Backsights & Foresights: 2018 Spring/Summer

Spring/

HOUSTON

ENGINEERING INC.

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Backsights Foresights

SPRING Summer 2015 2018

Biannual Semiannual newsletter newsletter created on forcompany Houston Engineering, projects, news, Inc.'s andclients events. and employees

HEI'S 50-YEAR JOURNEY How one man's vision became an industryleading firm that's 200 people strong INSIDE THIS ISSUE Grey Cloud Channel ..................................4 Water Woes? ..............................................5 Supporting Strong Main Streets...............6 Public Outreach..........................................7 A Bridge to the Future...............................8 Respecting the Power of the Missouri....9 Featured Service Area..............................10 News, Events, & Employee Spotlight......11

In 1968, a young man was about to take a major gamble. He was at the start of his career, working for an established civil engineering firm that had hired him just a few years earlier. All in all, things were going well. And he was about to trade all of that security and promise in as his wager.

George Houston, still in his mid-20s, chose to venture out on his own by founding a new civil engineering and surveying firm. George said, “I had two goals in mind when I started the firm. One, I wanted to get some clients. I didn’t have any. And two, I wanted to make enough money to feed my family.”

continued

Hank Transgrud (left), George Houston (center), and Bob Muscha (right).

FORMING THE BEDROCK At the young age of 26 when George began Houston Engineering as a civil engineering and surveying firm, he knew it meant taking greater chances and doubling his responsibilities. But George chose to do so anyway because he believed in serving clients his way.

Roger Hagen working with a computer program in the early 1970s that he helped develop.

George Houston in the field in 1969 with the day's survey equipment.

George possesses several important traits, which he instilled in this startup company. George brought a sense of hunger and ambition, which led him to begin his company in the first place.

Second, he possessed enough intelligence and humility to know that his company couldn’t prosper with him serving clients as the only engineer. George said, “I had a few things going for me. I was young, and I was hungry, and I was able to find and hire the best people available.”

Larry Wurgler, one of HEI's long-time drafters, creating plan sheets by hand before CAD became the standard.

Lawrence Woodbury served as President from 1997-2007.

work ethic, and he expected others to hold themselves to the same standard.

Lawrence Woodbury (who served as President after George’s retirement), said he would often pass his plans by Bob for a bird's-eye review. In all his years of asking for advice, Lawrence said, “I never knew Bob to be wrong.”

George sought out his acquaintance and fellow engineer and surveyor, Bob Muscha. George came to him seeking individuals who could fill the firm’s first few positions. When Bob asked what sort of people George wanted, George replied that, frankly, he was looking for people like Bob. A few days later, Bob joined up with George with a handshake and a promise that he would become one of the firm’s first partners.

A farmer-turned-engineer, Bob brought his own personality to the firm, a personality that has trickled down over the years.

Bob, described as a friendly guy, had a no-nonsense, nose-to-the-grindstone

With his vision coming into focus, George sought out and brought in one more partner: Hank Trangsrud. Hank had his own unique personality and values, and the firm began to mirror parts of Hank as it had George and Bob. To this day, Hank reminds people that what really matters are the people. Clients, staff, the public—however one looks at it—people are at the heart of

everything we do in the industry. That’s why Hank maintained that the firm be honest with clients and fair to employees.

When George hired Bob and Hank, he gained more than just their strong ideals.

Further into their careers, they brought expertise and relationships in water resources and water supply, two sectors that would bring some of the biggest projects in the firm’s 50-year history.

George’s ambition—paired with Bob and Hank’s commitments to quality and honesty—are the traits that became the bedrock that Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) was built on.

HEI NUMBERS BY THE DECADE

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Staff

1960s Fargo office opens

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Staff

1970s

40 Staff 1980s

55

Staff

1990s Maple Grove office opens

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Staff

2000s Bismarck, Thief River Falls, and Minot offices open

R -Jeff LeDoux, President and CEO

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At HEI, our core purpose is to improve the quality of life in our communities.

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WATER RESOURCES

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Flood Control Public Drainage Surface Water Modeling Watershed Management

TRANSPORTATION Rail Roadway Structural Traffic Operations

ENVIRONMENTAL

INFRASTRUCTURE

Agribusiness Review/Permitting Waste Management Water Quality

Municipal Site Development Surveying Urban Planning Water Supply

CHANGING WITH THE TIMES People enjoy having a laugh when it comes to old technology—slide rules, drafting boards, floppy discs, eight tracks, the original iPod. Missteps receive an extra dose of ridicule (we’re looking at you, Betamax). But those who experienced these technologies when they were new can also recognize how they transformed our daily lives, often for the better.

From HEI’s first days, the firm has always sought to drive technological advancements. To make sure these advancements weren’t just for the sake of change itself, they began pairing new technology with traditional engineering practices. That philosophy, which holds true today, is part of what led to the hiring of former vice president and long-time employee Roger Hagen. Most of those who knew Roger knew him as a veteran in the industry, a reliable source of institutional knowledge who could be called on as a human encyclopedia of historical engineering information. But what many might forget was that when Roger was hired, he was still a student at North Dakota State University (NDSU) working toward his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

As part of his studies, Roger helped create an early computer program (think: punch cards) that streamlined the process of sizing pipes for rural water systems.

“One of the things that differentiates HEI is that we always try to stay one step ahead in regard to technology used in our industry,” says Jeff LeDoux, President

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TECHNOLOGY Drones Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Hydro-Conditioning Web/Mobile Application Development

and CEO. “We blend technology into engineering and science to expand our service offerings. Our programmers, technicians, and engineers create the most state-of-the art tools for our clients and also for our staff to use internally for analysis and design.” This commitment to seeking and creating new technologies is what brought HEI out of our home region of the Upper Midwest and launched us into the national field, serving clients throughout the United States.

50 PROUD YEARS HEI has enjoyed 50 years of business—a feat that any company should be proud of—and we don’t take that for granted. Half of all startups fail to survive beyond five years, much less 50. HEI has managed to thrive partially by expanding our service offerings to include water resources, watershed management, transportation, railroad, structural, infrastructure, planning, site development, environmental, landfill, surveying, water quality, technology, Geographical Information Systems (GIS),

programming, web services, and more across nine offices in four states.

“Providing exceptional service and high-quality design of soft and hard infrastructure solutions will always be the key for building long-term trusted relationships with our clients. Our clients expect the best, and they deserve it,” says LeDoux. Thanks to our clients, we have had the privilege of tackling some of the region’s most complex engineering and environmental challenges by designing smart and fiscally responsible infrastructure while also bringing unique technology services to clients. We are grateful to have been entrusted with so many important projects that have the capacity to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and future generations. “At HEI, our core purpose is to improve the quality of life in our communities,” says LeDoux.

To our valued clients, our exceptional staff, and our many friends, thank you for 50 wonderful years!

Staff

2010s Dickinson, Grand Forks, West Des Moines, and Sioux Falls offices open

Jeff LeDoux, President and CEO since 2008.

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GREY CLOUD CHANNEL:

Finding the long-forgotten path DEFINING THE PROBLEM Grey Cloud Channel is a 2.8-mile, cutoff meander loop of the Mississippi River in Washington County, Minnesota. Like many other natural resources in the Twin Cities area, the Grey Cloud Channel has been heavily affected by construction projects since the early 1900s. Starting with a bridge replacement in 1923 and ending with a completely severed connection to the main channel in 1965, the channel lost ecological function. Oxygen levels in the channel dropped and invasive plant species overtook the stagnant slough, reducing the fish population except for carp and other species that are able to live in low-oxygen environments.

This problem didn’t go unnoticed by local and federal organizations. After decades of being in this condition, Grey Cloud Channel was finally pegged to receive the attention it so desperately needed.

MAKING THE PLAN In 2011, the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) and several local, state, and federal agencies came together to find a solution. They envisioned restoring the channel’s flow and ecological function by opening up the earthen roadway with a culvert or bridge structure.

Not only would this bring back the natural flow of the river, but locals would benefit from a brand new transportation system for both cars and boats. Recreational boating could again cross between the two waterways after more than a century.

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Also, the native fish population would get a signficant boost with the reconnected habitat.

The focus of the design was to restore the multiple functions of Grey Cloud Channel. Even though the project partners envisioned a design to restore flow to the channel, it wasn’t quite ready to be built.

The SWWD hired HEI to prepare a feasibility study to analyze the channel navigability, fish passage, water quality, and project costs.

After the feasibility study was completed and approved, SWWD hired HEI to complete the alternative analysis for the preferred bridge design along with completing the final bridge design, plans, and specifications.

Finally, HEI was hired by Washington County for the construction observation to bring this project to fruition. SWWD, county, and state funding, including clean water funds, made this project possible.

Grey Cloud Crossing February 23, 2017

Construction Progress September 2017

FINISHING THE PROJECT Through construction observation, HEI was able to ensure the bridge was built accurately and efficiently. From conducting the first site survey to painting the final lane line, construction of the new Grey Cloud Bridge took place in 2017. This could not have been possible without the significant leadership of the SWWD and project partners, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important project.

The public can now enjoy the benefits of the project, including: • Increased water quality • Restored stream functionality • Unimpeded boat access between the channel and the Mississippi River • Restored fish passage and, therefore, more fishing opportunities

Construction Progress October 2017

Construction Completed November 11, 2017

It's 8 am on a Saturday, and the heavens have opened up. As sheets of rain come down, you dash around the house to double check that windows are closed. Imagine pausing a moment—as you watch the downpour and thinking— J A C K P O T !

WATER WOES?

Drive a target reuse project to meet your local needs Water quality and water supply woes are real…and likely to continue to grow. Whatever your concerns, at HEI, we have developed a cost-effective water reuse methodology to address these growing issues. Our method allows you to geolocate and target the best potential water reuse project locations to get the most bang for your buck. This information will help you determine when, where, and how to invest limited dollars for water reuse.

Becoming the proud driver of a water reuse project can give you a bit of a new outlook on thunderstorms.

Each time it rains, you have the potential for a whole range of benefits by collecting rain water for reuse.

Create more sustainable systems for irrigation.

POTENTIAL WATER REUSE BENEFITS Reduce flooding

By creating more storage for stormwater, you can reduce the risk of flooding in problem areas.

Improve water quality Protect water quality by more effectively controlling how water moves through the watershed.

Reduce reliance on groundwater Use rainwater for irrigation needs and lower the uses of precious groundwater.

HEI uses GIS technology to identify the best project locations for water reuse implementation.

Interested in learning more?

Contact Nancy Stowe, PE, Water Reuse Lead nstowe@houstoneng.com 763.493.6681 houstoneng.com

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SUPPORTING STRONG MAIN STREETS IN NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota's Main Street Initiative (MSI) is all about reinvigorating communities for a strong future. Our team at HEI understands this initiative as we’ve been serving several communities in the state through projects that support the MSI’s mission.

We believe in supporting healthy, vibrant communities through the design of smart, efficient, and fiscally responsible infrastructure. Our team is comprised of planners, grant writers, engineers, and other technical professionals all under one roof who can turn your ideas into reality. Here are a few examples where we did just that.

REVITALIZING DOWNTOWNS The award-winning Downtown Minot Infrastructure Improvements project was one of the largest reconstruction efforts ever seen by the City of Minot. It replaced miles of streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and street lighting as well as water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer pipes within the 26-square-block downtown area. The project was partially funded through a grassroots effort and led to a grant funded by the Economic Development Association.

ARD AW CT P R OJE

t to reality!

From concepsign Photo: 50 5

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HEI helped lead this project from start to finish by providing a full circle of services, including grant writing, planning, construction, construction administration, drone footage inspection, public input, and more.

HOUSING OUR NEXT GENERATION The Bridges–Student Edition apartment complex on the east side of University Drive near campus will provide the growing student population at North Dakota State University in Fargo with a new housing option. HEI assisted our client every step of the way through planning, design, and construction. HEI also provided 3D imagery of the future housing project that brought the client’s vision to life.

Minot’s Revitalized Downtown

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE The award-winning 2nd Street/Downtown project in Fargo protects the many residential and business properties in the area from future flood events while keeping aethetics in mind. HEI led the preliminary plan development and oversaw the construction of this $40-million project. The floodwall features a decorative brick design and staining on both sides. The riverfront side includes green space and walkable paths for residents to enjoy all adjacent to downtown.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD Our planning process begins with you to determine the needs of your city and community.

We listen to residents, gather data, examine these results, and pair the needs with available funding sources. Let us bring your vision to life!

Interested in learning more?

Contact Donna Bye, Planner dbye@houstoneng.com 701.852.7931

2nd Street/Downtown Fargo Flood Protection 6

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3D Modeling of The Bridges–Student Edition and Construction Progress

Public Outreach

Public input is a critical key to successful projects. It ensures that the projects we design reflect a community's true needs. Solid communication can lead to a spirit of collaboration and turn average projects into triumphs.

Here are a few of the outreach tools HEI is using to help our clients better engage the public and create trusted partnerships.

Custom Fliers

great for advertising project kick-off/public input meetings

Social Media

great for directly engaging with the public about projects

Customer and Stakeholder Surveys great for directly soliciting public input

Esri™ Story Maps

great for sharing the story of your project with stunning visuals

3D Renderings

great for showcasing multiple project alternatives

Landowner Meetings

great for addressing landowner concerns up front during a project

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

-George Bernard Shaw

Project Websites

great for locating all project information in one place

Custom Apps

great for giving the public information at their fingertips

Public Voting System

great for identifying citizen concerns about projects houstoneng.com

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Thief River Falls Arctic Cat

expansion

Digi-Key current

Future roundabout Elementary School

Sanford

Future bridge

Future roundabout

A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE

Supporting the growth of Thief River Falls DEFINING THE ISSUE AND NEEDS Minnesota's Red Lake River flows through and around the City of Thief River Falls, providing a beautiful background for parks and homes. But while residents do appreciate their river, they know it comes with a few tough challenges as well.

The Red Lake River separates east-west connectivity within Thief River Falls, adding a layer of complexity for county officials as they try to meet the transportation needs of a growing community.

This problem has sat at the forefront of decision-makers' minds as the area's largest businesses continue to grow.

Digi-Key Electronics, a locally based, global distributor of electronic components, is undergoing a major expansion and intends to increase its workforce by as many as 1,000 people. Situated nearby, the established and bustling locations of Arctic Cat, Sanford Medical Center, and the Thief River Falls Regional Airport continue to grow as well. As they do, the increasing number of residents and commuters has created the need for additional transportation infrastructure.

After years of planning, Pennington County has chosen to work with a team led by HEI to create an effective solution to this growing problem.

OFFERING THE SOLUTION The County plans to construct a new bridge just south of the City limits to resolve a number of challenges. HEI teamed with another consultant to produce alternatives that explored a new river crossing, a 1-mile roadway corridor reconstruct, and two new roundabouts.

From possible alternatives, Project Manager Jeff Langan has recommended creating a new river crossing on Pennington CSAH 8, 1 mile south of Greenwood Street.

Evidence indicates this would bring the highest potential benefit to both economic growth and the people of Thief River Falls.

The County must now decide on the placement of the new crossing.

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Both its location and orientation with the river channel will significantly influence project costs as well as potential impacts on nearby buildings, properties, and roadways.

The establishment of new roundabouts will facilitate smooth and safe traffic flow over the crossing as well as for those traveling to or from Thief River Falls along the north-south corridors. The roundabouts will be located near key intersections that serve the Sanford Medical Center and local elementary school.

Once the County chooses the most appropriate alternative, final designs will be completed with construction expected in the next couple of years.

RESPECTING THE POWER OF THE MISSOURI RIVER The Missouri River is one of America’s great rivers. It flows more than 2,000 miles, collects drainage from more than 500,000 square miles, and feeds the mighty Mississippi.

Which is why in 2011, when the Missouri River surpassed flood stage in Burleigh County, ND, those responsible for providing protection for residents in the floodplain—as well as their lands and businesses— faced a daunting challenge.

flood protection to a 20-foot flood stage (plus 0.7 foot of freeboard) based on the actual recorded 2011 flood elevations.

Floodwaters are particularly good at seeking out low points and getting into places where they shouldn’t. To be successful, several separate flood protection design and construction efforts needed to occur. Together, these projects will meet the program’s goal to provide comprehensive flood protection.

One flood protection project recently completed as part of the 20-Foot Plan is the Missouri River Correctional Center (MRCC) Flood Control Project.

PROVIDING FLOOD CONTROL When the Missouri River floods, it threatens homes, businesses, and agricultural land alike.

CONCEIVING A SOLUTION When the Missouri River overflowed its banks, it created a dangerous and damaging situation. Earlier, in 2009, an ice jam flood created a disastrous situation of its own. Therefore, as soon as the emergency flood protection efforts (and subsequent cleanup) were completed after the 2011 event, Burleigh County and the Burleigh County Water Resource District (BCWRD) turned their attention toward creating permanent flood protection for the residents within the floodplain.

The Burleigh County 20-Foot Flood Plan was conceived, a program focused on permanent

as few trees as practical. To facilitate this process, a joint powers agreement was created that allowed the MRCC staff and residents to assist in the trees' removal and stockpiling in return for paving the roadway into their facilities. Some of these trees are being used in Medora, ND, to create a replica of a log home that once existed on a ranch owned

by Theodore Roosevelt.

Adding to the complications was not just the large cottonwood trees themselves but what lives in them—the northern longeared bat. This bat species is listed as threatened, which triggers unique restrictions on when and how construction can take place to minimize the chances of harming the bats.

PREPARING FOR GREATER FLOODS The MRCC Flood Control Project is designed to protect against a 20-foot Missouri River flood stage (i.e., a 500-year event). As rivers and nature are very dynamic, the powerful force of the Missouri could someday surpass that stage.

Subsequently, the levee was designed to allow for temporary flood protection measures to be placed on top of the levee to provide additional temporary protection.

Burleigh County and the BCWRD are continuing to move forward with other projects, seeking to bring permanent protection and levee closures to more residents along the river.

The MRCC Project received its name because a major portion of the new levee that was constructed sits on the land of the Missouri River Correctional Center, a facility owned by the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

However, this project benefits more than the MRCC facility as more than 150 properties are now provided with permanent flood protection. While this project is seen as a success and just one step of many, getting such protection implemented required some ingenuity.

WORKING AMONG THE TREES This floodplain area was dense with trees, and residents valued the natural elements around their homes as did the MRCC facility owners. With that in mind, the levee route was selected to displace and impact

The new levee is designed to accommodate temporary protection measures on top of it, allowing for additional flood protection should the Missouri River ever surpass the 500-year event. houstoneng.com

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Featured Service Area

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING Most people associate traffic engineering with stop lights and the delay we all experience at signalized intersections. But traffic engineering involves much more than just traffic signals.

Traffic engineers are typically involved from the initial planning phase to the design and plan production phase and throughout construction of the project. Whether your project is a study to determine the walkability of a trail or school route, the analysis of traffic impacts due to a new development, or the design of traffic signals and roadway lighting, the traffic engineering staff at HEI can assist you.

Several of the traffic engineering services provided by HEI are listed below.

HEI’s traffic engineering sector can help you understand your current and future traffic needs!

Traffic Engineering Design • Work zone • Pavement marking • Signing • Roadway lighting and traffic signals

Studies and Planning Access Management • Traffic impact reports • Traffic safety • Traffic operations • Traffic modeling and analysis

Corridor and Intersection Studies HEI leads and supports corridor and intersection studies to help ensure our clients' infrastructure is working efficiently. These studies cover the full spectrum, from turn lanes to pedestrian crossings and more.

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MEET JOSH Josh Hinds became interested in traffic engineering while working as a Graduate Assistant with the Iowa Traffic Safety Data Service at Iowa State University’s Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE), now the Institute of Transportation.

The opportunity to work with several traffic and safety engineers throughout Iowa allowed Josh to understand different perspectives in the traffic and safety engineering field.

Josh has worked for both public agencies and consulting companies throughout his 12year career, developing new skills with each position. He has experience completing traffic and safety studies for both urban and rural locations as well as experience in design and plan development for work zone, pavement marking, signing, traffic signals, and roadway lighting.

Grew up in Groton, SD

Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) (Less than 3,000 nationwide)

Authored research paper on artificial intelligence methods to improve the safety of high speed intersections Josh Hinds, MBA, PE, PTOE Senior Traffic Engineer 701.499.9465 jhinds@houstoneng.com

NEWS AND EVENTS WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES

Mark Christenson, EIT Engineer I

Hannah Erdmann Scientist I

Quinn Fenger Communications Assistant

Rachel Glatt Engineer I

Chris Gulan Technician I

Brandon Joos Technician I

Adam Kaye Engineer I

Erin Kerr Technician I

Bridget Kessler Administrative Assistant

Lori Krider, PhD Scientist II

Nate Renner, EI Engineer I

Andrew Sheppard, PhD Sr. Software Engineer

Danny Stasch Technician I

Sami Swartz GIS Analyst I

Tom Wrede GIS Analyst I

Aaron Zigan Engineer I

KUDOS EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

Dan Bogart (left) and Cole Wagner earned their Professional Engineer (PE) registrations.

Lisa Odens was voted as one of three "Top Speaker Awards" for her presentation on the Hansen Park Comprehensive Water Management Project at the Minnesota Association of Flooplain Managers conference.

Visit our recent news section on our website to learn more about these accomplishments. www.houstoneng.com

Nic Cullen (left) won North Dakota Society of Professional Engineer's Young Engineer of the Year Award at the chapter level and Zach Herrmann won at the state level.

The F-M Ambulance and the Fargo Fire Department presented Adam Walker (right) with the Citizen Life Saving Award for his quick use of CPR on his neighbor, Randy Kirkevold (left).

Michael Gunsch (left) was honored with the 2017 Missouri River Joint Water Board's Riverman Award. Lawrence Woodbury was honored with the North Dakota Govenor's 2017 Commodore Award.

Kristin Michels (left) and Joe Reiter (right)graduated from the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce's 2017 Community Leadership Institute.

Derek Kayser was one of two PeeWee A coaches selected for a 2018 Coaching Excellence Award from Minnesota Hockey.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Getting to know

Tony Nordby

Tony Nordby, PE, is a project engineer serving out of HEI’s Thief River Falls office.

He develops drainage projects and flood damage reduction projects and works mainly in the water resources sector for various entities, including watershed districts, cities, counties, and private landowners. Providing clients with HEI's products and solutions to solve their problems and leave them satisfied is what Tony finds most rewarding about his job.

Currently, Tony is working on four flood damage reduction projects that are all at different stages, from early watershed planning to near final design. During his time interning at the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, he met HEI’s Thief River Falls Office Manager, Jeff Langan. After working a few summers in the government sector, Tony determined the private sector would be a great fit for his future career. In 2008, the University of North Dakota graduate started working at HEI and the rest is history.

Tony (far right) plays sof tball in a men's league and a few co - ed tournaments with his wife, Cour tney (far right , front row), each year. L ast summer, their co - ed team was crowned champions of the Thief River Falls River Fest Tournament!

Q&A What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

Working for a unique farmer back in high school with odd jobs to keep me busy all summer long. From anti-rust painting the interior of grain bins to silicone sealing every bolt on a 200-foot-long galvanized steel quanset, there was always something odd and new to work on each day.

What have you learned from your experience at HEI? That learning is continuous and you’re never too old to gain new knowledge because a new project experience is just around the corner.

Fun Facts He is a volunteer referee for youth basketball.

He's experienced the first week of March Madness in Las Vegas.

Tony with his wife, Cour tney, and their son , McCoy. 12

Spring/Summer 2018

He plays bass guitar in a country/classic rock band, entertaining crowds for 17 years.

What book are you currently reading?

“How Deep is the Sea.” I think I’ve read it probably 100 times, but McCoy picks it out almost every night.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Spending time with my family; hunting; fishing; playing basketball, softball, and golf; playing in a band; and watching Minnesota sports when they are playing well.

Getting to know

Rachel Olm

Being outdoors and appreciating nature has always been a passion for Rachel Olm. The Duluth native would spend her time camping in the Boundary Waters or along the North Shore during the summer, and during the winter, she'd ski the snowy slopes. It made sense for Rachel to turn her passion for the environment into her career.

After earning her BA in biology and environmental studies and her MS in water resources science, she joined HEI's Maple Grove office in 2015 as a Scientist II. She serves watershed districts with a variety of solutions and has been instrumental in both facilitating and developing content for multiple One Watershed, One Plan efforts across the State of Minnesota.

Rachel with her husband , Erik , and their two -year- old husk y/shepherd lap dog, Boomer.

Q&A What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

In 2008, I studied abroad in Queensland, Australia, an ecological paradise for any biology student. While there, I got a job tending bar and waiting tables at a small, local pub. Couple my complete lack of knowledge in wine and cocktails with challenging Australian lingo and accents, and you can guess how good I was at my job. All I can say is: thank goodness for kind-humored patrons.

How did you first learn about HEI, and what made you interested in working here?

During my Masters program, I had the great opportunity to work as a research assistant for the Board of Water and Soil Resources, focusing on developing the framework for the One Watershed, One Plan program. The Root River was one of the first watersheds to pilot this new program, led by HEI. I was impressed by the team’s holistic and innovative approach to watershed planning as well as the other projects HEI showcased at conferences. I was thrilled when the opportunity came up to take what I had learned as a research assistant and directly apply it to watershed planning with HEI.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled and why?

This past summer, my husband Erik and I flew into Iceland, rented a campervan, and spent two and a half weeks driving around the island, sleeping at campgrounds, trying local food, and sponging up all the spectacular sights of the island. We could rarely put the camera down. Every corner we rounded had another waterfall or fjord more breathtaking than the last.

What have you learned from your experience at HEI? To be the best you can—you are never done listening, learning, and adapting.

Rachel gives numerous presentations throughout the year on a variety of watershed planning topics . houstoneng.com

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COMMUNITY & CULTURE

In honor of HEI celebrating our 50th anniversary, we threw a party in April to recognize our talented employees who made it possible for us to reach this milestone. Staff enjoyed delicious food, bubbly drinks, and excellent entertainment.

Staff enjoyed a warm pancake breakfast on a chilly April morning.

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HEI staff celebrated the holiday season with a visit from Santa, cube decorating, beer exchanges, community fundraisers, and a variety of other fun activites.

Gail Zehren's retirement party.

Back row left to right: Bruce Albright, Larry Wurgler, Gail Zehren, Rick St. Germain, Lawrence Woodbury, and Jeff LeDoux. Kneeling: Curt Skarphol and Don "DJ" Josund

Well, maybe not everyone enjoyed Santa's visit!

Laura Kaihoi as Vanna White.

Spring/Summer 2018

Staff at HEI participated in a variety of games during the holidays.

HEI employees volunteered at a Discover Engineering event to teach children about different aspects of engineering.

In March, a groundbreaking ceremony was held In MInot, ND, for the first three phases of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project.

AWARDS

Nancy Stowe volunteered with Engineers Without Borders to design and build a water system for Milla Tres, located along the Carribean coast in Honduras. Being bilingual, Nancy also serves as translator for the team.

1.

HEI employees volunteered at the Northern Plains BEST Robotics competition held at North Dakota State University.

Josh Pape won the No Shave November contest, helping raise prostate cancer awareness.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of North Dakota (ACEC/ND) recognized HEI with the 2018 Engineering Excellence Award for two projects: the Minot Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project and the 2nd Street/ Downtown Fargo Flood Protection Project.

2. The North Dakota Ready Mix and Concrete Products Association recognized HEI with Gold Star Awards for two projects: the Minot Water Treatment Plant Hazard Mitigation Project and the Minot Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project.

3. The North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers recognized HEI with the Outstanding Engineering Design Awards:

Chapter level - 2nd Street/Downtown

Fargo Flood Protection Project

State level - Minot Downtown

Infrastructure Improvements Project 4. Engineering News-Record ranked HEI in the 2018 Top 500 Design Firms.

Minot Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project

2nd Street/Downtown Fargo Flood Protection Project

Minot Water Treatment Plant Hazard Mitigation Project

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HOUSTON

ENGINEERING INC.

1401 21st Avenue North • Fargo, ND 58102

Minnesota Maple Grove Thief River Falls North Dakota Fargo | Bismarck | Dickinson Grand Forks | Minot Iowa West Des Moines

South Dakota Sioux Falls

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A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE: DRONE UPDATE AT HEI Our drone services have really taken off here at HEI! From smoke testing to quantity estimates, our drone team is outfitted with the newest technology to solve the most unique problems.

Chad Qualley, our drone team lead, has completed several unique flights for our clients. One unexpected application of drones was quantifying gravel stockpiles for Norman County in Minnesota. To do this, Chad flies the drone around the stockpile gathering site pictures and data, then creates a 3D surface and fill report to determine the stockpile’s size. This replaces the traditional, but dangerous, survey process of waiting for the stockpile to freeze, cutting stairs into the pile, then scaling it to gather data.

Dave Olson, one of HEI's 11 drone pilots, had an exciting summer last year working with the City of Minneapolis to help make their smoke detection project quicker and safer. Dave flew the drone above nearby houses and buildings while smoke was pumped through the City’s sewer system to find smoke that indicated connections to residents’ sanitary sewer system.

By using drones to fly over the buildings, the City was able to save time as well as avoid coordinating access to the rooftops and the risk of traveling across them on foot. This can be done for any city or municipality and is an innovative option for other similar projects.

Follow our social media, and visit our website for future drone updates throughout the year.

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Spring/Summer 2018