensive flood-mitigation planning effort. In 2012, RESPEC staff secured a grant from FEMA to mitigate a portion of the overall flooding problem throughout the valley. The proposal formalized the Trap Club Detention project. The plan included transforming a local borrow pit (the Trap Club) into a flooddetention facility, adding conveyance upgrades to multiple culverts, and grading roadside ditches. In 2016, Lewis and Clark County named RESPEC as the Master Service Provider responsible for all flood-mitigation projects outlined in their Master Plan. The Trap Club Detention project serves as the first task order for developing a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis for the two primary flooding sources in the Helena Valley—Tenmile Creek and Silver Creek—in addition to developing the final design, permitting, and construction of the project. RESPEC developed a detailed analysis to better understand the quantity, timing, and flow patterns throughout Helena Valley. The analysis is essential for planning, designing, permitting, and building flood-control infrastructure. The Helena Valley project has recently transitioned from modeling to the designing and permitting phases. Because several physical, social, and technical constraints complicate this project, RESPEC is working diligently with all stakeholders to implement the major project revision that is currently awaiting FEMA approval.

Working with diverse stakeholders in one of Montana’s most complex watersheds, RESPEC’s solution prevents widespread flooding and saves millions of dollars in damages and displacements.

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On the leading edge of energy-storage technology for renewable energy, Toronto-based Hydrostor selected RESPEC as a trusted advisor for the company’s underground advanced compressed air energy storage systems. The image above features coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical modeling results from a computer simulation of a proposed cavern design.

Meeting Rapid Growth Demand for Underground Air Storage Filling the gap in renewable energy with A-CAES technology

toronto’s Renewable energy

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innovator, Hydrostor, Inc. (Hydrostor) recently introduced an advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) technology to the market and is already seeing rapid growth. Despite Hydrostor’s solid grasp of the mechanical compression-expansion aspects of their underground design, RESPEC was consulted for solutions to significant geological challenges they encountered.

energy industry. Hydrostor’s A-CAES design focuses on compressing and storing air in specially designed, manmade underground caverns that are approximately 40 meters high and hundreds of meters long. Each storage facility will consist of several caverns that are approximately the size of the Houston Astrodome. The stored air can be withdrawn as needed and expanded through a turbine to produce electricity.

As a key contributor to the viability of energy alternatives, A-CAES technology fills the storage gap for the renewable

As a trusted advisor to Hydrostor, RESPEC is very pleased to contribute to their projects, which range from

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geological research of potential project sites to front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for constructing an A-CAES system. The agility, flexibility, and knowledge of RESPEC’s professional team continue to be valuable to Hydrostor’s business, which is rapidly growing and securing projects within the energy-storage industry. With projects already planned in several countries, our partnership has a very bright future.

TexasSure Vehicle Insurance Verification Protecting responsible citizens by reducing the number of uninsured drivers and assisting law enforcement The Texas Department of Insurance had a legacy computing system that needed improvements in security, reporting, and information sharing with other agencies. They were seeking a qualified vendor to provide a new system for vehicle insurance verification services that would allow multiple Texas agencies to match registered vehicles with insurance policies, reduce the number of uninsured drivers, and assist law enforcement in complying with vehicle insurance requirements. The system

also had to respond to queries from law enforcement on a 24/7 basis by retrieving requested records quickly and securely. With TexasSure in early development, our professional team works closely with four Texas state agencies to provide a modern system that will meet all of their requirements. Under a 3-year contract with options, the TexasSure system is being developed using an Agile methodology. After the system’s implementation, RESPEC will operate the TexasSure system and process

over 40 million records on a weekly basis. Our expertise will ensure that law enforcement and other agencies can easily access updated information and current reports. Meeting a long-time strategic goal for growth in the state, RESPEC’s work with TexasSure is an exciting entry to serving the public sector in Texas. RESPEC’s professional team will build a fast, robust technical solution that can be used across the nation and ultimately contribute to safer highways for all.

Engaging Public Process for Deep Borehole Field Test Effective public outreach leadership for a challenging topic in 2017, RESPEC was awarded a Phase One contract

from the Department of Energy for a Deep Borehole Field Test, which was a high-profile project requiring expert leadership in public outreach. Supporting nuclear repository science, this multimillion dollar project involved designing and drilling an 8-inchdiameter borehole to depths of 16,400 feet below the surface, where physical experiments would be performed. Our objective was to determine whether or not the physical conditions in deep crystalline bedrock were suitable for potential nuclear waste disposal. No nuclear waste was involved in the project. RESPEC developed a project-specific website and social media platforms where accurate information could be provided to the public and misinformation could be corrected. We demonstrated leadership in successfully engaging the public in five meetings to explain the potential project and address concerns. RESPEC also performed an Environmental Assessment at the proposed drill site. Because of federal budgetary changes, the project did not move beyond Phase One. RESPEC’s focused

approach to public involvement resulted in wellattended meetings where various perspectives were shared in a constructive, productive manner. Winning this contract was a significant tribute to RESPEC’s history, knowledge, and continuing involvement in repository science.

The RESPEC team’s vast knowledge of repository science reinforced our strong leadership in effective public outreach for a Department of Energy Deep Borehole Field Test project.

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Ed-Fi Real-Time Data Improved teaching and learning to benefit New Mexico’s public schools for 338,000 children

Reflecting shifts

in New Mexico’s culture and decision-making process, RESPEC’s Ed-Fi Real-Time Data project is a new data system program that improves the quality, accessibility, and comparability of shared public education data for the state’s school districts. The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) contracted with RESPEC to develop the system and help resolve data interoperability and infrastructure challenges. For the past 18 months, RESPEC and Educator and Student Open Learning (EASOL) have been developing this revolutionary solution for New Mexico, which is typically ranked as the 49th state in the country for educational achievement. Our new data system will make a significant difference in addressing many of the issues that are causing New Mexico to lag behind. Expected to improve education statewide, our project is a phased effort to implement the real-time data project to every school district in New Mexico. The first phase successfully implemented the solution in six school districts across New Mexico, and RESPEC is adding 20 more school districts to the system. The final

and largest phase will add the rest of New Mexico’s 89 school districts. By 2021, New Mexico’s operational Ed-Fi Real-Time Data ecosystem project will efficiently and accurately analyze and report data to enable timely, data-based decisions at every level and connect classroom educators to the state agency level. By supporting local administrators and educators with real-time data dashboards and other tools for informed decisionmaking, our data system supports student success. RESPEC’s project also creates interagency data links from early childhood to K–12 grades, and the Educator Preparation Program supports longitudinal analysis, predictive analytics, and returnon-investment analysis. Over the last few decades, the NMPED has managed with a legacy system and fragmented data systems to store and manage educational data. Most states in the US are using a system with challenges in common data integration and interoperability. RESPEC’s solution addresses the lack of a single data standard and data stored in isolated systems that

do not communicate with one another. Our goal is to raise the standard for required data to be made accessible and comparable for classroom analysis and implementation. The NMPED’s choice to replace its outdated, disconnected, and lowoutput reporting system will transform the public education data ecosystem so that all stakeholders can effectively use the data. RESPEC’s Ed-Fi Real-Time Data project is intended to leverage open-source technology; use Ed-Fi as the foundation for a new system; and produce a much greater output of high-quality, actionable information at a much lower cost. Establishing the program as the NMPED data standard will result in various benefits, such as converting and integrating legacy systems. By connecting all of the districts and charters to NMPED’s Ed-Fi system, our larger statewide data project will ultimately resolve data interoperability, infrastructure, and cultural challenges. Data will then be efficiently accessed by the right stakeholders, in the right way, to support timely decisions.

ED-FI By the Numbers 338,000 children will benefit from RESPEC’s real-time data tools that support school educators and state administrators in New Mexico’s public schools.

With a reputation for effective collaboration, RESPEC’s emergency design/build team quickly restores creeks and waterways with infrastructure that protects the future habitat.

6 school districts have implemented a proven pilot program with success, and 20 more are currently being added. 2021 is the target year when the Ed-Fi Real-Time Data project will reach all of New Mexico’s 89 school districts with improved infrastructure and shared public education data. $100M is currently being spent by the state of New Mexico for education reporting. When the Real-Time Data project is complete, this cost will decrease to approximately $30M.

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As a trusted advisor around the world, RESPEC continues to play a critical role after performing due diligence for a complex client group’s potash mine development.

Due Diligence as a Lender’s Technical Advisor Playing a critical role in a potash mine’s evaluations and construction financing

the RESPEC team played a critical

role in performing due diligence for a client who plans to develop an underground mine and surface facilities to extract carnalite ore to produce and commercialize crystallized potassium chloride (KCl). The underground operation will be developed by using the room-andpillar technique, and the ore will be treated through a hot crystallization process. After nearly 3 decades of exploration and engineering work, the client is ready to build a potash mine. To acquire construction financing, RESPEC was hired to act as the Lender’s Technical Advisor for a syndicate of lenders considering the project. Using our 30+ years of experience in potash geology and engineering, RESPEC completed an expert evaluation of the geology, engineering, processing, financial, and contractual elements of the project.

To provide the client and lenders with a final product that would meet or exceed their expectations, our team conducted a reasonableness review of technical and legal documents for the project. We reviewed the feasibility study and the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, in addition to all of the main Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contracts. RESPEC’s global experience benefited the project lenders by identifying project success factors and risks. Our multidisciplinary team performed the verification of the technical aspects of the project and focused on the concept’s individual, major components of the geology, mining engineering, and processing engineering. RESPEC also verified the capabilities of project participants and the appropriateness

of the contractual arrangements. We evaluated the economics of the project by using stochastic analysis to determine and evaluate key risks to the financial model. RESPEC’s knowledgeable team worked with the client’s project team to develop action plans to address project risks and identify critical areas of success. By working in more than just a due-diligence role, RESPEC’s information and advice became integral to the evolution of the project. Delivering value to both client and lender, RESPEC is very pleased to provide ongoing due-diligence support to bridge gaps between the client’s project and the lender’s goals and to ensure project success.

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ACHIEVING COMMUNITY

BRILLIANCE WITH STEM EDUCATION

Some of society’s greatest innovations have come from individuals who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). After decades of grassroots efforts to inspire and inform the community about the seeds of innovation, RESPEC is proud to launch “STEM—GO FOR IT!” With over 20 locations across the US and Canada, RESPEC helps to support students who are ready to seize the life-changing opportunity of studying a STEM field. By reaching out to historically underrepresented youth, RESPEC’s volunteer team is ensuring that more students have the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of pursuing a STEM track. “Giving a child confidence in his or her ability to pursue and learn STEM skills is like giving them wings to fly,” said RESPEC’s CEO/President, Todd Kenner.

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As a STEM-focused corporation

that has done educational outreach for almost 50 years, RESPEC has made a significant commitment to achieving community brilliance one student at a time. By further extending our considerable geographic and professional reach with RESPEC’s “STEM—Go For It!” Program in 2017, we leveraged resources to make STEM learning, mentoring, and scholarships available for students of all ages. Why now? STEM occupations in the US are projected to grow at a rapid pace. In only 3 years, this acceleration will result in 2.6 million job openings, and 55 million new jobs by 2020, with most of the fastest growing occupations in STEM areas. We want students to prepare now for these life-enhancing opportunities. STEM education fuels job creation and inspires wide-spectrum achievement. Leading innovation through educational proficiency in STEM is an important part of RESPEC’s vision for the nationwide community. As a brilliant “think tank” volunteer force, RESPEC scientists and engineers understand the huge personal impact of inspiring and mentoring young people. RESPEC leadership knows that STEM is the key to community vibrancy and our nation’s technological and business strength. Infusing classroom education with professional experience creates a powerful learning environment for students who may fear entering a STEM track or avoid STEM altogether. RESPEC volunteers are “high-tech and high-touch” when collaborating with students and teachers, industry and community, and even concerned parents. With a professional staff of nearly 300 employees across North America, RESPEC makes a huge difference by seizing “teachable moments” one school or student at a time. We know the future is counting on young girls and boys to become tomorrow’s brilliant engineers, scientists, inventors, data experts, and mathematicians. Citing STEM education as the key to innovation, RESPEC CEO Todd Kenner says that a STEM focus in education will help students capture high-paying jobs after college and make the US even more competitive in the global economy. RESPEC is committed to encouraging youth to pursue STEM education and learn how the world’s greatest inventors and thinkers dare to dream and innovate.

First photo: RESPEC’s Technical Director of GIS, Paul Wickman, receives an overwhelmingly positive response from the Fridley Elementary School in Minnesota where he taught enthusiastic 4th graders about the latest in GIS mapping technology. Second photo: Dr. Anurag Mishra, a senior environmental engineer at RESPEC, assists middleschool students from Fremont, California, as they prepare to compete in the First Lego League Challenge with a hydrodynamics project. Third photo: Serving students of all ages with STEM outreach and community building, RESPEC sponsors the annual Muckgrass Cup, a competition of brains, brawn, and finesse, in partnership with the University of Kentucky, College of Engineering. Fourth photo: Staff engineer Brett Belzer is one of many RESPEC employees volunteering valuable time to perform 1,500 science experiments with students at Rapid City’s Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival, which combined family fun and STEM awareness at the RESPEC-sponsored headliner “Pumpkin Chunkin” catapult event.

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