PA Brownfields Highlights
The ESWP was pleased to partner again with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in presenting the 2020 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference. Held at State College, PA in the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center over March 9-11, almost 400 participants attended the conference.
This year we attracted 55 vendors to the exhibit hall, making it the highest attended in our history. In addition, attendees were able to select from over 20 different presentations and three general sessions which included state and federal updates on Brownfields programs, a futures forecast, and an informative, educational, and uplifting story on one business’s success that chose a brownfield as a place to build and expand their business. (Learn more about Crazy Aaron’s “Thinking Putty” success at Puttyworld.com.) To learn more about the conference and the presentations please visit our Brownfields Conference page: https://eswp.com/brownfields/overview/
ESWP Member News
With sadness, we reflect in the passing of Dr. Alfred Ackenheil, longtime member of the Engineers’ Society of Western PA. He was a consulting civil engineer for 65 years. He was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh for 42 years and was a respected mentor of his students. He was an avid supporter of overseas Christian missionaries as well as ESWP’s Student Outreach activities. “Doc” as he was affectionately known, was the 1996 recipient of ESWP’s William Metcalf Award, given for lifetime achievement. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
ESWP Banquet Recap
Oh what a night! Nearly 400 guests participated in the ESWP 136th Annual Engineering Awards Banquet, held in the Allegheny Ballroom of the Westin Hotel on Thursday, February 6. Master of Ceremonies Rick Sebak presided over the event, providing a few tantalizing trivia questions to the crowd, in the style he is so famous for. Along the way, awards were presented to Trevor Divine and Simone Stein, recipients of the George Washington Prize, presented by the University of Pittsburgh’s Dean of Engineering James Martin, and Carnegie Mellon University’s Dean of Engineering Bill Sanders respectfully. Following, ESWP President Dave Borneman presented Mr. Bill White with ESWP’s inaugural Educator of the Year Award for his in-class and extracurricular activities at the Avonworth School District, promoting STEM education. Following, Mr. Borneman recognized Dr. Brandon Grainger with the Engineer of the Year Award for his work in electrical power industry and leading the EPIC Conference in 2019. The Projects of the Year Awards were next up, recognizing the following:
- In the Transportation Category, we recognize the Bentleyville Interchange, and the Owner, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; the Engineer, ms consultants; the General Contractor, Golden Triangle Contracting; Survey Services, Monolah Basin Engineers; and Geotechnical Engineer, AWK Consulting Engineers
- In the Rehabilitation Category, we recognize the Liberty Tunnel Rehabilitation, and the Owner, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 11-0; the Engineer, WSP USA, Inc.; CM/CI Services, Hill International; and the three Contractors on this project: Wellington Power Corporation, Swank Construction Company, and Mosites Construction Company
- In the Innovation Category, we recognize the Pennsylvania Turnpike Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost 39.62, and the Owner, the PA Turnpike Commission; the Engineer, McCormick Taylor; the Construction Manager, Hill International; and the General Contractor Trumbull
- In the Education Category, we recognize the Point Park University Playhouse, and the Owner Point Park University; the Engineer/Architect, Westlake Reed Leskosky; and the General Contractor, PJ Dick.
- In the Emergency Rehabilitation Project of the Year, we recognize the Station Square Norfolk Southern Derailment, and the Owner, Port Authority of Allegheny County; the Engineer, GAI Consultants; the Construction Manager, SAI Consulting Engineers Inc.; and the General Contractor, Michael Facchiano Contracting, Inc.
The evening was highlighted by the presentation of the William Metcalf Award to Thomas G. Leech, P.E., S.E. Tom’s long career as a bridge engineer, along with his publishing and family interests were presented in video showing much of Tom’s work in all three areas. Special remarks were included by colleagues Tom Costello, Steve Shanley, Eric Veydt, and David Dzombak. Congratulations to Tom, and all of the award recipients, and thanks to all those who attended the Banquet!
ESWP’s Engineering Career Fair
ESWP’s Annual Engineering Career Fair was held on Friday, January 31, 2020 at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania.
28 companies participated in greeting over 100 students from the tri-state area, providing a rare opportunity for students and professionals to meet employers and company representatives. Students also took advantage of the mock interviews, an opportunity for students and professionals to interact and get quick feedback on their resume and interview skills.
Thank you to all the companies and students who participated.
Future City Competition Results
The 20th Pittsburgh Regional Future City Competition was held on January 19, 2019 at the Carnegie Science Center in the brand new PPG Science Pavilion.
Congratulations to the following winners of the 20th Pittsburgh Regional Future City Competition!
- 1st Place: Fort Couch Middle School
- 2nd Place: St. Edmund’s Academy
- 3rd Place: West Mifflin Area School District
- 4th Place: St. Bede School
- 5th Place: Marion Center Jr./Sr. High School
Future City Pittsburgh Alumnus of the Year – Eric Belski, M.Sc.
Also, visit (and like!) our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pghfuturecity for more competition photos.
ESWP 2019 Awards of Excellence announcement!
Congrats to all the award winners!
Click on the picture to make your reservation for the annual banquet..
2020 ESWP Election Results
The election for the 2020 ESWP Board of Directors has officially closed on December 31,
and We are pleased to announce the following results:
For Officers:
President: David W. Borneman, P.E.
1st Vice-President: Tammi A. Halapin, P.E.
2nd Vice-President: James R. McMaster, PMP
Secretary: Cheryl Moon-Sirianni, P.E.
For Directors:
Christopher Hill
Wayne Johnson, P.E.
Patrick Leach, P.E.
Greg O’Hare, P.E.
Suresh Ramanathan
George Robinson II
Thomas Woodrow, P.E., BCEE
Congratulations to all of the newly elected Board Members!
To view the complete list of the 2020 Engineers’ Society Board of Directors please click here
‘Menard Group’ Company News
Seth Pearlman, P.E., D. GE, M.ASCE, the President and CEO of Menard Group USA,
- will be receiving ASCE’s 2020 Wallace Hayward Baker Award for Ingenious Innovation in the field of ground modification.
- The prestigious Wallace Hayward Baker award is given by the Geo-Institute in recognition of creative and innovative contributions in the field of ground modification.
- Pearlman, who earned a BS and an MS in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, has more than 40 years of engineering experience and has worked on some of the most challenging ground improvement projects in the US.
Commenting on the award announcement Pearlman stated, “This is a great honor, and it is humbling to know that my contributions have been appreciated.”
Southern Beltway Tour
Twenty ESWP members participated in a presentation and tour of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Southern Beltway construction project on December 4. Presenters included Steve Hrvoich of the PATC, and Dale Rosinski and Matthew Steele from CDR Maguire. The tour was sponsored by Trumbull Corporation. During the presentation overview, participants learned some of the many details involved in this 13-mile long mega-project. Participants then boarded a shuttle bus to visit several points along the still-under-construction roadways and bridges, including a drive along a portion of the new roadway, not yet open to vehicular traffic. Big thanks to the PATC, CCDR Maguire, and Trumbull Corporation for hosting this tour.
IWC 2019 Highlights
The 80th Annual International Water Conference was a celebration that took place on November 10-14, 2019 in Orlando, FL. It brought together over 900 end users, researchers, practicing engineers, educators, suppliers and contractors from 25 countries to learn unbiased details about the latest applications available in the industry, get educated on current technology, and hold wide ranging discussions with their peers active in water treatment.
The conference opened on Sunday with an IWC Golf Outing “Scramble” at the Disney Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Additionally, three Continuing Education Workshops were available for attendees to get one on one instruction from professional instructors. Following these activities, we officially opened the IWC Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits at the Get Acquainted Reception, along with a special “birthday cake” to celebrate the 80th Anniversary IWC!
The Conference program officially opened on Monday morning with four early morning technical sessions. The morning concluded with the IWC Keynote Session, featuring keynote presenter Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst, who delivered an interesting address to more than 300 attendees. In addition, the IWC Annual Awards were presented (for full details, visit: https://eswp.com/water/awards/). Following the Keynote Session, a strolling buffet luncheon was provided throughout the IWC Exhibit Hall, then four technical sessions filled out the afternoon. On Monday evening, attendees traveled to the Wyndam Hotel at Lake Buena Vista for the 80th Anniversary Dinner. IWC Executive Committee Member Mike Soller, serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Dinner, invited three IWC Alumni to share what the IWC means to them. To end the night, the comedy improv group “We Bring the Funny” entertained the crowd by bringing IWC attendees to the stage to entertain the audience.
Technical Sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday morning were filled with 48 additional presentations; all carefully peer-reviewed for quality and to ensure they are non-commercialism. Presentations at the IWC are followed by a Prepared Discussion-a thoroughly considered, different perspective on the topic. Each session would end with an open floor discussion when all audience members and presenters can fully interact-ask questions, seek clarification, and raise alternative viewpoints. Along the way, luncheons and receptions gave attendees additional opportunities to network with one another and visit with Exhibitors to continue the learning experience. Following the conference proper, attendees could stay on for 18 additional Workshops offered on Wednesday afternoon thru Thursday. To view the Technical Program and Workshop content, visit: https://eswp.com/water/overview/)
Overall, we want to thank all the attendees, sponsors, and committee members for contributing to a successful conference and we hope to see you for the 81st Annual International Water Conference taking place on November 8-12, 2020 at the Marriot Rivercenter in San Antonio, TX.