WSB Strengthens Leadership Team by Adding Two Directors to Growing Transportation Team

Robert Doty and Brittney Davis expand the firm’s leadership team and capabilities.

February 15, 2024

Minneapolis, Minn –Design and consulting firm WSB announced the expansion of leadership within their firm. Robert Doty has been hired as director of transportation design, and Brittney Davis has joined as director of transportation planning. The addition of these roles place WSB in a strong position as they continue to support infrastructure needs across the state of Texas.

“Robert is key to our growth as we strive to expand our national presence,” said David Balmos, vice president of strategy. “He is well-rounded with backgrounds in planning, design, business development and community relations. His leadership will help our transportation division excel. We know we have to have the right people to succeed, and we have found that in Robert.”

Doty joins WSB with over 24 years of experience and an extensive history in the Houston market. He supports WSB with design within Houston and the surrounding areas and business in the Government market. His technical background and leadership are valuable to the firm.

“I was drawn to WSB because of the possibilities and the people,” said Doty. “Every interaction I have had with the staff proves they are excited to make a difference. I look forward to the future of this firm, and I am excited to be part of it.”

WSB also welcomes Brittney Davis to the Texas transportation leadership team. She has taken the role of director of transportation planning, specializing on federal projects requiring the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). With over 15 years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry and a primary focus in NEPA, she brings immense value to WSB.

“The stars aligned when hiring Brittney,” said Steve Lindsey, director of transportation design. “Her expertise provides a tremendous opportunity to better support our clients and complements our existing staff and services well. Her hiring falls in line with our goal of expanding nationally, and we are excited to see the bright future of WSB with the addition of her experience and guidance.”

Davis assists with increasing environmental transportation projects in Texas and provides mentorship for emerging leaders and young professionals.

“I am excited to be here,” said Davis. “I have only heard great things about WSB from friends and clients, and after meeting current staff— I knew this was a position I wanted to take. I look forward to pursuing work and continuing to build the impressive legacy of WSB.”

WSB recently acquired engineering firm EST, a design firm headquartered in Oklahoma City with a strong presence in north Texas. Adding staff, offices, regions and a handful of services, WSB continues to expand on a national level. The firm’s presence across the United States includes increased collaboration and services to better support communities and advance infrastructure.

Brittney Davis
Director of Transportation Planning
[email protected] | 281.850.2836

Robert Doty
Director of Transportation Design
[email protected]

WSB Elevates Leadership within Construction Division

The firm expands leadership opportunities with the promotions of Chris Kester and Mark Watson.

February 15, 2024

Minneapolis, Minn – WSB, a forward-thinking design and consulting firm, announced today they have expanded leadership in the construction division. Chris Kester has been promoted to director of project controls and Mark Watson has been promoted to director of materials engineering.

The promotions of Kester and Watson support WSB as the firm grows its national presence. Kester and Watson both have many years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, bringing immense value to the firm.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Chris to grow the team,” said Andy Kaiyala, vice president of technology & controls. “In this role, he will connect design and construction, creating a solid foundation to better support our clients. He is well-positioned to provide leadership in this new role at WSB.”

Kester has worked in the AEC industry for nearly 15 years with a background in field work, estimating responsibilities and more. Combined with the Digital Construction Management team, Kester focuses on delivering new methods and procedures, discovering how things are most effectively built and employing tools to optimize projects.

“We are uncovering what the future of the industry looks like,” said Kester. “This is an exciting time to work in the AEC industry. I look forward to using these advancements to serve communities across the U.S.”

Watson oversees quality management of materials for heavy civil, commercial, and vertical construction projects. In this role, he supports pre-letting services, design and post-letting construction related to material and quality control.

“It’s fulfilling to work toward expanding the role of field services at WSB,” said Watson. “My career began in materials, so I am eager to focus more attention on this area.”

“Mark has an extensive background in materials, design and construction— he’s very diverse,” said Mike Rief, senior vice president, construction. “Combining his experience with his passion and drive for his work sets up the construction division for success.”

Kester and Watson bring industry experience, strengthening WSB’s construction division. As WSB continues to grow, their leadership is a major asset to the firm.

Chris Kester
Director of Project Controls
[email protected] | 651.492.3853

Mark Watson
Director of Materials Engineering
[email protected] | 612.248.9365

2023 WSB Year in Review

Click the image above to view WSB’s 2023 Year in Review.

Making Public Infrastructure a Catalyst for Economic Development and Community Prosperity

February 6, 2024

By Jay Kennedy, Vice President, WSB

In the vast landscape of economic development, one key piece often remains hidden in plain sight: infrastructure. It’s not just about building roads and bridges; it’s about constructing the foundation for thriving communities and enticing businesses to bring jobs and investment.

Communities that invest in infrastructure with an eye to the future ensure they are the place that people and businesses want to be. Infrastructure is the lifeline that sustains economic progress. From utilities to public transportation to drinking water facilities, when these essential components are robust, designed with intention to the future and well-maintained, they create a fertile ground for businesses and communities to thrive.

Communicating with Businesses & Planning for the Future

The ‘build it and they will come’ approach, although powerful, isn’t the sole ingredient for sustainable growth. Communities need to actively engage with businesses and create an environment that welcomes investment.

Businesses looking for a community in which to invest can bring millions, sometimes even billions of dollars with them. Effective communication between communities and businesses is critical when it comes to infrastructure development. When local leaders say, “we are open for business,” they need the infrastructure and planning to back it up.

When communities have plans that account for future development, population growth and supporting infrastructure, businesses can see a vision of why they should place their investment in that community.

Relieving Infrastructure Stress & New Opportunities

There are also situations where upgrades and redesign can alleviate pressure on existing infrastructure and open new opportunities. Improving efficiency in public transportation and redirecting traffic from small community roads to major roadways, for example, can benefit both residents and local businesses. What starts off as one project opens the door for developers wanting to be a part of an up-and-coming area.

As infrastructure pressure is relieved and economic growth continues, it is critical to have a dedicated team that can manage an expanding community. It sends the message that the community is dedicated to growth, attracting even more investment.

The Ideal Community: Balancing Residential and Commercial Zones

An ideal community strikes a balance between residential and commercial land uses, as well as public spaces. People prefer to live close to work and amenities. A blend of both residential and commercial spaces not only enhances convenience for residents but also attracts businesses looking for a customer base and workforce in proximity.

Collaborating Across the State and Region

Cities looking at their long-term community plans must ensure they also align with county-level planning and broader regional plans. Cooperation and coordination among various levels of government means that an infrastructure project is not operating in a silo, but instead part of a larger plan to drive people and businesses to the region.

How WSB Can Help

In Texas and beyond, the success of public infrastructure projects and planning is driving economic development. WSB is playing a pivotal role in communities throughout Texas, where expertise in smart infrastructure planning and execution has significantly reduced stress on resources while actively attracting businesses to the area.

WSB’s team can help with everything from community planning to public engagement to designing major infrastructure projects and more. We can help your community find ways to bolster economic growth and build infrastructure that fosters the long-term success of your community and region.

Jay is a Vice President leading Texas operations. He has over 30 years of experience overseeing the management, planning, coordination, design and construction of municipal and civil engineering projects. He works with staff and clients seeking new business opportunities and developing local staff.

[email protected] | 512.518.1819

A New Recruiting Approach

January 30, 2024

By Jesse Sievers, WSB

Published by Zweig Group in this month’s issue of The Zweig Letter. TZL 1518

Enhance recruitment by focusing on individual connections, forming partnerships with diverse institutions, and building robust internship programs.

The most important part of recruiting new staff is building meaningful relationships with potential prospects. Campus recruitment and career fairs are a staple in the industry but, while they are still an excellent choice to stay connected with new talent, there are a variety of ways to meet the bright minds of the next generation. It is critical to review your strategy and identify what works best for your company. Reflect not only on what has worked in the past, but also think about what new approaches can help you moving forward.

PREVIOUS CAMPUS RECRUITMENT. In the past, campus recruitment was more narrow-minded. Typically, firm selects a school (or schools) with a lot of potential talent, connects with students, posts available positions, and waits for applications. This is a typical standard approach that has been done for years. Yes, there is still value in presenting your brand and physically being at career fairs, but other sources of recruitment have proven to be equally, if not more, effective and have recently led to more successful opportunities.

A NEW APPROACH. Today’s society is focused on the future. This not only applies to data and technology improvements in all industries, but it applies to recruiting tactics as well. Rather than following a traditional model, the focus needs to shift to finding better ways to form relationships with potential hires. With that in mind, how can you differentiate yourself from the crowd and make a lasting impression?

There are a variety of new approaches worth exploring:

Target the individual. Rather than focusing on a large university, it is important to get to know the people you are looking to hire. Instead of focusing on the general public, shift gears and target individuals and chapters at universities to really get to know each person. Create ways to engage with this demographic and consider hosting events or outings to provide insight to the culture of the firm and gain meaningful interactions. It is important to remember to not simply fill the open position, but to fill it with the person who is best suited to join the firm. Pursue building relationships with potential prospects instead of having the mindset of filling a position.

“Campus recruitment and career fairs have been the go-to recruiting tactic for decades, and, while they still do their job, there is greater opportunity and higher impact by exploring new approaches.”

Form partnerships. Creating connections with all universities is a great idea, and additional opportunities arise when partnerships are extended to community colleges and training programs. There are many roles available in our industry and we need a wide variety of people to fill them. In addition to finding people who fit well into the culture of your firm, it is also important to place people in jobs that they are passionate about and want to do long-term. Consider partnering with community colleges or training programs to prepare candidates for duties of specific jobs in the workforce to help them excel in a position for many years to come. This method reaches a new group of potential talent and can be extremely beneficial.
Robust internship programs. Having a thriving internship program is beneficial to not only your firm, but it is beneficial to all the students with the desire to learn more about their field from subject matter experts as well. These programs provide real-life opportunities to work on-site, train, and engage with mentors. Experiences like an internship cannot be replicated in a classroom, thus building workforce development and preparing students for life after graduation. To maintain a thriving intern program, it is critical to try to accommodate interns as best as possible and utilize their talent while providing opportunities in the workplace. A robust intern program provides a handful of great in-house applicants that could join full-time.

Campus recruitment and career fairs have been the go-to recruiting tactic for decades, and, while they still do their job, there is greater opportunity and higher impact by exploring new approaches. The world is evolving and adapting tactics and strategies to find more effective methods in recruiting will lead to exceptional outcomes. Take the time to review your current recruiting strategy. What is working and what can be improved? Avoid the cookie-cutter approach of recruiting and differentiate yourself.

Jesse is the Talent Acquistion Manager at WSB. He leads the recruitment function across the business and oversees the campus recruitment strategy. Jesse brings over 15 years’ experience in both agency and corporate setting. He is an experienced leader and is passionate about delivering top talent to the WSB teams.

2023 Economic Developer of the Year

January 29, 2024

We are proud to announce that Jim Gromberg, Economic Development Coordinator, was recently awarded the 2023 Economic Developer of the Year. The Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) honored Jim with this award at the 2024 Winter Conference in Bloomington, MN. This Association recognizes projects and professionals in the economic industry who have gone above and beyond or overcame significant challenges in the last year. This is a career achievement for Jim, and we are honored to have him receive this award through his work at WSB.

EDAM champions economic development through education, collaboration, and advocacy. This is a professional association of individuals and organizations throughout the state of Minnesota that provides economic development professionals a forum for exchanging information and staying abreast of current economic development strategies and practices as well as valuable networking and educational opportunities. EDAM members are leading economic developers in the state of Minnesota. EDAM consults with the state on public policy issues related to economic development and helps continually define and improve the profession.

Balancing Progress and Community

January 11, 2024

By Christie Saenz, Senior Right of Way Specialist, WSB and Ryan Earp, Director of Public Engagement, WSB

New development, infrastructure or construction projects can put a significant burden on residents and communities alike. How do you find and maintain balance between public good and community impact? How do you ensure that outcomes are maximized? Here are a few things to consider.

The Importance of Building Trust

While development and infrastructure projects are essential for the growth of communities, it is critical that residents are engaged effectively and that their concerns are heard. In making decisions related to progress, agencies, government entities, elected officials and other stakeholders, must consider benefits and costs, political dynamics, community sentiments and more. Facilitating an open process and fostering open communication ensures that community members and stakeholders feel heard and respected throughout the process.

Every project brings with it a unique set of circumstances. Some projects stir emotions and encounter opposition. History shows that some projects may create or increase inequities – benefiting some, while disproportionally impacting the disadvantaged. Across any variety of projects, building trust with community members and stakeholders is foundational to success. Further, advancing progress amidst project impacts requires careful listening, community connection and collaboration. All of which is enabled by a deep understanding of who is affected by a project directly and indirectly.

Eminent Domain: Bringing Compassion and Empathy to Difficult Situations

Some development and infrastructure projects require Eminent Domain – the power of government to take property for public use. Eminent Domain can require that homeowners’ or businesses be relocated. This is the social and human cost of progress.

At WSB, Relocation Services play a crucial role in building trust and aiding residents displaced by projects. Establishing relationships and sharing information early in the process is essential. Honesty, integrity and regular communication help to build and maintain relationships.

Relocation Agents often serve as the community’s connection to a project. As such, Relocation Agents must be compassionate, empathetic and provide flexibility in working to meet the needs of individuals who must relocate for the advancement of a project. Relocation Agents work with impacted individuals every step of the way, which can include finding a new home for their family and helping them settle into a new life.

What WSB Can Do: Experience, Compassion and a Proven Track Record

WSB brings a wealth of experience and a compassionate approach to every project. We understand the intricacies of relocation, recognizing that empathy, understanding and active listening is key when working with individual stakeholders and communities experiencing change and transition. At WSB, we have experts in relocation, public engagement and community planning who can help every step of the way.

Christie has over 27 years of experience in project management, project scope, project deliverables, condemnation support, residential relocation, commercial relocation, right of way acquisition, and much more. She serves communities in Texas as a right of way specialist, and is a member of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Chapter 39 South Texas since 2010.

Ryan is a creative and collaborative strategist with nearly twenty years of experience working in the fields of stakeholder engagement and strategic communications. During this time, he has worked with a variety of private and public sector clients to develop impactful strategic communications plans and execute stakeholder and community engagement initiatives.

Improving Infrastructure Across the Country

December 18, 2023

By Brian Bourassa, Vice President of Corporate Development, WSB

At WSB, we build what’s next in infrastructure—the places, spaces and systems that support our lives. We take pride in supporting communities across the country on a wide variety of projects. With over 30 complementary services within engineering, community planning, environmental and construction, we support the commercial, government and energy markets. From city to state, land development to facilities, and energy utilities to renewable energy— we build for people and the future.

Energy

UTILITIES, SUMMIT UTILITIES

There is a lot of potential in the energy market, and we continue to lead the industry with advanced project delivery. In Arkansas, we perform utility work for Summit Utilities through inspection as well as utility mapping. Through this work, we have digitally mapped a large portion of new installations. Utility mapping is the future, and the safety and efficiency benefits are significant.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, SIGNAL ENERGY

Renewable energy is creating a more sustainable future. Across the country, we’re supporting utility scale solar fields and community solar gardens. Community solar gardens are constructed on smaller tracts of land within a specific geographic location and provide energy to individuals, businesses, nonprofits and other groups. A recent project we supported is Clearway Cokato in Minnesota. This 4-Megawatt community solar garden was distributed across 20 acres of land. We also provided infiltration trenches as stormwater management BMP’s.

Commercial

LAND DEVELOPMENT, CRYSTAL VALLEY RANCH DEVELOPMENT, CO

The Ridge is a 142-lot subdivision on 160 acres located within Crystal Valley outside of Denver, Colorado. This Crystal Valley Ranch property proved to be one of the most complex subdivisions ever completed by our land development team due to some challenging features. The project included steep grades, limited connection points, adjacent existing subdivision tie-ins, the creation of an entirely new pressure zone in the town’s water system and preservation of existing Gambel oak and view plane restrictions.

FACILITIES, KELLEN RESEARCH BUILDING AT MAYO CLINIC

We support many large facilities, including buildings on healthcare campuses. At the Kellen Research Building on the Mayo Clinic campus, we provided geotechnical inspections, vertical and civil special inspection services and GPR for the research building. Additionally, we provided land surveying, civil engineering and landscape architecture design.

CONSTRUCTION, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA – DULUTH

Recently, we have partnered with the University of Minnesota-Duluth to improve campus infrastructure. A project of note was the replacement of the heating plant underground storage tanks along with new asphalt and concrete pavements and sidewalks. Another involved replacing severely worn entrance roads, sidewalks and parking lots and improving crosswalk safety for the Chester Park building. For each of these projects WSB provided materials testing and special inspection services.

Government

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, CITY OF BRAINERD, MN

We recently supported the city of Brainerd’s Oak Street Improvement Project in front of Harrison Elementary School, a roadway that warranted several improvements to improve safety of pedestrians and students crossing the busy corridor. The $500,000 project was fully funded by the Safe Routes to School grant program. The road was reconstructed with a median, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), and appropriate pedestrian signage to improve awareness and safety of pedestrians crossing the roadway.

CIVIL ENGINEERING, HAYS COUNTY, TX

WSB provided plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) for RM 967 in Hays County. The $6.6 million project added several improvements such as widening lanes, adding a continuous left turn lane, additional lanes at intersections and safety shoulders to 4.4 miles of the minor arterial. Beyond this, many traffic and pedestrian signals were improved, reducing congestion-related delays. Several innovative design elements were involved in making this project successful including designing a portion of the project non-symmetrically and developing a new construction approach to avoid relocation efforts.

CIVIL ENGINEERING, NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

We recently performed a grade raise on ND 14; a roadway of regional significance backed by Emergency Relief funding. The goal of the project was to improve safety, specifically to expand flood risk protection. WSB supports roadway projects with many services, but this project included construction inspection and contract administration.

TRIBAL SUPPORT, MANDAN HIDATSA AND ARIKARA (MHA) NATION

WSB is part of a multi-disciplinary team designing a new high school campus in Twin Buttes, North Dakota. The comprehensive project encompasses constructing a school building, a large sports stadium featuring artificial turf, a sports dome, and a residence hall. Our role in this endeavor extends to spearheading critical site components, including civil engineering, permitting, and landscape architectural services. This project holds immense significance due to its commitment to incorporating indigenous values into the curriculum and addressing a vital need within the community. The closest existing high school is over 40 miles away, making this initiative an essential step toward providing accessible education for the local population.

Brian is a registered professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in many types of municipal and general civil engineering projects including streets, parking lots, storm sewers and drainage, water distribution systems, sanitary sewer systems, site grading, park improvements, infrastructure reconstruction, and tribal communities. Brian’s experience includes all phases of the project including feasibility study, design documents. bidding process and construction administration.

[email protected] | 763.287.8536

Scalable Renewable Energy

December 18, 2023

By Behnaz Beladi, Director of Renewable Energy, WSB

Exploring energy resources beyond fossil fuels.

It is no secret that our future is focused on resiliency, and many communities are shifting toward utilizing renewable energy components. Renewable natural gas, utility scale solar fields, community solar gardens and wind farms all help power communities throughout the U.S.

WSB supports communities from coast to coast and collaborates with diverse clients such a owners, developers and large energy contractors. The scope and scale of our renewable work includes a broad geography of clients and projects.

Renewable energy powers a substantial number of homes, and in a sustainable way. Having energy sources that are replenished by nature and produce little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air is a big step toward living in a more resilient, net zero environment. One Megawatt (MW) of renewable energy can power up to 170 homes. The ability to offer this coverage is an advantage as we push toward a more sustainable future.

Renewable Natural Gas

Landfills, hog farm manure and more all are sources of methane. Through organic material decomposing, these items produce a gas that, when handled properly create a promising natural gas. Through a digester, a wastewater treatment plant, impurities can be extracted from the gas and turned into the renewable natural gas that is piped into our houses for daily functions such as heating the stove or furnace. WSB supports these projects in a variety of ways including helping clients get permits from the Public Utilities Commission, surveying, land acquisition and construction staking. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the potential for 8,241 livestock biogas systems that could generate over 13 million MW hours of energy yearly.

Utility Scale Solar

Typically hired by a large Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) firm, we support utility scale solar projects to provide solar design. These large solar fields vary from 3,000-5,000 acres, equivalent to about 30 miles of roadway and millions of miles of cubic dirt moved for the solar panels to be installed. With renewable energy on this large of a scale, these is the potential to power 250 MW, or about 50,000 homes. In addition to design, WSB provides a design-build partnership – offering construction support and the automation of construction when working on these projects.

Community Solar Gardens

Like utility scale solar, community solar gardens are a way to meet energy needs and are the best fit for smaller projects or clients. Community solar gardens are behind the meter projects constructed for midsized developers such as nonprofits, community-based organizations, tribes or private owners. In this instance, a community comes together to get solar energy rather than energy from the grid. Instead of using a large solar field, like utility scale solar, community solar gardens utilize small amounts of land and roof space to generate the power for the community. Depending on the state and jurisdiction, these projects often range in size and in how many Megawatts they supply, but typically range from one to ten megawatts.

Wind Farms

Wind turbines are very similar to solar fields in how they produce energy, but there are some differences. A key difference between the improved efficiency of wind farms and solar panels is that wind turbines can provide energy at all hours of the day. Wind farms also allow producers to maintain their land and continue to use it for its original use. By utilizing wind turbines farmers can continue to operate on the land – a luxury that does not exist on solar sites. A single wind turbine can produce between 2-3 MW, providing between 340-510 homes with energy. From surveys, site assessments and permitting to design, WSB can support your wind energy needs.

Renewable natural gas, utility scale solar fields, community solar gardens and wind farms all support communities across the country with sustainability at the forefront. As society continues to shift toward a future of resiliency and explore resources beyond traditional fossil fuels, living in a net zero environment becomes more attainable. WSB is proud to offer a variety of services and many subject matter experts to assist in the transition and better your community.

Behnaz is a lead solar engineer and manager specializing in utility scale, commercial and residential solar design. She is mindful of and knowledgeable about all local state and federal environmental rules and regulations and adept at explaining complex technical engineering concepts clearly and accessibly to wide variety of professional and nonprofessional audiences.

[email protected] | 612.468.8423