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Ben Burns Promoted to Senior Quality Engineer

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Ben Burns is wearing a gray suit coat and blue plaid shirt in front of a conference room doorBen Burns has been promoted to senior quality engineer in the water and wastewater group at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG)  He will manage technical design standards with a specific focus on innovative wastewater process solutions, biosolids management, and energy production from wastewater.

Burns joined HRG in 2007 and previously served as both a project manager and team leader. He is a licensed professional engineer with certifications in odor assessment and construction document technology.

Water and wastewater practice area leader Josh Fox says, “Ben has demonstrated his knowledge and application of engineering principles on some of HRG’s most difficult projects over the past 15 years.  His passion for sustainability and renewable energy will greatly benefit our team and our clients.  I am extremely excited for Ben, HRG, and our clients.”

Garrett Stoy Joins HRG as Water/Wastewater Group Manager in State College

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Garrett StoyGarrett Stoy has joined Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) as a group manager in their State College office. Stoy will oversee a team of 11 professionals who design water and wastewater systems for public and privately owned utilities. He will also assist with sales and business development.

Stoy has eight years of experience creating engineering solutions related to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, flooding, roadways, and solid waste. He works with clients to develop a long-term capital improvement plan and obtain funding to implement the plan.

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked, employee-owned, design firm providing civil engineering, planning, 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 300 people across eight office locations. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

HRG Wins Top Prize at ESOP Association Annual Awards for Communications Excellence

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HRG received the top prize at the ESOP Association’s Annual Awards for Communications Excellence last week.  The award recognizes our Total Communications program extolling the benefits of employee ownership to our employees and to the public, and we were honored to receive it because ownership and communication are very important to us.

Raj Moola and Laura Williams accept HRG's award for Total Communication at the ESOP Association's Annual Awards for Communication Excellence

Employee ownership is more than a retirement plan to us; it’s the foundation of our company culture. As equal partners in HRG’s success, we’re committed to an open and honest exchange of ideas at all levels of the organization. Leadership shares a wealth of information about the company’s performance and goals in monthly emails from our president, videos, livestream announcements, and quarterly reports from our CFO. But, most importantly, they listen, too.

Employee-owners can offer their input through our suggestion program, online surveys, and town hall meetings.  They can play an advisory role on the ESOP committee or OPT IN team (which focuses on operational innovations). Or they can just start a conversation with a manager in the hall or break room.  Everyone – from our front desk to the CEO’s office – is friendly and accessible.  Our managers travel to each office regularly to get to know staff one-on-one and hear from them directly, and we plan fun events to build internal relationships across service groups and offices.

Communication may be formal – like our quarterly ESOP reports of financial metrics – or fun: contests and celebrations for Valuation Day and ESOP Month.  The underlying message is always the same: We are a team; we share the responsibilities and rewards of ownership equally.

Thank you to everyone on the team for your contribution to our success: Everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and ideas for innovation. Everyone who has shared their feedback through surveys and town hall meetings.  Everyone who has read the financial reports and strategic plans and thought about how they can use their work to help HRG reach its goals.

And thank you to the ESOP Advisory Committee – past and present members – who have done a fantastic job building our program and championing our ownership culture.

HRG wins ESOP Association Annual Award for Communication Excellence HRG was also recognized at the ESOP Association Annual Awards for Communication Excellence in 2018.  We won the award for employee ownership marketing.

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Honored by American Water Resources Association

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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.

Chris Dellinger Named Leader in Construction & Real Estate

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Chris Dellinger accepts an award for his leadership in the construction and real estate industry from Ernest Long, editor of the Central Penn Business JournalChris Dellinger was recently honored by the Central Penn Business Journal as one of the region’s Leaders in Construction & Real Estate.

The journal recognized 20 individuals and companies that its editors say are “changing the landscape of Central Pennsylvania through design, construction, engineering, lending, and innovation.” Dellinger and the other honorees were featured in the September 30 issue of the publication and received their award at a ceremony on October 27th.

Dellinger is a licensed professional engineer and a land development group manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc (HRG).  His imprint is all over residential and commercial development throughout Central Pennsylvania and can be seen in recent projects like Meadow Lane Farms in North Cornwall Township, Heritage Business Park in Manchester Township, and the Hearthside at Cross Keys Senior Living in Oxford Township. He has also played a key role in the development of many of the warehouses and industrial developments along the I-81 corridor.

Andrew Kenworthy, HRG’s chief operating officer, has worked alongside Chris for more than 20 years and says this recognition is well deserved: “Chris approaches his role with pride and integrity. He understands the impact of construction on neighboring real estate and tries to provide solutions that accomplish the goals of the individual owner and the community as a whole. He always takes the natural environment into account, striving to avoid negative impacts to natural resources and complement local ecosystems.”

 

ABOUT HRG

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

HRG Named One of Pittsburgh’s Top Work Places

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HRG has been named one of Pittsburgh’s Top Workplaces list this year!  We accepted our award at a ceremony last week and were featured with other winning firms in a special section of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday.  HRG ranked #10 out of 70 firms in the Small Business category (based on the number of people working in our Pittsburgh office).

Since our founding 60 years ago, we have tried to be a fun and supportive workplace: an environment that gives people the freedom and opportunity to achieve their personal and professional goals.  This award, which is based entirely on employee feedback, is validation that we are succeeding.  Thank you, team! It’s #Good2bHRG

Viazanko Honored by Whitaker Center with Women in STEM Award

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Please join us in congratulating Andrea Viazanko, who was honored as a Woman to Watch at the Women in STEM Awards this week in Harrisburg.

The Whitaker Center named Andrea Viazanko a Woman to Watch at their annual Women in STEM Award ceremony in 2022.

Andrea was one of 12 women selected by the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts because of their significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Andrea is a GIS Analyst who works in our Harrisburg office.  She helps our clients use geospatial technology to make decisions about infrastructure, land use, and stormwater management.  Prior to joining HRG, she worked with PennDOT on transportation planning initiatives and PADEP on mapping for the state mine subsidence insurance program. When she’s not working, Andrea volunteers her time as president of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club.  She also previously volunteered with AmeriCorps and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

 

HRG to Receive PSMJ’s Premier Award for Client Satisfaction

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HRG is one of 10 firms across the country receiving the PSMJ Premier Award for Client Satisfaction this fall. The award is based on feedback from our clients, who rated us as excellent in all categories:

  1. Ability to solve problems and meet goals
  2. Responsiveness
  3. Quality of deliverables
  4. Accuracy of schedules
  5. Success in managing budgets
  6. Overall value

This is our second time receiving this award; we were similarly recognized in 2015.

We’re honored and excited to receive this award from PSMJ, a global leader in the management of architecture, engineering, and construction firms, and we’re grateful: to the clients who rated us so highly and to our team members who work  hard every day for the communities we serve.  Thank you!  You can read more about the award and the ceremony scheduled for September in Nashville on PSMJ’s blog.   (Link opens in new tab.)

PSMJ Premier Award for Client Satisfaction - 2022 Winner

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

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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