Waterford Covered Bridge Named Project of the Year

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The Waterford Covered Bridge Rehabilitation has been named Project of the Year by the American Society of Highway Engineers’ Franklin chapter.  HRG accepted the award last night and shared a brief presentation about the project, which involved repairing and reusing portions of this historic bridge wherever possible while providing the structural integrity to handle modern highway loads.  This was accomplished with a unique solution: the addition of a structurally independent floor system that absorbs the vehicle loads without support from the truss and roof.

Waterford Covered Bridge

The floor system is constructed of steel I-beams and nail-laminated timber decking to handle up to 15-ton vehicles.  The connection between the bottom chords of the lattice trusses and the steel I-beams allows the floor to deflect vertically under live loading, while the lattice trusses and roof system do not.  Conversely, the lattice trusses will deflect under the weight of snow on the roof, but the independent floor system will not.

The historic wooden truss and roof were covered with a stainless steel metal roof, which is better equipped to withstand the lake effect snow in the region.  It will shed snow loads more quickly than other roofing materials, reducing the dead load on the bridge.  The metal is also fire-resistant, a key consideration since a nearby covered bridge was destroyed by arson in 2008.

Thank you to the ASHE-Franklin chapter for this recognition, and congratulations to everyone who contributed to this project’s success: David McCowin, Matt Arena, RJ Pale, Justin Peaslee, Samer Petro, Geomechanics, Inc., PennDOT District 1-0, Waterford Township (Owner), Chivers Construction Company, Inc., (Contractor) Quality Engineering Solutions, Inc. (Construction Inspection)

Caleb Krauter Named Harrisburg Water/Wastewater Group Manager

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Caleb Krauter has been promoted to Water & Wastewater Group Manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG). He is responsible for managing staffing, workloads and resource allocation to ensure that the Harrisburg water and wastewater team continues to deliver high quality projects and superior client satisfaction. This includes monitoring project schedules and budgets while enhancing the employee owner culture and supporting the professional growth of water and wastewater team members.

Krauter joined HRG as an intern in 2016 and earned increasing responsibility as a designer, project manager, and team leader before his most recent promotion. His technical skill, enthusiasm, and initiative make him a natural choice for the group manager position.  He previously served as chairman of HRG’s ESOP Advisory Committee and is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area, which teaches people to serve the community effectively through hands-on experience with local non-profit organizations.  He is a member of both the Central Pennsylvania Water Quality Association’s board of directors and the Penn State Harrisburg Civil Engineering Advisory Board.

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, consulting services, and unique solutions. HRG has been ranked among the Top 500 Design Firms by Engineering News-Record 19 years in a row and was 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 systems engineering, and stormwater management and maintains a strong-presence in the transportation engineering and land development markets.  For more information, visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com

We’re One of the Best Places to Work in Engineering

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Best Companies to Work in Engineering 2025 logoYesterday, we were announced as one of the Best Places to Work in Engineering.  This ranking is based on feedback provided by our employee-owners about corporate culture, training and development opportunities, salary and benefits, and overall employee satisfaction.

When asked what makes HRG a great place to work, 5 major themes emerged in their responses:

  1. Work-Life Balance – We have a strong emphasis on family-friendly policies and flexibility.
  2. Remote/Hybrid Work – Employee-owners appreciate the ability to work remotely or in hybrid arrangements.
  3. Fairness & Inclusivity – People feel the company is fair and treats everyone with respect.
  4. Positive Work Environment – HRG has a strong culture of support, kindness, and collaboration.
  5. Flexibility – Policies accommodate different work styles and personal needs.

Since our founding, we have always sought to create a place where people can feel proud of the work they do, be rewarded for their contributions, and truly enjoy the experience of working together.  This feedback from our team validates we’re succeeding. Thank you!

It’s #Good2bHRG

 

Brent Ramsey Named Assistant Vice President, Civil

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Brent Ramsey wearing a navy suit coat and light blue, button-down shirt.HRG has named Brent Ramsey assistant vice president, overseeing the firm’s civil engineering service offerings. The position was created as part of an ongoing organizational realignment to scale the firm for growth while preserving its commitment to technical excellence and personalized service.  The realignment creates unique channels for client outreach, technical expertise, and operational delivery, ensuring each gets proper focus and attention.

Brent’s position is part of the channel focused on technical expertise.  As such, he will be responsible for driving quality and consistency in project delivery by ensuring best practices are implemented across the municipal, water resources, site development, and planning teams.  He will also ensure staff members get the training they need to meet evolving industry standards and will foster a collaborative, results-driven culture among these groups.

Brent is joining HRG with more than 25 years of experience in the AEC industry.  His broad-ranging career began with wetland delineations and environmental studies as an environmental scientist and progressed to civil and site engineering for parks, sidewalks and other public works.  He put all these skills to work in supporting the oil and gas industry for over 10 years, with the design of well pads and compressor stations before returning to work in the municipal sector.  For more than 20 years, he has served on the Potomac Basin Regional Water Resources Committee and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Erin Threet, HRG’s vice president of services, says, “Brent is the perfect person to oversee our civil staff because he has vast experience working in their shoes, but, more importantly, he fits the culture here at HRG so well. He has a true service mindset, is open and approachable, and cares deeply about quality.  It’s not easy to come into a new organization and lead, but I know he will build trust easily.”

Jeff Mikesic Named Assistant Vice President, Transportation

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Jeff MikesicHRG has promoted Jeff Mikesic to assistant vice president, overseeing the firm’s transportation service offerings. The position was created as part of an ongoing organizational realignment to scale the firm for growth while preserving its commitment to technical excellence and personalized service.  The realignment creates unique channels for client outreach, technical expertise, and operational delivery, ensuring each gets proper focus and attention.

Mikesic’s position is part of the channel focused on technical expertise.  As such, he will be responsible for driving quality and consistency in project delivery across the organization by ensuring best practices are implemented across all transportation teams and ensuring staff members get the training they need to meet evolving industry standards.  He will also foster a collaborative, results-driven culture in the transportation group.

Mikesic joined the company more than 25 years ago as a CADD Technician and steadily earned increasing responsibility due to his strong commitment to the success of his clients and HRG. He has managed a wide variety of roadway, bridge, and capital improvement planning projects and is a member of the American Society of Highway Engineers.

Erin Threet, HRG’s vice president of services, says, “Jeff is a solid, reliable, and smart engineer with strong technical skills across all aspects of our transportation service offerings.  He is a natural leader who was already performing many of the responsibilities this role requires in his previous role as transportation practice area leader, so I have full confidence he will do an excellent job.”

HRG Ranks Among Best Places to Work in PA

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Justin Mendinsky Named Assistant Vice President of Water/Wastewater Services

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We’re please to announce that Justin Mendinsky has been promoted to assistant vice president, overseeing the firm’s water & wastewater service group.  The position was created as part of an ongoing organizational realignment to scale the firm for growth while preserving its commitment to technical excellence and personalized service. The realignment creates unique channels for client outreach, technical expertise, and operational delivery, ensuring each gets proper focus and attention.

Justin’s position is part of the channel focused on technical expertise.  As such, he will be responsible for driving quality and consistency in project delivery across the organization by ensuring best practices are implemented across all water and wastewater teams and ensuring staff members get the training they need to meet evolving industry standards.  He will also foster a collaborative, results-driven culture in the water and wastewater division.

Justin previously managed the water & wastewater team in HRG’s Harrisburg office and has more than 20 years of experience with the firm.  He is active in the water and wastewater industry, serving in various leadership roles with the Central Pennsylvania Water Quality Association and Pennsylvania Water Environment Association over the years.  In addition, he serves the community as a member of Carlisle High School’s Occupational Advisory Committee, ensuring engineering coursework reflects the skills students need to join the workforce and sharing work experience with the students in the classroom.

Mentorship is a key aspect of the assistant vice president position, according to Erin Threet, HRG’s vice president of services, and Justin excels in that role.  She says, “Justin has been a mentor and friend to me since my first day at HRG, providing an impressive knowledge of how to bring projects to fruition.  This includes some of HRG’s most complex and innovative projects over the past 20 years.  He is quick to help any member of the team and works harder than almost anyone I know. I can’t imagine anyone better to lead and inspire the water and wastewater team.”

Adrienne Vicari Named Vice President of Growth at HRG

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Adrienne VicariAdrienne Vicari is being promoted to vice president of growth, a new position that drives new client development across the organization.

This new position was created as part of an ongoing organizational realignment to scale the firm for growth while preserving its commitment to technical excellence and personalized service. The realignment creates unique channels for client outreach, technical expertise, and operational delivery, ensuring each gets proper focus and attention.

“To serve our clients best,” HRG’s Chief Services Officer, Josh Fox says, “we need to deeply embed ourselves in the markets we serve, building relationships and understanding their needs.  We also need to have a high level of technical expertise in the services we offer, staying up to date on emerging trends and technologies so that we are at the forefront of quality and innovation.  At the same time, we need to be an expert at project delivery, steering projects through challenges while meeting all schedule and budget goals.  Each of these responsibilities requires unique skillsets and dedicated effort, so we wanted to establish leaders for each area while facilitating collaboration across all three channels.”

Vicari will lead the first channel, focused on building and nurturing client relationships.  She will oversee a team of people embedded in HRG’s primary markets – government, utilities, and institutions – connecting with new clients, getting to know their operations, and assembling a team within HRG uniquely suited to meet their needs.  This team will ensure HRG is deeply attuned to the challenges our clients face, while creating capacity for technical and project delivery leaders to excel in their roles.

Vicari is well-suited for this role, which takes effect December 2.  She has more than 20 years of experience at HRG, serving clients across every industry and geographic we region we serve, and has consistently demonstrated deep insight into our clients’ needs and goals.  She previously served as practice area leader for HRG’s Strategic Management & Capital Solutions group, helping clients streamline operations and achieve financial sustainability. She has also served in a variety of leadership positions with industry and community organizations, such as the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA) Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) Committee, Pennsylvania Water Environment Association’s (PWEA) Utility Management Committee, and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.

Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve Honored as Top Project

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The Central Penn Business Journal has named recent enhancements to the Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve one of the region’s Top Projects. HRG worked with Silver Spring Township to restore wetlands and meadows, add new riparian buffer plantings, increase parking, and add a boat launch at the preserve. These improvements simultaneously help the township meet its MS4 pollutant reduction plan goals and nurture wildlife while improving the recreational experience for township residents.

 

Shawn Fabian with Silver Spring Township's Jennifer Groller, Carl Machamer, and Scott Maldonado at the Central Penn Business Journal Top Projects Award ceremony

Shawn Fabian with Silver Spring Township’s Jennifer Groller, Carl Machamer, and Scott Maldonado

 

The nature preserve was already a popular place for birdwatching and nature walks, but, thanks to this project, it now has more shade, more wildlife viewing opportunities, and more aesthetically pleasing views with colorful flowers and plantings that simultaneously reduce watershed pollution. It is a bit of a natural oasis in the middle of one of the state’s most rapidly growing suburbs, and the boat launch creates a new convenient access point to one of the region’s treasured recreational amenities: the Conodoguinet Creek Water Trail. An expanded parking area makes it all more accessible to users, allows for buses to more easily turn around in the parking area to facilitate environmental education programing, and created two new ADA compliant parking spots for easier trail and boat launch access.

The project is a great example of how investments in the environment and recreational amenities go hand-in-hand where there is smart planning and thoughtful design. Silver Spring Township has made wise investments in long-term planning, so that each project they do – big or small – supports the community’s long-term goals. These plans have helped them attract extensive grant funding, including more than $252,000 for the nature preserve enhancements in addition to the grant funding that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation brought to the table from grants they secured for the riparian buffer along the Conodoguinet Creek onsite.

We’re grateful to work with Silver Spring Township and be a part of great projects like this. Congratulations to the township on this recognition and to all of the project partners, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, LandStudies, and KLA Roofing & Construction. Thank you to Shawn Fabian and everyone on the HRG team who contributed their time and talent to making this a successful project, including JJ Robinson, Jake Hoffman, Eric Fleisher, Terry Meek, Katie Valla, Lauren Zumbrun.

Jim Feath Named Vice President of Operations

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HRG has promoted Jim Feath to vice president of operations.  This is a key role in the firm’s organizational re-design initiative, which seeks to build a foundation for aggressive growth while maintaining the company’s reputation for exceptional quality and client service.

Ed Ellinger“To achieve our growth goals, we need to anticipate and offer the services our clients will need most in the coming years. Yet, even as we expand our service offerings, we must continue to deliver our services with the same quality, creativity, and attention to detail that our clients have always relied on,” Chief Operations Officer Ed Ellinger says.  “Our technical service experts will determine what services we offer and the quality standards for delivery. Jim will work with the operations leaders in each office to build capacity for those service offerings at the local level so that we can deliver projects to our high-quality standards while maximizing efficiency and operational excellence.”

Feath has managed operations for HRG’s Pittsburgh office since 2018 and has more than 25 years of experience with the firm.  He began his tenure with HRG as an intern shortly after the Pittsburgh office opened and has played a key role in its growth over the past two decades.  During that time, he amassed experience as a designer and project manager before taking a leadership role in regional operations.    He is a registered landscape architect with vast expertise in site planning and development, particularly in the areas of parks and recreational facilities, trails, and public spaces.  He is active in the industry as a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society, but he is also actively engaged in the local community in Pittsburgh as a board member with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Cranberry Township Environmental Advisory Committee.  His vast experience with HRG and knowledge of regional operations make him ideally suited for this role as vice president of operations.