FOCUS
Fuss & O’Neill’s Newsletter
WHAT’S INSIDE
Message from the CEO
What’s New?
FOcus on Landscape Architecture
FOcus on New Haven
Employee FOcus
FOcus on STEM Outreach and Education
FOcus on PFAS
FOcus on Winter Safety
Company Meeting
Message from the CEO
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
Though this quote is attributed to a pioneer in the field of animation, I feel that it speaks to the spirit of engineering and to what we try to do as a firm. In general, engineers are curious about the world around them – in fact, I bet if you polled 100 engineers, you’d find that 90+ of them took something apart as a child just to see how it worked. As a firm made up of engineers, scientists, planners, landscape architects, surveyors, and other technical professionals, we’re always wondering what we can do better. How can we make infrastructure more resilient, efficient, safe, and practical? How can we protect and preserve our natural resources? How can we
be better stewards of
positive change?
All of this curiosity leads to new developments, new designs, and new ways of creating the world around us. It is in honor of this pursuit of the new that we present to you our Winter 2023 newsletter. Inside you’ll see our new offices (in NEW Haven and NEW York) and meet a lot of new members of our extended family. I hope you find something new that piques your curiosity!
- Kevin Grigg, PE CEO
WINTER 2023
2022 BROUGHT US A LOT What’s Welcome
New?
OF NEW EMPLOYEES!
Buildings and Hazardous Materials
BOSTON, MA
Drew Wilkinson, PE, Project Manager
Christopher Wilk, Mechanical Engineer
QUINCY, MA
Jaimorri Sanders, Environmental Technician
Anna Gibbons, Environmental Technician
MANCHESTER, CT
Felix Revoir, Environmental Technician
Nolan Carrier, Environmental Technician
Craig Cyr, Environmental Technician
Joshua Boudreau, Intern
Marge Flanagan, Environmental Technician
Caitlin Abel, Electrical Engineer
Michael Berg, EIT, Mechanical Engineer
Alyssa Bisi, Structural Engineer
Nicholas Wyse, Intern
Donald Gregory, BIM Manager
NEW HAVEN, CT
Vikki DeVoe-LeMoine, Environmental Technician
Vincent Savarese, Environmental Technician
Community Development
SPRINGFIELD, MA
Andrew Rossoshanskiy, Civil Engineer
Stephanie Thrasher, Intern
Christopher Scheufler, Senior Landscape Designer
Faith Long, Landscape Designer
Andrew Bohne, RLA, Senior Project Manager
Ian Law, RLA, Senior Project Manager
Michael Frederick, Landscape Designer
Jeffrey Dawson, Ecological Architect
Sara Lawler, MLA, ASLA, Landscape Designer
MANCHESTER, NH
Kevin Lauria, Survey Technician
MANCHESTER, CT
Jamie Bratt, CDV Business Line Leader
Ming Huang, Landscape Designer
NEW HAVEN, CT
Daniel Chiburis, Civil Engineer
Denise Fuda, CAD Analyst
Environmental and Facility Services
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT
Robert Montgomery, Senior Project Manager
Dayna Ullathorne, Environmental Scientist
MANCHESTER, CT
Scott Ackerman, Environmental Engineer
Caran Manalo, EIT, Environmental Engineer
Kevin Herring, Environmental Scientist
NEW HAVEN, CT
Melissa Noryk, Hydrogeologist
Marilyn Corzo-Araoz, Hydrogeologist
Alex Kelly, Chemical Engineer
Transportation BOSTON, MA
Phiona Nalugo, Intern
Holly Russell, EIT, Intern
Tamara Lord, EIT, Transportation Engineer
SPRINGFIELD, MA
Evan Springer, Transportation Engineer
Benjamin Andersen, EIT, Transportation Engineer
MANCHESTER, NH
Ryan Trudeau, Structural Engineer
Andrew Judd, EIT, Transportation Engineer
MANCHESTER, CT
Jacob Tatar, Structural Engineer
Ed Cofrancesco, PE, Senior Bridge Engineer
Daniel Haptas, PE, Senior Transportation Engineer
Caroline St. Pierre, Transportation Engineer
Water and Natural Resources
BOSTON, MA
Chelsea Zakas, AICP, Environmental Planner
Mike Nelson, PE, Business Line Manager
QUINCY, MA
Michael Davis, PE, Civil Engineer
SPRINGFIELD, MA
Sarah Frisbym EIT, Climate Resilience Engineer
Claire Nauman, EIT, Climate Resilience Engineer
PROVIDENCE, RI
Emily Olchowski, Water Resources Engineer
Katherine Cretella, Intern
Shawna Little, Environmental Scientist
Rebecca Meyers, Water Resources Engineer
KENNEBUNK, ME
Jeff Sires, Climate Resilience Engineer
MANCHESTER, NH
Justin Dechen, PE, Project Manager
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT
Leah Cromer, Water Resources Engineer
MANCHESTER, CT
Ryan Morais, Wastewater Engineer
Alison Baranovic, Environmental Scientist
Lynn Rae, Project Manager
Selena Crespo, Climate Resilience Engineer
NEW HAVEN, CT
Akta Patel, PE, Project Manager
Corporate Services
MANCHESTER, CT
Justin Sokola, Computer Technician
Jess Johnston, Payroll Coordinator
Mingmin Matthews, Project Accountant
Ryan Doyle, Help Desk Technician
Tatia Lewis-Hayes, Executive Assistant
Amy Stankiewicz, Health & Safety Specialist
Welcome
ACHIEVEMENTS
sneak peek
As this issue celebrates “new”, we want to tease you with something BIG that will be new in 2024. What’s it going to be?
Follow us on social media and keep up with our newsletter to see if you can figure it out! And that’s all we’re going to tell you for now …
OUT AND ABOUT
AWARDS
CREW CT Best in Class for Senior Living HarborChase - South Windsor, CT
Massachusetts Department of Transportation Consultant Innovation Award
Six Corners - Springfield, MA
APA RI Award for Climate Change Impact Adaptation
Market to Metacom Adaptation and Economic Development Planning Project - Warren, RI
ACEC-NH Engineering Excellence Silver Award
Dunbarton Road Landfill Solar ArrayManchester, NH
Josue Valdez and John Deskavich passed the Massachusetts PE exam!
Stefanie Wierszchalek passed the Connecticut LEP exam!
Elizabeth Landry, PE, CEM was elected to her first term on the Fuss & O’Neill Board of Directors!
Eileen Gunn passed the AICP exam!
Gina Bourque became a Certified Digital Marketing Professional!
BHM Rocking Out the 80s: Sam Godin and Bob May at NEHES
Greg Wilson, PLA, WEDG filming at the Charter Oak Cultural Center Tim Clinton, CPG, LSP and Diane Mas, PhD, REHS/RS, CC-P at NEWMOA Brownfield Summit
on Landscape Architecture FOCUS
Our Landscape Architecture Department is rapidly growing!
In the last year, we welcomed eight new employees to the team! While we have been providing New England communities and private clients with landscape architectural services for years, this sizable group can offer a plethora of services in a variety of markets:
• Athletic Fields
• Charrettes
• Complete Streets
• Ecological Restoration
• Exterior Site Design
• Green Infrastructure
• Green Roof Design
• Greenways and Rail Trails
• Healing Gardens
• Lighting
• Master Planning
• Nature-based Solutions for Climate
• On-call Services
• Open Space Planning
• Pedestrian Improvements
• Permitting
• Plantings
• Playgrounds
• Pocket Parks
• Recreational Space Design
• Revitalization Design
• Streetscape
• Transit-oriented Development
• Urban Renewal
Andrew Bohne, RLA Senior Landscape Architect
Jeffrey Dawson Ecological Designer
Chris Ferrero, RLA, AICP, CNU Planning Director
Michael Frederick Project Designer
Nina Marelli Landscape Designer
Christopher Scheufler Senior Landscape Designer
Stephanie White, RLA, CNU-A, LEED AP Senior Landscape Architect
Greg Wilson, PLA, WEDG Senior Landscape Architect
Ming Huang Landscape Designer
Sara Lawler Landscape Designer
Ian Law, RLA Senior Landscape Architect
Faith Long Landscape Designer
Resilience
FOCUS
on New Haven
Fuss & O’Neill celebrated the grand opening of newest office in New Haven! We’re so excited to be in the “Cultural Capital of Connecticut”! The opening of an office in New Haven will help the firm expand both our employee base and service offerings in the shoreline Connecticut region.
Craig Lapinski, PE, LEED AP BD+C Regional Manager – South Region
What precipitated the opening of an office in New Haven?
From a business perspective, we wanted a strategic office location. New Haven’s future looks very bright, and we have a long history of working in the City. Yale University possesses one of the largest endowments of any school in the country and New Haven has become one of the top destinations for the Life Science Industry. Having a local presence will further entwine us into the community and enhance our ability to tap into New Haven’s growing markets.
Can you talk a little about the process of opening a new office?
When we moved to New Haven, it was important that we created an office that would make our employees proud. To that end, we engaged a team of internal and external experts to help us select the right location and to build a great space for us. I think the new office speaks for itself. It is a bright, modern, and well-designed space that is located one block from the historic downtown New Haven Green. There is easy access from the highway, free parking, and a multitude of nearby amenities (such as dining, shopping, and entertainment). The investment that Fuss & O’Neill made in this office was an investment in the improved work experience of our current and future New Haven staff.
Caleb
Scheetz, LEP New Haven Office Manager
Tell us a little bit about the people in your office and the services you offer.
The New Haven office is a vibrant mix of exceptionally talented, hardworking staff residing in three business lines: Environmental and Facility Services (EFS), Community Development (CDV), and Buildings and Hazardous Materials (BHM). Within each of these business lines, we have staff in compliance (EFS), remediation (EFS), site/civil (CDV), landscape architecture (CDV), hazardous building materials (BHM), and structures (BHM). We are thankful to be supported by business line managers Cathy Defrances-Vittorio, CPSM and Sara Morrison, MLA, WEDG.
What are you most excited about for the new office?
The buzz: New Haven is all about the buzz right now - new space, new furniture, and new faces! We are experiencing a return to the office renascence, which is driving multidisciplinary collaboration. Staff that relocated from Manchester, CT have integrated seamlessly; everyone is excited to be in this wonderful new setting and is feeding off each other’s enthusiasm. It feels like we have coalesced into a cohesive team, which makes the office really fun. What’s more, within three blocks you can find almost every conceivable lunch option, from arepas to sushi to Nashville hot chicken (so unbelievably good). I encourage anyone that is in the area or just passing through to stop by and see what the buzz is all about, as we are only four blocks off I-91.
Jonathan Curina, CHMM
Environmental and Facility Services Department Manager
How has the opening of the New Haven office improved your ability to serve your clients?
The strategic location of the New Haven office is allowing us to better serve existing clients in the area and also pursue new clients. Being in the downtown area gives us close access to developers, universities, and other institutions that are invested in New Haven. I have already heard from a few potential clients that we should start working together since we are so close.
How has the opening of the New Haven office impacted you personally?
Personally, the New Haven office has been a refreshing upgrade. I appreciate the investment that the company has made into our new office, including the new furniture, windows all around bringing in a lot of natural light, and an open floor plan. There are numerous places to eat around the office and the area is much more interesting than our previous location.
Anders Carlton, EIT Structural Engineer
You recently moved to the New Haven area. How has the change improved your work/life balance?
The move to New Haven put me closer to my family in New York and to many of my friends that moved down this way after college. Since we sit right on the train lines going to Boston and to New York City, I have been able to visit more friends in these areas with much more ease of travel. Being able to walk to many places in New Haven after work has given me more things to do during the work week. So overall, my work/life balance has improved since the move as the location makes it easier for me to travel.
What types of projects are you working on in the shoreline region?
We have many pre-existing clients in the shoreline region (including those in the aerospace and asset management markets) whose projects I have become involved with since moving to New Haven. Additionally, we are seeing many more opportunities for work along the shoreline region, which we are pursuing.
Employee Jamie Brätt,
FOCUS
AICP, LEED-AP
Jamie is our newest Business Line Leader, recently taking the reins of the Community Development Business Line. We asked her some questions to learn a little more about her and the future of the Business Line. 1.
Why the new change? What brought you to the world of consulting after so many years in public service?
In fact, my career started in the private sector with a commercial real estate development company in Washington, DC. I loved that company but decided to switch gears after the recession of 2008 really put the brakes on construction. Public service brings unique opportunities and challenges.
I’m absolutely thrilled I had the chance to serve the community in the capacity of Director of Economic Development and Planning in Trumbull and in Hartford. That work gave me a lot of exposure to a variety of projects and people rather early in my career. I decided to return to the private sector in the hopes of rekindling that original enthusiasm I always felt about cultivating great communities. It was the right move for me. 2.
How will your past experiences shape your leadership style as Business Line Leader?
I study business leadership and sales a great deal, but one of the most profound influences on my style came from an unexpected source: a parenting course.
Based on Adlerian psychology, the course began by explaining that all human beings, regardless of age, have a fundamental need for two things: belonging and significance. These needs are so deeply wired within us that we will go to extreme lengths to fulfill them, either through desirable behavior or undesirable behavior (for example, a temper tantrum is actually a very effective strategy for feeling like the center of attention). I realized that during the most difficult times in my career, I failed to feel belonging and/ or significance in my work. Therefore, one of the signature elements of my business leadership style (and my networking style) applies special and genuine energy towards understanding individuals and devising ways in which our work together might increase their sense of fulfillment.
3.
The Community Development Business Line encompasses survey, site/civil engineering, and landscape architecture/planning. What are some new projects you wish for your Business Line?
I visited six of the nine New England offices in one week. I asked people what projects meant the most to them. A very strong
theme emerged in their answers. People felt fulfilled by:
• Projects that made a noticeable difference in the community.
• Projects that required them to work as a multidisciplinary team at Fuss & O’Neill.
• Projects that challenged their technical or client management skills.
I take these as guiding principles for where we focus our business development energy. You will often hear me summarize these as “transformative” projects.
I also enjoy infill or adaptive reuse projects (such as mill conversions or brownfield redevelopments) because I subscribe to smart growth principles, and because I believe that by helping pre-existing communities thrive, we can help to preserve natural assets and rural communities.
4.
What, if any, changes will you be making to the Business Line in your new leadership role?
I’m very fortunate to have taken the reins of a group that’s already highly successful, so I’m not planning to rock the boat. However, I will be hiring a CDV Business Line Manager in Massachusetts in support of a longerterm focus on greater Boston and I will be increasing “Top of the Funnel” business development activity (which studies market trends, applies research to existing and potential large clients, and encourages the extended team to participate in industry events).
5.
What do you want your clients to know about you?
That you can call me any time: 860-783-4730.
on STEM Outreach and Education FOCUS
be an engineer. That single day was so impactful that I never wavered from my commitment, and I graduated in 2015 with a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut. I started working at Fuss & O’Neill right after graduation, and I’ve been with the firm for the last seven years.
In March of 2022, The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) noted that “America needs more engineers”1. They also called on President Biden and Congress to “[encourage] more American students to join STEM fields”. When ACEC made this statement, we were just beginning to understand The Great Resignation. Now, months later, the industry is really feeling its effects, and I don’t think we’re near the end of this economic trend. As a working Transportation Engineer with a lot of friends in the engineering industry, I know that most engineering companies are struggling to fill open positions. And I know that there is no quick solution to this problem.
What I do know for certain though is that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) outreach is one component of the answer. And I know that the earlier this outreach happens, the more effective it is. I could cite studies (and there are many), but I’d rather speak from personal experience. When I was in elementary school, my father took me to one such outreach event in Attleboro, MA put on by Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS). I got to spend the day immersed in creative problem solving, and I walked away from that day knowing I wanted to
While my job still holds daily joys for me and I’m getting to devote a lot of my time to projects I’m passionate about (complete streets projects in particular), I recognize that I now have a platform to help others the same way I was helped. I am a member of WTS, which is an organization known for promoting and advancing women in the transportation industry. As part of the Boston chapter, the organization (in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation) puts on an annual interactive outreach event that is their own spinoff of the national event called Transportation YOU for girls ages 8 through 18. Throughout the pandemic we held this summit virtually, but this year we were back in person! I was joined by some of my amazing colleagues from the Boston office Transportation Department for a wonderful Saturday helping students explore the concepts of, and designing, complete streets. Fuss & O’Neill, through its Corporate Citizenship initiative, supported us with funding and planning the hands-on lesson.
This day was a reminder of how important STEM outreach is. Science and math are part of the common core in American classrooms, though both offer varied sub-subjects and pre-requisites differ for students depending on post-secondary education plans. Technology and engineering are not typical subjects unless one attends a school with a focus on these studies. Therefore, the “average” student’s exposure to practical engineering is extremely limited. And without an introduction to engineering, what incentive is there to then accept the challenge of selecting it as your major in college? The Transportation YOU Summit, which is part of the Massachusetts STEM Week, and other special outreach programs are integral to sparking an interest in the engineering field. I say this because I see, year after year, the excitement on the girls’ faces as they realize they have the ability to solve real-world problems. I hope this excitement continues after they leave us, and I hope that schools recognize the need to promote engineering as a potential field of study for all students. But until engineering becomes part of the standard curriculum, I encourage those of us in the field to support outreach in any way we can. All the work I do today and all the problems in the future that I solve are because of that one day of outreach. Imagine the change we could create if we offered that experience to millions more.
Katherine Patch, PE is a Senior Transportation Engineer with Fuss & O’Neill’s Transportation Business Line in the Boston, Massachusetts office. She has a strong background in roadway design and traffic analysis, with a particular passion for complete streets principles.
1https://www.acec.org/last-word-blog/acecstatement-on-the-state-of-the-union-address1/
by Katherine Patch, PE Senior Transportation Engineer
Transportation You Summit (left to right) John Deskavich, PE, ENV SP; Katherine O’Shea, EIT; Tamara Lord, EIT; Phiona Nalugo; Holly Russell, EIT; and Katherine Patch, PE.
on PFAS FOCUS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a hot topic in the news right now and I hope it stays that way. Environmental engineers have understood the dangers of this chemical for some time. Fuss & O’Neill even has an Emerging Contaminants Taskforce dedicated to providing ongoing analysis and an up-to-date understanding of current investigative and treatment strategies regarding contaminants of emerging concern.
This past summer, the U.S. EPA issued four interim drinking water health advisories to update their 2016 advisories for PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water. The 2016 guidelines set health risk thresholds to 70 parts per trillion. Last summer’s advisories, which are based on new scientific evidence and consider lifetime exposure, set the interim lifetime non-cancer health advisories (iHA) to 0.004 parts per trillion for PFOA and 0.02 parts per trillion for PFOS. This is a substantial change that reflects the EPA’s stance that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero and that are below EPA’s ability to detect at this time. This decrease in recommended exposure levels is to protect the public’s health.
More recently, the EPA has proposed to designate two PFAS [perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)], including their salts and structural isomers, as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. This proposed rulemaking would increase transparency around releases of these harmful chemicals and help to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
Regardless of the designation, Fuss & O’Neill’s Emerging Contaminants Taskforce will continue to stay up-to-date on removal strategies and cleanup activities. We shall continue to advocate for public health and will help our clients develop best management practices and/or engineered solutions to reduce risk to PFAS exposure.
For more information, please contact:
Brent Henebry, LEP Emerging Contaminants Taskforce Director 860-783-4649
bhenebry@fando.com
WHAT ARE PFAS?
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are groupings of thousands of fluorine-containing chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and petroleum products. These attributes make products that are stain- and water-resistant and fire retardant. For decades, PFAS have been used in industrial applications and consumer products.
Examples include:
∞ firefighting and the use of fire-suppressant foam (e.g., aqueous Class B, film-forming foam, AFFF)
∞ chemical manufacturing
∞ surface finishing and treatment of metals, paper, textiles, or durable goods (e.g., leather)
∞ mist suppressant in metal plating baths, especially chromium plating processes
∞ paints and adhesives
∞ waxes and surfactants (detergents)
∞ food-grade non-stick coatings (i.e., TeflonTM)
∞ personal care products (e.g., cosmetics, soaps, shampoos)
∞ fluorocarbon-based synthetic rubber (e.g., gaskets, O-rings, hoses)
∞ points of transfer (e.g., rail yards) and disposal (e.g., landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, composting facilities, biosolids disposal, or land application areas)
Based on the nature of emerging contaminants, it is likely that additional uses will be identified.
Winter Safety
In this section we often focus on preparing your home or your body to properly survive the elements. But making sure your mental state is healthy is a very important safety topic. Here in the Northeast, the wintertime means less sunlight and harsh weather that can impede meeting with friends and family – both of which can affect mental health. The Mayo Clinic defines seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a type of depression that’s related to changes in season.
Signs and symptoms may include:
7 feeling listless, sad, or down most of the day, nearly every day
7 losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
7 having low energy and feeling sluggish
7 having problems with sleeping too much
7 experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating, and weight gain
7 having difficulty concentrating
7 feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
7 having thoughts of not wanting to live
The Mayo Clinic notes that it is normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your health care provider. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
HSS clinical psychologist Julia M. Kim, PhD notes the following tips to improve your mental health this time of year:
7 moderate your media intake
7 keep a gratitude journal
7 winterize your workout
7 reach for the right foods
7 find your friends
7 invest in a cause you care about
7 embrace the season
Details can be found here:
https://www.hss.edu/article_fight-winter-blues.asp
on FOCUS
We held our company meeting on September 23rd. Being mindful of our employees’ health and safety, we opted for a virtual event, but still managed to bring our employees together for a day of celebrating the 340+ individuals that are Fuss & O’Neill.
Here are some highlights of the day!
BUSINESS LINE BREAK-OUTS
PRIZES!
COMMITTEE UPDATES
REGIONAL MANAGERS
ROUNDTABLE
EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE EVENTS SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS
SNACK MAGIC! YUM!
