As you all may know by now, Jim Parsons is retiring at the end of 2023 and is starting a new chapter doing ... whatever he wants! Jim has had a long, successful career at NTH. He started working at NTH in April of 1977. Jim didn't come in green; he had engineering/ testing experience at another firm. His NTH Employee Number is 00009 and started working in the Construction Testing Group and soon became a supervisor, training new staff, traveling from site to site to make sure the projects were covered, and verifying testing services were done properly. By the mid-l980s, Jim started college (while working full-time) at Lawrence Tech in their engineering program. He graduated in 1993 and became a Licensed Professional Engineer in 1994. He is currently Licensed in Michigan and Ohio. Jim is one of those individuals that has been willing to step up/ volunteer to take on management challenges and/or opportunities when or wherever needed. He served as a section supervisor for landfill construction in the early 1990s, Senior Project Engineer in 1994, Manager of Environmental in the early 2000s, Principal Engineer in 2003, and then Vice President of Laboratory Operations in 2010. He led NTH's laboratory initiative becoming A2LA Accredited during this time, creating SOPs, Procedural Manuals, and Training Programs. He is also a Founding Member of NTH's Corporate Quality Team. His processes, procedures, and vision for quality service throughout his career are part of his AND NTH's Legacy. | Then in 2013, DTE asked if NTH had any Project Managers that would be available to help their Facilities, Design and Construction group implement their internal projects. Jim stepped up to help. He became one of DTE's most reliable, elite Project Managers. Throughout his tenure at DTE, he was willing to take on all types of projects. As a Project Manager, it's all about the process and Jim was able to apply his PM skills to manage/ coordinate mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural projects addressing DTE's facility needs. He became the "Go To" person for any facilities engineering/ design/ construction issues at the HQ complex. Jim was also a founding member of NTH's Golf League. He and Kurt Warning have been golf partners since the league started in 2006. Reportedly, they've won the League 3 or more times, and he plans to continue playing in the golf league going forward or at least until Kurt retires. Jim and his wife Laura are planning to travel in their RV. They've done some traveling in the last year, while Jim was cutting back, but now they are free to go as they wish! Jim, well done! You are very much appreciated and have been a valuable asset to NTH and our Clients, we all wish you a happy retirement! ENJOY!! |
0 Comments
Environmental, Health and Safety, Sustainability, and ESG Expert, Andrea Swartz, Joins Firm NORTHVILLE, MI — NTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH) is proud to announce its recent key leadership hire, Ms. Andrea Swartz, a highly respected Environmental, Health and Safety, Sustainability, and ESG Leader, who will take the helm of the Environmental, Health and Safety Division at NTH. This strategic move reinforces NTH's commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and continuous innovation. With an impressive tenure spanning 14 years, Ms. Swartz is celebrated for leading Environmental, Health and Safety teams and embedding sustainable business practices into core operations to convert risk into opportunity. As a subject matter expert in areas driving environmental, health and safety she also brings a holistic approach to sustainability to address business needs and reduce environmental impact. Ms. Swartz will be responsible for the strategic direction and execution of NTH's sustainability programs, thereby setting the stage for a new era of responsible business practices and engagement with stakeholders and clients on sustainability matters. "Bringing Andrea on board is a significant milestone for our firm. Her expertise and visionary approach to sustainability will undeniably drive NTH’s mission forward and amplify our commitment to our clients and the communities we serve," stated Jeffrey Jaros, President and CEO of NTH. “We look forward to the innovations and milestones that Ms. Swartz will undoubtedly bring to the organization and to our clients.” Ms. Swartz's passion for sustainable solutions drives her proactive approach and is complimented by her business acumen and technical expertise. She has extensive experience in the environmental field, serves as a leader in her community. About NTH Consultants, Ltd. NTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH) has been providing professional engineering consulting services to the water, energy, transportation, industry, and community development markets since 1968. From a small, Detroit-based, geotechnical engineering firm, our company has grown significantly, providing a wide range of services in civil, geotechnical, environmental engineering, and facilities engineering. For more than 55 years, NTH has helped our clients address some of the most challenging and complex issues facing our environment today and provides innovative and creative approaches for each project it undertakes. NTH is constantly exploring new technologies and solutions that are safe, well-developed, and cost effective for its clients. NTH is headquartered in Northville, MI and serves its diverse client base from six offices throughout Michigan. NTH staff recently attended the Warren Gateway Ribbon Cutting for the Joe Louis Greenway - a project that we've proudly been working on since 2017. The Warren Gateway is the first constructed trailhead on the Joe Louis Greenway (JLG), on the border of Detroit and Dearborn. It is a new four-acre park, featuring a signature playscape, a pavilion with flexible community space, fitness equipment, green infrastructure, and accessible parking. Warren Gateway was funded by the Ralph C Wilson Jr. Foundation and UTGO funds.
The Joe Louis Greenway (JLG) is envisioned to be 27.5 miles of pathway that provides a safe loop around the city and connects Dearborn, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The project entails new trails, on-street bike lanes and links to existing trails. NTH’s expertise has been instrumental in conducting due diligence and developing a plan for complying with continuing obligations for the proposed Joe Louis Greenway. NTH is proud to contribute to this transformational project that links Detroit neighborhoods previously separated by freeways and other obstacles and revitalizes them with a family-friendly, multi-use path and more. More about this ribbon cutting and project can be found here: https://detroitmi.gov/news/city-state-officials-join-community-celebrating-completion-joe-louis-greenways-stunning-new-west Transformative Urban Industrial Site Renewal: GFL-Pontiac Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)9/22/2023 In 2021, GFL Environmental, Inc. selected NTH for the phased redevelopment of the former General Motors Pontiac Fiero Plant to a regional waste management complex, which included a modern transfer/processing station, vehicle maintenance/operations center, container repair shop, and a materials recycling facility (MRF). The MRF occupies approximately 130,000 square feet of the former automobile plant, reusing the building elements (foundations, floor, roofing system, and walls), including a new tipping floor, baled recycling storage, and associated truck bays. NTH provided a range of consulting and engineering services to the project, including environmental due-diligence; environmental permitting; structural assessment; site-civil design; geotechnical engineering; subsurface utility engineering; and construction support. Successful blending of these services proved key to transforming a formerly unused and abandoned industrial site into a productive segment of the regional solid waste management system. As part of this multi-year project, NTH assisted GFL with property acquisition due-diligence, a condition survey that included assessment of existing structural, utility, and related components for a waste transfer station, the recently constructed MRF, and planned additional developments within the 38-acre property acquired from General Motors. NTH prepared several conceptual facility designs, which helped our client strategize and envision the ultimate end-use for the facility as a regional solid waste handling, recycling, and maintenance facility, incorporating existing useful assets at this nearly 75-year-old former automobile factory. Being responsible for the site-civil design components, NTH also navigated the labyrinth of existing site utilities, tunnels, and press-pits, to develop focused solutions for utilizing as much of the existing infrastructure as possible and developing new site utility design services for water, storm, and sanitary infrastructure. The state-of-the-art MRF, completed in March 2023, is now operational, and contributes to Michigan’s overall recycling and sustainability goals. Equally important, the MRF provides an infusion of new employment, revenue, and taxes in Pontiac, Michigan, a financially challenged city. NTH’s ultimate long-standing experience on this site and solid relationship with the client, paired with a thorough understanding of GFL’s goals and objectives, allowed NTH to provide comprehensive support and robust engineering drawings for this site plan package. Award-Winning Civil Engineering Firm Announces 'NTH 3.0' Leadership Transition NTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH) today announced the execution of its leadership succession plan with the appointment of Jeffrey Jaros to President & CEO. Jeff originally joined NTH in 2005 as a Project Manager in the Environmental Division and rose through the ranks over the past 18 years to serve in various roles, including, most recently, Chief Operating Officer. NTH was incorporated in Michigan in 1968, founded by Jerry Neyer, Benedict Tiseo, and Kal Hindo, primarily as a geotechnical firm. Throughout the years, the firm has grown into a full-service professional consulting firm providing a wide range of services in civil, geotechnical, environmental engineering to a variety of public and private clients. More than a decade ago, the founders turned over the reins to a new generation of leaders, including Keith M. Swaffar, P.E. and Kevin Hoppe, P.E., outgoing CEO and now Executive Chairperson. In the 1980's the founders decided to begin the transition the firm into an employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), so that the employees would ultimately benefit directly from the company's success. Kevin and the executive team effectively led the company through the past two decades and worked hard to convert NTH into a 100% ESOP-owned company. With that goal reached, he now passes the torch to the NTH 3.0 leaders. "More than 60% of businesses fail by their tenth year in operation, but NTH has managed to thrive for 55 years. We believe that our focus on our employee-owners has been the key to our continued success," said Kevin Hoppe, P.E., Executive Chairperson. "I have worked closely with Jeff over the past few years, as we carefully planned for this succession, and I am confident that he will continue our vision and lead NTH into the next decade."
Mr. Jaros has more than 30 years of experience providing environmental and risk mitigation expertise to clients. He has led NTH's Environmental Division for several years and has worked with the most prominent utility clients in Michigan. He will continue to work with the NTH Board, the executive management team, and the rest of the company's leaders to ensure we continue to make impactful contributions to the success of our clients, communities, and employees well into the future. By Deep Bansal, P.E., P.Eng, PMP The field of geotechnical engineering plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of infrastructure projects, promoting sustainability, and mitigating potential risks. To stay informed and stay ahead of the game, it's essential to network with peers and stay abreast of emerging trends and opportunities. Let's begin the discussion!
Embracing Technological Innovations The world of geotechnical engineering is undergoing a seismic shift as technology rapidly transforms the way we live and work. With the advent of drone surveys, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence, we are witnessing a revolution in how we approach site investigations, modeling, and risk assessments. These technological advancements are set to have a profound impact on the future of geotechnical engineering. By allowing us to collect more data, analyze it more quickly, and make better decisions about structural design and construction, we are witnessing a new era of possibilities. Companies that have diligently gathered and organized a comprehensive database of soil information can unlock tremendous benefits. With the help of AI, companies can leverage this valuable resource; they can revolutionize the way site investigation programs are designed and executed, ultimately leading to cost savings for their clients. In recent years, geophysical methods have emerged as powerful tools for characterizing subsurface soils. These non-intrusive techniques enable engineers to obtain valuable information about soil composition, layering, and potential geohazards without extensive drilling or excavation. By integrating geophysical surveys into the site investigation process, companies can gather critical data to complement the insights provided by soil databases. Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of soil databases and geophysical methods in geotechnical engineering? Are there any emerging technologies, data analytics methodologies, or integration strategies that show promise? How do you anticipate these advancements will further enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of geotechnical investigations and infrastructure development? Embedded in our company’s purpose and mission is our commitment to make impactful contributions to our clients and their communities. We partner with our municipal clients, not just to solve the challenges they have identified, but also to help them create sustainable, practical, and thriving places for families and businesses alike. With that in mind, we recently reached out to the City of Ann Arbor’s Volunteer and Outreach program, GIVE 365, to see how we could give back to one of the 162 parks in the Ann Arbor Park system.
We decided that the best use of our crew would be to help clean up the nature trails and grounds at the Barton Nature Area. NTH has a long history with Barton Dam going back to the late 1970s when we assisted the City with dam safety inspections of the earthen embankments. More recently, in the past ten years, NTH has worked at the Dam conducting seepage and stability analyses, and currently providing for the right embankment remediation project. On Tuesday, May 15, we gathered a group of NTH staff, met with our guide Dominique from GIVE 365, and hit the trails in the Nature Area. It was a beautiful day for the activity, and we were pleased to be able to remove nearly 25 pounds of litter from the park. Our group enjoyed the day, and we look forward to more opportunities to help the communities in which we work. Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues a Report Card depicting the condition and performance of American infrastructure in the format of a school report card; assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement. ASCE evaluates and assigns the grade based on eight key criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation.
ASCE has compiled state infrastructure report cards for all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Michigan’s report card includes an evaluation/grading of the following 15 infrastructures:
NTH's Rick Burns and Karen Okonta prepared the Solid Waste chapter for Michigan’s Infrastructure Report Card. ASCE will use this to support funding on the state and federal levels to improve this important component of the State’s overall infrastructure. To read the full report click here: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Report-2023-MI-IRC-Final-WEB.pdf
|
The NTH NarratorNTH Consultants, Ltd. (NTH) is a nationally recognized engineering firm specializing in Civil, Geotechnical, Environmental, and Facilities Engineering. Archives
June 2024
|