Celebrating Engineers during E-Week 2015

This week we celebrate engineers and all they do to make our world a better place. In the past 25 years alone, the world of engineering has changed dramatically. Visiting with a group of engineers who have worked at GBA for more than 25 years, I was amazed to hear their stories. They reminisced about using drafting tables and T-squares to draw plans with ink pens and electric erasers.  Have you ever seen an electric eraser?  The drafting tables they spoke of are no longer seen in the office. They’ve been replaced by computers that create 3D renderings and store them in “the cloud” for our clients to see.

Engineers have always been problem solvers and through the advancement of technology, they are able to use their problem solving skills to make our lives better. For example:

• Our water environment group is currently working to help repair sewers that have been in place for more than 100 years.  Did you know we now can line a sewer pipe with a fabric while it’s still in place to avoid having to dig it up to stop leaks which add to the volume of water being treated?

• GBA transportation engineers are involved in design/build highway projects. The design/build method creates a shorter overall project schedule and construction period, saving drivers from extended traffic headaches.

• Structural, mechanical and electrical engineers now design projects in BIM, a building information modeling software that shows in 3D an entire building and all utility systems together to identify and remove any conflicts in construction before they happen.

• The AutoDesk Civil 3D Software helps our engineers prepare construction documents that are automatically updated as design changes are made. The 3D surface data generated from the software can be populated in “the cloud” and then readily downloaded to earth moving equipment fitted with machine controls allowing for more efficient site grading operations.

• Autonomous cars are an engineering feat being created and tested around the world. These cars are being touted as safer and more energy efficient because they remove the human-error element of driving. GPS will become more prevalent to help these cars get you to where you need to go. How will this change how our transportation engineers design roads, bridges and traffic signals?

The list goes on and on about the advancement of technology and how engineers are solving problems to make our world a better place. Where will we be in the next 25 years? Will computers be a thing of the past? Will we commute in cars that drive themselves? With the rapid rate of technological advances, it’s difficult to predict but it will be interesting to sit around a table in 2040 and reminisce about how we used to use Twitter and actually drive ourselves to work.

Whether you are a civil, chemical, computer, electrical, mechanical or any other type of engineer, you’re problem solving skills have helped to make the world a better place. Engineers truly are creating remarkable solutions for a higher quality of life.

GBA Recognized as a Healthiest Employer of Kansas City

GBA has been recognized as a finalist of the 2015 Healthiest Employers, an annual award program presented by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Select employers from Kansas City were named winners at the awards program, held on February 6, 2015. Organizations were honored for their commitment to employee health, with exceptional corporate wellness programming.

Applicants were evaluated across six key categories: Culture and Leadership, Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communication and Marketing, Programming and Interventions, and Reporting and Analysis. Completed assessments were ranked with the proprietary Healthiest Employer Index, a 1-100 metric for wellness programming.

Wendee Woodson, Director of Human Resources, accepted the honoree award on behalf of GBA.

To see more, please read the Business Journal article.

Healthiest Employers is an innovative awards program that recognizes organizations that proactively shape the health of their employees. To date, Healthiest Employer has served as a resource to over 4,000 U.S. employers that represent 60 million employees, and offers Springbuk health analytics. Learn more at www.HealthiestEmployers.com and www.Springbuk.com.

Announcing a New Member of the GBA Life Sciences Group

Shaun Mc Carthy has joined GBA’s Life Sciences team, adding more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He brings extensive experience in process engineering and project management and excels when challenged with fast-track schedules. After more than two decades of hands on experience with all aspects of API manufacturing, he brings the significant knowledge gained to the GBA Life Sciences team. In particular, an expertise in containment associated with high potency product handling facilities, having worked extensively over the years with technology leaders within this highly specialized field. His first assignment with GBA will be working as part of our team on a large equipment design and installation project within a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. 

"We are eager to welcome Shaun to the GBA team. His expertise will greatly enhance the services we offer clients in the pharmaceutical industry," - Michael Glasker, Principal-in-Charge of Life Sciences.

GBA is growing rapidly in the Life Sciences sector and is excited about the opportunity to add depth to our team. Shaun has a strong technical background and has been recognized as a team leader, having led multiple cross-functional teams on small and large projects.