PITTSBURGH (July 30, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, continues to strengthen its leadership position in Engineering News-Record ‘s (ENR) latest industry rankings. The annual survey of the 500 largest U.S.-based design firms ranked Michael Baker in the top six percent (No. 31) for the second consecutive year, while moving up or maintaining its strong position in key practice verticals.
“This year’s ENR rankings demonstrate how our strategic investments in our business continue to position Michael Baker International for success,” said Brian A. Lutes, Chief Executive Officer at Michael Baker International. “As we celebrate our 80th year as a Company, we remain committed to providing expertise, innovation and exceptional service to our clients and the communities we serve.”
Michael Baker ranked as a top-20 firm in several key business segments, including:
- Bridge – The firm maintained its No. 5 ranking for the third consecutive year while growing overall Bridge business year-over-year.
- Highways – Michael Baker jumped seven places to No. 14 (from No. 21 last year) on the strength of the firm’s ongoing work as General Consulting Engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and its pivotal role as the lead designer on the I-10 Corridor Express Lanes project in San Bernardino County, California.
- Water Transmission Lines and Aqueducts – Michael Baker’s growth in this area helped the firm climb two spots to No. 8 (from No. 10 last year), further evidence of its leadership in Water.
These latest rankings follow previous ENR rankings announced earlier this year where Michael Baker maintained strong positions in Transportation (No. 12), Water (No. 11) and Pure Design (No. 17).
Michael Baker also moved up or maintained its ranking in Environmental Site Assessment and Compliance (No. 14, after not being ranked the previous year), Petroleum Pipelines (No. 18, an improvement of five places), Mass Transit and Rail (No. 22 for the third consecutive year) and Hazardous Waste (rising four places to No. 41).
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
BATON ROUGE, La. (July 28, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, was selected by the Council on Watershed Management Agencies (Louisiana) for three contracts for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, which aims to manage future flood risk in the state through watershed-based solutions. Michael Baker has been awarded watershed modeling work in three of Louisiana’s eight watershed regions: Region 1 (subconsultant), Region 4 (subconsultant) and Region 6 (prime consultant). The firm will develop modeling tools to predict flooding, recommend best approaches to mitigate flood risk and determine the upstream and downstream environmental and economic impacts. Work is expected to begin in Summer 2020 and continue for 4-5 years with ongoing updates and maintenance of the models potentially running for a decade.
“Our team is proud to be a part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative and help develop a comprehensive suite of hydrologic, hydraulic and consequence models to help the state of Louisiana screen and prioritize projects to reduce flood risk for future generations,” said Suad Cisic, National Practice Lead, Water. “We look forward to partnering with the Council on Watershed Management Agencies (Louisiana) on this important work. The mitigation solutions we recommend will impact peoples’ lives across the region and provide opportunities to improve their quality of life.”
The Louisiana Watershed Initiative was created in response to two historic rain events in March and August 2016 that produced trillions of gallons of rainwater and an estimated $10 billion in damage. Aimed at mitigating weaknesses in the state’s approach to floodplain management and risk-reduction planning at all levels of government, the Louisiana Watershed Initiative is a coordinated, interagency effort focused on reducing flood risk and increasing resilience throughout Louisiana.
To effectively reduce flood risk through decision making and project implementation, particularly when considering locally feasible strategies for flood recovery, hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) watershed models help understand how water behaves and the interconnectivity within and between watersheds. Associated economic consequence models help evaluate the benefits of proposed infrastructure projects and policy changes . Michael Baker will work to provide a clear picture of the relative conditions within each watershed. This will inform structural, policy and land use decisions by allowing decision makers to compare the ability of alternative solutions to reduce risk.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (July 22, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today the continuation of its 45-year relationship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The firm is set to execute a FEMA MT-1 Processing Services Contract in support of FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) Program. MT-1 Processing Services allows property owners to submit scientific or technical data to FEMA to determine the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement for their property. Michael Baker will serve as a subcontractor to North Wind Resource Consulting, LLC. Project completion is anticipated to occur in May 2023.
“For nearly half a century, Michael Baker has helped communities lead themselves into a more resilient future,” said Dale Gray, Office Executive, Alexandria – Emergency Management Office at Michael Baker International. “This important program makes a difference in communities at risk of flooding and our team will continue to provide excellent customer service to homeowners requesting FEMA review their need to purchase or maintain flood insurance.”
Michael Baker partners with FEMA in a number of capacities, including work on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which promotes the adoption of floodplain management regulations to mitigate the impact of flooding on private and public structures.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (July 22, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today the continuation of its 45-year relationship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The firm is set to execute a FEMA MT-1 Processing Services Contract in support of FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) Program. MT-1 Processing Services allows property owners to submit scientific or technical data to FEMA to determine the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement for their property. Michael Baker will serve as a subcontractor to North Wind Resource Consulting, LLC. Project completion is anticipated to occur in May 2023.
“For nearly half a century, Michael Baker has helped communities lead themselves into a more resilient future,” said Dale Gray, Office Executive, Alexandria – Emergency Management Office at Michael Baker International. “This important program makes a difference in communities at risk of flooding and our team will continue to provide excellent customer service to homeowners requesting FEMA review their need to purchase or maintain flood insurance.”
Michael Baker partners with FEMA in a number of capacities, including work on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which promotes the adoption of floodplain management regulations to mitigate the impact of flooding on private and public structures.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
RICHMOND, Va. (July 14, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today that Paul Baginski, P.E., has joined the firm as Office Executive for Richmond, Virginia, where he will focus on overseeing federal, state and municipal clients in the central Virginia area.
“Paul brings more than 25 years of leadership and management experience, as well as a background in civil and environmental consulting and large-scale operations insight, to his new position,” said Jim Koch, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at Michael Baker International. “We are excited to have Paul lead our team of talented professionals in Richmond as we look to expand our operations across the region.”
Most recently, Mr. Baginski served as CEO and CMO for PAB Consulting, Inc., which provides engineering and technology solutions, including a proprietary mapping technology that he co-created. He was previously the COO for Professional Environmental Engineers, Inc., overseeing HR, safety, risk management and project delivery, execution and performance. He served in leadership positions with both Leidos, Inc., and AMEC (now Wood Group).
Earlier in his career, Mr. Baginski was SVP and National Director of Buildings and Infrastructure for Parsons Brinkerhoff (now WSP), where he was responsible for global business development of the federal client base, helping the firm win nearly $8 billion in contracts. He also spent almost 14 years with Kleinfelder, Inc., rising to the position of Director of Federal Programs. In this role, he worked closely with operations to leverage local business development efforts and project executions.
Mr. Baginski is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Rollins College in Orlando, Florida.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
PITTSBURGH (June 30, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, has partnered with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility to reimagine several thoroughfares in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle, home to the City’s highest concentration of restaurants. Michael Baker’s Urban Design Studio has reconfigured streets in this area to allow for more outdoor, socially distanced dining, with slower traffic speeds and new bike lanes while permitting customers to access downtown restaurants in a safe manner. The redesign is currently being piloted in two locations: 6th Street from Liberty Avenue to Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Penn Avenue between 9th Street and 10th Street. A total of six streets are under consideration for reconfiguration, creating new outdoor dining spaces for over 70 restaurants.
“With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen restaurants limited to a fraction of their indoor occupancy rates and available outdoor options were limited simply due to space. The redesign of these streets will not only allow these businesses to expand outdoor dining and accommodate more customers but also provide diners with a safe experience,” said Peter Quintanilla, Technical Manager – Urban Design at Michael Baker International. “Unprecedented times call for innovative solutions and this redesign maintains a safe slower flow of traffic while making our local communities more livable with the new COVID-19 restrictions in place while enhancing bike and pedestrian connectivity.”
The project includes temporarily converting travel lanes and the addition of protected bike lanes to allow bike connectivity. Remaining travel lanes have also been changed to 10 feet to encourage reduced travel speeds. Further work will include expanding the redesign to new areas of the City and providing input to local restaurants on how to make their outdoor space more inviting. Design on safe distancing seating has also been undertaken at the historic Market Square and Strawberry Way.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
DENVER (June 29, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today that Chris Tagert, P.E., CFM, has been promoted to Regional Practice Lead – Water for the Mountain Region. In his new role, Mr. Tagert will lead the Region’s efforts to grow the firm’s Water Practice and ensure the highest levels of technical capabilities and quality. He will be based out of the firm’s Denver Office.
“As we continue to grow and deliver project excellence for our Water clients, we’re excited to lean on Chris’ leadership and expertise in this expanded role,” said Jeff Kullman, Mountain Regional Director at Michael Baker International. “He has led a successful 15-year career with Michael Baker International managing municipal, state and federal contracts and understands how to tailor project coordination and delivery to meet the needs of his clients, which include FEMA, Mile High Flood District, Boulder County, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority, among many others.”
Most recently, Mr. Tagert was a Department Manager for Michael Baker’s Water and Planning services in Denver, a group that delivers water resources, GIS and planning projects to the state and other regional clients. He has expertise in surface water planning and design, master planning, stream restoration, natural disaster response, resiliency planning, development of customized GIS and technology solutions and the communication and outreach that is integral to these projects.
Mr. Tagert is a member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering/Environmental Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
PITTSBURGH (June 17, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is pleased to share that the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority has successfully been licensed as a Spaceport Launch Site Operator, allowing the Authority to facilitate and support horizontal launch and landing of space capable vehicles from Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX) in Titusville, Florida. This makes the airport only the 12th Licensed Spaceport Launch Site in the United States. Michael Baker International partnered with the Authority to perform the professional services necessary to deliver an Environmental Assessment and License Application. These documents demonstrate the capacity, capability and functionality of the Space Coast Regional Airport to operate and safely perform as a Launch Site Operator for commercial horizontal launch vehicles.
“Florida’s transportation infrastructure is consistently ranked among the best in the nation and its space transportation capabilities are widely recognized as the best on the planet,” said Aaron McDaniel, South Florida Operations Manager at Michael Baker. “With its close proximity to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Space Coast Regional Airport is an ideal facility for our area’s commercial spaceflight industry and we are excited by the vast economic opportunity that the Spaceport Launch Site Operators License will bring to the City of Titusville and North Brevard County.”
The Spaceport Launch Site Operators License is the culmination of a multi-year effort and allows the facility to become a commercial spaceport capable of horizontally launching and landing suborbital spacecraft between Titusville and Port Saint John, Florida. The facility will grow the area’s burgeoning space businesses and offer incubation opportunities alongside more developed space business at Kennedy Space Center. To support the Spaceport’s activities, the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority is planning several large-scale construction projects, including a 400,000-square-foot hangar to produce and develop horizontal spacecraft and storage for rocket-grade kerosene and oxidizers, a 400,000-square-foot apron between the hangar and taxiway and a 350,000 square-foot parking lot. In anticipation of this award, the Florida Legislature previously designated the Airport and its adjoining Industrial Parks as Spaceport Territory in order to facilitate businesses taking advantage of the incentives that Florida has in place to assist their development on the Space Coast of Florida.
The vision for Florida’s Spaceport System is to position Florida Spaceports as the premier transportation hub for global space commerce. Florida’s existing Spaceport System has the capacity and infrastructure to accommodate anticipated new launch vehicles over the next 10 years and improvements may be made to existing spaceports to accommodate changes in technologies such as autonomous flight safety and fly-back boosters. Moreover, new and innovative operations and business approaches will drive changing requirements for Spaceport infrastructure and capacity. Space commerce will be an underlying foundation for worldwide space-based services and products already valued at $330 billion annually, with a potential to nearly double over the next 10 years. The elements that involve placement of both hardware and humans into space will also drive and facilitate activities in the frontiers beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (June 16, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today that Amanda Furr, P.E., has joined the firm as Vice President and Office Executive in Little Rock, Arkansas. In her new role, Ms. Furr will oversee the growth of the firm’s business portfolio in Arkansas and provide operational and staff management and project oversight.
“Amanda is a proven leader with nearly 20 years of engineering experience, including the last nine years in federal positions with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Arkansas, Arizona and Oklahoma,” said Juan Contreras, Gulf Coast Regional Director at Michael Baker International. “We are excited to have Amanda lead our team of talented professionals in Little Rock as we look to expand our operations in Arkansas.”
Most recently, Ms. Furr served as Chief of Engineering Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs – Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. In this role, she was responsible for providing comprehensive facility management advice and services across two medical center campuses, encompassing 92 buildings and 157 acres, and eight leased clinic facilities. Earlier in her career, Ms. Furr worked in engineering and facilities management roles with Big Lots Inc., Ozark Mountain Poultry and Superior Industries International.
Ms. Furr is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager with the American Hospital Association and a member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineers. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Operations Management, both from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]
PITTSBURGH (June 12, 2020) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is pleased to share that Thomas J. Campbell, Chairman at Michael Baker International and Founder and Managing Partner at DC Capital Partners, has been honored as the recipient of the Business Executives for National Security’s (BENS) 2020 Eisenhower Award. The award recognizes public servants and private citizens who have made considerable contributions toward President Dwight Eisenhower’s holistic definition of national security, described as, “…the total product of our economic, intellectual, moral and military strength.”
“I am truly humbled to be in the company of extraordinary Americans who have received the Eisenhower Award. All of these individuals have an admirable sense of service and share the same goal – to keep America strong,” said Thomas J. Campbell. “For me, President Eisenhower is a role model because of the kind of person he was. To that end, I share this award with the many people who have shaped my character, thought process and values throughout my life and believe that when you put family and country first, everything else falls into place.”
BENS is a unique nonprofit comprised of over 400 senior business and industry executives who volunteer their time and expertise to address the national security community’s most pressing challenges. Focused originally on restraining proliferation of nuclear arms and reducing defense overhead, BENS today leverages the diverse expertise of its membership to support government efforts that tackle other prominent challenges; from cybersecurity to talent management. For nearly four decades, BENS has been a trusted partner whose work has built a more effective and efficient military, saved billions in taxpayer dollars and improved operations that protect the country.
“We’d like to take the opportunity to thank Tom Campbell for the connections he has forged, the projects he has led, the action he has driven, the unwavering support for our soldiers on the front lines and all he has done to serve our country,” said retired General Joseph L. Votel, President and CEO of BENS.
“Tom Campbell is the epitome of leadership for all of our employees at Michael Baker International,” said Brian A. Lutes, Chief Executive Officer at Michael Baker. “His impact at the highest levels of national security helps keep all Americans safe and we congratulate Tom as he joins a prestigious group of former presidents, senators, secretaries of state and defense and prominent business leaders who have received the Eisenhower Award. It is an honor that is truly deserved.”
Mr. Campbell is the Founder and Managing Partner of DC Capital Partners, LLC. The firm focuses on control equity investments in middle market Government Services and Engineering and Consulting Services companies based in the United States. Currently, Mr. Campbell is the Chairman and the controlling shareholder of a portfolio of successful companies including Michael Baker International. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Campbell has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of public and private companies operating both within the U.S. and globally and for numerous investments and is active in both geopolitical and philanthropic endeavors.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.
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Contact: Julia Covelli
Email: [email protected]