Earlier this month, NTH hosted its first information session for the new ESOP employee owners. The goal of the meeting was to help new owners understand what ESOP is and how it works. NTH will be hosting more of the sessions in the future to help everyone understand how they benefit from being an owner.

One of the excellent benefits of working at NTH is that we are an ESOP firm; ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Program. As such, eligible NTH employees are given part ownership (or stocks) in NTH. Stocks are bought and distributed by NTH’s ESOP Trust. The ESOP Trust buys stocks from former employees and associates, and redistributes them to eligible (current) employees.  

Once an employee owns stock, the process is similar to owning stock in the stock market.  Employees continue to own and accrue stock so long as they are employed at NTH.  Once an employee leaves, he or she can choose to either sell the stock back to the ESOP Trust or to retain the stock and sell it at a future date.  

ESOP ownership is just one of the many benefits offered in NTH's competitive program designed to support the needs of our employees and their families. Regular, full-time employees are offered generous benefits as part of the total compensation package. Check out our careers page to see what we offer, how we have fun and what job opportunities are open  - maybe NTH is the next stop on your career path. 

Last week, NTH Consultants participated in the Pure Oakland Water (POW) Golf Classic to help raise funds for POW's efforts to protect the water resources in our region.

Pure Oakland Water (POW) is a Michigan not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting Oakland County and regional water resources through public education, community organizing, environmental advocacy, and promotion of a sustainable future. POW strives to fulfill its mission through a host of educational, outreach and advocacy programs for students, residents, the business community, elected officials, and other stakeholders across the region. Funds raised at events such as this, allow POW to obtain resources to provide for scholarships and internships at local universities and environmental agencies.  The recipients of these programs will go on to make careers in the field of conservation, environmental preservation, and water resource protection.   

NTH is proud to help raise funds and awareness for important environmental organizations such as POW.

My employment with NTH goes back to my years as an intern, during 2004 and 2005, while pursuing my bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University.  I wanted to intern at NTH because it provided a chance for me to work in Lansing over the summer, not have to sublease my apartment in East Lansing, and enjoy my first summer away from my parents!  OK, I also thought NTH would provide great work experience for me, and it very much did. I was introduced to many new and different lines of work and everyone made me feel welcome and part of the NTH family. I was also provided the opportunity to continue my education in graduate school while employed.
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Therefore, when it came time to look for permanent employment upon graduating with my undergraduate degree in December of 2005, working for NTH in Lansing was a no brainer for me and I stayed employed there until March of 2012 when I accepted a position with a much larger firm in Cleveland, which I did for family reasons.
 
I started to realize what set NTH apart from other firms. I enjoy leadership roles and prior to leaving NTH I was getting involved with various clients, leading staff, running projects, etc.  At NTH, and compared to my experiences at the other firm, I feel these types of opportunities are abundant here. Projects occur more frequently and therefore chances exist for more interaction with various clients, working with various groups of people, and taking various project roles in general.   
 
There are other reasons returning to NTH was intriguing to me.  NTH has very competent and motivated staff, most of whom I have worked with and knew I would enjoy working with again.  I still remember sending a mass e-mail to all staff when I left NTH and the e-mail stated that I am proud to say I worked for NTH. This was a very true and heartfelt statement. I was proud of the projects we produced and assistance we offered our clients. I was proud of the way we conducted business, in a very ethical manner.  I was proud of the overall reputation of which I was a part.
 
I’m proud to be part of the NTH family again and I am confident good times are ahead for all employees, and for that I’m very excited and motivated. I truly feel the possibilities are endless here and that our reputation boundaries will continue to grow.

If you are looking for a career at a nationally recognized, employee-owned firm, click here to learn more about our job opportunities. 

Last week was "topping out" day at Little Caesars Arena construction project - the day when workers lift the last beam into place on the top of the Arena. NTH Consultants participated in a tradition whereby workers who are involved in the construction, sign the beam before it is hoisted into place. NTH staff members, Kamal Deddeh, P.E., Patti Bowman, Kurt Warning and Craig Demshuk got the honor of signing the beam.

NTH has been part of the process, even before groundbreaking, when they were called off of the engineering “bench” to assist with pre-acquisition due diligence studies as well as pre-engineering data collection and evaluation. In addition, NTH conducted all environmental characterization and response activities in accordance with state and federal regulations and had to do so quickly as the project schedule was aggressive.  NTH cleared environmental hurdles to keep the project rolling and applied practical geo-environmental expertise, keen regulatory understanding and emergency response services to minimize delays and adhere to the project schedule. Since that time, an NTH crew has been working on-site overseeing and monitoring the hazardous materials removal, building demolition, mass excavation as well as caisson installation and substructure construction activities.

(This blog post does not express the views of Olympia Development of Michigan and the views expressed here are only the views of NTH Consultants, Ltd.) ​

Yesterday evening, NTH hit the road to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway  program. Adopt-A-Highway is a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program created to help keep our highway roadsides clean and attractive.  Since the early 1990s, NTH has adopted both sides of M-5 between Drake and Orchard Lake Roads in Farmington Hills and we hels to keep the area clear of garbage and debris.  NTH has now been participating for 15 years!

NTH crews braved the humidity and rain to help out for this very much needed cause.  The weather wasn't the best, but spirits were high as we had a few hours of work and fun keeping our part of the highway clean.

Employee-Owned Civil Engineering Firm Has Career Opportunities Available in Northville, Lansing and Cleveland Offices 
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NTH Consultants, Ltd. is seeking experienced talent to join their award-winning team in Michigan and Ohio. NTH is an organization that encourages and respects employee input, provides opportunities for growth and learning, and rewards hard work. NTH understands the importance of and supports work/life balance. In addition to a number of benefits, NTH also offers challenging learning experiences; collaboration with a diverse team of professionals; and innovative and challenging work opportunities. Our high profile projects include, Little Caesar’s Arena, Comerica Park, Cobo Arena Expansion, 1-96 Reconstruction, the Holland Energy Park, and more.
 
As an employee-owned firm, NTH values its employees’ health and welfare. We offer a competitive benefits program designed to support the needs of our employee-owners and their families. Regular, full-time employees are offered generous benefits as part of the total compensation package. You can click here to see more about our benefits.

To see all of our available positions, click here or click directly to see an open position below:
 
Senior Project Manager - Air Quality - we a seeking a professional with 10+ years of demonstrated experience in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or Natural Resources, including a working knowledge of Clean Air Act (CAA), understanding of state environmental regulations (MI, OH), NSR, Title V, NSPS, NESHAP, dispersion modeling and compliance methods. Bachelors of Science degree required, Masters preferred.

Staff Professional-Environmental – we are seeking qualified candidates with 1- 4 years of experience and at least a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Technology, Environmental Science, Geology, Natural Resources or related degree from a 4-year accredited college or university.
 
Senior Project Engineer-Civil – we are hiring experienced candidates with at least seven years of site development experience and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering), or related degree, from a 4-year accredited college or university. Master’s Degree preferred, but not required.
 
Project Professional- Environmental – we are looking for a strong environmental professional who has at least a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or related degree, from a 4-year accredited college or university. The candidate should have 5-10 years of demonstrated experience applying engineering and/or environmental concepts for innovative solutions to contaminated conditions.
 
Project Manager-Water Resources – we are seeking a candidate with 10+ years of experience and at least a Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or Natural Resources. Master’s Degree preferred, but not required.
 
Project Manager / Sr. Project Engineer – Environmental – we are seeking an experienced engineer with at least 10 years of experience and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Technology, Environmental Science / Health, Natural Resources, or related degree, from a 4-year accredited college or university.  Master’s degree preferred.
 
Construction Services Technician – NTH is hiring for a technician who has a minimum of a high school diploma / or equivalent - Associates degree preferred. It is preferred that the candidate possess certifications including MDOT Density Technology Certification, Michigan Concrete Field Testing-MCA level 1 or more, ACI Level I, Troxler and/or NICET II.
 
Civil Design Professional – we are searching for a professional with 3-5 years of demonstrated site development experience including site layout, grading, sewer and other utility design, pavement design, permitting, budgeting, jurisdictional agency interaction, and other related project activities. A Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering or other technical degree with a focus on Site/Civil Design is required.
 
Civil Design Engineer – we are seeking an engineer who has successfully completed of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, EIT, or EI. Professional Registration or ability to attain professional registration in the State of Michigan within 12 months preferred. The candidate should have 3-5 years of demonstrated site development experience including site layout, grading, sewer and other utility design, pavement design, permitting, budgeting, jurisdictional agency interaction, and other related project activities.

NTH’s strategic office locations, competitive wages, and balance of work and play put us ahead of the competition. Read more about NTH here.

As part of our Water Resources Initiative, NTH is sponsoring the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC)'s 2016 Walk on the Wild Side Annual Fundraiser on July 23, 2016. 

For more than 40 years, the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) has provided opportunities for citizens, schools, governments, businesses, and other community groups to get involved and active in ensuring a healthy Clinton River for everyone. Through education, stewardship, and watershed management the CRWC strives to make a difference in our watershed for today and for future generations.

The "Walk for our Watershed" event includes admission into Detroit Zoo to enjoy all of the sites and amenities.  This event is family friendly so you can encourage your friends and relatives to come together and as you help to raise funds and awareness of the importance of good water quality. Proceeds raised through this event will benefit the CRWC programs and services provided to 1.5 million people. The Clinton River watershed covers 760 square miles in 4 counties (Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer and St. Clair) serves 72 communities.  They host annual events to showcase the 80 miles of river along with other areas within the watershed.  Recreation activities include boating, paddling, fishing, hiking, biking and swimming beaches. 

The walk in on Saturday, July 23rd.  Check-in begins at 7:00 AM and the actual walk starts at 8:30.  The tickets will give you access to the zoo and parking for the day but you must arrive before 10:30 am.  Tickets are $10 each which is a savings from the normal zoo admission. You will also get a tee-shirt and some other goodies at check-in, plus early access to the zoo, including the new penguin exhibit!
 
NTH is a sponsor, but also has a fundraising team you can join.  If you want to participate or just donate to the cause, please visit our fundraising page here:  http://www.firstgiving.com/team/32658. 
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NTH recently provided environmental consulting on the manufacturing of a rediscovered natural resource in Michigan: potash. Are you wondering, “What is potash?” So was I.

Potash (primarily potassium chloride, pronounced “Pot-ash”) is an essential nutrient for plants and a nutritional need for humans and animals. As a key component of agricultural fertilizer, potash is said to have the potential to be Michigan’s next billion-dollar industry, comparable to that of oil and gas. With U.S.’s declining domestic potash supply and significant reliance on imports, Michigan is equipped with a unique opportunity to fill a high-demand market in major agricultural Midwestern states, with a product manufactured from pristine Michigan potash deposits.

Working alongside an exceptional team of professionals at Michigan Potash Company, LLC (MPC), NTH’s Air Quality group helped to secure an air permit to install (PTI) on March 8, 2016 for manufacturing of potash in Hersey, Michigan. MPC had come to learn about NTH based on our success in air permitting for combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, such as the Holland Energy Park and Lansing’s REO Town, and MPC contacted NTH directly for our assistance. The potash manufacturing process consists of solution extraction to recover potash from the subsurface by pumping a heated brine solution via subsurface wells, dissolving the product into the brine, and then pumping the solution back out. Depending on hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations in subsurface formations, the brine feed may contain H2S at concentrations constituting “sour” brine. This brine feed is treated for removal of H2S utilizing an air stripper followed by an oxidizer and caustic scrubber. The resulting “sweet” potash-enriched brine is then transferred to the manufacturing facility where potash is dried, cooled, compacted, and sized into a saleable product. The facility uses boilers to provide process steam for drying and evaporation; in the future, MPC is considering a CHP option where they would produce steam for use in the manufacturing process and also create their own electricity to reduce reliance on the electrical grid.

Several air permitting challenges were overcome through the collective effort of NTH’s dynamic Air Quality team. Nearly concurrent with project initiation in March 2015, the MDEQ Air Quality Division finalized a new policy on dispersion modeling, a tool used to quantify the off-site maximum pollutant concentrations for comparison to national air quality standards. With the ink barely dry, we worked through several policy interpretations with MDEQ, ultimately requiring additional dispersion modeling analyses and demonstrations.

In addition to dispersion modeling challenges, the manufacturing project was still very preliminary when we started the air permit application (air permits must be obtained prior to starting construction), engineering was not yet finished, and equipment vendors were not yet selected. With very limited information, NTH worked closely with MPC to manage worst-case expectations of process equipment emissions and control technology performance for utilization in the permit analysis.
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A successful air permit lays the groundwork for productive operation and puts the facility in the best position to achieve environmental compliance. A final and crucial step of an air permitting project is negotiation of air permit conditions. NTH was able to negotiate multiple options to demonstrate compliance, flexible timing on malfunction plan development, and facility restrictions to “opt-out” of additional reporting requirements with minimal added record-keeping burden on the facility. With the air permit now in place, we look forward to watching the potash industry grow in Michigan! 

​Start Location:
Moores Park 
(Shuttle to be provided from Lansing City Market) 
400 Moores River Dr.
Lansing, MI 48910
                
Finish Location:
​Lansing City Market
325 City Market Drive
Lansing, MI 48912

The event will include kayak/canoe and walking cleanup of the Grand River and Lansing River Trail from Moores Park to Lansing City Market in Lansing, MI. At the end of the cleanup, volunteers are welcome to relax and share a community cookout dinner.

Community Cookout to Include:

• Bottled water
• Beverages (juice, pop, etc.)
• Snacks (chips, snack bars, etc.)
• Fruits/vegetables
• Vegetarian main course
• Meats (Burgers, hot-dogs, etc.)
• Condiments & buns

Kayaks and canoes will be provided by River Town Adventures, at the Lansing City Market for the first 40 volunteers.

​Parking/Meeting Location:
Please meet at Lansing City Market and park in the Lansing Center Lot 21 (just south of the market) and you will be transported to the start. If you bring your own water vehicle you can meet at the start location.

Volunteers & Sponsors Needed:
As part of this community event we are also reaching out for volunteers and sponsors to provide support alongside us. Please contact Tyler Dawson (contact info below) if you are interested in providing any supplies or financial support for the event.

​We would also like to encourage everyone to learn more about the great activities and events happening in Lansing. 
To learn more visit www.lansingmi.gov/parks and www.lansing.org/events.

​The Engineering Society of Detroit Engineering SMaRT Michigan is a program for high school students for the advancement of Science, Mathematics, Architecture, and Technology education. This year, an RFP was issued for Architectural and Engineering Services for the design of an energy efficient house located in Detroit; seven (7) schools responded with multiple teams to compete. Teams submit written technical proposals similar to an "RFP" where they describe their project plan and submit their proposal for an energy efficient house based in Midtown Detroit with the theme - The Internet of Things.  

Keith Bryan volunteered to mentor the alternative energy, drafting and presentation modules for multiple teams from Melvindale High School. Students ranged from freshmen to seniors with diversity in language and culture. Keith worked tirelessly over a four week period, meeting students whenever they were available to develop their skillsets.

​The last week, three of Keith’s teams emerged as the ones that would represent Melvindale HS and advance to the semi-finals. The students’ hard work was evident and they did a remarkable job. Not only did they have to write a technical proposal, they had to produce a set of drawings and put together a verbal presentation to a group of judges. In the end, the top slots went to:

1st Place Team, Goon Crew – Melvindale High School
2nd Place Team, Guardians of Energy – Oak Park High School
3rd Place Team,  Team Intelligence – Southfield Regional Academic Center 
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Each member received an $18,000 scholarship to Lawrence Technological University!