News

Preparing for the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant

By Luke Lunde, Professional Soil Scientist and Amy Anderson, Project Engineer, WSB

Applications for all cycles of the Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) grants opened on August 1. The CPL Grant Program funds conservation projects that restore, enhance or protect forests, wetlands, prairies and habitat for fish, game and wildlife in Minnesota. To be eligible, projects must be located on public lands or private properties with an easement that allows for public access.

Since 2009, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) has been managing the reimbursable program to provide competitive matching grants from $5,000 to $400,000 to local, regional, state and nonprofit organizations.

Finding funding for projects can be challenging and knowing how to take advantage of a grant opportunity can make or break a project’s success.  Here are some helpful ways you can prepare your application for the upcoming fiscal year 2022 grants.

Determine the grant cycle that works best for your project.

There are three programs available: Traditional, Metro and Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP). Grant amounts needed, project activities, eligible land, funding rounds, review processes and project locations all impact the type of grant program that’s best suited for a project. The MN DNR’s website offers a helpful Grant Comparison Cycle worksheet to guide evaluation.

Determine if the matching requirement will impact your application.

A 10% match of the total grant amount requested is required. There are two matching options. A cash match is actual cash contributed by your organization, a third party or supplies or contacted services to be paid during the grant period. An in-kind match is a non-cash donation of a good service that could include personnel time, use of equipment or donated supplies or services.

There is nearly $10 million available for CPL grants for the upcoming fiscal year 2022. Applications must be submitted by September 20, 2021 for the Traditional and Metro grant cycles and by September 13, 2021 for the ECP grant cycle.

Helpful links:

• CPL Evaluation Criteria
• CPL Request for Proposal

Luke Lunde
Luke is a Minnesota Professional Soil Scientist in WSB’s Environmental Natural Resources Group, and he has over nineteen years of natural resource and environmental review experience. Luke’s experience includes soil survey mapping, geologic hazard assessments, karst feature mapping and mitigation plans, wetland delineation, wetland banking, wetland mitigation, habitat restoration, invasive species management, grant writing, erosion control compliance site management, habitat restoration, invasive species management, natural resource planning, environmental permitting and compliance, for numerous projects throughout the Midwest.

Amy Anderson
Amy has over nine years of professional experience in water resources engineering, specializing in stream restoration and watershed management. Amy’s experience in stream restoration spans the project cycle, from surveying and design through construction observation and post-project monitoring. Amy has been the primary author or co-author of Surface Water Management Plans for two separate municipalities (West St. Paul and North St. Paul) and one watershed district (Valley Branch Watershed District) in the metro area and has presented to citizen’s groups, municipal committees, and city councils on surface water management and planning.

WSB adds to Texas leadership with transportation industry professionals Rob Bailey, Bryan Hodges and Steve Lindsey

Bailey, Hodges and Lindsey join the firm from Atkins North America

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Rob Bailey, Bryan Hodges and Steve Lindsey have joined their firm. Most recently with Atkins North America, an international design, engineering and project management consultant, the trio brings a wealth of experience to WSB and helps solidify the firm’s transportation presence in the Texas market.

“Rob, Bryan and Steve joining WSB is very exciting for the future of our transportation team,” said Jay Kennedy, WSB’s vice president of Texas operations. “Since 2017, we’ve been very intentional about our growth, specifically by hiring the industry’s top talent. Rob, Bryan and Steve are well-known throughout Texas and their experience will be invaluable to our staff and clients.”

Bailey will oversee WSB’s transportation growth in the Texas market and will support strategic pursuits as vice president of transportation. He has over three decades of engineering experience in design, construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Most recently he was the transportation GEC/program division manager at Atkins North America.

Hodges and Lindsey, both directors of transportation, will support the firm’s work with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and will lead business development efforts. Hodges is known for his planning, design and project management experience. He was mostly recently a project director at Atkins North America and previously served as TxDOT’s district design engineer. Lindsey’s experience extends through all phases of project development from feasibility studies to maintenance. He was most recently a project director with Atkins North America focusing on planning studies as well as schematic and environmental projects.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible team at WSB and to help shape how we position ourselves in the Texas transportation industry,” said Bailey. “I’ve worked alongside Bryan and Steve for many years and am honored that they’ve chosen to pursue this new adventure with me. WSB’s approach to project delivery is industry-leading and I’m looking forward to supporting our clients’ infrastructure needs with new tools, resources and a commitment to collaboration.”

WSB entered the Texas market in 2017. The firm has made two key acquisitions in the Texas marketplace over the past three years, first acquiring Austin-based Rogers Design Services (RDS) in 2018, followed by Houston-based Nathelyne A. Kennedy & Associates, In (NAK) in 2019. WSB has established brick-and-mortar office locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston, but provides engineering, planning, environmental and construction services throughout the state to the public and private sector. Recently, WSB delivered the final design for Williamson County’s Ronald Reagan Intersections Improvement Project near Sun City, the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Project at Texas Southern University and the Sam Rayburn Tollway Sign Replacement Project for the North Texas Tollway Authority.

WSB hires Kim Lindquist to lead the firm’s community planning and economic development efforts

Lindquist joins WSB after nearly 20 years with the city of Rosemount

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Kim Lindquist has joined the organization as their director of community planning and economic development. Lindquist joins the firm’s Golden Valley office where she will lead WSB’s community planning and economic development efforts and client activities.

Lindquist brings over 30 years of planning and economic development experience to the position. She has held positions in several communities throughout the Twin Cities metro including Rosemount, Cottage Grove, Minnetonka and Mounds View. 

“Kim is a well-known industry veteran whose experience and knowledge will be a benefit to our staff and clients,” said Monica Heil, vice president of municipal services at WSB. “Kim’s forward-thinking approach to land use planning and development, coupled with her sound understanding of zoning requirements will support WSB’s project delivery throughout many service areas.”

Most recently, Lindquist was the department director for the community development department at the city of Rosemount for over 17 years. Her role was responsible for the operations of the department, long-range planning, economic development, building permit inspections, Fire Marshal activities, code enforcement and GIS functions.

“I’ve always thrived in mission-driven organizations that support our communities,” said Lindquist. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with WSB several times throughout my career and I’m thrilled to join a team that is committed to actionable, realistic and unique solutions that achieve our client’s visions.”

WSB’s community planning and economic development services include comprehensive planning, zoning ordinance and development codes, economic development, capital improvement planning, small area plans, planning and zoning administration and code enforcement.

WSB ranks #185 on the Engineering News Record’s (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms list.

WSB is proud to land on ENR’s nationally ranked list for the ninth year in a row, moving up 25 spots from last year’s position. The ENR’s top 500 design firms are chosen according to revenue for design services performed. ENR’s mission is to connect diverse sectors of the industry with coverage of issues that include business management, design, construction methods, technology, safety, law, legislation, environment and labor.

The past year has been a year of resilience and gratitude for all of us, and we are honored to be recognized amongst many notable organizations that have continued to serve our communities in these unprecedented times. 

WSB’s rapid growth and national expansion would not be possible without our talented staff and clients, who have been with us over the past 25 years, helping us to build what’s next in infrastructure.

Click to view this year’s full Top 500 Design Firm list.

WSB hires Brad Oswald to lead survey growth in Colorado and Texas

Oswald joins WSB with over 20 years of large-scale boundary experience

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Brad Oswald has been hired as the director of survey operations in Denver, Colo. This is a new role that will focus on growing WSB’s surveying offerings in the Colorado and Texas markets.

In this role, Brad will diversify WSB’s fast-growing survey service. Oswald brings over 20 years of experience of leading large-scale boundary surveys throughout the U.S.

“The bread and butter of WSB’s survey expertise has largely been construction related,” said Kyle Klasen, director of survey at WSB. “Brad’s large-scale boundary expertise will complement the services we already provide and will give us boots on the ground in Colorado.”

Most recently, Oswald was with SAM Companies, a geospatial solutions and construction services company where he acted as the Denver operations manager. His expertise includes business development, field management and project delivery. Oswald is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in 16 states.

“WSB’s survey services are well-known in the Midwest and I’m looking forward to delivering the same high-quality, data-driven survey projects for our clients in the Colorado and Texas markets,” said Oswald. “I’m thrilled to join a fast-growing team that is committed to innovation, best-practices and is not afraid of trying something new.”

WSB’s survey services include design, boundary, right-of-way, 3D laser scanning, asset management, construction and contractor staking and environmental compliance services for clients in the government, energy and commercial markets.

WSB Announces 2021 Staff Promotions

WSB is excited to announce our newly promoted staff. As a growing company, we are dependent on the continual development of new talent and leadership. We are fortunate to have such strong and committed leaders that have chosen to invest their careers with us. We are proud to promote these staff to their new roles and are confident that their best years are ahead of them.

Principal

Justin Hansen – Director of GIS Services

Senior Associate

Ben Barker – Right of Way Specialist
Bill Alms – Project Manager
Bob Haseman – Chief Engineer of Houston
Bob Slipka – Sr Landscape Architect
Carl Osberg – Director of Structures
Dan Rogers – Director of Transportation Design – Texas
Diane Hankee – Project Manager
Eric Eckman – Project Manager
Karne Newburn – Corporate Counsel
Lisa Beckman – Sr Right of Way Specialist
Liz Weber – Director of Financial Planning
Mike Molitor – Sr Project Manager
Shibani Bisson – Sr Project Manager

Associates

Adam Jessen – Project Manager
Brandon Nguyen – Sr Project Engineer
Dallas Westerlund – Project Manager
Dan Pfeiffer – Director of Public Engagement
Dustin Tipp – Project Engineer
Eric Breitsprecher – Project Manager
Heather Jones – Project Analyst
Jason Kreger – Civil 3D CAD Manager
Jayson Honer – Project Manager
Jeremy Honga – Professional Land Surveyor
Laura Rescorla – Project Engineer
Marc Drouin – Project Engineer
Nate Osterberg – Pipeline Inspector
Nick Preisler – Project Engineer
Trevett Cullers – Executive Assistant
Val Brennan – Marketing Communications Manager

WSB places #58 on Zweig’s Hot Firm List

WSB was recently named a 2021 Hot Firm by the Zweig Group for the eighth consecutive year. The list honors the fastest growing firms in the AEC industry in the U.S. and Canada.  Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth.  WSB ranks #58 on this year’s list, climbing 14 spots from 2020.

The Zweig Group is the leading research, publishing, and advisory services resource for firms in the AEC industry.  The Zweig Group’s awards programs recognize and celebrate top AEC industry firms in several categories.  Winners will be recognized at the 2021 Elevate AEC Conference in November.

View the complete list of Hot Firm Winners.

WSB to deliver first set of paperless design plans to the Minnesota Department of Transportation

The multi-dimensional designs are for the Highway 169 Redefine – Elk River project

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that they will deliver the first set of fully digital paperless design plans to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).  The paperless plans will be delivered later this summer for the Highway 169 Redefine – Elk River project.

“The 3D Design Model has allowed us to see the design in a whole new light. We are able see design changes on the fly that provides MnDOT with greater flexibility in the decision-making process,” said MnDOT’s Darren Nelson, Highway 169 Redefine – Elk River project manager.

Historically, the Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) industry has been paper-heavy with many DOTs across the nation still requiring traditional plans. The transition to paperless is impacting the entire AEC industry, including DOTs, general contractors and civil engineers.

For the project, WSB advanced the methods and procedures used to implement a Building Information Modeling (BIM) design approach. The approach will result in improved project cost, better risk management and improved quality. The BIM model is built from available data and is highly accurate. The model creates a seamless workflow from design through construction and will import information to the field digitally resulting in efficiencies and better communication.  Once construction is complete, the project is left with an as-built, accurate model that can be used for asset management in the future.

“As engineers, we are motivated by the opportunities to design infrastructure projects that support our communities and this project is no exception,” said Jon Chiglo, WSB’s chief operating officer. “It’s very rewarding to partner with MnDOT to shape the way our entire industry will deliver projects. Based on the benefits, digital delivery is the future and it’s exciting that WSB is leading these efforts.”

To date, the combination of the 3D BIM Model, 4D Model and 5D Cost Structure within a digital design environment has led to many cost savings and benefits even before construction has begun. The true, virtual representation of what will be built has allowed stakeholders to easily review the project impacts.

MnDOT received special funding to convert Highway 169 from the Mississippi River to 197^th Ave. to a freeway system through Elk River. The project will convert four at-grade intersections into interchanges and will modify the access of the Highway 169 and Highway 10 interchange. WSB is responsible for delivering the final design.

WSB named one of the Top 175 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune

WSB is honored to be named one of the Top 175 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune – ranking #28 on the top Midsize Employers list.  For eight years, we have received this prestigious honor, recognizing the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction.

We are extremely grateful to our WSB team who inspire each other to discover thoughtful and creative solutions for our clients.  Together, we look beyond the needs of today to the opportunities of tomorrow. From the beginning, we’ve been firm believers that culture drives results and we’re proud of our staff who continue to help us forge ahead. We want to take a moment to publicly thank our staff for strengthening our culture.

As we look to the future, we remain committed to creating an environment where our staff feel valued, have fulfilling work and feel like they belong.

Newsletter | Special Edition: Celebrating 25 Years