Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Honored by American Water Resources Association

James Tomaine accepts an award for Integrated Water Resources Management at the American Water Resources Association national conference, November 2022Congratulations to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA), who received an award this week from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) for Integrated Water Resources Management.  The authority’s executive director Jim Tomaine accepted the award at a luncheon during AWRA’s national conference in Seattle.

The Integrated Water Resources Management Award honors exemplary teamwork on a complex water resource challenge.  WVSA received the award for their work creating a regional stormwater authority to help communities in Luzerne County reduce watershed pollution and comply with MS4 requirements. The project is noteworthy because it was the first regional stormwater authority in Pennsylvania, and it blazed a trail for others to pursue regional stormwater solutions. WVSA partners with more than 30 municipalities in Luzerne County on a joint Pollutant Reduction Plan and BMPs.  Working together, they are able to address pollution on the watershed scale, producing better results than small, uncoordinated projects could.  They are also able to achieve economies of scale that reduce the overall cost burden on individual communities.  The collaboration does not end there, however.  WVSA and its member municipalities work with Luzerne County and its flood protection authority on stream restoration and partner with private landowners, who install BMPs on their property in exchange for reduced stormwater fees.

HRG helped WVSA develop and implement this innovative program, and we are proud to have worked with their passionate and visionary leaders:  Jim Tomaine, Jeff Colella, Sandy Bartosiewics, Sam Guesto, Gerry Cross, and the entire WVSA board. This program also received the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in 2018.

Erin Letavic Recognized by Central Penn Business Journal as a Woman of Influence

Central Penn Business Journal  recognized Erin Letavic, a senior project manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., as a 2022 Women of Influence honoree at a celebration at the Harrisburg Hilton on June 30. Erin is also profiled alongside other honorees in the publication’s June 24 issue.

Erin Letavic receives a plaque recognizing her as a Woman of Influence

Erin Letavic receives her Women of Influence recognition from Ernest Long, Central Penn Business Journal editor, and Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher for Bridgetower Media. (Photo by Markell DeLoatch for Bridgetower Media)

Women of Influence honors high-achieving women for their career accomplishments. They are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement, leadership and a commitment to mentoring.

Letavic is an accomplished civil engineer focused on water quality.  She was recently appointed by Governor Wolf to represent Pennsylvania on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Science & Technical Advisory Committee, which offers technical guidance on policy and resources and facilitates cooperation between research institutions and agencies within the watershed.

She also serves as coordinator for more than a third of the counties participating in the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Countywide Action Program.  In this role, she brings together a diverse coalition of stakeholders – from agriculture, industry, education, local government, and environmental non-profits – to meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient and sediment reduction goals.

 

Jason Hinz, a group manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., says, “Erin is a creative thinker who inspires people to push boundaries to achieve big goals. She has a quiet, approachable leadership style that gives team members a sense of calm confidence in the path ahead, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves this recognition as a Woman of Influence more than she does.”

Jordan Baker, Jason Hinz, and Ed Ellinger celebrate with Erin Letavic and her husband at the Women of Influence ceremony

Jordan Baker, Jason Hinz, Ed Ellinger, Erin Letavic, and Steve Letavic have dinner together at the Women of Influence ceremony.

About Central Penn Business Journal

Celebrating 37 years of journalistic excellence, Central Penn Business Journal is a multimedia news source that publishes a regular print and online edition and breaks news daily on its website, CPBJ.com. In addition, Central Penn Business Journal publishes special focus sections and products throughout the year including Reader Rankings, Fastest Growing Companies and Best Places to Work in PA. Central Penn Business Journal also honors leading Pennsylvanians through nine annual awards events including Health Care Heroes, Women of Influence, Forty Under 40 and Game Changers and facilitates thoughtful discussion with market leaders through its webinar series. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting, email marketing and more. Central Penn Business Journal is part of BridgeTower Media, one of the country’s leading business-to-business media companies with more than 40 print and digital publications in more than 25 U.S. markets.

 

About Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is an employee-owned, nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. More information is available at their website www.hrg-inc.com

Matthew Attig Joins Our Civil Group in York

Matthew AttigMatthew Attig has joined the civil engineering group at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. He is the most recent person to join the firm’s rapidly growing York office, which has experienced a 75% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2022 and has been adding talent across all of its service areas.

HRG’s assistant vice president and office manager Tim Staub says, “We’ve been working hard to build a strong municipal client base in York, and it’s rewarding to see our vision being embraced by the community.  Part of that vision is attracting the best and brightest talent to serve our clients by providing an inspiring team culture and ample opportunities for professional growth, so I’m proud and happy to welcome Matt to the team.  He is a homegrown talent with great ideas and a fresh perspective, thanks to his extensive community involvement throughout York County.  He wants nothing more than to positively impact the communities and waterways he grew up with, and he is a perfect fit for the evolving needs of our clients and communities.”

Attig has five years of experience with stormwater management, NPDES permitting, erosion and sedimentation control, ordinance writing, plan reviews, and construction management.  He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and is a board member for the Watershed Alliance of York.

 

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services to public and private sector clients throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.  The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people across the tri-state region.  For more information, please visit the firm’s website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Ryan Cummings Joins HRG’s Civil Team in York

Ryan CummingsHRG has hired Ryan Cummings as a project engineer in our York office. Ryan has seven years of experience in stormwater management, land development, and site design.  He has primarily supported the construction of pipelines, well pads, roadways, bridges, and culverts. He is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and a member of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Highway Engineers.

HRG assistant vice president Tim Staub welcomed Cummings to the team, saying, “I am excited to match Ryan’s outgoing community-driven personality with our municipal clients. Ryan has the technical capabilities and passion to be a leader for the communities we represent to drive results.”

Governor Appoints Letavic to Science & Technical Advisory Committee at Chesapeake Bay Program

Our senior project manager Erin Letavic has been appointed by Governor Wolf to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Science & Technical Advisory Committee. The Chesapeake Bay Program is the leading voice directing the restoration of our nation’s largest estuary for recreation, industry, and the environment.  It advises state and federal agencies on policy and provides both funding and resources to entities working to improve water quality at the grassroots level.  The program’s Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee ensures that the advice and resources it provides are scientifically sound.  Members offer independent scientific and technical guidance, serve as a liaison to the region’s scientific community, and facilitate cooperation among research institutions and agencies within the watershed.

We believe Erin will be a great addition to this committee because of her broad-ranging knowledge and experience with Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts: She has two degrees – one in environmental engineering and the other in geology.  She has more than 17 years of experience helping municipalities with MS4 permitting and compliance, and she leads HRG’s work as the coordinator for 13 counties currently participating in DEP’s Phase 3 WIP Countywide Action Plan program.  She’s also an impaired streamside landowner herself and a passionate watershed advocate.

Erin Letavic

“I’m excited to bring my perspective as a practitioner and my experience on the ground to the committee. I want to give a program-level perspective on local implementation challenges, and I’m grateful that the governor and the Chesapeake Bay Program are giving me that opportunity.”

 

Jason Hinz Honored as One of Engineering’s Top Young Professionals

Jason HinzJason Hinz is being honored by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine as one of the Top Young Professionals in the construction and design industry.  He is profiled alongside the other honorees in the February issue of ENR’s Mid-Atlantic edition.

Hinz is a civil group manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG).  He oversees a team of almost 30 professionals who primarily provide municipal engineering support to local communities and also assist with water quality and stormwater management needs.

He is also committed to serving his community.  Hinz is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and volunteers his time planting trees and cleaning up litter.

HRG’s civil practice area leader Matt Bonanno says, “Jason inspires and motivates his team with a calm and thoughtful demeanor, and he regularly receives glowing reviews of his work from his clients.  We are grateful to have him on the HRG team, and we’re happy to see him recognized by ENR alongside a very talented group of industry peers.”

 

ABOUT ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD’S TOP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM

Engineering News-Record is a weekly magazine with more than 60,000 paid subscribers that covers news in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. In addition to its national publication, it also publishes several regional editions.

Each year, the regional editions recognize 20 industry professionals as the “best of the best.”  Applicants are evaluated on their education, industry experience, leadership, and community service.

The Mid-Atlantic edition focuses on Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.