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Michael Baker International Welcomes Chris Miller as Vice President, Total Rewards

PITTSBURGH (October 2, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that the firm has welcomed Chris Miller as Vice President, Total Rewards. In this role, Mr. Miller will oversee all aspects of the firm’s compensation and benefits programs and ensure that they are among the most competitive offerings in the industry. He will be responsible for the design, development and implementation of Michael Baker’s Total Rewards program, which includes compensation and benefits, such as health insurance coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, wellness program and other voluntary benefits.

“Michael Baker is committed to providing our people with fulfilling careers where they attain personal and professional satisfaction and make a demonstrable difference in the communities in which we live and serve. To achieve this goal and ensure we continue to attract and retain the industry’s top talent, it is essential that we are positioned to offer strong compensation and benefits that match Michael Baker’s commitment to excellence,” said Bob Balanti, ICHRO at Michael Baker International. “As our firm continues to grow, I look forward to partnering with Chris as we shape our Total Rewards Program by investing in our people and the benefits they care most about.”

Mr. Miller has more than 20 years of experience focusing on financial analysis, compensation and benefits programs across a number of industries. Prior to joining Michael Baker, he spent six years as Global Director of Corporate Benefits with Audia Group, a global company and industry leader in plastics compounding.

Mr. Miller earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University’s Olin School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm’s Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations – like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

The company has more than 4,500 employees across more than 85 office locations. Michael Baker’s Wolf Pack is committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while evolving its business to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Selected by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments to Provide Updated Pavement Condition Assessment

PITTSBURGH (DATE, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) has selected the firm to provide an updated pavement condition assessment. As part of the CVAG Regional Pavement Management Program Update project, Michael Baker will provide network-level pavement condition data collection services and update CVAG’s multi-year regional pavement management plan.

“Michael Baker is the only large, national AEC firm with in-house pavement data collection and pavement management services capabilities,” said Nathan Kebede, P.E., National Pavement Services Lead at Michael Baker International. “Our team recently partnered with the City of Coachella to perform a pavement condition evaluation and implement a modern and practical pavement management system. We look forward to building upon this project and working with CVAG and its partner agencies to help manage their valuable roadway infrastructure and ultimately, enhance the quality and longevity of the transportation network.”

The Michael Baker team will assist CVAG with updating its regional pavement condition data and preparing a multi-year pavement management program for the City of Coachella, California. The project involves data collection for 10 municipal agencies that are CVAG members. Collected pavement condition data will be used by CVAG and member agencies to identify roads in need of maintenance and implement a multi-year pavement management program. It will also inform upcoming ballot measure initiatives related to infrastructure investment.

Michael Baker will use innovative technology to gather and deliver highly accurate data in a short period of time without any interruption to municipal operations or traffic flow. The assessment will be performed using the latest equipment on the market, including a vehicle equipped with a fully integrated automated pavement imaging system, spherical 360-degree cameras and survey software. Michael Baker’s data processing will be performed in a cloud environment that is easily scalable, allowing the firm to manage and rapidly process the large quantity of data generated from the pavement survey.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Welcomes Pankaj Duggal, AICP, AIA-IA, as Executive Vice President and President – Sustainable and Resilient Solutions

PITTSBURGH (September 16, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Pankaj Duggal, AICP, AIA-IA, has joined the firm as Executive Vice President (EVP) and President – Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). In this role, Mr. Duggal will lead all aspects of the SRS business focused on the built environment for the firm’s public and private sector clients, including its strategic vision, goals and growth plans for Architecture, Engineering and Cybersecurity services. He will drive excellence and growth while integrating new services from within Michael Baker’s company portfolio to further differentiate the firm’s offerings to clients while collaborating across the organization to enhance the Michael Baker brand in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

“Our SRS team partners with clients on projects involving smart buildings that are sustainable and resilient. These critically important projects require the expertise that a full- service engineering and consulting firm like Michael Baker provides,” said Brian A. Lutes, Chief Executive Officer at Michael Baker International. “Pankaj’s 30 years of multidisciplinary experience in sectors including corporate, science and technology, education, aerospace, industrial, defense, institutional and government uniquely position him to grow our brand and lead our SRS team as a mentor and team-builder. His proven track record of delivering operational excellence and fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture will support the growth and success of our SRS business and our colleagues. I look forward to partnering with Pankaj as we work toward a more sustainable and resilient future.”

Mr. Duggal is an established AEC industry leader with three decades of diverse business, architecture, engineering, consulting and construction experience in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. His project portfolio spans 47 states in the U.S. and 32 countries around the world, and he has been actively involved in more than 15 mergers, acquisitions and integration efforts during his career.

Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Duggal served as President & Chief Operating Officer at Jensen Hughes, a firm recognized for its leadership in fire protection engineering, life safety, forensics and risk-based consulting services. Prior to Jensen Hughes, Mr. Duggal spent 20 years with Jacobs, where he began as a Project Manager and culminated as Senior VP and General Manager for Federal, Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions, which included architecture, planning and engineering services.

Mr. Duggal has many professional affiliations, including his role as Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He earned a Master of Urban Planning and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (India).

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Promotes Joe Brenner to Technical Director, Bridge Technologies

PITTSBURGH (September 5, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Joe Brenner has been promoted to Technical Director, Bridge Technologies. In this role, Mr. Brenner will build upon his demonstrated technology and engineering expertise to drive the vision and advancement of the firm’s cutting-edge technologies for bridges, tunnels and other transportation structures. He will lead the strategy and implementation of technology and innovation related to building information modeling (BIM), software, automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

“Since our company was founded in 1940, Michael Baker has built its legacy – and full continuum of solutions – on a diverse culture of innovation. In this spirit, our Bridge Practice team develops and utilizes the latest technology to improve infrastructure and make the communities we serve safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more livable,” said Tony Hunley, P.E., S.E., Ph.D., National Director, Bridge Services at Michael Baker International. “In his new role, Joe will collaborate across our organization to ensure alignment and implementation of our technology strategies to ensure that our firm delivers the biggest impact for our clients throughout the full life cycle of their structures. I look forward to partnering with Joe as we apply technology to promote collaboration, improve efficiency and deliver enhanced solutions for our clients.”

Mr. Brenner has 17 years of experience in the transportation industry, including the last three with Michael Baker. He most recently served as Regional Technical Manager – BIM for Bridges, where he developed innovative model-centric design processes for delivering digital data as contract documentation, developing contract drawings, visual inspection of all bridge components in 3D, and other value-added enhancements. Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Brenner served as a Lead Structural Engineer at WSP USA and a Structural Designer at Gannett Fleming.

He has developed modeling and implemented digital delivery for several state Departments of Transportation, including Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan. He is proficient in many BIM/modeling software platforms and has been active in national research to establish BIM for Infrastructure standards including Level of Development and Data Dictionary efforts.

Mr. Brenner leads a task group for the AASHTO Transportation Pooled Fund – BIM for Infrastructure TPF-5(480), serves a contributor to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Joint Technical Committee on Electronic Engineering Standards (JTCEES), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) PA Digital Delivery Workspace Group, and the AASHTO & National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) Task Group 15 – Data Modeling for Interoperability.

Mr. Brenner holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Names Gerald Morris, PMP, LEED AP BD+C, CCM, F.SAME, and Peter Wolfe National Market Lead – Federal Civilian

PITTSBURGH (August 29, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Gerald Morris, PMP, LEED AP BD+C, CCM, F.SAME, and Peter Wolfe have each been named National Market Lead – Federal Civilian. In these roles within the Federal Programs and Services vertical, Mr. Morris and Mr. Wolfe will drive growth, expand the firm’s Federal client roster and position Michael Baker as the go-to provider for Federal Civilian (non-Defense) clients. They will manage client relationships, assist in strategic planning activities, identify potential teaming partners and transformational projects, and leverage Michael Baker’s mentor-protégé alliances to drive additional growth.

“Michael Baker has been delivering innovative engineering solutions to Federal Agencies since our company was founded in 1940,” said Brian May, President of Federal Programs and Services at Michael Baker International. “Gerald and Peter both bring extensive experience and expertise to their new roles as National Market Leads for our Federal Civilian clients. I look forward to their leadership as we partner with our Federal clients to achieve their short- and long-term goals.”

As National Market Lead – Federal Civilian, Mr. Morris will focus on the firm’s work with the General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Morris joined Michael Baker in 2022 and has more than 20 years of experience working in all phases of planning, design and construction with Federal agencies all over the world. Most recently, he served as a Federal Program Manager – Southern Region, where he supported all verticals and regions in successfully capturing several key IDIQ contracts including numerous VA design projects, several Department of Defense (DoD) Design-Build Phase 2 opportunities, as well as winning and managing projects more than $10M.

Mr. Morris served 10 years in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and Florida National Guard, and prior to joining Michael Baker, he held roles of increasing responsibility at firms throughout Florida and across the globe, including Polu Kai Services, Wolf Creek Federal Services and Pennoni Associates Inc.

He earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Project Management from Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of West Florida, and he currently serves as a Board member for the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Emerald Coast and Pensacola Posts, as well as the Executive Committee of the National Leadership Development Community of Interest.

Mr. Wolfe has joined Michael Baker as National Market Lead – Federal Civilian, where he will focus on growing the firm’s project portfolio with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He has a 35-year track record of winning and delivering A/E/C and professional services for public and private firms, with an emphasis on government programs.

Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Wolfe spent 18 years as Vice President at Arcadis U.S. Inc., where he most recently served as Client Service Director leading strategy, client engagement, capture and technical collaboration for environmental, engineering and professional services. Key engagements included all DoD service branches and multiple Federal Civilian agencies, as well as aligned markets in the public utility and commercial sectors.

He holds a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Promotes Jon Schelkoph, P.E. to Office Executive – Minneapolis

PITTSBURGH (August 27, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Jon Schelkoph, P.E. has been promoted to Office Executive for the firm’s Minneapolis, Minnesota, office. In this role, Mr. Schelkoph will oversee and manage the growth of Michael Baker’s portfolio of business in Minneapolis, St. Paul and throughout Minnesota. In addition to engaging with prospective and current clients, he will provide operational management, staff management and production/project oversight for the office. The firm also announced that Kevin Anderson, P.E., DBIA, will step into a new role as Program Manager – Alternative Delivery, overseeing design-build projects and pursuits and partnering closely with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

“Jon is known as a trusted partner, leader and collaborative problem-solver who leads and coordinates large teams to mitigate risk and deliver successful projects. In our Minneapolis location, he has played a significant and active role in the growth and development of the team,” said Paul Gluck, P.E., PMP, DBIA, Great Lakes Regional Director at Michael Baker International. “I am confident that under Jon’s leadership, we will continue to deepen our client roster and project portfolio in the Twin Cities and throughout the Great Lakes Region.”

Mr. Schelkoph brings 23 years of public and private experience to his new leadership role, including the last four years with Michael Baker, where he most recently served as Department Manager – Highway. Previously, he held the positions of Roadway Design Manager at AECOM, Professional Engineer at Scott County, Project Manager/Business Development at Progressive Consulting Engineers, Inc. and Director of Business Development at Rehder and Associates, Inc., among others.

Mr. Schelkoph earned a Master of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of North Dakota.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Welcomes Balram Bheodari as National Practice Lead – Aviation Services

PITTSBURGH (August 19, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Balram “B” Bheodari joined the firm as National Practice Lead – Aviation Services. In this role, Mr. Bheodari will be instrumental in driving growth across Michael Baker’s aviation portfolio. He will lead the company’s business development and client engagement strategy to capture new airport projects and clients, expand the firm’s roster of aviation services and deliver exceptional results for clients.

“Today, we celebrate National Aviation Day and welcome Balram. With a storied career, which includes his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the world’s busiest airport – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Balram’s expertise aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing top-tier engineering and consulting services,” said Kent Zinn, P.E., President, Infrastructure, at Michael Baker International. “Balram’s demonstrated leadership ability will foster collaboration across the organization to elevate Michael Baker’s brand in the industry, and he will serve as a trusted advisor to our internal staff and our aviation clients nationwide. This appointment marks an exciting chapter in our company’s journey, promising a future of expansion and excellence.”

Mr. Bheodari has a remarkable track record of efficient operational excellence, commercial growth, capital expansion, stakeholder collaboration and customer experience. He dedicated 22 years of his career to ATL, where he recently retired as CEO. As ATL CEO, he led a staff of 1,400 team members and oversaw the airport’s $12 billion capital improvement program. Under his leadership, ATL was recognized as North America’s best airport for customer service, a testament to his unwavering commitment to service excellence, which will be a cornerstone of his role at Michael Baker and ensure that clients receive the highest quality of service. He also served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Houston Airport System, managing 1,330 team members and operations across three airports. As a member of the U.S. Army’s Aviation Branch for 22 years, Mr. Bheodari was an instrument-rated aviator who served on four continents.

Mr. Bheodari earned a Master of Science in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. He is a Board Member of the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE) and an Airport Accredited Executive (AAE). He also holds the distinguished International Airport Professional (IAP) Accreditation with Airport Council International (ACI). Upon his retirement from ATL, Mr. Bheodari received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Selected by the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization to Provide Updated Pavement Condition Assessment

PITTSBURGH (August 13, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) has selected the firm to provide an updated pavement condition assessment. The project will include regional pavement condition data collection for up to 2,100 miles of SJTPO member agency roads. Once processed, this data will be used by SJTPO and member agencies to identify roads in need of maintenance and implement a multi-year pavement management program.

“Our team understands the critical role well-maintained roadways play in comfortable and safe travel, and we deploy cutting-edge technology to provide pavement services that are accurate, efficient and implementation ready,” said Nathan Kebede, P.E., National Pavement Services Lead at Michael Baker International. “We look forward to partnering with SJTPO to provide the information needed to make strategic maintenance decisions and keep South Jersey’s highly mobile population moving.”

As part of the South Jersey Regional Pavement Condition Evaluation project, the Michael Baker team will provide network-level pavement condition data collection and assist SJTPO in updating its regional pavement condition data. The project involves data collection for six municipal agencies that are members of the SJTPO.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

About SJTPO
The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties in southern New Jersey. Formed in 1993, SJTPO serves as a technical resource, provides access to funding, and works to provide a regional approach to address transportation planning and engineering issues.

To learn more about SJTPO, visit https://sjtpo.org/.

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Michael Baker International Promotes Josh Rose, P.E., PMP, to National Market Lead – Air Force

PITTSBURGH (July 11, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Josh Rose, P.E., PMP, has been promoted to National Market Lead – Air Force. In this role, Mr. Rose will develop, support and execute National Federal Air Force accounts and contribute to growing Michael Baker’s Federal portfolio. He will collaborate across the firm’s Federal business to enhance small business relationships, assist in strategic planning activities, including the identification of teaming partners and transformational projects, and perform program management, quality assurance and other duties to support the execution of projects.

“Michael Baker has a legacy of service to the federal government dating back to our company’s founding in 1940, and our firm has long supported the U.S. Air Force in meeting its various stateside and global missions,” said Brian May, President, Federal Programs and Services at Michael Baker International. “Josh has more than 20 years of experience working in all phases of planning, design and construction with Federal agencies and commercial clients. This experience and expertise, paired with his military service, uniquely position Josh to lead Michael Baker’s strategic initiatives for growth and winning new work with the U.S. Air Force.”

Mr. Rose joined Michael Baker in 2021 and most recently served as Regional Practice Lead – Federal for the firm’s Western Region. Prior to joining Michael Baker, he was Director of Federal Program Development at Jacobs and Director of Project Management at Decision Sciences International Corporation. Additionally, Mr. Rose served nearly 12 years with the U.S. Air Force, separating in 2016 as a Major and the IMA Deputy Director of Civil Engineers for Air Force Central Command. He currently serves as a Board member for the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Orange County.

Mr. Rose earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Leadership from the University of La Verne in California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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Michael Baker International Welcomes Daniel Filer, P.E., as Executive Vice President Operations

PITTSBURGH (July 9, 2024) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Daniel Filer, P.E., has joined the firm as Executive Vice President (EVP) Operations. In this role, Mr. Filer will be responsible for all facets of the firm’s Infrastructure segment project execution. He will work across the organization to increase the tempo of operations and spur execution, ensuring that Michael Baker’s staff is utilized efficiently and effectively and is delivering projects with even greater focus on achieving the highest standards of quality, innovation and exceptional client satisfaction. He will cultivate strong relationships with key clients and partners across the firm, providing them with a high level of engagement.

Mr. Filer will play a leading role in training, developing and retaining top talent. Additionally, he will enforce the firm’s quality standards and assure the use of processes and tools, as well as support the implementation and adoption of new project management technology.

“As we evolve, grow and improve our business and further advance excellence throughout our company, we created the position of EVP Operations to bolster our organizational effectiveness and enhance our project execution,” said James E. Koch, Ph.D., P.E., Chief Operating Officer at Michael Baker International. “Daniel brings more than 25 years of engineering industry experience to our firm. I look forward to partnering with him to drive operational growth, optimize efficiency and maximize our firm’s potential as we continue to grow.”

Mr. Filer joins Michael Baker from Webber, a subsidiary of Ferrovial, where he had served as President of the firm’s Infrastructure Management Division since 2018, leading strategy, financial performance, operations and client service for a portfolio of projects stretching from Anchorage, Alaska, to Miami, Florida. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President, Business Development for Ferrovial Construction (formerly Ferrovial Agroman), and Business Development Manager and Structural Engineer with HNTB. Mr. Filer also spent 11 years as a reserve engineer officer with the Louisiana Army National Guard, where he supervised heavy construction projects stateside and in hostile environments abroad.

Mr. Filer holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

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