Posts

Justin Mendinsky Named Assistant Vice President of Water/Wastewater Services

/in , /by

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

/in /by

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.

Jim Feath Named Vice President of Operations

/in , /by

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.

Erin Threet Named Vice President of Services at HRG

/in /by

Erin Threet has been promoted to vice president of services, a new role designed to maintain the firm’s commitment to quality as it pursues ambitious growth plans.

“HRG is growing: increasing our staff, adding new services, and expanding into new markets.  As we grow, we want to ensure our clients continue to receive the high level of service they’ve always received from us, and Erin will be an excellent steward in that regard,” HRG’s Chief of Services Josh Fox says.  “She will work with our service area leaders to align technical standards and ensure consistent deliverables across the organization.  She will also ensure staff members have the tools, training, and support they need to excel in their roles and produce quality work.”

Threet has already earned valuable experience in this regard as assistant vice president, overseeing operation of HRG’s Lewisburg office since 2012.  This role often required her to pull in resources from across the organization to complement local operations and deliver value for clients, so she has extensive knowledge of HRG’s operations and core competencies. She is also highly skilled at project delivery with more than 18 years of experience designing water and wastewater infrastructure for HRG’s clients.  She is a licensed professional engineer and member of several industry organizations, including the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), Pennsylvania American Water Works Association (PA-AWWA), Central Pennsylvania Water Quality Association (CPWQA), Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF). She has been a member of HRG’s board of directors since 2023.

HRG Names New Chief Operations Officer and Chief Services Officer

/in /by

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