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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.”

 

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.)

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.

Cory Salmon Recognized as Top Young Professional by Wastewater Digest

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Cory Salmon is featured in the latest issue of Wastewater Digest as one of the industry’s “Top Young Pros.” (Read the article here.) Wastewater Digest is a national magazine covering news and trends in the municipal wastewater industry.

Cory was one of nine men and women selected by the publication because of their accomplishments at such a young age. He is also the second youngest person on this year’s list.

Cory is a  group manager in our King of Prussia office. He played a leadership role in opening this office in 2019, representing us at numerous events and developing relationships that helped us exceed sales goals by 47% in the region last year. He is also managing the firm’s work with Pottstown Borough Authority to replace 21,000 linear feet of Lead Service Lines.

 

Michael Smetana Named Chief Innovation & Technology Officer at HRG

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Portait of Mike Smetana wearing a dark suit coat, white shirt, and red patterned tie.HRG has chosen Mike Smetana for a newly created position as Chief Innovation & Technology Officer.  He will be responsible for developing new technology service offerings for the firm’s clients related to infrastructure planning, design, and management.

Mike has 21 years of experience helping AEC consultants and their clients use information technology to optimize operations and support growth strategies. He has deployed artificial intelligence and automation technologies to reduce costs and increase efficiency, implemented data analytics to enhance decision-making, and managed the adoption of solutions to increase scalability.  He is an expert at aligning technology with organizational objectives and can leverage relationships with many leading technology providers for his clients.  He also has extensive expertise in cybersecurity and risk management. He was honored by the Pittsburgh Technology Council as a CIO of the Year finalist & Tech Visionary in 2020.

HRG president and chief executive officer Jason Fralick is excited about the potential technology presents for managing communities and their facilities, and he believes Mike will provide expert guidance to the firm and their clients. “HRG goes beyond design and construction to be true partners with our clients, helping them reach organizational goals, reduce costs, and optimize operations,” he says.  “Technology is rapidly expanding possibility in these areas and becoming more complex by the day. We want to help our clients understand and harness that potential for their organization and their stakeholders.  Mike has deep and broad-ranging knowledge, but, more importantly, he has vision. He understands how technology works, and he knows how to apply it to help organizations accomplish their goals.  We’re very excited to work with him and witness the value he can create for our clients.”

Mike is also excited about the opportunity and says, “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to guide HRG and our valued clients on their transformative journey towards digital excellence. What immediately captivated me about HRG is its remarkable people-centric approach and unwavering passion for enhancing communities. I am eager to collaborate closely with our clients as we jointly explore strategic insights, deploy innovative solutions, and leverage emerging technologies, unlocking their full potential, and propelling them to new heights of success.”

 

ABOUT HRG

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

Regional Stormwater Collaborations Win Governor’s Awards

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We had the pleasure of attending a ceremony yesterday day for this year’s recipients of the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence.  Two of our clients were being honored for regional stormwater management collaborations we helped them develop.

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s Water Resources Enhancement Program (WREP) was recognized as an “Innovative Community/Government Initiative.”  This program brings Dauphin County and its member municipalities together to pursue regional water quality goals, reduce flooding, and lower the cost of stormwater management for participating communities. It is voluntary and flexible: local governments can choose from one of three levels of participation based on their own unique needs. Participating municipalities are estimated to save between 60 – 90% through their involvement, depending on which level they choose.

Erin Letavic joins the team accepting its award for the Dauphin County Water Resources Enhancement Program on stage.

The Southwest Butler Stormwater Planning Group was recognized for “Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Practices.”  This group is a collaboration between Butler County and ten municipalities to reduce historic flooding in the Lower Conoquenessing Creek Watershed.  HRG conducted a study to identify problem areas and recommend strategies to reduce flood risk.  We worked with the county and municipalities to develop an equitable cost-share agreement and are currently working on design and permitting for several of the suggested projects.

The Southwest Butler Stormwater Planning Group accepts their Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence.

These programs show the benefits of regional collaboration, and they also show how flexible it can be.  We worked extensively with participating communities to design unique programs that met their needs. Kudos to Butler and Dauphin Counties, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and all of the participating municipalities for their ability to work together for the betterment of the entire region.

And congratulations to the other winners at today’s ceremony!

HRG Helps Clients Obtain $12M+ in 1st Round of Local Share Account Statewide Grant Awards

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The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) announced their first round of grant awards for the Local Share Account – Statewide program last week, including more than $12.9 million for HRG’s clients!

We helped 27 municipalities and municipal authorities successfully apply for funding for a wide variety of projects, including parks, wastewater treatment plant improvements, equipment purchases, water and sewer line rehabilitation, flood mitigation, and downtown revitalization. We’re proud to be helping these important projects move forward.

The CFA also announced funding awards for the Multimodal Transportation Fund, and two of our clients received funding for streetscape and revitalization projects.  The CFA Multimodal Transportation Fund is designed to promote economic development and safety through transportation enhancements. Eligible projects include streetscapes, lighting, sidewalks, and transit-oriented development.  If you have projects like this in mind, reach out to us! The new funding round just opened with a deadline of July 31st, and we’d love to help you develop a grant application strategy for your community’s needs.

Lauren Zumbrun Promoted to Group Manager

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Lauren Zumbrun has been promoted to Group Manager in the strategic management and capital solutions service group of HRG.

Lauren has deep knowledge of funding programs and more than 15 years of experience in community planning and economic development.  She puts this expertise to work to help communities optimize operations and proactively manage their infrastructure. She is a strategic thinker who excels at helping communities define their goals, prioritize projects to meet those goals, and develop funding strategies to support them.  Before joining HRG, she served as executive director of a non-profit downtown revitalization organization.

 

ABOUT HRG

HRG assists with the planning, design, and management of communities throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. They optimize places for health, prosperity, and enjoyment with a focus on long-term value. The foundation of their work is civil engineering, but their team has diverse expertise in community planning and management, landscape architecture, environmental compliance, and sustainability. For more information, visit their website at www.hrg-inc.com