Creative People with Expertise in Marine Civil Engineering Services

Gerry ------ Vice President, Deep Foundations Practice Leader How long have you been with Moffatt & Nichol? I joined the company in 1998 How did you come to the company? Prior association with Moffatt & Nichol Engineers What has kept you with the company for so long? The variety of the work we do and the character of the firm. What position did you have when you started? Foundation design engineer for the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. What types of projects do you work on or have you worked on - Bridge foundations - Marine terminal studies and designs - Wind Turbine foundations and substructures How has the company changed since you arrived? The company has grown in size from approximately 300 to more than 500, and expanded geographically, expanded its practices to six areas, and implemented an operations committee that is separate from the Board of Directors What separates Moffatt & Nichol from its competition? The company offers a broad range of capabilities, the character of employees, and the willingness of offices to share work and expertise, and a corporate structure that is not overly formal. Victor -------------------- CADD Civil Technician How long have you been with firm? I have been with Moffatt & Nichol for three great years. How did you come to Moffatt & Nichol? I placed my resume online at monster.com, and Dave Lowy, Moffatt & Nichol’s internal recruiter, found me and showed me that the firm would be the place for me. What has kept you with the company for so long? I’ve stayed with the firm for so long because of the challenging work and the great people. What position did you have when you started? I started as a civil cadd technician How has your role developed since you came? Ive grown from just a tech to an interim network coordinator, and the cadd manager for the San Diego office What types of projects do you work on or have you worked on? I have worked on various dredge projects and a few civil projects How has the company changed since you arrived? Luckily the company has not changed much since I have been here, and I am thankful for that. How would you describe the work environment? I see my environment like a family business; we get along well for a common purpose. What about your role gives you the most satisfaction? Being able to do the things I love doing in an environment that will allow me to do that brings me a lot of satisfaction. What separates Moffatt & Nichol from its competition? Many companies do the same or similar work as Moffatt & Nichol but I believe that the work environment here makes us far superior to other companies What is the most amazing thing you have been involved with while working for Moffatt & Nichol? It is difficult to point to any one thing that is truly amazing, I think being involved in all the work we do here is amazing. Daily Challenges: There are no real challenges on a daliy basis because I know that there are many resources within the company to resolve any issues that may arise Going Places: Have you ever lived in another country, either before or during your tenure at Moffatt & Nichol? I lived in germany for 2 years as a service member in the army. Do you like to travel for leisure? I love to travel; my family is dispersed around the US and with my immediate family, we love to take road trips to visit them. To search for open positions similar to Victor Dean ----- Senior Port Operations Specialist How long have you been with M&N? I´ve been with the firm for more than 3 years. Originally, I helped establish our office in London, which opened at the start of July 2005. I have since transferred to New York where I´ve had an opportunity to help link our European and North American operations. How did you come to M&N? I come from a very traditional "port" family – my father worked at London Docks and the port of Tilbury, my grandfather was a stevedore at the West India Docks and my great grandfather worked in the "Pool of London" (an area located between Tower Bridge and London Bridge) – so perhaps inevitably I joined the family business at the Port of Tilbury. Here, I loaded ships, managed stevedores and drove all the equipment. The opportunity arose to move into the commercial team at Forth Ports PLC. Later, I switched to journalism and went to work at Containerisation International, before moving into the world of maritime consulting. It was there, circa 2001, that I started working as a sub-consultant to Moffatt & Nichol. I also regularly met with the firm´s Director of Business Development. When the opportunity came to join the firm and help establish a new London office it seemed the right thing to do – and is something I´ve never regretted. What separates M&N from its competition? Purely from a commercial and port consulting point of view, it is a combination of several things: The ability to offer more than just advisory services – the Moffatt & Nichol package counts for a lot, because while we offer the up-front commercial analysis, we don’t then just walk away like some of our advising competitors because that is the end of their capability. We offer clients consistency and continuity on projects, leading them from concept and planning through design to project completion. Rod ---- Senior Civil Engineer/Naval Architect How long have you been with M&N? I have been here a little over 13 years now. What position did you have when you started? I started as a project engineer working on a seismic strengthening of a large marine oil terminal facility. I was responsible for modeling of the terminal and figuring out the amount and location strengthening required. It was a very complicated model at the time, but I learned a great deal from developing and analyzing that model and working with the project manager. I also worked as a naval architect on various projects, analyzing and designing moorings for ships, ferry landings and other types of vessels. I even looked at the hydrostatic stability of a floating outhouse for a project. How has your role developed since you came? I'm managing projects now, mainly marine oil terminals since new regulations have come into effect. I enjoy this work because I get to use my background in both structural engineering and naval architecture. I really enjoy working with the terminals because I can see that my clients really care about their facilities and want to know what they can do to improve them. It's a very team-oriented way of working a project. I have also been involved in other pier and wharf projects. Since I’ve been around for a while and have experience with these types of projects, I was asked to participate on a national committee that is developing seismic design criteria for piers and wharves. That has been an extremely enjoyable experience, since I've been able to meet and work with some very smart and experienced people and feel like I'm contributing to a national design standard. How cool is that? What types of projects do you work on or have you worked on? Aside from piers and wharves and vessel moorings, I've also worked on marinas and bridges. I've been involved in the conceptual development of a pedestrian pathway around a lake in a very scenic location. While the design conditions for the pathway are challenging, the larger challenge was to communicate how the pathway would look to the client and the public before any real engineering design work was completed. We ended up creating some very realistic photo-simulations of the pathway from multiple views to show everyone that the structure would not be an eyesore and would improve pedestrian safety. To search for open positions similar to Rod, Johnny ------- Hydraulic Engineer How did you come to M&N? I began working with the firm 14 years ago after completing coursework for my Master’s degree. What has kept you with the company for so long? I work on a variety of projects at the firm, which keeps me on the leading edge of my field of expertise - coastal & hydraulic engineering. The firm promotes an entrepreneurial spirit, which gives all employees a real sense of ownership and contribution. The firm also values quality of work above profit margin and is committed to long-term relationships with clients. How has your role developed since you came? I first served as a staff engineer and then as a project engineer. I now serve as a project manager for both coastal and water resources projects. In addition to my project management responsibilities, I support business development efforts in our coastal, environmental and water resources practice. I also mentor junior engineers in our office. What types of projects do you work on? I mainly work on coastal and water resources engineering projects, which range from drainage infrastructure and stormwater Best Management Practices for ports and municipalities, to beach nourishment and inlet planning projects for local and state agencies, and hydraulic designs of proposed spillways and locks’ water saving basins. How has the company changed since you arrived? We have doubled in size, but we still have not lost our “family” feel. We have opened numerous new offices throughout the United States and internationally but have kept our key technical talent within centers of expertise that provide high quality work products to our clients worldwide. To search for open positions similar to Johnny, Devon ------ Civil Engineer How long have you been with M&N? 5 years What has kept you with the firm? I work on a wide variety of projects located all over the world--from dredging to transportation. Primarily, I work on dredging projects for port and naval facilities, but I have designed storm drains and grading projects for port backland developments, and I have also been involved with underwater inspections of waterfront facilities. The variety of work is exciting! How has your role developed at the firm? I was hired on as a junior engineer/CAD technician. Now, I have CAD technicians and designers working with me. I am also beginning to take on the role of project engineer on some projects. How would you describe your work environment? It is very professional and team orientated. What about your role gives you the most satisfaction? It is extremely satisfying when our clients repeatedly come back to M&N for design services. I’m also impressed with the professionalism and experience of M&N employees and the quality of services M&N delivers. To search for open positions similar to Devon, Elizabeth ---------- Senior Engineer How long have you been with M&N? 15 years How did you come to M&N? I was involved almost exclusively in bridge retrofit work and wanted to explore other opportunities, especially on waterfront projects. A college friend was working here, and helped me get an interview. What has kept you with the company for so long? I enjoy the variety of projects and the Moffatt & Nichol people. What types of projects do you work on or have you worked on? A bit of everything: transportation, urban waterfronts, ports, and even some coastal support. I have had the opportunity to work on several municipal piers, which I enjoy as it combines aspects of most of the firm’s expertise. How has the company changed since you arrived? I have seen our firm experience significant growth, especially great advances in technology. We have gone from a pretty classic set up to state-of-the-art. I believe this has promoted more efficient designs as well as great improvements in communication. How would you describe the work environment? As with any A&E firm, at times it can get hectic. One of the best things about the firm is our ability to pull together and help each other out when things get tough. What about your role gives you the most satisfaction Seeing a project completed, especially after a substantial effort. What separates M&N from its competition? The firm is respected not only for our technical abilities, but for our company culture of “doing things right.” I believe this stems from us being engineers first. This may be one of the reasons firm is able to retain staff. What is the most amazing thing you have been involved with while working for M&N? The Alameda Corridor Project was quite exciting and very challenging. We had a very tight schedule and a lot of work to be done. It required interaction with and coordination of hundreds of transportation consultants and contractors in Southern California. To search for open positions similar to Liz, Michael -------- Senior Project Manager How did you come to M&N? Moffatt & Nichol senior staff presented an exciting shoreline restoration project at an ASCE Student meeting at my university. I was hooked! I interviewed with the firm 6 months later and was hired part-time so I could complete my last semester of school. I was hired full-time after graduation in June 1989 for something like $13/hour! What has kept you with the company for so long? Variety and opportunity. The number of different types of projects I work on keeps my job interesting and challenging. The opportunity to try new things and participate at varying levels of the design/construction process is valuable experience that you keep for the remainder of your career. When I ask new employees that come to us from other firms, after they’ve been here a few months, what they thought of M&N – I get the same answer almost every time – best company by far that they’ve ever worked for. So why would I ever leave? What types of projects do you work on or have you worked on? A variety of projects, such as marinas, breakwaters, outfalls, dry stack storage facilities, wetland restorations, surf site studies, seawalls, waterfront structure inspections, underwater dive inspections, instrumentation, construction management, shoreline protections, roadways, parking lots, and even a pump station. How would you describe the work environment? Very professional and courteous. No one takes anyone for granted. It’s a team atmosphere that works really well not only at the office level but also at the inter-office level. To search for open positions similar to Michael, Mark ----- Senior Coastal Engineer What has kept you with Moffatt & Nichol? The people-focused culture of the firm—it supports individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. The firm also promotes strong inter-office and intra-office relationships. How has your role developed since you came? I joined the firm to serve as a project engineer for large projects, and project manager for smaller projects. My role has evolved significantly during my tenure at the firm. I manage a wide range of small and large projects and also support business development activities and marketing, such as developing relationships with private and public clients and writing and preparing proposals. I also mentor and oversee the schedules and workload of coastal engineers in our office. What types of projects do you work on: In the last five years, our office has provided master planning and design services for a significant number of private developments in the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. These projects focus on beach restoration and enhancements, shore protection, and marina planning and design. In addition, we have provided coastal engineering services to various water management districts and municipalities. How has the company changed since you arrived? The company has grown larger and is more focused on enhancing its capabilities in our core practices. The company is also returning to the international arena, where there are significant opportunities for growth How would you describe the work environment? Excellent! I continue to learn something new every day based on the interaction between employees in my office and our other offices around the world. What separates M&N from its competition? Our responsiveness to our clients; we expend considerable effort to maintain long-term relationships with our clients. To search for open positions similar to Mark, Margaret, ES -------------- Environmental Scientist A fisheries biologist with a Master of Science degree, Margaret specializes in local, state, and federal environmental reviews and permitting regulations for in-water and waterfront projects. When and why did you join Moffatt & Nichol? I wanted to work for a consulting company that cared about its employees as well as one where I could continue to work on environmental and permitting issues related to in-water and waterfront projects. Moffatt & Nichol provided me with that opportunity, so I came on board in 2006. What do you love most about your job? I enjoy working on redevelopment projects, specifically those that promote water-dependent uses or businesses. The significance of waterfront and shoreline to our economy, community, culture, and environment makes working on these types of projects, and the important and controversial issues surrounding them, very satisfying. I believe that a thriving waterfront industry and a healthy shoreline environment are not exclusive. At Moffatt & Nichol, I have been able to continue my involvement with projects that promote water-dependent industries and healthy sustainable shorelines. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a project being completed for a client on time and budget following successful negotiations with regulatory agencies, tribal governments, and the community. How would you describe your work environment? When I first started, I wondered if not being an engineer would take away from feeling like I was part of the team. That has not been the case, though. It is not only the projects I work on, but the people that I work with, that make my time at Moffatt & Nichol enjoyable. I have met many skilled and knowledgeable people, not only in my office, but also from other offices within the company. I appreciate the support Moffatt & Nichol gives its employees to meet and interact with colleagues around the world. It has helped me feel like part of a great team. To search for open positions similar to Margaret’s, Victor ------- Port Engineer Victor, who has been with Moffatt & Nichol for more than three years, has more than 11 years of experience specializing in the design, analysis, inspection and remediation of port facilities. He is also an experienced diver and a talented guitarist who plays in a tribute band for the American hard rock band, Tool. What has kept you with the company for so long? I came to Moffatt & Nichol to build on my marine engineering experience and to help build a new office, but I’ve stayed because of the interesting work opportunities and great coworkers and clients. The company supports its professionals and offers opportunities for self-advancement. What do you love most about your job? I get to work on a variety of marine projects, but typically new port design/construction. I enjoy the diversity and the unique challenges associated with waterfront work. What separates Moffatt & Nichol from its competition? Moffatt & Nichol is an industry leader in waterfront and port related projects, with a lot of history and an impressive list of projects. This recognition opens doors with new clients, and our past successes keep existing clients coming back. What is the most amazing thing you have been involved with while working for Moffatt & Nichol? I was involved in shaping and directing one of the largest marine simulation projects ever undertaken (routing through more than 100 nautical miles of environmentally sensitive and meteorologically active waterways), and then had to break away to do some inspection diving in Coastal Louisiana. How’s that for unique and diverse? Very cool. To search for open positions similar to Victor’s, Ingrid, PE ----------- Senior Engineer Ingrid has more than 20 years of experience specializing in structural analysis and design and operational simulations. She generally works on marine terminals and her responsibilities include siting studies, preliminary or detailed structural design, and logistics studies, to name just a few. How has your role developed in the seven years you’ve been with Moffatt & Nichol? The recent interest in liquid natural gas facilities has provided me with an opportunity to acquire new skills in operations and logistics. This work, plus my background in analysis, has enabled me to partner with engineers from other Moffatt & Nichol offices and to participate on projects throughout the United States. I am excited about the company’s international offices, which will hopefully give me more opportunities to get involved in interesting global projects as well. What about your role gives you the most satisfaction? Working on challenging projects and working with motivated and professional colleagues. Right now, I am working on an exciting project that gives me the opportunity to work with some very talented geotechnical engineers. I also enjoy logistics and modeling work, because I get to apply my business training and assist our clients with their capital investment decisions at the front end of a project’s life span. What separates Moffatt & Nichol from its competition? In my opinion, the Moffatt & Nichol culture emphasizes what really matters - the importance of doing good work and producing a quality product. Also, the firm is selective about who it hires; as a result, there is good harmony among the staff and a low turnover rate. What is the most amazing thing you have been involved with while working for M&N? One of the most exciting things that I have done at Moffatt & Nichol would be a fly-over I did with a colleague, in a small jet, of the Pacific coastline of Mexico to identify potential sites for a large marine terminal. The pilot was great at swooping in close. To search for open positions similar to Ingrid’s, Julie, AICP, CEP ------------------ Environmental Planner Julie, a planner with Moffatt & Nichol, was recently recognized as a certified planner by the American Planning Association. She also recently received her certification as an environmental professional from the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals. What kinds of projects do you work on? I work on National Environment Protection Agency projects such as environmental impact statements, environmental assessments and categorical exclusions; feasibility studies and concept reports; fatal flaw analyses; state and federal environmental permits; and international environmental policy. My background is strongest in biological, community, and health issues, but I also have an understanding of the basics of economics, water, engineering, cultural/historic resources, air, noise and other project issues, which allow me to pull together comprehensive analyses. How has the company changed since you arrived? Moffatt & Nichol’s staff has increased more than 30 percent in the two years I’ve been on board. We are growing in multiple practice areas and bringing on all levels of staff to support that growth – and it’s very exciting to be part of that. Even with all the growth, the feel of the company has remained solid and steady. The company has exceptionally managed the growth by informing and protecting its staff and clients during transition periods. What about your role gives you the most satisfaction? I find great satisfaction in the diversity of projects and in the flexibility to pursue emerging issues. I work on projects for highway transportation planning, wetland preservation and restoration, international coastal zone management policy, multi-state high speed rail studies and more at the local, state, national and international level. I also have to constantly learn and grow at the cutting edge of planning concepts, including the inclusion of LEED-ND [Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-Neighborhood Developments] requirements and health impact assessment training. It makes for a very dynamic day, and there is certainly no time to get bored. To search for open positions similar to Julie’s,