Michigan Engineering Newsletter

June 2019

ACEC/Michigan Announces 2019-20 President and Board of Directors


Steven Gravlin, PE, PE

The American Council of Engineering Companies/Michigan (ACEC/M) has announced Steven Gravlin, PE, PS, of Michael Baker International, as its 2019-2020 President.

Steve Gravlin was born and raised in Michigan and is a product of Michigan Lutheran Seminary, University of Michigan, Michigan Technological University and California State University. He grew up working in his father's survey company and on the family farms in the thumb of Michigan. He is a Vice President of Michael Baker and a partner in the wholly owned subsidiary, Baker and Associates. He is both a professional engineer and a professional surveyor.

Steve is a great supporter of the MDOT/ACEC partnering charter, having been involved in several of the iterations of the charter over the years. He has chaired the ACEC Transportation Committee, co-chaired the MDOT Contracts and Finance Committee and chairs the Promotion, Networking and Recognition Committee of the Board. He has served on the ACEC/M Board of Directors for seven years. He is an avid reader and boater. He loves the outdoors, rooting for Michigan and traveling with his wife, Wendy. They live in Grosse Ile and have two sons, Nick, an MTU Huskie and EMU Eagle, and Alex, an MSU Spartan.

2019-2020 ACEC/Michigan Officers:

President: Steve Gravlin, PE, PS, Michael Baker International, Detroit

President-Elect: Jack Wheatley, PE, ROWE PSC, Flint

Treasurer: Christopher Cook, PE, Abonmarche, Benton Harbor

National Director: Michael Cooper, PE, Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield

Past-President: Sean Kelley, PE, The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., Detroit

2019-2020 ACEC/Michigan Directors:

Rick Chelotti, PE, Bergmann Associates, Inc., Lansing

Paul Galdes, PE, Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids

Chuck Gemayel, PE, SME, Plymouth

Jon Kramer, PE, OHM Advisors, Livonia

Eric Morris, PE, HNTB Michigan, Inc., East Lansing

Jayson Nault, PE, Tetra Tech, Brighton

G. Ramanujam (Ram), PE, Somat Engineering, Inc. Detroit

Jeffrey Schumaker, PE, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc., Grand Rapids

Oge Udegbunam, Tyme Consulting Engineers, Inc., Livonia

Michael Weingartz, PE, SmithGroup, Detroit

Michigan Infrastructure Conference

Held May 16 at the Inn at St. Johns, Plymouth

The 2019 Michigan Infrastructure Conference, jointly hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Michigan and the Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), was held on Thursday, May 16 at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed the group regarding recent developments in transportation and water funding as she presses forward to "Fix the Damn Roads." Steve Hall provided an update on ACEC National legislative efforts. A panel of industry professionals, moderated by Daniel G. Fredendall, PE, OHM Advisors, shared new infrastructure policy and process initiatives.

N ine educational breakout sessions were offered on a variety of infrastructure topics and exhibitors were on site to provide information on the products and services they provide to the engineering industry.

Visit the ACEC/M website for sponsor and exhibitor lists as well as event photos.

ACEC Recognizes Individuals for Leadership


	Sean Kelley (Mannik & Smith) and Ron Brenke (ACEC/M)

During the Michigan Infrastructure Conference on May 16, ACEC recognized and honored several individuals for their leadership and commitment to the organization.

Sean Kelley, PE, Mannik & Smith Group, was recognized for his leadership and dedication as the 2018-2019 ACEC/M president.

The following individuals were also recognized:

Joshua Salazar, PE, HDR, for his service as Chairperson of the Transportation Committee.
Robert Rayl, PE, RS Engineering, honored for his leadership as National Director.
Wendy Sherrill, Wade Trim, honored for her leadership as chairperson of the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Committee.

ASCE Michigan Section Presents Awards

May 16, 2019

ASCE Michigan Section presented the following awards during the Michigan Infrastructure Conference:

Franklin D. Meyers Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year Award:
Amy Trahey, PE
Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement: Ashley P. Lesser, PE
Quality of Life Award: Parchment Water System Emergency Response, City of Kalamazoo
Quality of Life Certificate of Merit: Scio Township's Jackson Road Pump Station Oxygen Injection System, Scio Township and OHM Advisors
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award: Father's Day Flood MDOT Emergency Response, Michigan Department of Transportation.
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Certificate of Merit: Water System Demand Management & Storage Tank Implementation, Canton Charter Township and OHM Advisors
Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Award: Portage Lake Bridge, Michigan Department of Transportation

For additional photos, visit the ASCE Michigan Section website.


Amy Trahey, PE, Melinda Bacon, PE and Chris Owen, PE


	Ashley Lesser, PE, Melinda Bacon, PE and Chris Owen, PE

2020 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards

Entry Information Available Now!

ACEC/Michigan celebrates and promotes achievements by engineering companies through its annual Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards. This statewide competition recognizes engineering achievements that demonstrate a high degree of client satisfaction through quality, innovation, cost-effective solutions.

"Intents to Enter" are now being accepted for the 2020 ACEC/Michigan Engineering and Surveying Excellence competition. Intents are due to the ACEC/M office by Friday, August 23, 2019. Completed project submittals are due by 12:00 noon on Friday, September 27, 2019.

The winning projects will be announced on March 7, 2020 during the Awards Gala at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids. Complete entry information, including the Intent to Enter form, is now available on the ACEC website.

Construction Science Expo

Held May 21 in Detroit

On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Detroit middle & high school students experienced one of the best school field trips of the year: The 9th annual Construction Science Expo! Working alongside skilled labor apprentices and trainers and using their problem-solving strategies in construction design, students visually and physically learned why these types of occupations in this industry are growing faster than all others and at a rate which is expected to continue through 2026. ACEC and ASCE were financial sponsors of the event and Executive Director Ron Brenke, as part of the Ex

po steering committee, was in charge of the Engineering Exhibits.

Over 6,000 students have been partici pated in this annual hands-on Expo over the last 8 years through the Detroit schools "Navigation to Success" Program run by the Black Caucus Foundation, with more than 50 activities presented by over 25 industry professionals.

ASCE Outstanding Engineer Volunteer Award

Presented to Melinda Bacon, PE


Greg Ehmke,PE, Melinda Bacon, PE and Andrew Rossell, PE

Congratulations to Melinda Bacon, PE on being recognized as an Outstanding Engineer Volunteer by the American Society of Civil Engineers Southwestern Michigan Branch!

This award is given for providing noteworthy service to the community, serving as a role model for others, and having a direct and positive impact on the everyday lives of people. By volunteering her civil engineering knowledge, Myndi has enabled those she has assisted to see the profession of civil engineering in a positive light.