Engineering

Several Wendel Owners Promoted

Categories: Company News

These appointments recognize professionals for displaying the highest caliber of exemplary leadership and commitment to excellence.

Jason Denue, PE, REP, has been appointed to the position of Principal. 

Jason is a Licensed Professional Engineer with 13 years of industry experience. As a manager in Wendel’s energy services team working out of the firm’s Williamsville, NY office, Jason works with clients to develop project concepts and see them through completion. This has included the study, design, construction, and commissioning of turn-key energy conservation and renewable energy projects in a wide range of vertical markets. Jason has become a leader in the development of district energy systems, deep energy retrofits and electrification projects. His experience in delivering turn-key project has also made him an expert in developing and executing a variety of unique project delivery solutions.

 

 

 

Robert Klavoon, PE, has been appointed to the position of Principal. 

Robert is a Civil Engineer with 23 years of industry experience, 18 years of which has been with Wendel, working out of the firm’s Williamsville office. His primary focus is in the financial planning, environmental permitting, design and construction management of large infrastructure water and sewer improvement projects. He has worked with numerous municipalities and agencies in Western New York on a variety of large scale improvement projects. These projects have included water distribution and transmission, sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements, and pump station rehabilitation projects. Additionally, Robert works closely with municipal town, planning and zoning boards regarding the financing, planning and implementation of capital projects and review of site plans and subdivisions for conformance with town code and best design practices. His knowledge of the municipal process has allowed him to participate in all phases of projects from initial concepts, through the required environmental reviews and permitting phases, to bidding and construction.

 

Susan Sherwood, PMP, has been appointed to the position of Principal.

Susan has been working in the A/E industry for 20 years, 15 of which as a Project Manager at Wendel. Susan works out of Wendel’s Williamsville, NY office, serving in as Operations Manager for the firm’s Architectural Practice. She has also served as the Program Manager of the firm’s Public Transportation group, managing some of the most complex public transportation studies and projects. Susan’s leadership style is one of building personal working relationships and delivering on “promises made” by the design team, which has built a reputation of trust between her and her clients. More than a Project Manager, she acts as her clients’ trusted advisor.

 

 

 

Christopher Chapman, PE, LEED AP, has been appointed to the position of Senior Associate Principal.

Chris is a Senior Civil Engineer with 16 years of industry experience, 13 of which are with Wendel. Mr. Chapman has experience consulting on numerous types of projects ranging from healthcare, industrial, gaming, private and municipal sectors. Working out of Wendel’s Williamsville, NY office, Chris has been responsible for leading the civil/surface transportation team for the past 5 years.  Chris specializes in site design, hydraulic analysis and modeling, stormwater management, collection systems, feasibility studies, construction estimating and construction administration on projects throughout the country.

 

 

 

Carl Lubick, PE, has been appointed to the position of Senior Associate Principal.

Carl is a Mechanical Engineer with 31 years of industry experience, 17 of which have been spent with Wendel. Mr. Lubick has developed an expertise in mechanical design and project management over the course of his career. His expertise encompasses all phases of mechanical design for many types of HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems. He is responsible for direct control and personal supervision for mechanical engineering work. He has specialized proficiency in the design and retrofit of Central Heating & Cooling Plant Systems including steam; high temperature hot water and chiller facilities. He currently holds Professional Engineering licenses in 22 states and the District of Columbia.  Working from the firm’s Williamsville, NY office, his project work in industrial, healthcare, educational, transportation and commercial facilities spans Nationally. His focus on energy management includes energy conservation studies and implementation of energy saving programs.

Chuck Nesbitt Joins Wendel as Regional Manager

Categories: Company News

 

We are pleased to announce that Chuck Nesbitt has joined our firm as Regional Manager. Chuck is based out of our Rochester, New York, office and will draw on his vast experience, networks and contacts to expand the firm’s business in the local government client sector outside the greater Buffalo area.

Chuck has over 22 years of experience working in both state and local government in numerous capacities. Most recently, he held the role of Chief Administration Officer in Orleans County for over 14 years. In his time with the county, he served as Budget Officer, managing a budget of up to 79 million dollars. He also served as Chief Advisor to the county legislature. Chuck was the primary report for 24 different county departments, responsible for up to 650 employees at one time. He spent 7 years working with Empire State Development to create and maintain jobs in New York State, and to help attract capital and investments.

From 2005 to 2019, Chuck was a member of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), serving on the Board of Directors from 2015 to 2019 and as President from 2018 to 2019. The New York State Association of Counties’ mission is to represent, educate and advocate for New York’s counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public. In 2019, Chuck received the State Academy for Public Administration’s Public Service Excellence Award for his contributions.

Chuck’s wide ranging career in state and local government has provided him with intimate knowledge of the needs of these public entities; knowledge that will be invaluable in his new role with Wendel. His passion for community and economic development mirrors Wendel’s commitment to cost-efficient and creative solutions that strengthen the places where we live, work and play.

Are you tired of playing mediator between design firm and contractor?

Categories: Company News

Does this sound familiar?

You have a project with a tight deadline and will need to procure the services yourself. You’re already facing several obstacles: 

  • It must be completed within an expedited time-frame from conception through completion.
  • It must stay within budget.
  • You want control and transparency of your project without the headaches.

Are you scratching your head trying to figure out the best strategy to approach this project? An approach that would give you the greatest chance to achieve these goals, while not playing mediator between the design firm and contractor? 

As you just saw, there are additional options out there for you. 

This is where we can help. 

Contact Mark Molnar (mmolnar@wendelcompanies.com), Jason Denue (jdenue@wendelcompanies.com) or Tom Garigen (tgarigen@wendelcompanies.com).

Also, check out our Construction Services page for more information.

Why Should You Hire a Master Builder?

Categories: Company News

For project owners both new and experienced, assembling a team of designers and constructers to complete a project can be daunting. The unexperienced owner may not know where to begin, and the experienced owner likely has memories of the tedium and frustration that come with managing separate design and construction entities working on a single project. When things are running smoothly, this frustration means dealing with multiple points of contact, spending too much time on the phone and sifting through emails. However, the real headaches begin when the project reaches an obstacle. When different teams working on a project do not agree on how to move forward, it’s left to the owner to step in and become the referee. This situation is as unproductive as it is unpleasant, and forces the owner out of their preferred role; monitoring the project’s triple constraint of scope, schedule and budget.

Recognizing this challenge in the traditional design-bid-build process, we set out to offer a better solution to our clients. Master Builder is the result, and it addresses the main challenges to project delivery for both our public and private clients. In the place of separate design and construction teams, a Master Builder led project utilizes Wendel’s design and construction competencies, all under one roof. It also provides the owner with a trusted adviser who acts as the single point of contact over the course of the project. This adviser works closely with the owner, keeping them apprised of the project’s progress in all areas through each step from pre-design through construction. This streamlined form of communication not only increases project efficiency, but creates a real relationship of trust between the firm and owner that will only continue to build: the teams that work on your project and the leaders who become your trusted advisers commit to each project from start to finish. The resulting consistency and familiarity are key to a smooth project experience.

Streamlined communication is just one of the ways Master Builder improves on traditional project delivery models. In traditional models, construction personnel and contractors are brought in after the design process to execute the construction. A Master Builder project brings design and construction personnel into the process with the owner from the very beginning, and we have found this to be incredibly valuable. Feedback on constructability, schedule and budget provided during the design process can greatly impact the project’s efficiency and bottom line, making the triple constraint easier to balance throughout the entire project.

The ultimate goal of Master Builder is to provide a more client-centric approach to projects. Seamless communication and holistic, one-stop-shop services are a part of that. Another critical aspect for owners is the open-book, transparent approach that Wendel takes to project cost management and control. We acquire competitive pricing from pre-qualified vendors, openly share our project accounting with the owner every step of the way and return all unused project funds to the owner at project completion. This ensures accountability for the Master Builder, as well as greater cost control for the owner, not something typically found in a design-bid-build process.

When put into practice, projects led by a Master Builder are higher performing, present less cost and fewer risks. The added value achieved through transparency and partnership has proven to be a game-changer for many of our clients. The real question seems to be: Why wouldn’t you hire a Master Builder?

Example Master Builder Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on our Master Builder delivery method, click here!

Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer Robert Endress joins the Wendel Team

Categories: Engineering, Uncategorized, Water Wastewater Stormwater

Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer Robert Endress joins the Wendel Team

“I joined Wendel because its culture is one that prioritizes collaboration and communication with clients and team members, yet is an ISO certified firm who has demonstrated their ability to provide services that meet expectations. I have opportunities to work on a wide range of interesting projects and challenges that will allow my creativity to flourish. I find Wendel truly does respect and care about their employees and are friendly at every level.”

Wendel, a nationally recognized Architectural, Engineering, Energy Efficiency and Construction Management Firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Robert Endress as Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer. Bob comes to Wendel with extensive experience in water and wastewater engineering that he has accrued in his decades-long career. He has been involved in hundreds of water and wastewater projects, including many water and wastewater treatment plant designs.

At Wendel, Bob will support clients and projects throughout the Eastern United States and serve as both a technical lead and project manager for medium to large scale study, design and construction projects involving water/wastewater treatment, storage, pumping and distribution/collection systems. He strives to understand client needs and appreciates the environments in which they operate. His goal is to keep the interest of Wendel’s clients in mind and develop approaches that offers a clear path to informed decisions.

Bob is active in a number of committees and organizations, including the Water Environment Federation’s Residuals and Biosolids Committee, the Georgia Association of Water Professionals’ Wastewater Treatment Committee and others. He is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer. Bob is joining our staff in Wendel’s Atlanta office, and will continue to provide senior leadership on projects throughout the south east and Mid – Atlantic States.