Penn State University Enlists HRG for its Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Program

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There’s a lot of interest in agricultural conservation practices that will improve soil health and water quality, and there’s a surge in funding to support the need. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough professionals to complete the projects right now.  That’s about to change for the better, thanks to Penn State’s Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training.

We’re helping the university develop a certification program for conservation professionals that will give them the credentials to implement best management practices (BMPs). We’ll also be working with conservation districts to support the planning, design, bidding, and construction of ambitious BMPs. The program will enhance workforce capacity and create a path for career growth and satisfaction to people who care about conservation.

This is a very important step to helping Pennsylvania reach its water quality goals and a great way to strengthen our agricultural industry at the same time.  You can learn more about the program in the university’s announcement. (Link opens in new tab.)

Erin Letavic, Josh Yetter Clark, and Nick Hepful visit a beef farm to discuss agricultural conservation BMPs.

HRG Has Acquired Delaware-County-Based Bradford Engineering Associates, Inc.

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HRG has acquired Bradford Engineering Associates, Inc. (BEA). BEA is a small, privately held company based in Delaware County, and their main office is located at 2710 Concord Road, Suite 3 in Aston, Pennsylvania.

BEA’s core services are very similar to HRG’s existing water and wastewater service group with a specific emphasis on Act 537 planning, pretreatment consulting, infiltration and inflow (I&I) studies, construction management, wastewater system design, and geographic information systems (GIS) development. BEA has a mixture of clients within both the municipally operated and private utility markets.

Jason Fralick

“One of our strategies is to aggressively expand in both the municipally owned and private utilities sectors and geographically across the eastern portion of Pennsylvania. HRG has already established a presence with both employees and clients in the region and we believe there is significant growth potential for us there in the longer term. Southeastern Pennsylvania is one of the fastest growing regions in PA and it has many of the characteristics of an ideal HRG community,” said Jason Fralick, HRG’s President and CEO.

“Our approach for entering a new market is simple: establish a local presence and invest in the community to better understand their needs. From there, we deliver personalized, responsive service with impeccable quality, professionalism, and care. BEA will enhance that process while also substantiating the depth of services and capabilities we already bring to the table,” Fralick added.

Walt Fazler of Bradford Engineering, which has been acquired by HRG

Walt Fazler

As part of the acquisition, HRG has hired all previous BEA employees and will assume all BEA clients and projects within the region. BEA President, Walter Fazler, P.E. will work with HRG’s King of Prussia leadership team as part of the integration and growth strategy.

“I am very excited about this opportunity for both HRG and BEA. It’s a simple way to bring the depth and expertise of a nationally recognized leader like HRG to an operation like BEA that has existing momentum and an established presence in the region. As with any acquisition, alignment of the firm’s culture, core values, and commitment to quality are at the foundation of long-term success; we’re excited about how similar we are in these areas. We’ve worked together on projects and have serviced clients as a team for several years now, and we know what to expect from one another.” said Fazler.

Matt Bonanno Promoted to Assistant Vice President at HRG

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Matt Bonanno has been named an assistant vice president of HRG, an infrastructure consulting firm operating in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.  He will oversee all activities related to project delivery, business development, and general operations in the Harrisburg market beginning January 1, 2024.

Matt currently serves as practice area leader for civil and municipal engineering services across the firm’s entire geographic footprint. His new role will expand his focus to encompass all service offerings and include additional responsibilities for the management and operations of the firm’s largest office, which employs more than 130 people.

Matt joined HRG as a staff professional in 2002 and earned increasing responsibility as a project manager, regional service group manager and practice area leader. He is also deeply embedded in the Harrisburg community. He graduated from Leadership Harrisburg Area in 2018, coaches youth sports, and volunteers with numerous charitable organizations like Knights of Columbus, Hershey Cocoa Packs, Sons of Italy, and the Salvation Army. He currently serves as president of the Paxton Creek Watershed & Education Association, an organization focused on protecting water quality and facilitating environmental education.

The assistant vice president position was previously held by Ed Ellinger, who was recently promoted to Chief Operations Officer.  Ed says Matt is well-suited for his new duties. “Matt has excelled in many roles at HRG over the past 20 years,” he says, “He understands HRG’s operations inside and out, and he has great relationships with employees across the organization, helping him get things done strategically and efficiently.  He also has great relationships outside of HRG across the region.  He is actively involved professionally and personally with many organizations.  He will keep HRG connected to the communities around us, their needs, and the stakeholders that move ideas forward.”

HRG is experiencing record-breaking revenue growth this year and has established a long-range vision for even more growth and expansion throughout the decade.  Matt’s transition to assistant vice president is part of a long-range plan to build a framework for scalability while preserving the firm’s personalized approach to service.

HRG Opens Office in Lehigh Valley

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HRG has opened an office in the Mill Run Office Center on Glenlivet Drive in Allentown.  Though the office is new, the firm has completed projects throughout the Lehigh Valley for many years.  Current projects include flood mitigation design at Easton Avenue and Santee Road in Bethlehem Township,  flood mitigation studies for Palmer Township and Forks Township, improvements to the Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant, and a master plan for the Luthercrest Continuing Care Retirement Community.

Lehigh Valley Office exterior view from parking lot

HRG has experienced significant growth over the past five years and is building capacity for further anticipated expansion through 2030.  The Lehigh Valley office will be a base of operations to service clients in Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Pike, Wayne and Susquehanna Counties.  “A local presence is key to the way we do business at HRG,” the company’s chief executive officer Jason Fralick says. “We don’t just deliver projects: We are actively involved in local organizations and invest heavily in an area through sponsorships and charitable giving.  This office demonstrates our commitment to be a part of the Lehigh Valley community and will create greater opportunities for collaboration between our staff and our clients.”

The Lehigh Valley office is managed in the interim by Andrew Kenworthy, HRG’s director of facilities and business expansion, until an assistant vice president is appointed to manage the office long-term. He is leading a team of engineers and landscape architects with long and deep ties to the area.  Both George White and Joe Bluge have more than 30 years of experience.  White is a senior project manager specializing in water resources and a Lehigh Valley chapter coordinator for Team River Runner.  He is also a former chairman of the Leaser Lake Heritage Foundation. Bluge is a construction specialist and member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association.  Joel Schmoyer, Mark Spatz, and Stephanie Milewski each have more than 20 years of experience.  Schmoyer is a senior project manager specializing in civil and transportation engineering.  He is a former board member for the East Penn section of the American Society of the Highway Engineers.  Spatz has wide-ranging expertise in civil engineering, water and wastewater planning, land development, and project financing and is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association. Milewski is a registered landscape architect and member of the NEPA Trails Forum Planning Committee and the Lackawanna/Luzerne MPO Transportation Advisory Committee. She is also a former secretary and member of the board of directors for the Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation and Development Council.

 

ABOUT HRG

HRG assists with the planning, design, and management of community infrastructure. The firm serves public and private sector clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region and has won more than 100 awards from state and national organizations for their projects. They have been ranked among the Top 500 Design Firms by Engineering News-Record 19 years in a row and were named the Design Firm of the Year by ENR Mid-Atlantic in 2021.  The 100% employee-owned company is an industry leader in municipal engineering, water and wastewater system design, and stormwater management.  They also have a strong presence in the land development and transportation engineering business sectors. For more information, visit their website at www.hrg-inc.com

HRG Names New Chief Operations Officer and Chief Services Officer

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HRG has named Ed Ellinger its Chief Operations Officer and Josh Fox its Chief Services Officer.

Ellinger most recently served as assistant vice president, directing daily operations, project delivery, and business development throughout Central Pennsylvania.  His new position as Chief Operations Officer expands his influence across the entire organizational footprint, driving productivity, quality, and project delivery through accountability metrics and implementation of operational policies, practices, and standards for all offices and service groups.  He is well-known and trusted by HRG’s clients and his colleagues for his technical skill and business leadership.  He first joined the firm in 2001 as a project manager in the water and wastewater service group, steadily increasing his responsibility and ultimately managing the group as practice area leader for six years before he moved into his operational role as assistant vice president.  He was succeeded as practice area leader by Fox, who will now establish a new role at HRG as the firm’s first Chief Services Officer.

Fox has been serving HRG’s water and wastewater utility clients since 2006. Like Ellinger, he earned increasing responsibility as a project manager, then group manager and practice area leader managing project delivery and business development for water and wastewater projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. He is known for his deep commitment to his clients, his team members, and the community.  He is an active member of organizations like the American Public Works Association, the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association, and the Pennsylvania American Water Works Association (PA AWWA) and has recently retired from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. As Chief Services Officer, Fox will drive new business opportunities, expansion into new markets, and diversification of the firm’s service portfolio.

“HRG is experiencing record-breaking revenue growth this year, and we have established a long-range vision for even more growth and expansion throughout the decade,” HRG’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Fralick says. “We want to preserve the quality and personalized service that have helped us succeed this far, while increasing capacity and building a framework for scalability to achieve that vision.  Ed and Josh know HRG’s values and history very well, and they have strong relationships with all of our stakeholders.  They also have a great sense of where we want to go and have great ideas for how to get us there.  I’m excited to work with them.”

ABOUT HRG

HRG assists with the planning, design, and management of community infrastructure. The firm optimizes places for health, prosperity, and enjoyment with a focus on long-term value. The foundation of their work is civil engineering, but they have diverse expertise in community planning and management, landscape architecture, environmental compliance, and sustainability. For more information, visit their website at www.hrg-inc.com

ENR MidAtlantic Honors Bob Grubic with Legacy Award

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Bob GrubicHRG’s chairman of the board Bob Grubic was recognized by Engineering News-Record as the 2023 ENR MidAtlantic Legacy Award Winner!  The Legacy Award honors an individual for a lifetime of service to the design and construction industry, their colleagues, and their community.  And what a legacy it is:

Bob has been instrumental in the growth of HRG.  When he joined the firm in 1973, we were a small company with one office providing civil and sanitary engineering services primarily in Central Pennsylvania.  Under Bob’s leadership, we expanded our service offerings and our geographic footprint significantly.  Today, we provide roadway and bridge design, landscape architecture, planning, surveying, site design, and more to clients in Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Bob has also left his mark on the community and the industry, holding leadership positions on the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists; the Harrisburg chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers; the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce; Harrisburg Builders Exchange; Central Penn College; Mid Penn Bank; the Foundation for Enhancing Communities; and the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.

He was honored at the ENR MidAtlantic Awards Ceremony in Baltimore in early November.

Read ENR’s interview with Bob on their website (Link opens in new tab.)

Aaron Moyer Named One of Central PA’s Top Forty under 40

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Congratulations to our civil team leader Aaron Moyer, who has been named one of Central Pennsylvania’s top Forty Under 40 professionals.  This list is compiled annually by the Central Penn Business Journal to recognize high-achieving young leaders based on their professional accomplishments, community service, and commitment to inspiring change.

Aaron Moyer accepts his recognition as one of Central Pennsylvania's Top Forty under 40

Aaron seamlessly blends advanced technical knowledge with creativity, empathy, and good humor to positively impact local communities.  His work helps them restore streams, improve local roadways, manage growth, and acquire millions of dollars in funding to keep costs low for residents.  He is passionate about public policy and has written multiple local laws to reduce regulatory burdens on residents, simplify land development procedures, and improve water quality.  He also participated in an advisory committee that helped PADEP craft the next round of MS4 regulations.

In his spare time, he plants trees, participates in stream clean-ups, and donates engineering services to non-profits.

Aaron and the other honorees will be profiled in the October 27 edition of the Central Penn Business Journal. You can see the full list at: https://www.cpbj.com/event/forty-under-40/

HRG Named One of Pittsburgh’s Top Workplaces for 2023

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HRG has been named one of Pittsburgh’s Top Workplaces for the second year in a row! (Link opens in new window.)  Kara Smith, Mark Maguire, and Clayton Whitlach accepted an award on our behalf over the weekend, and we were featured with other winning firms in a special section of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday.  HRG ranked #8 out of 61 firms in the Small Business category (based on the number of people working in our Pittsburgh office).

This award is based entirely on employee feedback, so we are especially proud. Thank you, team!

HRG's team holds a banner celebrating their inclusion on the 2023 list of Pittsburgh's Top Workplaces

Adrienne Vicari and Staci Hartz Honored at Women of Influence Ceremony

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Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to attend the Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence ceremony and celebrate an impressive group of accomplished and community-minded women from across the region.  They were chosen among more than 130 nominations because of their professional achievements, community involvement, and inspiring nature. We’re in awe of all of them but especially happy to see three in particular receive this recognition: Adrienne Vicari, Staci Hartz, and Mary Wagner Fox, all members of HRG’s extended family.

 

Staci Hartz, Chris Hartz, Ed Ellinger, Josh Fox, Mary Fox, Adrienne Vicari, and Pat Dennis celebrate at the Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence award dinner.

(L-R) Staci Hartz, Chris Hartz, Ed Ellinger, Josh Fox, Mary Fox, Adrienne Vicari, and Pat Dennis

 

Staci is an engineer in our water and wastewater group who designs water distribution systems. She is also the group’s leading expert on hydraulic modeling and closely monitors drinking water regulation to advise her colleagues on impacts to our clients. Her empathy and strong communication skills make her a go-to source for information and fuel her passion for community service with her church, local food bank, and various tree planting events. She was honored as a Woman to Watch.

Adrienne is the practice area leader of our Strategic Management & Capital Solutions group and an innovative thinker whose work has received local, state, and national awards.  She is also chair of the board of directors for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania and actively involved in the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association Women Innovation Networking Group, two groups that give her the opportunity to support and mentor women of all ages.

Mary is the first female executive director of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission and wife of our water & wastewater group manager, Josh Fox.  She investigates violations of the State Ethics Act and educates local governments on how to comply with the act.  She previously served as the assistant chief counsel for the state Department of General Services, the state Office of Inspector General and the state Ethics Commission, but she is particularly proud of her work implementing PA’s Small, Small Diverse, and Veteran Business programs.

Both Adrienne and Mary were honored as Women of Influence.

Please join us in congratulating Adrienne, Staci, Mary, and all of this year’s honorees.

Krauter and King Honored by Pennsylvania Water Environment Association

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Caleb Krauter and Alex King were both honored by the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) at their annual PENNTEC conference this week.

Caleb Krauter and Alex King both received awards from the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association at the 2023 PENNTEC conference.

 

Caleb is a team leader in the Harrisburg Water & Wastewater Group.  He received the Ted Moses High Hat Award for his work promoting the association and its programs.

Caleb joined the Harrisburg-area chapter of PWEA, also known as the Central Pennsylvania Water Quality Association (CPWQA) early in his career and began serving on committees right away. He is currently president of CPWQA and a member of its Bylaws and Special Events committees. He is also a vocal advocate for involvement in the organization, encouraging others to attend and actively participate in events.

Alex is an assistant project manager in the King of Prussia Water & Wastewater Group. She received the Golden Manhole Award for her work to advance wastewater collection system operation, maintenance, and professional development.  Alex is a member of the PWEA Collections and Young Professionals Committees.  She helps plan the collections system presentation sessions and organizes local networking and outreach events throughout the year.

Congratulations to Caleb and Alex on this recognition from their industry peers, and thank you both for representing HRG and our clients so well in these important organizations.