When our firm started in a small hotel room in Rochester, Pennsylvania, in 1940, a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity was established. Now, more than 80 years later, I am proud of our colleagues who continue the tradition of Making a Difference that was established the day we were founded as we Reimagine Michael Baker as a full-service engineering and consulting company.

We Make a Difference is more than a tagline – it is engrained into the very fabric of our company. We Make a Difference for our clients, partnering with them to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. We Make a Difference for our communities, helping to enact transformational change and improve quality of life. Finally, We Make a Difference for our colleagues, working closely as a team to innovate and achieve our shared goals.

Today, we unveil the Making a Difference blog to tell these stories. You’ll hear from change-makers, innovators and experts from across our company’s nearly 100 offices and 17 Practices covering a diverse range of subjects:

  • Trending Topics: Gain valuable insights and commentary on trending topics within our industry from Michael Baker Thought Leaders.

  • Project Perspectives: Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of Michael Baker’s most iconic projects from the people who led them.

  • Wolf Pack Spotlight: Meet our employees and learn about what makes our Wolf Pack so unique.

By embracing technology, transforming communities and bringing people together through the marvels of engineering, our company continues to fulfill our mission to make the world a better place. Thank you for joining us on this journey – we cannot wait to share it with you.

At Michael Baker International, we are celebrating Digital Inclusion Week, an opportunity to promote digital equity in communities nationwide. Our Broadband team is working to close the digital divide, enable broadband for all, and equip communities with the tools and resources needed to better connect, learn and grow. We believe that inclusion is not just a value statement; it’s a commitment to inclusive and equitable decision making at every stage of broadband deployment, from planning to service delivery.

Our Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) vertical is working to enhance digital equity and inclusion in the broadband industry. Recently, Michael Baker prepared the Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connectivity Roadmap for the collaborative consortium of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Carnegie Mellon University and Allies for Children. It lays out a plan for expanding broadband access and digital equity across a 10-county region in southwestern Pennsylvania, providing a solution to address deficiencies or lack of high-speed internet in communities across the region. The Connectivity Roadmap will guide the region in accessing funding, establishing collaborative governance, and advancing shared goals for digital equity and access to broadband for all.

Elsewhere in southwestern Pennsylvania, our team is working alongside a dedicated Task Force and Westmoreland County leadership to expand broadband and provide high-speed, reliable internet to all unserved households in the county. Field crews spent weeks visiting locations across the county to verify where service is unavailable, and a detailed survey is gathering resident input over several months.

Finally, our Broadband Services are supporting the Beaver County Digital Navigator Program in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, an initiative that is focused on five key actions: expanding new fiber infrastructure, connecting county-owned towers via fiber, creating a broadband connection fund, establishing a digital navigator program and conducting continued digital equity analyses.

 

In honor of Digital Inclusion Week, we chatted with CTS colleagues who are Making a Difference and working to bring broadband access to communities from coast-to-coast.

Sam Garfinkel, Planner

Salt Lake City, Utah

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2022/09/kirsten-compitello-the-need-for-a-digital-equity-focus-on-broadband-mapping/