Archives for 2023

Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQ+ community to history, society, and cultures worldwide. Pride is celebrated throughout the month of June each year in commemoration of its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. Today, Pride Month symbolizes an opportunity for visibility and community. In addition to celebrating LGBTQ+ love and joy, it’s also often a time to highlight important policy and resource issues the community faces.

The official theme for 2023 is Strength in Solidarity. Recent legislation and physical violence have impacted members of the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s theme aims to be contemporary and impactful and spotlights the power and resiliency of the community and its allies, bringing a sense of hope to the struggles the LGBTQ+ community endures.

This year’s theme aims to be contemporary and impactful and spotlights the power and resiliency of the community and its allies, bringing a sense of hope to the struggles that the LGBTQ+ community endures.

Infrastructure Engineering Inc. and Affiliates (IEI) is pleased to welcome the addition of three new shareholders in the firm. Ken Smorynski, PE, SE, Aaron Patterson, PE and Maike Rodriguez, PE will join the existing three shareholders, Michael Sutton, PE, Kashif Khan, PE, and Antoinette Coates. We congratulate these members of the Strategic Leadership Team on their rise to owners of the firm.

Ken Smorynski is a licensed professional engineer and structural engineer in Illinois and is a 10-year veteran of the firm with nearly 30 years of professional experience. In his current role as Vice President – Illinois, he is responsible for staff development, business development, client relations, contract management and day to day activities of design, construction engineering and inspection; and program management teams.

Aaron Patterson is a registered professional engineer in Illinois and has more than 15 years of A/E/C industry experience with over a decade at IEI. As IEI’s Vice President of Business Development (BD), Aaron is responsible for IEI’s local and national business development strategy, working with its six offices to enhance client relationships, market growth and bottom-line performance.

Maike Rodriguez has nearly 20 years of transportation experience with a 6-year tenure at IEI and is a licensed professional engineer in New York and New Jersey. As Vice President of Operations – New York and New Jersey, he oversees IEI’s design, program management and construction inspection staff along with the day-to-day operations across both states.

The foundation of IEI’s success is its people, culture, and engineering excellence. IEI’s roster of clients and projects has grown significantly over the past few years. That trend is projected to continue as demand for new and improved infrastructure remains high in the communities they serve. IEI recognizes and appreciates the unique contributions of these newest shareholders to the firm’s success and is excited about their future contributions as owners. Please join IEI in congratulating its new shareholders.

Earth Day: One earth, one chance.

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. The first Earth Day was initiated in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson to educate people and governments about environmental issues, including the damage that all forms of pollution cause. Earth Day was created to help bring awareness and support for environmental protection around the world.

The theme for Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet,” and it calls for governments, institutions, and businesses to create global, national, and local policy changes.  Earth Day also strives to encourage over 1 billion global citizens to change our everyday behaviors to do our part to protect the planet for the future.

At IEI, our firm’s vision encourages all of us to be agents of change. We develop responsible engineering solutions based on sustainability, resiliency, and equitable access — connected transportation modes, green sites, and resilient systems – that improve the quality of life in our work and home communities.

We are transforming the Built Environment through INGENUITY.

Established in 1991, National Volunteer Month is recognized in April to celebrate the efforts of community volunteers and encourage active volunteerism.

By sharing our time, diverse talents, and energy, we strengthen and build our communities through our common values and actions. Volunteering gives us opportunities to grow and thrive as individuals while partnering to create change within our communities. The connections that are created as we support one another make us ALL stronger.

Since it was founded, IEI has been deeply committed to supporting organizations that improve the quality of life for underserved children and their families in the communities where we live and work. To that end, the Infrastructure Engineering Foundation (IEF) encourages and enables employee volunteerism through organized activities and paid volunteer hours.

This April, IEF will continue to make a difference through firm-sponsored volunteer programs and recognition of our employees’ volunteer efforts.

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

#NationalVolunteerMonth

The month of March is designated as Women’s History Month and coincides with International Women’s Day on March 8. It was created to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

IEI joins in the celebration of National Women’s History month to recognize the monumental impact that women have made across the globe (and at IEI) in a variety of fields, particularly related to science and engineering. The 2023 Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”

In 1946, Hattie Scott Peterson was the first African American woman in the U.S. to earn a degree in civil engineering. She graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, started her career with the US Geological Survey and then succeeded on to become the first African American woman engineer in the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). She was a pioneer in working with flood risk reduction projects in California.

Peterson was an advocate for women pursuing engineering careers. When she passed in 1993, she left an endowment for Howard University in her and her husband’s names. She is a woman who created a legacy of inspiration and opportunity for women and people of color.

IEI looks to the example of visionaries like Peterson and creates opportunities for new generations to tell their stories through their work. We are committed to enhancing gender diversity in the AEC industry and are proud of the contributions that women make to the success of our firm!

For more information about Women’s History Month, visit womenshistorymonth.gov

Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. (IEI) is excited to announce the promotion of Sonya Jordan as the firm’s Human Resources Director.

“As a key partner in the firm’s strategic growth, our HR Director is the driving force in administering and cultivating IEI’s most critical asset, our human capital. Sonya’s qualifications and dedication coupled with her knowledge of the organization and positive working relationship with IEI’s staff made her the best choice to lead this department,” commented Kashif Khan, PE, President of IEI.

Sonya originally joined IEI March 2022 in the role of Senior HR Generalist and assumed the Deputy Human Resources Director role in August where she proved her capabilities to lead the department.

In her role as Director, she will be spearheading the Human Resources segment of the firm’s national strategy, while managing IEI’s essential HR functions, including planning and administration, recruitment, performance management, and growth and organizational development.

Ms. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social Science from Governor’s State University, she has a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification and she completed the Professional in Human Resources Program with DePaul University.  She is based out of the firm’s Corporate Chicago Office.

 

Infrastructure Engineering Inc. and Affiliates (IEI) is pleased to share that Mr. Paul Ajegba, PE, has joined IEI as a Senior Vice President to oversee planning of the firm’s national, corporate growth strategy and lead operations and business development in our Detroit, Michigan office.

“Paul brings a level of leadership and industry experience that is an invaluable resource to our firm and our clients,” offered Michael Sutton, PE, IEI’s CEO. “His skilled management of the investments made to grow Michigan’s infrastructure, and his ideation of the barrier-shattering Chief Officer of Culture, Equity, and Inclusion position at MDOT are great examples of the vision and action Paul will bring to IEI. We are honored that he has joined the IEI team and excited for the future of our firm under his leadership.”

Paul’s illustrious engineering career started in the private sector of the infrastructure industry and was followed by more than 32 years with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). He has successfully managed and delivered the design and construction of complex projects pertaining to highways, bridges, transit, aviation, and marine and port activities. In January 2019, Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer appointed Paul as Director of MDOT, where he provided leadership, strategy, and direction of the Department’s $5 billion transportation program.

“IEI’s Detroit office opened less than two years ago. In that short time, the firm has demonstrated their capacity for solving engineering challenges and their commitment to supporting the growth of Michigan’s vital infrastructure. IEI has been steadily growing their presence in Detroit and the surrounding communities by delivering infrastructure projects that align with the firm’s values and support local vibrancy. I am confident with this team that in a couple of years, we will look back and see that much has been done. We aim to be one of the leading firms in Michigan.” Paul is known for regularly sharing one of his favorite quotes – “The cynics may be the loudest voices – but I promise you, they will accomplish the least.” (Barack Obama)

Both nationally, and locally, Paul is active in many professional organizations that demonstrate his dedication to the civil engineering profession and his commitment to creating impactful infrastructure. He has served as Chair of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Council of Public Transportation, as well as the Civil and Environmental Engineering Friends Association with Michigan University. He is also a proud member of the Engineering Society of Detroit, National Academy of Construction, and The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), to name a few.

Paul’s career trajectory has been recognized throughout the industry. In 2017 he received the Conference of Minority Transportation Official Public Agency Executive of the Year Award, and in 2010 he received the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Leadership Award (AAATA). He also received the Woodward Avenue Action Association Board Leadership Award and MDOT Director’s Award in the Professional Supervisory Category.

Paul is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Michigan and has received his Master of Science in Construction Engineering from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Prairie View A&M University.

As a majority African American-owned firm, IEI highlights Black History Month in honor of the undeniable and influential contributions of black men and women in the history of our country. During the month of February, we reflect on our difficult history, celebrate the contributions and achievements of African Americans, and aspire to create change for a future where the ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all are a reality – for all.

The 2023 Black History Month theme is Black Resistance. This theme explores how African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression. It calls us to resist acts of discrimination and racism and become advocates for equity.

IEI looks to be an agent of change as we create and build the vital infrastructure to generate pathways for equity and equality in the communities where we work.  We also strive to support fellow minority-owned firms through teaming and mentorship efforts. And through the philanthropy of the Infrastructure Engineering Foundation, we support the educational institutions and community/civic organizations that impact equity by creating opportunities for generational change.

For more information about Black History Month, visit www.blackhistorymonth.gov.

Dr. King’s legacy is a testament to the promise of this country, one rooted in the inalienable rights of mankind and a commitment to freedom from persecution. May his mission of justice continue to challenge us and inspire us to meet the struggles of our own time with courage and love. He gave us the map and now it’s up to all of us, as a community, to continue to transform his dream into a reality. Today, let us all reflect on what we can do to bring Dr. King’s “Beloved Community” into being.