News

WSB Champions Workforce Education, Hosts Largest Opportunity+ Cohort Graduation in Fourth Year of Program

Opportunity+ is a free civil engineering career training program that opens up career opportunities for underrepresented persons in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC)  industry.

March 30, 2023

Design and consulting firm WSB announced today that the company’s fourth Opportunity+ class graduated 11 participants this month – the largest class to date. Opportunity+ is a workforce training and development program designed to prepare participants for long-term careers in the civil engineering industry.

“We build the places, spaces and systems that shape our world, and it’s so exciting to help program participants pursue careers in the exciting field of civil engineering,” said Bret Weiss, WSB’s president and CEO. “As we strive to build a workforce that accurately reflects the communities we serve, I’m proud to see the largest Opportunity+ cohort to date graduate. What’s more, this year, we placed a special emphasis on recruiting veterans to our program and helping translate their meaningful skills into training for a career in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.”

The Opportunity+ program prioritizes training a diverse participant pool to ensure every person has the opportunity for advancement in engineering. In the past, the program has focused on recruiting women and people of color. While still a major focus, this year, the program put an emphasis on recruitment efforts in the veteran community, with 56% of this year’s class identifying as veterans.

Over the course of January to April, program participants underwent intensive training through evening and weekend sessions designed to provide hands-on experience. The program’s flexible schedule enables participants to continue their daytime employment while completing the training. As a result of Opportunity+, participants are now fully equipped with the necessary skills to pursue a career as engineering technicians, a versatile position within the civil engineering industry that can lead to many different career paths.

WSB would like to thank its hiring partners from other companies and firms for allowing participants to be exposed to a well-rounded understanding of the industry and broadening their hiring options. Hiring partners include Westwood Professional Services, GeoWall Designs, Frattalone Companies, Hennepin County, James R. Hill, Inc., and the city of Saint Paul.

WSB Announces 2023 Staff Promotions

April 19, 2023

WSB is proud to announce our newly promoted staff. Annually, we recognize the staff who display leadership, determination and expertise in their field. Each staff member consistently brings different elements of our values, results and leadership into their work.  We are dependent on the continual development of new talent and leadership to build our success and support our growth.  We are fortunate to have such strong and committed leaders at WSB that have chosen to invest their careers with us.  Each of the staff members below have made a commitment to the company, clients and each other to lead by example and help us improve each day. Congratulations!

Principals

• Bill Alms, Water Resource Project Manager
• Dan Rogers, Director of Transportation Design – Texas
• Eric Eckman, Municipal Project Manager

Senior Associates

• Alyson Fauske, Municipal Sr. Project Manager
• Dallas Westerlund, Survey Project Manager
• Dustin Tipp, Municipal Project Manager
• Janele Taveggia, Land Development Sr. Project Manager
• Jayson Honer, Oil & Gas Director of Field Services
• Justin Bossert, Scheduling and Project Controls Manager
• Nate Wingerter, Project Engineer

Associates

• Alex Johnson, GIS Solution Architect
• Behnaz Beladi, Director of Renewable Energy
• Brandon Reese, Survey Technician
• Chris Kester, Estimating Manager
• Evan Schnitker, Design Project Engineer
• Frank Schill, Pipeline Inspector
• Gus Perron, Traffic Project Manager
• Jesse Sievers, Talent Acquisition Manager
• Jolene Rieck, Director of Landscape Architecture – Western Region
• Jon Christensen, Water/Wastewater Professional Engineer
• Jordan Wein, Environmental Scientist
• Katie Koscielak, Municipal Project Manager
• Kendra Fallon, Water Resources Project Engineer
• Kevin Kruger, Municipal Project Manager
• Mark Osborn, Geotechnical Professional Engineer
• Matt Schulz, Water Resources Project Engineer
• Michael Nelson-Ostrowski, Design Project Engineer
• Ray Theiler, Water/Wastewater Professional Engineer
• Sam Konieczny, Bridge Project Engineer
• Sheri Ryan, Sr. Accounting Technician
• Tammy Souza, Sr. Structural Engineer
• Taylor Rumph, Lead Designer – Renewables
• Trevor Lawrenz, Machine Control/Transportation Specialist
• Trevor Reed, Oil and Gas Field Services Manager

Engineering and Consulting Firm WSB Announces New Director of Human Resources

October 26, 2022

WSB, a Twin Cities-based design and consulting firm specializing in engineering, community planning, environmental, and construction services announced the hiring of Sarah Rohne as its new director of human resources. 

Rohne will be supporting human resource needs throughout the company. In addition to her role as a HR Business Partner, Rohne will also focus on talent development, employee engagement, and strategic HR initiatives. She joins WSB from Schwan’s Company, where she most recently served as their senior human resource manager of talent pipeline and development. 

“WSB is an amazing organization with a team of incredibly talented people,” said Rohne. “It is my job to act as a supportive resource, connector, innovator, educator, and talent developer for staff so we can successfully drive business forward. I look forward to strengthening our HR team, managing our day-to-day operations, and advancing strategic initiatives to help our firm grow in size, scope, and tap into new markets and opportunities.”

As director, Rohne will help organize and oversee HR practices at WSB. She has received multiple leadership and recognition awards and has published impressive legal articles throughout her 15-year career in the HR industry.

“Sarah will be an amazing asset to our human resources team, as well as to staff and leadership across our organization,” said Julie Thiel, vice president of human resources at WSB. “She brings passion, expertise, and meaningful insights on how to foster and develop talent. We are thrilled to have her on the WSB team and know she will be valuable in advancing internal initiatives.”

More information about WSB and its services are available at wsbeng.com.

WSB ranks #46 on the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal’s Fast 50 list

October 28, 2022

On Thursday, October 27, the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) announced their 2022 Fast 50 List, an exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities. Landing at #46, this marks the second year that WSB was included on the list with a revenue growth of 29.86%. In 2021, WSB ranked #47.

The Fast 50 awards recognize the region’s 50 fastest-growing, privately held, for profit companies. To be eligible for the Fast 50, companies must show year-over-year revenue growth for each of the past three completed fiscal years, be headquartered in the Twin Cities 24-county metro area and have revenue of at least $1 million in the first fiscal year.

Read our Fast 50 Profile.

WSB Announces Jake Newhall Promotion to Director of Water Resources

November 28, 2022

WSB, a Twin Cities-based design and consulting firm specializing in engineering, community planning, environmental, and construction services announced Jake Newhall’s promotion to director of water resources. 

As director, Newhall will assume day-to-day operations of the water resources group as well as focus on strategy, business development, and setting operational goals with company leadership.

Throughout his tenure at WSB, Newhall has been instrumental in shaping the growth of WSB’s water resources team. His well-rounded skills and experience have allowed him to solve some of the firm’s clients most complex stormwater management challenges.

“I am proud that I have the opportunity to grow my career at WSB,” said Newhall. “For more than 16 years, I have worked at WSB with a focus on solving complex stormwater and water resource related problems. I look forward to serving in this new leadership position, advancing strategic initiatives to expand our firm and delivering unparalleled results for our clients.”

WSB’s water resources services balance engineering, ecosystems and social impacts to create sustainable water infrastructure.  The firm offers services in stormwater, floodplain management, lake and stream habitat restoration, water quality monitoring and more. Additional information about WSB and its services are available at wsbeng.com

Newsletter | Volume 4 | Issue 2 | 2022

The American Public Works Association – Minnesota Chapter Announces Monica Heil as Chapter President

The American Public Works Association – Minnesota Chapter (APWA-MN) recently announced that Monica Heil, WSB’s Vice President of Municipal Services, will serve as chapter President beginning in January 2023.

For the past 12+ years, Monica has been actively involved with the APWA-MN Chapter serving as the Director-Consultant (2018-2019), Chair of the Education & Training Committee (2014-2020), Chair of the Chapter’s Underground Utilities Construction Inspector School (UUCIS) Subcommittee (2012-2019), and a member of the 2016 PWX Technical Tour Planning Committee (2015-2016).  Monica served as the Secretary/Treasurer of APWA-MN in 2021 and served as the Vice President and Co-Chair of the APWA-MN Conference Planning Committee in 2022. 

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the 2023 President of APWA-MN.  It’s an honor to be part of a profession that works tirelessly to maintain the quality of life for residents across the State of Minnesota,” said Heil. “I look forward to continued opportunities to support those who operate, improve and maintain public works and infrastructure.”

Heil brings nearly 20 years of experience serving Minnesota communities. In her role at WSB, she leads the delivery of Municipal Services in the Upper Midwest market, developing technical expertise, improving project management processes and creating efficiency among teams.

Formed in 1946, APWA-MN currently includes over 1,000 public works professionals throughout the state of Minnesota. Members represent both the public and private industry and all work together to advance the public works profession. The chapter’s mission is to advance the theory and practice of the design, construction, maintenance, administration, and operation of public works facilities and services. Learn more here: American Public Works Association – MN Chapter :: Who We Are (apwa-mn.org)

Opportunity+ welcomes fourth cohort into free civil engineering career training program 

January 25, 2023

The targeted workforce training and development program aims to diversify the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry. 

Design and consulting firm WSB today announced that the company has launched its fourth Opportunity+ cohort. Opportunity+ is a workforce training and development program designed to prepare participants for long-term careers in the civil engineering industry. The program, first launched in January 2020, is a free and fast-paced training course led by experts from throughout the AEC industry. This year’s cohort has 17 participants enrolled.  

From January through March, program participants will receive accelerated training through evening sessions. The flexible schedule allows participants to continue working during the day while completing the hands-on program. Upon completion of the program, participants will be prepared for careers as engineering technicians, survey crew members, construction materials technicians and site inspectors – all high-demand positions in civil engineering.  

“This is our largest cohort to date, and I’m thrilled that we’re making real progress in building opportunities for all people interested in civil engineering,” said Bret Weiss, WSB’s president and CEO. “We are committed to actionable change and to diversifying our industry. While many companies have a focus on diversity and inclusion, we’re creating real opportunity and it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch our participants build their careers both inside the walls of WSB and with our partners.” 

In 2023, Opportunity+ expanded recruitment efforts into the veteran community with 56% of this year’s cohort identifying as veterans. The veteran community is another untapped talent market with a diverse population. Many veterans have skills that lend themselves well to civil engineering careers.  

New this year is the addition of Opportunity+ hiring partners including Frattalone Companies, a construction firm specializing in civil site construction, James R. Hill, Inc., a full-service land development consulting firm, GeoWall Designs LLC, a retaining wall design company and Westwood Professional Services, a multi-disciplined land surveying and engineering company.  Expanding and growing the program outside of WSB has been a long-term goal.  In its fourth year, the program’s curriculum was at a place where it made sense to expand its reach across the industry to broaden hiring options for participants.  

“Joining Opportunity+ as a hiring partner made complete sense,” said Nick Frattalone, Frattalone Companies’ Chief Executive Officer. “In today’s labor market, finding skilled workers is a challenge across our industry. The types of skills that are learned through the program are not only relevant to supporting our business operations, but also represent our commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts.” 

Since the program’s inception, 17 participants have graduated. Opportunity+ was built to provide a pathway into the AEC industry for those that are generally underrepresented in it, specifically women and people of color. The intent of the program is to reduce and remove some of the barriers to a successful career in civil engineering.  

“The current demand for civil engineering technicians far exceeds the available talent, and many qualified candidates don’t have the time or resources to complete formal education in this field,” said Julie Thiel, WSB’s vice president of human resources. “This year, we expanded our recruiting efforts and felt strongly about welcoming more partners into the fold. Building a more diverse workforce is not just one firm’s responsibility, but rather our entire industry’s and I’m looking forward to the future of this fast-growing program.” 

Opportunity+ officially launched on January 24. The intent is to connect every cohort participant interested in pursuing a career in the industry to full-time positions following the program. They will be invited to interview for open positions with WSB and its hiring partners that can lead to greater responsibility and lifelong careers. 

WSB hires David Balmos to strengthen the firm’s Texas operations

As vice president, Balmos will lead teams, projects, and drive growth in the region

Houston, Texas – Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that David Balmos has joined the organization as a vice president. Balmos will lead projects, business development and support growth in Texas and the southern U.S.

As vice president, Balmos will be responsible for driving business and working across many markets in the region including the department of transportation, toll road authorities, county government agencies, transit authorities, port authorities and local municipalities.  In addition, David will support projects in the private sector, working closely with land developers, commercial interests, oil and gas and pipeline transport.  

“WSB is committed to supporting infrastructure needs, and David will help us deliver for our clients in the southern U.S.,” said Jon Chiglo, chief operating officer at WSB. “David has an extensive network, and he has built a strong reputation for delivering projects.  He’s passionate about his work and developing staff.  David’s a great addition to our leadership team.”

Balmos joins WSB from RPS North America, a global professional services firm, where he was most recently senior vice president in their Houston office.  He’s led several notable infrastructure projects throughout Texas including highways and bridge design, management of major transit and transportation programs, and planning and environmental work for federal transportation funding.

“I was drawn to WSB’s culture, energy and professionalism,” said Balmos.  “WSB is invested in their clients, staff, work, and the communities they serve.  I believe we can help advance projects across Texas and couldn’t be more excited to join the team and increase our collaboration and support of our clients and partners.”

Balmos will be based out of the firm’s Houston office.  

WSB hires Andy Kaiyala to oversee the firm’s construction technology and project control efforts

As vice president, Kaiyala will work across divisions and regions to support the firm’s growing project controls team and digital delivery efforts.

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Andy Kaiyala has joined the organization as their vice president of construction technology and controls. Kaiyala will oversee WSB’s project controls team and will support the firm’s advancement of digital delivery in the contractor market across regions and divisions.

The role was developed in response to the growing availability of project delivery methods, including Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) and progressive design build.

“The entire AEC Industry is recognizing the value of a more transparent process that is being driven by digital delivery,” said Jon Chiglo, chief operating officer at WSB. “With Andy’s expertise, WSB will guide our clients through a process that mitigates risk and reduces conflict for all stakeholders throughout the project.”

Kaiyala was most recently with The Lane Construction Corporation, a construction engineering company specializing in large, complex civil infrastructure, where he served as the vice president of bid development. In this role, he oversaw bid development from coast to coast. Throughout his 20+ year career, Kaiyala has gained insight from working for contractors, managed field operations, oversaw contract negotiations and led client engagement.

“WSB is uniquely committed to advancing innovation while understanding that a highly skilled, qualified individual is still needed to properly employ technology,” said Kaiyala. “The beauty of digital delivery is that it’s inherently transparent. The momentum in our industry will continue to advance and will result in many benefits for contractors, owners and engineers.

Kaiyala will support WSB’s construction division that offers many services including design-build, alternative project delivery, contractor modeling, pavement management and surveying.