Agustin Conesa, PE, BCEE Joins SSM as Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer
We welcome Agustin Conesa, PE, BCEE as a Senior Water and Wastewater Engineer. Mr. Conesa will be a key component in the firm’s water, wastewater and industrial process engineering and design efforts and will provide quality control/quality assurance oversight on all project initiatives. He has more than 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and water/wastewater consulting engineering market.
Agustin Conesa, PE, BCEE
SSM celebrates another member of our Boomerang Club as we welcome Agustin Conesa, PE, BCEE as a Senior Water and Wastewater Engineer. Mr. Conesa will be a key component in the firm’s water, wastewater and industrial process engineering and design efforts and will provide quality control/quality assurance oversight on all project initiatives. He has more than 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and water/wastewater consulting engineering market.
His experience includes project management, process and project design of the following:
- Biological and enhanced nutrient removal (BNR/ENR) systems
- Pump stations
- Raw influent wastewater screening and de-gritting systems
- Aeration systems
- Disinfection and chemical feed systems
- Modeling of activated sludge processes
- Solid waste stabilization processes including biosolids dewatering and drying systems
- Energy cogeneration systems
- Process and instrumentation control systems
Based on the most recognizable type of boomerang, the Returning Boomerang; a special kind, that when thrown correctly, travels in a curved path and returns to its point of origin, the club was created as a means of celebrating those employees that had traveled their career path and returned to their point of origin, SSM.
Our company’s spirit, professional opportunities and working environment are certainly part of the power that draws our Boomerangers back.
Chemical Safety in Water/Wastewater Treatment Facilities
SE AWWA - Chemical Safety session provides participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
SE AWWA Fall Conference
Darryl Jenkins, PE | Vice President Civil and Environmental Engineering presents 'Chemical Safety in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities' providing participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
Chemical Handling
Recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
Berks County Water and Sewer Association Annual Conference
Darryl Jenkins, PE | Vice President Civil and Environmental Engineering presents 'Chemical Safety in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities' providing participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
2017 PennTec Conference
Real-world water/wastewater system examples that use online GIS applications to transform infrastructure data into an easy-to-use operations asset management system.
Online GIS Applications and Asset Management
This presentation provides real-world water/wastewater system examples that use online GIS applications to transform their infrastructure data into an easy-to-use operations asset management system. This low-cost approach captures vital data within a secure geo-spatial database. By creating customized mobile web applications, field-critical data (material description, installation date, inspection reports and service history) is available when needed most and accessible to operators in the office or in the field.
2017 PA-AWWA Conference
Overview of the timeline, regulatory requirements, construction and operation of the the Water Treatment Plant.
From Concept to Operation: A 10-year review of the Birdsboro Municipal Authority Water Treatment Plant
In 2007 the Birdsboro Municipal Authority began evaluating the need for a new Water Treatment Plant as their existing 1.0 mgd traveling bridge filter plant was starting to show signs of potential failure. The Authority worked through a feasibility/conceptual study, prepared a pilot protocol, performed the pilot and submitted a pilot report. The Authority then moved into design, construction and operation of the membrane filtration plant. This presentation will review the timeline, regulatory requirements, construction and operation of the WTP. The presentation will provide an overview of the process by the engineer and membrane manufacturer
Presenters:
Christina Crawford, PE, MBA | Spotts, Stevens and McCoy | Ms. Crawford has over 16 years’ experience in environmental engineering. Her responsibilities include client management, client retention, water and wastewater design, design specifications, cost opinions, municipal rate evaluations and review of developer plans. Ms. Crawford also assists clients with identifying sources for project funding utilizing Pennvest and other loan/grant programs, and provides assistance to clients during construction for the disbursement of funds and for project close-out. Ms. Crawford has a Master’s Business Administration from Villanova University and BS Environmental Engineering from Old Dominion University. She is a member of the Water Environment Federation, Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) and the Young Professionals Chair and Board member for Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association (EPWPCOA).
Don Moore | Evoqua Water Technologies | Don has over 23 years’ experience with water and wastewater membrane systems. He manages the sales and business development process for capital equipment in the US and Canada for the Evoqua Memcor® Membrane Product line. Mr. Moore has a Master’s in Business Administration from Loyola University, MD and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA).
Public-Facing Maps: Using GIS as a Community Outreach Tool
Be it road closures, boil water advisories, or utility repairs, public notifications play a vital role in municipal government. Many municipalities have adopted web-based notifications as a way to broadcast information to its citizens.
PSATS 2017 Annual Conference
presented by: Alfred Guiseppe, PG | Director, Water Resources
Overview
Designed to provide attendees with examples of how municipalities across the nation use intuitive, interactive online maps to convey important public information to their community, this session will cover a range of public works topics including public notifications, traffic control, road maintenance, water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, source water protection, potential sources of contamination, stormwater best management practices, and asset management.
Be it road closures, boil water advisories, or utility repairs, public notifications play a vital role in municipal government. Many municipalities have adopted web-based notifications as a way to broadcast information to its citizens. The increased popularity of interactive online maps, like Google Maps, have paved the way for municipalities to employ public-facing maps as a means to push important information to the public. Interactive maps can also serve as a two-way information exchange.
Links to Resources
click on the live links below or Download the Resources Sheet
MUNICIPAL GIS EXAMPLES
PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS & OUTREACH
Chester Co. Water Resources Authority
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
Wyomissing Borough Refuse Collection
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
GETTING STARTED
2017 PA Rural Water Association Annual Conference
Filtration Operations and Optimization
Treating your Water/Wastewater Operation Like a Business
Treating your Water or Wastewater Operations Like a Business
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Darryl Jenkins, PE
Groundhog Day: Pipe Condition Assessment
Our water/wastewater engineers can help remedy even your largest sewer problems and nuisances!
For more than 50 years, SSM's water and wastewater engineers have been addressing capacity and blockage issues in stormwater pipes, sanitary sewer mains and assessing the conditions of underground pipes.
We can help remedy even your largest sewer problems and nuisances!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Scott Carl, Sr. | Division Vice President | Water and Wastewater Engineering and Operations
Sam Zook, SIT Receives Certification as Drone Pilot
Sam Zook, SIT is the third surveyor at SSM to receive certification as a Drone Pilot.
Sam Zook, SIT, Surveyor has received his certification as a FAA Certified Remote Pilot. Zook is one of three certified pilots at SSM. He is a 2009 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology.
On June 21st, 2016 the FAA finalized a new regulatory framework for small, unmanned aerial systems. Titled Part 107, these new regulations created a new drone certification process that covers the majority of low-risk, commercial UAS flight operations for all commercially operated drones. Commercial refers to any kind of flight operation that can be tied to economic benefit. These new regulations were implemented on August 29, 2016.
Spottlight on Resolutions for the New Year
New Year’s is the perfect time of year to reflect on areas where you’d like to see a change in your organization and to take steps to achieve those improvements.
The Tradition of Resolutions
From losing weight to saving more money, from learning to knit to running a marathon, from spending more time with family to quitting smoking . . . the practice of making New Year’s resolutions is a worldwide tradition that’s steeped in history. Four thousand years ago in ancient Babylonia the people held celebrations in honor of the new year. They affirmed their loyalty to their king and made promises to the gods to pay their debts and returned borrowed objects. In return for keeping these promises, the gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. In ancient Rome, the new year was a symbolic time to look at the previous year and ahead to the future. Friends settled differences and people exchanged gifts like pears or sweets as wishes for a sweet new year. We’d like to wish you a Sweet New Year and invite you to take advantage of our business relationships and enjoy an assortment of treats representing some of our clients.
Click here to request a free Taste of SSM.
Business Resolutions
New Year’s is the perfect time of year to reflect on areas where you’d like to see a change in your organization and to take steps to achieve those improvements. Let’s face it – a resolution looks a lot like a goal. You set an objective, outline a plan, and take action. So why not resolve to make some changes in your organization?
- Think about what you want to achieve.
- Say it out loud.
- Ask for help.
Resolution: Focus on the Core
It takes a lot to make and market a product. It also takes a lot to assure regulatory compliance as well as address needs such as increased capacity, routine maintenance and facility expansion. That's why manufacturers of everything from chocolate to steel turn to SSM when it comes time to 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 facilities engineering side, we enable manufacturers to focus more on their core business.
Resolution: Stop Wasting Energy
Are you faced with hot spots, cold spots, and a basic mismatch of providing more nominal cooling than necessary? Whether you use underfloor air distribution or “in the space” cooling, getting the air to the load has been a trial and error undertaking usually resulting in oversized cooling capacity and less floor space. The overlooked fundamental issue is air distribution.
We utilize CFD analysis to optimize the cooling system and layout. The data power load and the cooling system are matched and arranged to achieve maximum energy efficiency. This keeps the cost of cooling both in equipment and operation down while maximizing the data load capability. We create a model that replicates the physical data center layout including power densities and cooling equipment locations and capabilities and the analysis is run to determine the resulting temperatures and airflows in the space. Using programs specifically designed for use in analyzing air movement and heat transfer, we can create a virtual simulation of the conditions within the data center. The CFD analysis is a valuable tool for data center design that can save time and money by taking the guess work out of rack layout and cooling airflow design.
Spottlight - August 2016
Prevent disasters with a proactive approach to water quality. Protect your system with current and comprehensive emergency procedures.Maintain a current Emergency Response Plan to help reduce impacts to your system by unforeseen circumstances, or situations beyond your control.
Six Tips for a Healthy Water or Sewer System
1. Check the Pulse - Through your day-to-day operations of your water/wastewater system, are you keeping your finger on the pulse of your system? One way to do that is to liberate your Geographic Information System (GIS) data through the use of web-enabled mobile applications. Transform your water/wastewater infrastructure data into an easy-to-use operations Asset Management system.
2. Monitor the Pressure - Starting with the first day of pumping, the yield of a groundwater well will slowly begin to decline. The decline in performance is attributed to physical and biological clogging of the well. As water is pumped, fine sediment can be drawn towards the well, plugging the water flow pathways. Biological growth can also develop throughout the well, but especially in the primary water-bearing zones, where the bacteria can effectively reduce the well yield.
3. Protect your Immune System - In the event of an emergency that could impact treatment plant operations, immediate action is often critical in preventing or minimizing the incident. Boost your immunity from disaster by developing a comprehensive emergency response plan (ERP) as required by DEP. Possible emergency situations include a distribution system line break, power outages, drought conditions, disinfection system failure, contamination of supply, pump failure, and prolonged outage.
4. Prevention is the Best Protection - The first step towards prevention is to develop a Source Water Protection Plan. To maintain its usefulness, a Source Water Protection Plan should be updated every five years.
5. Check your Footing - In certain parts of Berks County, the ground can fall out from beneath your feet. What would you do if your utility lines were threatened by a sinkhole? SSM personnel have assisted municipalities, insurance companies, and legal defense teams in settlement instances involving sinkhole and non-sinkhole related damage claims. By observing, evaluating and documenting site specific details, we have often been successful at determining the causes leading to ground failures. Determining these details and causes have often been beneficial to our clientele whereby at times limiting their liability or determining their involvement with remediating sites and damaged infrastructures.
6. Have a Vision - Accurate knowledge of your system asset and infrastructural component locations in your water/wastewater system plays a vital role in healthy operations. Key operational decisions require precise geographic information. Relying on an outdated or incomplete system map will lead to wasted time and potentially costly mistakes. A comprehensive system map will provide the means to effective management. Just as our eyes are the window to the world, your system map is your view to the system as a whole. 20/20 vision of your system requires accurate locational data. Armed with up-to-date and comprehensive infrastructure data, the system can be run with greater efficiency and operational awareness.
Daniel R. Connolly, PE Joins SSM Group
Daniel R. Connolly, PE joins the firm as Senior Water and Wastewater Engineer.
SSM welcomes Daniel R. Connolly, PE as a Senior Water and Wastewater Engineer in the Water and Wastewater Engineering Department. Mr. Connolly will direct the firm’s water, wastewater and industrial process engineering and design efforts and will provide overall quality control/quality assurance oversight on all project initiatives. He has more than 25 years in the water and wastewater industry, serving a multitude of municipal clients on a wide variety of challenging and multi-faceted projects including both upgrades to existing systems and new facilities. His design experience includes process and engineering calculations, review of process equipment alternatives, selection of equipment and materials, preparation of sketches and schematics, process control concepts and instrumentation, development of specifications, coordination of work with other disciplines, preparation of construction cost estimates, and preparation of permitting applications to regulatory agencies. Bid and Construction phase experience includes response to bidder questions, review of bids, preparation of bid tabulation, review of submittals, response to contractor field questions, and construction progress meetings.
SSM Group, Inc. serves government, education, healthcare, industrial, and commercial clients in Pennsylvania, across the United States and in the Caribbean. SSM offers extraordinary experience in the planning, design, and construction management of wastewater and water systems, piping systems, pumping stations, and treatment plants. We offer solutions for tomorrow through far-sighted water and sewer infrastructure and environmental planning.
Carl D. Kline, Jr., LO Joins SSM Group
Carl D. Kline, Jr., LO joins the staff as a Senior Operations Specialist in the Water and Wastewater Engineering Services Department.
SSM welcomes Carl D. Kline, Jr., LO as Senior Operations Specialist in the Water and Wastewater Engineering Services group.
Mr. Kline will lead the firm’s water, wastewater and industrial treatment plant operations support efforts and will provide new equipment startup, process startup and training on all treatment plant related project initiatives. In addition, his responsibilities will include maintaining client contact and providing ongoing operational support services, advice, training, and troubleshooting, as may be required to assist client operations staff in maintaining treatment process efficiency, effectiveness and DEP compliance.
He has more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of water, wastewater, and public works. That experience includes responsible management of contracts, budgets, and personnel and associated operations, maintenance and safety programs. He has developed and maintains excellent relationships with clients, as well as federal, state, county, and local officials in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.
SSM Group, Inc. serves government, education, healthcare, industrial, and commercial clients in Pennsylvania, across the United States and in the Caribbean. SSM offers extraordinary experience in the planning, design, and construction management of wastewater and water systems, piping systems, pumping stations, and treatment plants. We offer solutions for tomorrow through far-sighted water and sewer infrastructure and environmental planning.
SSM Group, Inc. Announces Management Changes - Brian Kelly named President and CEO
SSM Group, Inc. recently announced a corporate management restructure. Brian R. Kelly has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm. Kelly, who formerly served as the company’s Executive Vice President with responsibility of running the firm’s operations, replaces J. Carlton Godlove, II, who has left the company to pursue other interests.
Kelly is one of four McCoy family members who assumed control and management of the firm in 1996. Kelly has an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the SSM management team, Kelly was employed at AT&T for more than 17 years in various roles. Kelly resides in Reading with his wife, Kay McCoy Kelly, who is a daughter of the company’s founder, Lewis J. McCoy, Sr. In a prepared statement, Kelly said, “I look forward to leading the company as we embark upon strategic growth and expansion. I am very proud of our exceptionally talented senior leadership team and all of our employees, and I am confident that, with their help and support, we will continue to grow the company and succeed at fulfilling our corporate mission – ‘Enhancing the quality of life for our clients, our employees, and all of the people touched by our work.’ Our work is so important because it touches this generation and future generations with a scope broader than we can imagine – and it leaves a legacy that will live far beyond us.”
“Approximately six months ago we appointed a team of independent professionals to work with us as members of an Advisory Board: Thomas A. Beaver, CPA, former managing partner at RKL; Patricia L. Langiotti, President of Creative Management Concepts; and Mike Shor, former executive with Carpenter. These Advisory Board members have played a key role in helping us plan for our future,” Kelly said.
Kelly also announced that shareholder, Patrick M. McCoy, PE, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. “Patrick will lead the company’s business development and sales and marketing efforts and he will be a strong right-hand man,” Kelly said. Patrick McCoy has been with the firm since 1996. He graduated from Drexel University, like his father, and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering. McCoy formerly led the company’s Facilities and Site Engineering Division which provides services to worldwide companies such as IBM. Prior to joining SSM, he was with Ortega Consulting, Media, PA, and Gredell & Associates, Wilmington, DE.
Shareholder Lewis J. (Lou) McCoy, Jr. of Reading, who joined the firm in 1985, will continue in his role as Director of Human Resources.
Catherine (Kitty) Bell, who joined the firm in 2004, is being promoted to Divisional Vice President. Formerly the firm’s Vice President of Facility Engineering, she assumes an expanded role, with additional management responsibility for Site Engineering and Survey and Data Capture disciplines (formerly managed by Patrick McCoy). Bell resides in Reading, PA.
SSM Group, Inc. is an engineering and consulting firm founded by Lewis J. McCoy, Sr. in 1967. The company continues to be family owned and operated. Headquartered at 1047 North Park Road in Wyomissing with satellite offices in Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley, SSM has just under 100 employees and 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. The company also provides services to numerous local, regional, and county government entities. While the company’s primary market is a regional footprint including Berks County and the Lehigh Valley, SSM serves clients throughout PA and the Northeastern United States as well as to some international clients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Brian Kelly, President and CEO
brian.kelly@ssmgroup.com | P: 610-621-2000
Celebrating National Parks Week
Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency Assessment
Daniel Boone Homestead
Daniel Boone Homestead
Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency Assessment
- Conducted site investigations and evaluated appropriate technology and the feasibility of planned improvements to method of proceeding to develop an environmentally sound and technically feasible solution for wastewater collection and treatment.
- Developed preliminary sizing, design requirements, costs, permitting, and regulatory requirements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Patrick McCoy, PE, LEED AP, Division Vice President, Facilities and Site Engineering
Scott Carl, Sr., joins SSM Group
Mr. Carl will direct the water and wastewater services for the firm including all aspects of water and wastewater engineering services, municipality and authority representation, water and wastewater treatment operations, treatment plant design, construction phase engineering, and regulatory compliance assistance.
SSM Group, Inc., a multi-disciplined engineering and consulting firm welcomed Scott Carl, Sr. as the Vice President Water and Wastewater Services. Mr. Carl will direct the water and wastewater services for the firm including all aspects of water and wastewater engineering services, municipality and authority representation, water and wastewater treatment operations, treatment plant design, construction phase engineering, and regulatory compliance assistance.
Mr. Carl has more than 28 years of experience in the engineering and consulting industry; his experience includes project management and construction management for water and wastewater systems including treatment plants, pre-treatment facilities, source water facilities, pumping stations, residuals handling, water storage, transmission, distribution, and collection systems, SCADA and telemetry systems, automatic metering systems and operation and maintenance programs.
SSM Group, Inc. serves government, education, healthcare, industrial, and commercial clients in Pennsylvania, across the United States and in the Caribbean. SSM offers extraordinary experience in the planning, design, and construction management of wastewater and water systems, piping systems, pumping stations, and treatment plants. We offer solutions for tomorrow through far-sighted water and sewer infrastructure and environmental planning. When it comes to managing and protecting water resources, SSM is the authority that everyone turns to.