The Work Ahead

The American Public Works Association (APWA) describes Public Works as “the combination of physical assets, management practices, policies, and personnel necessary for government to provide and sustain structures and services essential to welfare and acceptable quality of life for its citizens.”

Each year in May we join in celebrating Public Works Week. We celebrate the projects that serve communities and make them a better place, and we celebrate the people that make those projects happen. It is public works teams that believe in the future of their communities and the value of the work ahead. That know that it is not just work ahead, but great work ahead. It is work that improves our infrastructure, provides for our neighbors, and offers longstanding safety for our communities.

Public works teams make sure that road work ahead means the road will work ahead. That a bump in the road is an opportunity to pave a new one. And the journey to success is always under construction. From water to utilities to trash collection - public works teams know that there will always be work ahead. Because it is public works teams that create great places to live.

Since SSM’s inception almost 90 years ago, we have been a company that strives to make the world a better place. That’s why we have worked with public works employees, officials and administrators to design, manage, oversee, and engineer solutions. We are honored to have worked alongside public works professionals for many years, and to continue to join them in reaching goals, attaining success, and embarking on the work ahead.

Serena DiMagno receives Samuel S. Baxter Award

SERENA DIMAGNO

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy is proud to announce that Serena DiMagno, Special Environmental Consultant was presented the Samuel S. Baxter Award during the 2021 PA-AWWA Conference.

The award is presented in recognition of outstanding personal service in the water supply field and in commemoration of leadership in the development of safe public water system facilities, the advancement of improved water supply practices and the promotion of a water works industry of high esteem and service to AWWA.

DiMagno has over 45 years of experience in water and wastewater system investigation, design, operations and treatment, management, regulatory negotiation, permitting and compliance. She has held leadership positions in both the private and public sectors including business development, client relationship management and marketing, in addition to having owned her own consulting firm, which she managed for 20 years.

DiMagno is a graduate of Chatham University. She has received the Water Works Operators’ Association of Pennsylvania Ivan M. Glace, Harry J. Krum and Fred G. Eckardt Awards and is a Past President of the Association.  DiMagno also received the 2012 AWWA George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service to the water supply field, as well as a special recognition award in 1999 for her contributions to the betterment of the water supply industry through application of her energy, knowledge, practical experience and business sense. 

 DiMagno is currently serving as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Systems Technical Advisory Committee (TAC Board). DiMagno has served in several leadership roles in AWWA, including as Pennsylvania’s AWWA South Central District Trustee and member of its board of directors, and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Water Utility Council. In addition to chairing the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee for the Water Works Operator’s Association of Pennsylvania since 1990.

Things You Should Know - Can you Read the Signs?

Workers Ahead

Flagger Ahead

Work Zone

Hard Hat Area

Test your knowledge- do you know all of these signs you may encounter while driving? It may have been a few years since your last driver’s test. Take this opportunity to re-acquaint yourself so you can do your part to ensure public works projects get done safely!

Workers Ahead

This sign is typically posted near areas of roadwork or construction (sometimes seen in white with a red border). If you encounter this sign, you should heed it as a warning and drive with caution. Prepare to be alert and slow down as well as increase your mindfulness of your surroundings. Often times this sign may also accompany reduced speed limits.

Flagger Ahead

This sign is also commonly referred to as “Road Construction Ahead.” This sign is to make you aware that there is a flagger controlling traffic ahead. Drivers should be prepared to follow the traffic signals given by an upcoming flagger. Often times these signals are indicated with either Stop or Slow panels, or red flags. Please be cautious when encountering a Flagger Ahead sign and be prepared to follow the adjusted traffic patterns.

Work Zone

Often times you will see work zone signs that are diamond-shaped and orange with black lettering. You may also encounter this sign that reminds you to turn on your headlights when driving through a work zone. This is true even if it’s day time and is the law for all posted work zones, active or not. You should always make sure to have your headlights on in a work zone, not only to avoid additional fines if pulled over- but to make your vehicle more visible to other drivers and especially to construction workers.

Hard Hat Area

While you may not encounter this sign while driving or traveling, we think it still worthwhile to mention. Hard Hat Area signs are posted in work areas where there is a potential risk of injury to the head. While these signs are often used and regulated for workers in the industry, they are an important reminder to be cautious and conscientious when near or approaching construction areas of all sorts. Remember that while construction projects may peak your curiosity, it is important to always keep your distance. Construction professionals are highly trained in workplace safety. Do not approach or enter areas of construction without authorized personnel to guide you and ensure your safe entry.

Supporting Public Works Initiatives

Township Road Projects

Utility Replacements

Water Main Replacement and Road Widening

Township Roads Project | This project included the rehabilitation of seven roads. The work included replacing 875 linear feet of corrugated metal pipe, the design of 2 ADA ramps, extensive base repair, partial and full-width milling (depending on the road) and bituminous overlay.

Road Bridge Project | SSM provided design, bidding and construction phases services for replacement of a 30’ span Township bridge using a prefabricated ConTech ConSpan Bridge System. Our services included project management, survey, roadway profile and reconstruction design, wetland study, utility coordination, obtaining PaDEP Chapter 105 General Permit and E&SCP approval from the MCCD, coordination with ConTech, coordination with geotechnical subconsultant for subsurface and foundation design analysis, preparing a detour plan, construction inspection and construction phase management.

Utility Replacement | SSM is providing engineering and field support to a Township for a variety of projects including replacement of water and sewer mains.

Trail Conversion | SSM provided field survey, preliminary design, final design, permitting, and technical specifications for the conversion of a portion of a road from a four-lane roadway to a two-lane roadway and a pedestrian/bicycle trail. The project included design of new vehicular medians, a trail separation median and ADA compliant curb ramps, along with signs and pavement markings. The project was prepared as a PennDOT project, due to funding, and included obtaining utility clearance and right of way clearance, as well as preparing Plans, Specifications & Estimates in the PennDOT ECMS format.

Water Main and Road Widening | SSM designed, bid and provided construction phase services for a critical link in this Township’s Water System allowing for a second water main crossing. The project included approximately 2000 LF of 12-inch water main and fire hydrants. As part of the project, SSM worked with the Township Public Works Staff and designed a road widening and repaving.

Infrastructure and Public Improvements | As the Township Engineer, SSM provides construction phase oversight for a number of concurrent large commercial and residential developments in this busy upscale community. SSM works in conjunction with Township staff to provide daily observation services for sanitary sewer, storm sewer, stormwater management, curb, paving, sidewalk and erosion and sediment controls construction.

The SSM Difference

We firmly believe that what truly makes us unique is not so much the range of services we provide, but the attitude with which we provide them.

First and foremost, we care about you. At SSM, we pride ourselves on becoming part of your team, part of your community and your trusted advisors. We strive every day and on every assignment to protect your interests, to respond to your needs, and to be part of your success.

We want our clients to experience success – their definition of success, not ours. When that means going the extra mile, we do it; when that means being available for a meeting, we’re available; when that means anticipating a need, we anticipate them.

Through our years of experience we have learned and developed proven standard approaches to many tasks that have been valuable for us and our clients. We balance that experience with an attitude of flexibility and service – a willingness to tailor ourselves to best meet community needs in the way they should be met

You will find this type of attitude throughout our staff. Our core values support our overall mission to enhance the quality of life for our clients, for our employees and for all of the people touched by the work that we do. These values include embracing creativity and innovation, encouraging individual passions and taking joint ownership of our clients’ success.

We pride ourselves in helping to bring community visions to life .

Spottlight on Growth

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More than ten years ago, a team at SSM planted these Japanese Cherry Blossom trees. They were mere saplings then. Since then, they’ve rooted. They’ve grown. They’ve bloomed.

Our roots go back to 1932. We were mere saplings then. Just a few team members looking to engineer solutions that make the world a better place. Since then, we’ve also grown. We’ve branched out and expanded our services. We’ve been resilient. We’ve stayed rooted in our values and in our mission. We’ve absorbed and soaked in the nutrients and the resources that our communities have offered us. And- perhaps our favorite- we’ve helped our clients’ visions bloom.

But as James Penny Cash once said, “Growth is never by mere chance. It is the result of forces working together.” SSM is the blooming, beautiful tree that greets you- because of the many forces that have worked together.

It is the Civil Engineering team, that has turned SSM into the resource that communities, institutions, and businesses turn to for forward-thinking solutions to everyday challenges. It is our Facilities team that has taken expertise, and powerful integrative approaches and turned SSM into the best, single-source solution for any facilities engineering challenge, no matter how many facets. Our Environmental team, that blooms by their ability to be a resource for cost-effective, well-engineered solutions whether it’s water and wastewater engineering to water resources. It’s our Survey and Data team that brings the force of not only accuracy, but expertise and care. And it’s our newest branch, our Energy and Sustainability team, that waters the seeds of growth for future generations while breaking down the barriers to our clients’ success and energy challenges.

These are the forces that have led to our growth, our resilience, our rooted care and grounded values. These are the forces of SSM.

Leave Earth a Better Place

Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. (United States Environmental Protection Agency).

That’s right, rain and Stormwater have a direct path into our bodies of water. When rain falls onto homes and buildings it “runs off” instead of infiltrating into the ground and vegetation. But- Stormwater runoff takes any and all pollutants and contaminants it finds along the way.

Managing the water that falls on the land is an increasingly complex issue- one that we know all about. SSM’s has been designing Stormwater management systems to meet ever evolving state and local regulations over the past 50 years. Stormwater management has always been a significant part of land development design. However, the focus has shifted from merely conveying water through a site effectively to controlling the volume of runoff through infiltration. This generally requires innovation in design to effectively utilize both land space and the area dedicated for development.

SSM has decades of experience both designing and reviewing Post-Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Plans as well as Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). Our experience reviewing a wide variety of plans from various engineering firms (in the role of municipal engineer) gives us significant insight into our role as designers for land development projects. We are well acquainted with the local municipal and PaDEP permitting and approval requirements and processes, as we routinely obtain NPDES construction site Stormwater permits. While much of our Stormwater design work is in conjunction with land development plans, some are also stand-alone projects.

We are proud leaders in the field of stormwater management and have refined a comprehensive list of services that are designed to meet a variety of Stormwater management needs.

• Storm Sewer Design

• BMP and Infiltration Design

• Erosion and Sedimentation Control

• NPDES Permits

• PaDEP Encroachment Permits

• FEMA Approvals

Solar Carport Design - SSM provided storm sewer upgrade design for an approximately 8-acre parking lot that was being retrofitted with solar canopies over all parking spaces. Our design included determining the spacing of downspouts along the panels, and designing a new pipe conveyance system for the roof panel drainage, that ultimately tied into the existing storm drainage system along the lower portions of the lot.

Park Additions - SSM provided stormwater management facility design as a subconsultant to Simone Collins Landscape Architecture for additional recreation facilities at an existing Township Park. We performed field survey and provided base plans, infiltration testing and designed infiltration facilities for five new and/or expanded facilities.

Township Park - SSM provided stormwater management facility design as a subconsultant to Simone Collins Landscape Architecture for a new Township Park on a 20-acre former industrial site. We performed field survey and provided base plans, infiltration testing and designed collection, conveyance and infiltration facilities for the proposed recreation facilities, pavilion and parking areas.

Be a Part of the Solution

SSM is proud to be a part of ongoing street projects with the City of Reading. We have provided a variety of services including field survey, engineering and design services, as well as ongoing construction phase services.

SSM has been completing multiple municipal street and road improvement projects just like these every year for over 35 years. These street projects provide community residents and neighbors not only smoother drives but safer and pride-worthy streets. SSM’s municipal experience is comprehensive- including development of a number of Long-Term Maintenance Programs for clients. This means determining the quality level to which they want to maintain their roads and then planning ahead to do so in a cost-effective manner. This also establishes a long-term budget projection to aid with financial planning. We have extensive experience designing yearly Street Improvement Projects, employing a variety of repair techniques, and guiding the project through the procurement process. Our team manages the Street Maintenance Program Procurement, works hand in hand with the Public Works Department, and provides insight to ensure a cost effective street maintenance program is achieved. From start to finish- idea to construction, we’ve got you covered.

SSM has been an integral part of local municipalities since 1932. We know municipal communities- we know the people they serve, and we know the needs they address. Keeping your roadways and municipal infrastructure in good condition is key to serving your community.

Congratulations to the City of Reading, on continuing their road projects.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it all!

Be Like a Tree

More than ten years ago, a team at SSM planted these Japanese Cherry Blossom trees. They were mere saplings then. Since then, they’ve rooted. They’ve grown. They’ve bloomed.

Our roots go back to 1932. We were mere saplings then. Just a few team members looking to engineer solutions that make the world a better place. Since then, we’ve also grown. We’ve branched out and expanded our services. We’ve been resilient. We’ve stayed rooted in our values and in our mission. We’ve absorbed and soaked in the nutrients and the resources that our communities have offered us. And- perhaps our favorite- we’ve helped our clients’ visions bloom.

But as James Penny Cash once said, “Growth is never by mere chance. It is the result of forces working together.” SSM is the blooming, beautiful tree that greets you- because of the many forces that have worked together.

It is the Civil Engineering team, that has turned SSM into the resource that communities, institutions, and businesses turn to for forward-thinking solutions to everyday challenges. It is our Facilities team that has taken expertise, and powerful integrative approaches and turned SSM into the best, single-source solution for any facilities engineering challenge, no matter how many facets. Our Environmental team, that blooms by their ability to be a resource for cost-effective, well-engineered solutions whether it’s water and wastewater engineering to water resources. It’s our Survey and Data team that brings the force of not only accuracy, but expertise and care. And it’s our newest branch, our Energy and Sustainability team, that waters the seeds of growth for future generations while breaking down the barriers to our clients’ success and energy challenges.

These are the forces that have led to our growth, our resilience, our rooted care and grounded values. These are the forces of SSM.

Allow for Growth

What could your organization do with 5-10% more cash to invest?

If you could find those funds in your existing operations budget- what could you do with it? What if it allowed new forces to work together? What initiatives would you move forward? Building expansions, product line enhancements, technology improvements?

Most businesses and organizations are in a constant state of strategic development- looking for new ways to improve their business and grow their sales. The catch, however, is that cash often fuels growth. The key is unlocking those funds.

One of the larger expenses for any organization is their utilities and operations/maintenance costs. While often these costs are viewed as fixed- there are ways to reduce them while also contributing to making the world a better place.

Enhancing the efficiency of an HVAC system with a sustainable, long-term energy conservation plan can maximize your energy efficiency in turn decreasing your costs. Like we said- what could your organization do with 5-10% more cash to invest?

In addition to supporting strategic Sustainability and Resiliency goals an investment in your energy usage can increase your organization’s bottom line. The benefits include reduced energy bills, reduced operating expenses, increased life of your equipment, and insulation from rising energy prices.

We have the technical experts on our team. We serve the City of Philadelphia as their energy advisor for design and construction services as well as several additional municipalities and facilities improving operations.

Step #1: Energy Audit. Assess your existing base systems and find where your organization can increase your savings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Paul Spiegel, PE, LEED AP
Director, Energy and Sustainability Services
paul.speiegel@ssmgroup.com

Webinar: PA C-PACE for Property Managers

Webinar: PA C-PACE for Property Managers

April 8, 2021, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

The webinar will outline what projects qualify for C-PACE, how the loans work and the technical requirements of an application. Learn how to use this financing to make large capital improvements that may lower your utility costs and improve the cash flow of your building.

On the Agenda :

• C-PACE Financing Basics: How it works and what it can fund. Presented by Shannon Crooker, Director of Program Related Investments Sustainable Energy Fund

• C-PACE In Action: Energy conservation measures from actual projects and the savings impacts. Presented by Paul D. Spiegel, P.E., LEED AP Director, Energy and Sustainability Services Practical Energy Solutions, a Division of Spotts, Stevens and McCoy

Register Here

Use PROMO CODE SSM2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Paul Spiegel, PE, LEED AP | Director, Energy and Sustainability Services
paul.spiegel@ssmgroup.com

DOWNLOAD SLIDE PRESENTATION

From the Farm to the Table: A Little Taste of SSM

It takes a lot to bring a product to market. Experts in the food industry should focus on just that- food. Because after all, addressing needs such as: regulatory compliance, increased capacity, routine maintenance, and facility expansion shouldn’t take away from doing what they know best. That’s why farmers, processors, distributors, and even restauranteurs all turn to SSM. We help secure prime locations, plan more efficient warehouses and distribution centers, conduct feasibility studies, upgrade utilities and building systems, improve traffic flow, and expand operations. By taking the lead on the engineering side, we enable the food industry to focus more on their core business.

Poultry Farming

• Structural Design Services | The design of a 275,000 gallon rectangular equalization tank included identifying IBC loading criteria, and calculations for design of CIP concrete walls and base slab.

• New Public Water Supply | This water supply development project entailed conducting fracture trace analysis, locating potential well sites, overseeing test well drilling, designing well construction specifications, performing aquifer testing programs, analyzing pump test data, and preparing permit application materials for state and federal regulatory review.

Food Processing

• Confectionary Manufacturer | Prepared annual stormwater NPDES site inspection reports.

• Meat Processor | Performed various services including health and safety training and environmental audit of plant operations with regard to air, wastewater, hazardous substance, storage tank, and residual and hazardous waste regulations.

• Brewing Facility | Performed an asbestos reinspection and mold investigation for potential purchase of an existing brewing facility

• Bakery | Survey and civil engineering services for the design of a new 140-space trailer storage parking lot including bedrock depth investigation, stormwater management design, and electrical lighting design.

Warehousing and Distribution

• Distribution Center | Provided comprehensive structural, mechanical, and electrical services to convert an abandoned 125,000 SF processing facility into a food products distribution center. SSM utilized high-definition scanning data to create a complete point cloud database in preparation for the retrofit and reuse.

• Supermarket | Performed site design engineering services for the expansion to an existing Store. This design-build project included a site survey, creating an existing conditions base plan, developing construction drawings, which included site grading and stormwater management, utility relocation, and erosion and sediment control.

Gathering Places

• Restaurant | Provided design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the conversion of a former furniture store into the 7,000 square foot restaurant and bar.

• University Kitchen | Designed the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for student housing that included the conversion of existing housing units into a new kitchen facility and a serving and dining pavilion.

Celebrating Surveyors and Agriculture

March 23, 2021: National Ag Day

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This month we joined The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) in celebrating National Ag Day. From understanding how food and products are made to valuing its role in the economy- we celebrate agriculture.

Over the past 20 years, SSM has provided more than 400 Agricultural Land Preservation Easement Surveys. Our team has surveyed and helped to preserve over 30,000 acres of Berks County Farmland.

An agricultural conservation easement is a permanent legal restriction on land development that limits future uses of land to agricultural purposes.

Our survey team provides services that combine land record research and a physical property survey and inspection. They identify existing easements associated with the land and any structures on the property that are present as a result of easements (utility pipelines, roadways, transmission wires and access points on the land). Our team utilizes conventional survey methods, GPS systems along with drone flight data to complete the surveys. Easement Survey plans and legal descriptions are drafted and become part of the final recorded documents for the project.

March 21-27, 2021: National Surveyors Week

Every year in March we take a week to celebrate the surveying profession. We celebrate the way our surveyors see the world differently: through the vision of making the world a better place, through the lens of technology, and through the eyes of precision and data. Surveyors see the world- from construction sites, to farm preservation, to insides of factories, and even to aerial site evaluations.

We celebrate our surveyors because of the accuracy, the expertise, and the care that they contribute to every project, to every challenge, and to every solution.

Since 1932, SSM has prided itself on being at the forefront of surveying expertise. Over those nearly 90 years, we have consistently refined our practices, while maintaining our values. Because when it comes to your projects- quality and precision are what you deserve.

We like to say that good surveyors take measurements and collect data. But great surveyors- our surveyors- take accurate measurements, gather precise data, and provide the care and attention that not any project needs, but your project needs. Because your projects shouldn’t just get done, they should get done correctly.

What we do best, is what you don’t. Expertise means having the skills, having the knowledge, and having the experience. Expertise is nearly 90 years of refining practices, nearly 90 years of pioneering technology, and nearly 90 years of mastering skills and solving problems. We pride ourselves on being the experts- so you don’t have to be.

Our survey team is here to help.

• Boundary and Retracement Surveys

• ALTA/ACSM Title Surveys

• Drone Applications

• Landfill Surveying

• GPS and VRS Surveying

• Aerial Mapping Control

• Geodetic Control

• Municipal Control for GIS Applications

• High-Definition Laser Scanning

• Building and Construction Stakeout

• Topographic Surveys

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Surveys

• As-Build Site and Utility Surveys

• Subdivision and Land Development Surveys

• Bathymetric Surveys

Meet the Surveyors: Check out our interviews with 3 of SSM’s survey team members.

Sam Zook, PLS

Sam is the Director of Surveying and Data Capture. Read his interview here!

Tom Rowe, PLS

Tom is a Chief Surveyor. Read his interview here!

Zane Britton

Zane is a Survey Crew Chief. Read his interview here!

Spottlight on the Table

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IN THIS ISSUE:

We bring everything to the table.

We aren’t like other restaurants. Well, we aren’t a restaurant at all; we’re an engineering firm. But, we do have one thing in common with your favorite local dinner spot: our menu. Have you seen our menu? It’s our carefully curated list of services that is specially designed to not only meet the needs of our clients, our communities, our generation, our environment- but is also specifically designed around the expertise of our team members. It’s the things we do best.

You might know us best for surveying. You come to us every time you have a surveying-need. We get it, stick to what you know will never let you down. (Sort of like that pasta you always order.) Maybe it’s not surveying. Maybe you are hooked on our Municipal Division, or our Electrical Engineering team. But have you ever tried our Structural team? What about our Environmental Group? They’re just as good. And we think- no, we know- you’ll find them to be a reliable go-to as well. Better yet, try all of our teams. After all, what’s better than a full table?

At SSM, we are passionate about bringing not just one thing to the table. We are a multi-disciplinary engineering, environmental, and surveying firm. We bring everything to the table.

But it isn’t just about the menu. Because even a great menu doesn’t mean a great meal. At SSM, we say “what we do best, is what you don’t.” We are the fine chefs and crew that pull it all together in a way that can’t be replicated by others. Tough projects, unique solutions, challenging circumstances- all of these are why clients seek SSM. Because bringing everything to the table isn’t just about the food. It’s about the skills it took to get there. It’s about the craft that led the way. It’s about the expertise that stands out above it all.

At SSM, our purpose is to help you stick to yours. Because when we’re at the table, you get to enjoy the meal.

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Webinar:
PA C-PACE for Property Managers

April 8, 2021, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
The webinar will outline what projects qualify for C-PACE, how the loans work and the technical requirements of an application. Learn how to use this financing to make large capital improvements that may lower your utility costs and improve the cash flow of your building.

Kate Lyons Earns Green Associate Accreditation

LINDSEY WALASKI, LEED AP, CEM

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy (SSM) a family-owned, regional engineering, environmental and surveying firm announces Kate Lyons, Graduate Geologist, has recently earned her LEED® Green Associate accreditation. Kate is a member of the Energy and Sustainability Services Team at SSM and works on a range of projects, including strategic energy and sustainability planning, energy assessments, K-12 education programs, and LEED certification. She also works with the City of Philadelphia’s Energy Office to provide energy database and LEED documentation support. She has a background in sustainability leadership and outreach from her past work with the Temple University Office of Sustainability. Kate is a recent graduate of Temple University with a BS in Geology, Environmental Studies Minor, and GIS Certificate.

About the Accreditation: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. The LEED Green Associate credential affirms a professional’s thorough comprehension of green building principles and practices.

About the Firm: Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, Inc. is a family-owned regional engineering, environmental and surveying firm headquartered in Wyomissing PA with satellite offices in Lancaster, West Chester and Lehigh Valley. SSM provides services to various types of local, regional and national businesses that include commercial, industrial, manufacturing and telecommunications as well as healthcare and higher education institutions.

Surveyor Highlight: Zane Britton

An Interview with Zane Britton.

Zane is a Survey Crew Chief at SSM.

What do you love about surveying? Why do you do what you do?
The things I love about surveying are the daily challenges we face. Every job has different challenges that keep us sharp in problem solving and critical thinking. I also enjoy that we are outside daily. (I love it more when it’s warm out!)

What is something about surveying that makes you excited to talk about? Let your nerd flag fly!
What gets me excited about surveying is the variety of work that we do. From flying drones, to high-definition scanning, construction stakeout and boundary surveys. I actually get to see knowledge that I learned in school get put to use.

Do you have a favorite project or experience?
My favorite project so far is a Senior Living Center in King of Prussia. We were there for months on end and able to see it go from being just dirt in the ground to now an 11-story building.

What’s your favorite type of project?
I’d say my favorite type of work is going to the farms for boundary surveys. Nothing is more pleasing than finding a 100 year-old marble monument or stone in the middle of woods where you never think you’d find it.

What do you wish people knew about surveying?
The one and only think I wish people knew was that we aren’t standing on the side of the road taking pictures. We’re actually measuring precise angles and distances.

Why surveying at SSM?
I’d say working at SSM is better than anywhere else because of the camaraderie it brings. I don’t feel like just another number, it feels more like a family. We work 40 hours a week together and we all still hang out outside of work. That just shows the type of relationship we have.

What does Zane outside of work do for fun?
Outside of work I enjoy doing home projects on the house I bought. I’m learning other skills that I will have for the rest of my life. I also enjoy hanging out with friends and doing things that get me out of the house.

#ProblemSolved: Our Survey and Data Capture Team is here to help.

Surveyor Highlight: Tom Rowe, PLS

An Interview with Tom Rowe, PLS

Tom is a Chief Surveyor at SSM.

TOM ROWe is a chief surveyor in ssm’s survey and data capture department. this year he’ll be celebrating his 36th year with ssm. tom is a jim thorpe native, a penn state lover, and a pappy to 4 beautiful little boys.

What do you love about surveying?
The thing I love most about surveying is the mix of the various aspects of our work. From research, to planning, to field work, and ultimately to drafting up the results.

What’s the thing about surveying that makes you excited to talk about? Let your nerd flag fly!
One thing about property surveys is sometimes you need to become a little like Sherlock Holmes. You’re like a detective trying to utilize the clues given in order to come to the correct solution.

How would you describe what it is that you do to an elementary-aged child?
Once I was asked to give an overview and demonstration of surveying to a pack of cub scouts working towards a specific merit badge. I described my job by saying the measure things for a living. I also showed them a picture of Mount Rushmore and asked them who they see. After they responded “presidents” I unfolded the picture a little more and said, “but to me, they are 3 surveyors and another guy".” I did this to demonstrate that surveying is an ancient and honorable profession.

Do you have a favorite project, experience, or type of work?
I definitely love the property survey work. I have been on so many surveys for these oh so many years so it’s difficult to pick a few favorites. I still get a kick out of doing some background work, research and calculations, then going to the field and walking right up to the missing property corner I was hunting for!

What do you wish people knew about surveying?
I wish some people would be aware that sometimes surveys may not come out in their favor. On numerous occasions I have informed clients that I might not give them the answer they want to hear.

What are some other meaningful things we should know about your time surveying with SSM?
My wife and I have been married for nearly 34 years, and we met at Northampton County Courthouse. She was working in the Assessor’s Office and I came in to research a property we were going to survey… and she waited on me! So yes, my SSM career started before my marriage! My 2 daughters were born thereafter. Ashley and Shannon have given us 4 grandsons at this point. Funny how generations work: I come from all boys, had all girls, and now have only grandsons!

What makes you unique- what are the little known facts you use in icebreakers?
My little known fact is I have NEVER had a cup of coffee in my life! Another interesting fact is that a surveyor from my hometown lived just a few doors down the street and was pretty much responsible for my apprenticeship in surveying.

What does at-home Tom like to do in his free time?
Away from SSM, my biggest hobby is I love to sing. I was involved with a group known as The New Approach for nearly 18 years. Each summer we would perform 3 shows with all of the proceeds going to help fight cancer. This group was together for a total of 47 years, raising around 1 million dollars through that span! The group eventually disbanded. But, my wife got me a karaoke machine for Father’s Day recently, so we crank it up from time to time.

#ProblemSolved: Our Survey and Data Capture Team is here to help.

Surveyor Highlight: Sam Zook, PLS

An Interview with Sam Zook, PLS

Sam Zook is the Director of Surveying and Data Capture at SSM. This year, he’ll be celebrating his 9th year of service with SSM. Sam is an achiever, a learner, and a relator. He’s also a dad of boys who loves fresh water fishing and trips to hardware stores.

Sam Zook is the Director of Surveying and Data Capture at SSM.

The 4th week of March is Surveyors Week, which is a week to celebrate the impressive things Surveyors do for the world and celebrate their impacts. So tell us- what do you love about surveying?
I love the research precision of survey.

You have kids- how do they describe what you do?
My son once did a homework assignment where he wrote: My dad is a surveyor. He measures land and makes plans for buildings.

Do you have a favorite project or experience with surveying?
My favorite type of projects that we work one are the Farm Surveys that we do for Berks County. But as far as a sense of accomplishment, we worked with Doylestown Hospital on an expansion and that one was a favorite project to complete.

There are a lot of different types of surveys. Which one is your favorite?
Boundary surveys are my favorite type of survey. They are like a research project, and scavenger hunt. It’s challenging and exciting like putting together a puzzle.

What makes being a surveyor at SSM great?
The effort that SSM puts in to keep us on the cutting edge of practices and technology as well as the overall company culture all make SSM a great place to be a surveyor.

What makes outside-of-work Sam happy?
Outside of SSM I enjoy doing anything outside. But, I especially enjoy landscaping and working in the yard.

#ProblemSolved: Our Survey and Data Capture Team is here to help. Send an email to Sam Zook, PLS at sam.zook@ssmgroup.com.

Jason Newhard, CCM Earns Certified Construction Manager Designation

JASON NEWHARD, CCM

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy (SSM) a family-owned, regional engineering, environmental and surveying firm announces Jason Newhard, CCM has earned the Certified Construction Manager designation. Newhard is the Manager of the Water/Wastewater Operations Department at the firm. His responsibilities include managing the firm’s water, wastewater and industrial treatment plant operations initiatives, providing ongoing operational support services, advice, training, and troubleshooting, as may be required to assist client operations staff in maintaining treatment process efficiencies, effectiveness and DEP compliance, and assisting with design and operations with water distribution and sanitary sewer collection systems.

He has served as project manager on municipal utility projects, treatment plants, and road and storm sewer design projects and has managed multiple construction projects for both the public and private sector. He holds a BS in Civil and Construction Technology from Temple University and is a PA Water Works Certified Operator.

About the Certification: The Certified Construction Manager (CCM®) recognizes professionals who have chosen a career in construction management and voluntarily met the prescribed criteria of the construction management certification program with regards to formal education, field experience and demonstrated capability and understanding of the CMAA body of knowledge. The CCM is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI®) under the International Organization for Standardization’s 17024 standard. The purpose of the CCM is to improve delivery of the built environment by identifying the construction managers (CMs) who are best qualified by education and experience to deliver professional construction management services at the highest level of quality and ethical conduct.

About the Firm: Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, Inc. is a family-owned regional engineering, environmental and surveying firm headquartered in Wyomissing PA with satellite offices in Lancaster, West Chester and Lehigh Valley. SSM provides services to various types of local, regional and national businesses that include commercial, industrial, manufacturing and telecommunications as well as healthcare and higher education institutions.

Spottlight on Engineers

What we do best - is what you don’t.

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We aren’t an engineering firm. If we were just an engineering firm, we’d assess, we’d solve, and then we’d cross it off of our list. But we’re not just an engineering firm. We are so much more.

Our engineers are so much more. We’re a firm that believes our people are your people. A firm that believes in innovation; built on a solid foundation. We’re an engineering firm that believes in improving the quality of life for our clients, our employees, and for all of the people touched by the work that we do.

February 21-27 is Engineers Week. This is the week we celebrate the engineers at our firm that make the world a better place. Our engineers. The ones that believe their work is important. Know their clients’ visions are important. And bring to the table the passion to make good work happen. Those are our engineers. Because our engineers don’t believe in just getting the job done. At SSM, we’re here to help. Because our purpose is to help you stick to yours.

This year, our engineers solved problems. They navigated challenges, fulfilled visions, and they created solutions. This year, our engineers:

• Cultivated innovative and energy-efficient solutions for indoor growing facilities.

• Provided a multi-state, corporate-wide coating booth evaluation for compliance with OSHA, ACGIH, EPA, NFPA, and company standards.

• Assisted a food processor in expanding their facilities and innovating their process to provide better ergonomic equipment and increased productivity.

• Utilized high-definition scanning data to create a complete point cloud database of a facility in preparation for the retrofit and reuse of the facility.

• Designed a laboratory upgrade to include a 20-ton air handling unit for temperature and humidity control for semiconductor research tool.

• Applied energy audit data and building simulations to develop and design upgrades for a building that will result in a reduction of energy consumption by 45%.

These are our engineers. What they do best, is allow you to do what you do best.