Press Releases
Parametrix Portland office employee-owner, Jason Franklin’s opinion on broader land-use and a truly sustainable ecosystem approach was highlighted in the June 30, 2009 edition of The Oregonian. You can view the article online at www.oregonlive.com.
Cama Beach Wins State and National APWA Project of the Year
Parametrix was presented the American Public Works Associating (APWA) 2009 Washington State Project of the Year award in the Historical Preservation, $5,000,000 - $25,000,000 category for the Cama Beach State Park project, located on Camano Island in May 2009. Parametrix was recently notified that the project has been selected as APWA National Public Works Project of the Year in the same category, which will be presented in Columbus, Ohio on September 14th.
Cama Beach opened nearly a year ago, the first state park to open in Washington in over a decade. The park features waterfront rental cedar cabins and bungalows with modern conveniences in a 1930s-era fishing village setting. Highlights include over a mile of waterfront shoreline, woodlands, a wetland area, beach access, trails, and a picnic area. Parametrix provided master planning, interpretive planning, site and architectural design, and construction services for the park’s entire infrastructure. This infrastructure involved grading and drainage, a water storage and distribution system, onsite sewer collection and disposal system, vehicle parking, stormwater collection and treatment, electrical and communications systems, low-pressure gas, historic restoration and preservation, wetland surveys, and environmental permitting.
The Cama Beach project has earned high praise from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as from park visitors since the grand opening in June 2008.
Cape Flattery Scenic Byway Project Wins CMAA Award
The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) has awarded Parametrix the "Under $10 Million Construction Management Award" for the Cape Flattery Scenic Byway project for the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, Washington. Greg Stidham of the Parametrix Sumner office served as project manager and he will provide a brief presentation at the commemoration dinner on May 21st, where he will be granted this award.
Parametrix Ranks on the ENR Top Design Firms List
Parametrix was ranked 143rd nationwide in Engineering News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms. To view the article, click here http://enr.construction.com/toplists/DesignFirms/A-Z.asp.
Phil Demosthenes Accepts Appointment to the Transportation Research Board
Phil Demosthenes has been appointed to the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) committee on Access Management. Demosthenes appointment will last until 2012. He also sits on the Eminent Domain and Land Use committee until 2011, where his years of service have earned him Emeritus Membership.
This appointment means that Demosthenes is recognized as an expert in his field, and as someone who can contribute a valuable perspective on current issues facing the profession.
TRB is a division of the National Research Council (NRC), a private, nonprofit institution that provides expertise in science and technology to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The NRC is jointly administered by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academies brings together committees of experts to address critical national issues and give advice to the federal government and the public. Four organizations comprise the Academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. Established in 1920, the TRB is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies, including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.
New Mexico Office of Parametrix Announces Project Wins with New Mexico Department of Transportation and Sacred Wind Communications
The Albuquerque office recently won contracts from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) for archeological data recovery and from Scared Wind Communications for NEPA and cultural resource surveys.
While the New Mexico office has performed on-call environmental work with NMDOT for over a decade, this award will be their first cultural resources contract and includes specialized data recovery work.
Sacred Wind Communications is a lead telecommunications provider for the Navajo Nation. The company is pursuing very-low impact wireless home telephone and Internet project for citizens in the Nation who do not yet have these services. Parametrix will provide environmental consulting services for an estimated 80 to 100 proposed projects, some of which will require clearance of sensitive cultural sites.
Parametrix Strengthens Ecosystem Team
Parametrix selected Damon Hess to guide the sales and development of the firm’s ecosystem tool. EcoMetrix is a multi-resource debit/credit tool that Parametrix developed for estimating the type and number of ecosystem credits available on a given site. With more than 17 years of experience in technology and a passion for the environment, Hess is a strong addition to the EcoMetrix team.
EcoMetrix is unique because it evaluates multiple types of credits beyond just wetland habitat or carbon sequestration. The holistic approach considers all of the critical ecological functions on a given site, measures changes, and rewards landowners for benefits that result from their conservation efforts.
Currently, Hess is managing pilot projects with Oregon Trout and Willamette Partnership, two groups that are restoring the health of freshwater ecosystems. The software helps in the restoration of waterways where the greatest gain is achieved for the least cost. Prior to joining Parametrix, Hess was the Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Pixelworks, a consumer electronics semi-conductor company.
Parametrix Wins Four ACEC Awards
In January 2009, Parametrix Oregon and Washington employee-owners had the opportunity to attend the annual ACEC Engineering Excellence Award ceremonies where we were honored with four winning submissions.
The Portland office submitted the Elk Creek to Hardscrabble Creek Design Build project in the environmental category. The prime, Ty Lin, also submitted the project under the structural systems/bridges category. The project won an Environmental Honor Award, and a Grand Award for Structural Systems/Bridges.
Washington offices submitted and won Silver Awards for Cama Beach State Park in the Special Projects Category, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders Stormwater Management for Technical Value to the Engineering Profession; and Sinclair Inlet Restoration for Economic and Sustainable Design Considerations.
Parametrix Announces Bellevue Office Principal
Parametrix selected Peter Battuello as the new principal of the firm’s Bellevue office where he will oversee all day-to-day operations, as well as be responsible for all activities of the office including business development, project delivery, client relations, and the professional and technical development of staff. Peter has been with Parametrix for more than 10 years and has successfully led the Bremerton office for the past 3+ years.
As the Bellevue office principal, Peter, a firm visionary, will bring sustained leadership to the office, as well as become integrated in the community, and further develop existing eastside relationships. With more than 20 years of experience, he not only has a clear understanding of the consulting industry, but also has proven and extensive knowledge leading multi-disciplinary teams in the performance of multi-task, multiple-site projects.
Previously, as the Bremerton office principal, Peter successfully positioned Parametrix as a key resource to support clients in creating healthy communities. He is known for empowering his staff to achieve their greatest potential and recently supported the opening of the owner's representative services office in Tacoma, Washington. Under Peter’s leadership, the Bremerton office more than doubled in staff size and achieved one of the highest sales performance for the company.
Parametrix Named Top 50 CE Firms to Work For
CE News Magazine recognized Parametrix as being among the "Top 50 Civil Engineering Firms to Work For" in the nation for 2008. Parametrix was ranked 39th in the nation overall and 3rd among large firms with more than 500 employees. The ranking criteria included the evaluation of several areas of the workplace including, benefits, philanthropic activities, work environment, internal communications, and employee satisfaction.
In a climate where many firms are cutting benefits, the top 50 firms show strong retention and growth, which may be a direct result of programs that foster employee appreciation and team building. Included among these firms is the ability to grow a sense of community by financially supporting local organizations and encouraging volunteer work.
“In today's volatile economy, firms can be hard-pressed to find the right balance between budget constraints and employee and client satisfaction. Formulating the ideal recipe for these best practices is unique to each organization, its mission, and its workforce. CE News honors the civil engineering firms that meet and even exceed this often strenuous challenge,” said Shanon Fauerbach, PE, editorial director of CE News.
This year 152 firms from across the nation participated in the survey. The top 50 firms, along with honorable mentions, are announced in the October issue of CE News. To read the full story click here.
Parametrix Announces Leadership Change With a new CEO
Parametrix announced the promotion of Jeff Peacock, to President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective October 1, 2008. Current CEO, Gerry Jones, will retire from the day-to-day activities of the firm, but will continue as a member of the Board of Directors.
As CEO, Peacock will focus on client satisfaction, achieving the company’s growth goals, and further developing the company’s employee ownership culture. Peacock joined Parametrix in 1989 as a design engineer. He served as a division manager in the company’s Bremerton office, and subsequently advanced to managing the firm’s transportation practice. He was promoted to executive vice president in 2000, where he was responsible for the company’s strategic planning and business development efforts. He also helped develop and grow key new market initiatives for Parametrix in the areas of the Ecosystems Marketplace, Federal programs, and geographic expansion.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with extremely interesting project work and be surrounded by some of the best minds on our region throughout my career. It is a tremendous privilege to lead a firm that is uniquely positioned to deal with some of societies most difficult challenges, from restoring the health of the planet to planning and building sustainable communities that improve the quality of life for its residents. I look forward to the challenge,” said Peacock.
Known by his colleagues as an infectiously inspiring leader, Peacock has worked on high profile projects across the Northwest. He served in senior management roles on some of the largest projects in the region that included complicated cross-jurisdictional partnership efforts, from regional planning to interchange design projects. His project management career includes an overall capital project value in excess of $5 billion.
Peacock’s extensive management and leadership experience coupled with a strong background in planning, design, and construction management on complex projects imparts trust among clients, Parametrix employee-owners, and the Board of Directors.
Parametrix is the largest locally headquartered engineering and planning firm in the Puget Sound region. A 100-percent employee-owned firm, Parametrix is dedicated to providing quality engineering, planning, and environmental sciences with superior client service. Founded in Sumner, Washington in 1969, Parametrix now has offices across the western United States and 600 professionals providing multi-disciplinary services in transportation, natural resources, community building, water solutions, and environmental engineering and science.
Paul Bucich Joins Parametrix
Parametrix has hired Paul Bucich, PE, as a senior consultant. Bucich is a highly regarded stormwater professional in the Puget Sound region and will be working primarily in the SR 520 project office. His role on the project includes addressing the permitting and compliance strategy for all surface water through multiple jurisdictions, state and federal agencies, and tribes. Bucich will also assist in the oversight of the stormwater design for all projects within the SR 520 program boundaries.
Prior to joining Parametrix, Bucich was the City of Federal Way Surface Water Utility Manager for eight years. He was responsible for the operations of the City’s Storm Water Utility staff, budget processes, capital facility planning and implementation, and city-wide maintenance needs for stormwater facilities, as well as grant applications, and regional planning efforts for watershed restoration plans.
For the past 7 years, Bucich served as the co-chair of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Surface Water Management Subcommittee. He has been an active participant in regional stormwater issues such as Phase II NPDES permit development and implementation, regional water quality monitoring coordination efforts, ESA response activities, Puget Sound Partnership activities, and approval for new stormwater BMPs for both treatment and flow control. With more than 22 years serving the communities of the Puget Sound, Bucich will be an asset to the water solutions program at Parametrix.
Steve McCaskey Joins Parametrix
Parametrix has hired Steve McCaskey, PLS, as a survey project manager. McCaskey brings over 10 years of experience in boundary delineation, platting, topographic mapping, and construction staking. He also specializes in legal description interpretation and construction. McCaskey is responsible for providing leadership to the Bellevue survey crews and supporting the growth of survey services in the Bellevue office.
Currently, McCaskey is supervising the base-mapping and rehabilitation design on a portion of an 11-mile trail on the King County segment of the East Lake Sammamish trail that connects Issaquah and Redmond. The trail resides within an old railroad right-of-way that crosses through 100 separate ownerships and three cities.
Previously, he worked for CTS Engineers and was responsible for the management of their survey department. McCaskey assisted Central Washington University multiple projects including a boundary delineation on a 40-acre site near Thorp, Washington. He also supervised the completion of cross section data for the White River Drainage Basin near Mount Rainier. This information was used to help understand the flooding issues in the White River Drainage Basin.
Parametrix Selects Director of Human Resources
Parametrix has promoted Jeanna Hanenburg to Director of Human Resources. Hanenburg has been with the firm for more than eight years and has held the position of interim Director of Human Resources for the past year. She was hired in 2000 and, since that time, has grown the recruiting program at Parametrix. She and her team of technical recruiters have been instrumental in assisting the firm in significant growth initiatives and hiring the very best talent to join the firm. She has also played a significant role in helping to develop the firm’s college recruiting and internship program over the past few years.
In her new position, Hanenburg acts as an advisor to the executive team, as well as overseeing the continued development of recruitment, retention, employee development initiatives and HR programs for more than 600 employee-owners. She is passionate about the HR opportunities that are unique to people related initiatives in a 100-percent employee-owned firm.
