Ed Young Joins GBA as New Aviation Market Leader

GBA is expanding its transportation services to include aviation. To help with the new focus, GBA has hired Ed Young as the aviation market leader. He will be headquartered in the Lenexa, KS office with efforts focused on growing GBA’s presence as a trusted partner with aviation consultants and airports within the FAA Central Region. Young’s specialties include airport planning, airspace, land acquisition, project financing, public engagement and environmental issues.

“We’re looking to increase GBA’s transportation group to include all modes of transportation and offer a more well-rounded service to our clients and the community. Ed brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the aviation sector and we’re excited to grow this group with him,” said Jim Jarrett, GBA’s Bridge Group Principal and Vice President.

Ed brings 20 years of aviation experience, most notably as the Director of Aviation for the Kansas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division. During his time there the division was recognized with several awards including the President’s Award for Aviation from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Engineers. Along with Ed’s aviation experience he also spent several years in city and county government serving as a city administrator, county administrator and county counselor.

Most recently, Ed taught airport law and airport environmental planning for Kansas State Polytechnic (K-State Salina). He is a commercial pilot and flight instructor as well as a licensed attorney. He earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas, School of Law, a Master in Public Administration from the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Association of Airports, Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education and the Fly Kansas Foundation.

GBA Going Through Leadership Transition

Michael Smith

GBA has announced a transition in leadership. The leadership transition plan has been in place for some time, but it will officially take effect July 1, 2015. Michael Smith, P.E., GBA’s current President/CEO announced his retirement in April 2016. The Board recently elected Tim Ross, P.E. as the new President and Dan Abitz, P.E. will serve as the Executive Vice President.

Smith, who has been President/CEO since 2001, will remain the CEO and Chairman of the Board until February 2016. Over the next few months the three will work together to make sure it is a smooth transition.
 
“The leadership of GBA across the board is in great hands going forward. I have the utmost confidence GBA’s future is very bright,” said Smith.

Tim Ross

Dan Abitz

Beck and Cantrell to Co-Lead GBA’s Water Environment Group

Gary Beck

Gary Beck and Dennis Cantrell have taken over the leadership duties of GBA’s Water Environment Group, and together will be responsible for the strategic direction of the team. The leadership transition occurred because of the recent retirement of Bill Carter.

Using his more than 30 years of professional experience,

Dennis Cantrell

Beck will have direct oversight of the management of projects and department operations; which includes developing field training, design standards and process improvement programs to strengthen the team’s project management capabilities. Beck joined GBA in 1986 and has completed project management services for large scale sewer improvement programs in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. He sits on the Water Environment Federation’s Collection Systems Committee.

In addition to directing marketing, client development and investment growth opportunities in the group’s four locations, Cantrell will also identify new hires and manage individual staff development. Cantrell joined GBA in 2011 and has 39 years of consulting engineering experience. He has worked on large infrastructure projects throughout the U.S. and several countries around the world.

GBA’s Water Environment Group has offices in Lenexa, Kansas, Omaha, Nebraska and O’Fallon and Chesterfield, Missouri. The staff of nearly 40 consists of 16 licensed engineers, technicians, scientists and GIS specialists.

Sue Marino Joins GBA

Sue Marino has joined GBA as a senior engineer in the Omaha, NE office with the Water Environment Group. In this position Sue’s role includes engineering studies, design, and management of projects involving sanitary & stormwater collection systems, sewer separation, sewer/manhole renovation and rehabilitation, field investigation, Inflow/Infiltration analysis, sewer backup solutions, stormwater management, and marketing.

Marino previously worked with the City of Omaha as the Sewer Separation Program Manager before joining GBA. She is a member of Engineers Club, American Public Works Association (APWA) and National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

National Architecture Week

In the spirit of celebrating National Architecture Week #ArchWeek2015, we tip our hats to the devoted designers of GBA. This group truly embraces GBA’s core purpose, creating remarkable solutions for a higher quality of life, particularly for the Life Sciences and Critical Facility industries. Whether it’s designing a cleanroom for the latest pharma or biotech advancement or space planning for a mobile switch center, our experts enjoy the challenge of highly specialized and complex regulatory environments.

Rather than just talk about their greatness, we asked why they chose to direct their awesomeness to architecture.

“Architecture is a combination of art and science; I chose to become an architect because I enjoy the aspects of design combined with problem solving.” – Victor K.

“I liked art and math so I thought architecture was a good option.  Growing up I would look at house plan magazines and change the designs.” – Leah M.

“I chose to be an architect to be a creative contributor in a client’s growth process, a practical artist who really likes math.” – Michelle C.

“I chose to be an Architect in the 2^nd grade because I wanted to create better environments for people to live in and more importantly due to Mike Brady.” – Brian S.

“My dad thought it was my natural calling, a good blend of art and science. In high school, he had me job shadow our neighbor who is a successful Kansas City architect. Plus, he didn’t think I was cut out for the family business, law enforcement. I come from a long line of police officers. Honestly, I can’t see myself doing anything other than architecture. I think it was a perfect fit for me and am grateful my father introduced me to the profession.” – Molly O.

“My mom and dad made me.” – Craig R.

“In third grade I dressed up as an Architect for a class assignment on who we wanted to be when we grew up, from then on that’s what I have always wanted to be.” – Micala M.

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.

Relay for Life 2014

Each year more than four million people in 20 countries participate in a Relay for Life event, which offers an inspiring opportunity to honor cancer survivors, support caregivers, promote how individuals can reduce their cancer risk, and raise money to help end cancer.

On Saturday, May 10, the GBA Team participated in Relay for Life-Lenexa at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, and raised $5,373. As part of the superhero theme for 2014, we chose the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by incorporating characters and costumes into our event communications. We kicked off the campaign featuring Donatello as our hero! Because he’s depicted as the smart, quick-witted and most intelligent of the four turtles, with a natural aptitude for science and technology. And we had a Raphael look-alike serving up s’mores roasted on his signature sai during relay as an on-site fundraiser.

Following the opening ceremony and a few laps around the lake, Zach Sperry and Patrick Hilderbrandt took 2^nd and 3^rd place in the frozen t-shirt contest. Contestants were given a t-shirt frozen into a ball and had to melt, smack, and pull to get the cold shirt on their body!

After many relay laps, the sun began to set as luminarias were lit in honor of cancer survivors and in memory of those who lost the fight, including loved ones and former employees of GBA.  

We want to share a special thanks to everyone who donated to our team and participated in Relay for Life this year.

Tawn Nugent Recognized as ‘Engineer of the Year’ during Engineers Week Luncheon

Engineers Week (EWeek) was started by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1951 to promote a diverse and well-educated engineering workforce through understanding and interest in engineering careers. During the annual EWeek luncheon, the Eastern Chapter of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE) recognizes one individual for their contributions to the profession.

GBA is honored, for the second year in a row, to have an employee recognized by KSPE as Engineer of the Year. Tawn Nugent, P.E., was awarded the 2014 Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE) Eastern Chapter ‘Engineer of the Year’ during the annual Engineers Week Luncheon on February 21. The award recognizes her service to the organization and the profession.  As the winner of the Eastern Chapter award, Tawn is nominated for the KSPE Engineer of the Year State award which will be announced in June at the annual KSPE conference.

An active member of KSPE, Nugent currently serves as the Engineering Preparation committee chair.  Her involvement in KSPE focuses on recruitment and outreach of future engineers.

Nugent, who joined GBA in 2000, is an Associate with the Highways and Streets Group where she provides project management and design for highway, interchange and roadway projects for state and local agencies. 

Congratulations, Tawn!