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09 Mar 2018
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Celebrating Women In Construction Week! Meet Maureen Kelly, TFMoran Civil Project Engineer.

March 9, 2018 | 0 Comments | , ,

March 5 – 11 is National Women in Construction Week.  According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) website, “The focus of WIC Week is to highlight women as a visible component of the construction industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities. WIC Week provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry.”

In celebration of WIC, TFMoran is highlighting our own Women In Construction, one TFMoran woman engineer or surveyor each day this week. TFMoran is proud to have these women in construction, along with other women professionals on our team.

Maureen Kelly – TFMoran, Inc. Civil Project Engineer

Maureen Kelly is a Civil Project Engineer at TFMoran, Inc. who started with the company in January 2017. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with a Masters degree in Structural Engineering. She was president of the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society Chapter. Maureen stays connected with her alma mater by partaking in student engineering excursions to the Haiti Development Studies Center. She has been to Haiti twice over the past year to help with developing a more sustainable system for waste in the Haitian communities. Her professional experiences include; watershed analysis, drainage assessment, storm water retention, and calculations for residential and commercial structures.

Why did you go into engineering?
The relationship between the built world and the natural world has always interested me. Civilization can coexist with nature if we make it a priority. As the name suggests, civil engineering is one profession where you can study and influence that relationship.

What are the challenges of your job?
Stakeholders on a project often have competing priorities. Through discussion and compromise the project takes a shape that’s suitable for everyone, but sometimes getting to that point is a challenge. 

What do you like about your job?
I love the variety of my work and the diversity of people involved in each project. I’m new to the field, but I know that after 20 years on the job there will still be more to learn. 

What skills does one need to enter the engineering field?
The ability to make mistakes, learn from them, and move on. That one skill gives you freedom to study anything. Objectivity and patience are also very important. Contrary to common belief, it’s not all about math!

05 Mar 2018
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TFMoran is Celebrating National Women In Construction Week! Meet TFM’s Jen Porter, Civil Engineer.

March 5, 2018 | 0 Comments |

March 5 – 11 is National Women in Construction Week.  According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) website, “The focus of WIC Week is to highlight women as a visible component of the construction industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities. WIC Week provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry.”

In celebration of WIC, TFMoran is highlighting our own Women In Construction, one TFMoran woman engineer or surveyor each day this week, starting off with civil engineer, Jennifer Porter. Jen Porter is also representing TFMoran in the March issue of High-Profile, in their Women In Construction section. To view Jen’s High-Profile story click on this link Jen Porter – WIC – High-Profile March 2018 or read below:

Jen Porter – Civil Engineer at TFMoran, Inc.

One of TFMoran, Inc.’s women engineers is Jennifer Porter, PE. Jen serves as a project engineer in the civil and traffic engineering departments. She has been with TFMoran for nearly 20 years, after graduating from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Jen is a licensed Professional Engineer in New Hampshire, with extensive experience in site planning, grading and drainage design, sewer design, and permitting. She typically designs sites for commercial, industrial, residential and institutional projects. Though most of her engineering work takes place in the office, her job sometimes requires putting on a hard hat and safety vest for engineering inspections on the construction site.

Throughout her career, Jen has tackled obstacles with good management, open communications and being a dependable team player. “I was a competitive hurdler on the track team in high school and college, which is somewhat of an individual sport. Everyone works toward a common goal: the better my performance, the better my team does”, explains Jen. “I use the same teamwork approach in the work place. My career choice to remain as a project engineer is because I enjoy the role as a “worker-bee”, using my talent for the good of the team.”

By being one who makes up the 14% of women in the engineering profession, Jen provides a positive influence on her nine-year old daughter, Jocelyn. “I encourage her to go into any field that she wants to. She is outgoing, smart and creative, she can do whatever she sets her mind on.” As an engineer, role-model, wife, and mother of two, Jen always does her best.

TFMoran is honored to have Jen, along with other women professionals on their team.

 

In addition to Jen’s High-Profile story, TFMoran’s marketing assistant Kelsie Gagner asked her the following questions:

Why did you go into engineering?

 “My favorite subject in high school was mathematics, so engineering seemed like a likely career path. I was undecided between civil and mechanical, but opted into the civil program after a few months into my freshman year at Bucknell.”

 

What are the challenges of your job?

 “Every project is different, but you can use what you learn at one site to assist in developing and improving the next.”

27 Feb 2018
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Maureen Kelly, TFMoran Civil Project Engineer, continues her engineering assistance in Haiti with UML Haiti Development Studies Center

February 27, 2018 | 0 Comments | , ,

In early January, TFMoran Civil Project Engineer Maureen Kelly traveled to the southern Haitian city of Les Cayes. Her traveling companions were five seniors in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), as well as Physics professor and department head Dr. Robert Giles. Dr. Giles founded the Haiti Development Studies Center (HDSC), the educational facility and guest house where the group spent the week. The students are involved in multiple initiatives focusing on education and sustainable development. Maureen acts as a volunteer assistant on these projects.

BASH (Biodigester Aided Solutions in Haiti)

Several students on the trip are working on a biodigester. It collects a mixture of gases, called biogas, from decomposing organic material. The methane in biogas can power cookstoves, refrigerators, and even engines. The remaining material is ideal as a low-cost fertilizer, a vital resource for subsistence farming in nutrient-stripped soils. In Haiti the team learned more about local agricultural practices and available resources, which will inform further research and design. This project has been awarded funding through University design competitions and the team is now pursuing an EPA grant to study the effect of enzyme additions on biodigestion.

Civil & Environmental Engineering Alternative Capstone

As part of their senior capstone course, the students were tasked with exploring options for alternative waste treatment in Haitian households. In Haiti they visited a project site and performed basic soils testing in the area. This experience will inform their spring semester, during which they will focus on treatment options that address challenges specific to Haiti, where the freshwater supply is very vulnerable to contamination. The students will explore alternative methods of waste disposal that don’t put the water table at risk.

Coteaux & Port Salut 

Coteaux is a coastal community where one of the Haitian students at HDSC, Dayana, grew up. Her family still lives there. During the trip our group visited Coteaux to see her family home, walk around the town, and visit a solar energy plant that powers three communities. The solar installation was still in disrepair following damage from Hurricane Matthew. Due to a lack of funds, even municipalities require extensive periods of time to rebuild after storms. The manager at the site was kind enough to give the group a tour of the facility and pointed out the backup generator that has replaced storm-damaged panels.

A major landmark in Coteaux is “500 Marches de la Médaille Miraculeuse,” or “500 Steps to the Miraculous Medal.” This site consists of an impressive set of 500 steps up to the top of a small mountain overlooking the south-western coastline of Haiti, with a sanctuary and statue at the top. The entire team, including Dr. Giles, our driver, and Dayana’s father all made it to the top. We paused at the peak for rest, reflection, and pictures while butterflies and lizards played around us. Upon our return to the base, legs a bit wobbly and lungs well worked, we turned back to see several goats jumping effortlessly on the stairs near the top.

Port Salut, the last destination of the week, boasts a beautiful beach. Last year when we visited Port Salut, it had only been a few months since Hurricane Matthew. The road was washed out and buildings were badly damaged. Trees were down along the coast and while swimming we would occasionally run into pieces of houses that had been washed into the ocean. This year the damage was still visible, but conditions were much improved and many businesses had reopened. It’s important that travelers learn just as much about all that is beautiful about Haiti as they do about the challenges that face our Caribbean neighbors. We always make time to appreciate the wonders of nature, cultural landmarks, and the growth of communities in the face of adversity.

Moving Forward

The Alternative Capstone team has now begun their Spring semester, and will travel to Haiti again in March. Those students who are working on the biodigester have had a very busy few weeks of research, writing, and revisions; their grant application to the EPA will be submitted in early February. With luck, they will be able to pay for their enzyme research and early installations using grant funds. Through donations from friends, family, and alumni, the Haiti Development Studies Center will continue to support student groups who choose to pursue projects based in Haiti.

For more information about the Haiti Development Studies Center or any of the projects discussed above, please feel free to visit www.uml.edu/Research/HDSC or contact Maureen Kelly at [email protected]

19 Jan 2018
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Structural Engineer, Eric Picard Receives Professional Engineer License

January 19, 2018 | 0 Comments | ,

Eric Picard, PE, recently passed the Professional Engineer exam and is now a licensed structural engineer in New Hampshire. Eric serves as a Structural Engineer in TFMoran’s Bedford office. He joined the TFMoran Structural Team in 2012 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of New Hampshire, Durham. Eric’s experience includes the design, analysis and construction administration of municipal, commercial, industrial and residential projects throughout New England. He is a member of the Structural Engineers of New Hampshire.

Congratulations Eric!

15 Jan 2018
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Andrew Gray Joins the Portsmouth Division Team

January 15, 2018 | 0 Comments

TFMoran announces the recent addition of Engineering Technician, Andrew Gray, EIT to our Portsmouth division team. Mr. Gray graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In addition to septic system design, his over ten years of experience includes civil project management, permitting, construction inspection and oversight, and geotechnical investigations. Prior to TFMoran, Mr. Gray was the SWPPP lead inspector for the $14M Portage Cove Harbor Expansion in Haines Borough, Alaska.

04 Jan 2018
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TFMoran Welcomes Devon Christen to the Structural Engineering Department

January 4, 2018 | 0 Comments |

Devon Christen, EIT has joined the structural engineering department, serving as a structural engineer in the Bedford office. Mr. Christen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree with a minor in Architectural Studies from the University of New Hampshire in 2014. His coursework included structural steel and concrete design, engineering hydrology and materials science. Mr. Christen serves as a structural engineer, with prior experience in new construction and renovation for residential and commercial projects utilizing Autodesk REVIT and RISA 3D.

03 Jan 2018
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Fred Roach Joins the TFMoran Team

January 3, 2018 | 0 Comments |

Fred Roach has joined TFMoran’s Bedford office as an Administrative Assistant. Mr. Roach’s duties include production of plans and reports, file and archive maintenance, deliveries and other administrative functions for all departments. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Franklin Pierce University. Mr. Roach has over thirty-years of experience in law enforcement and administration, as well as many years of experience in professional driving.

29 Dec 2017
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Mo Vander Pol joins the Portsmouth Division’s Survey Department

December 29, 2017 | 0 Comments |

Marinus (Mo) Vander Pol, III has joined TFMoran’s Portsmouth division office as a Survey Technician. In addition to boundary and subdivision surveys, Mr. Vander Pol’s ten years of land surveying experience includes construction layout, existing conditions and ALTA surveys, along with deed research and instrument operations. Mr. Vander Pol attended Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA.

18 Dec 2017
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Best wishes to Joe Sears – 40 Years dedicated to TFMoran!

December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments | ,

Everyone at TFMoran wishes Joe Sears the very best in his retirement, well-deserved after working over 40 years with the Company!  In September, on Joe’s 40th Anniversary, TFMoran staff celebrated his 40 Years with an office party dedicated to Joe. And, just before his last official day of working for TFMoran, president Bob Duval gave a few words of congratulations at the Company’s Annual Harvest Lunch:

“If one thing is clear; that is Joe is more than a fellow employee, Joe is an institution. Over the years, Joe has had many roles here: party chief, office manager, blueprint-maker, copier service technician, courier, delivery man, file card indexer, light bulb changer, Christmas decorator, bartender, supply orderer, receptionist, fix-it man, furniture maker, keeper of tools, file manager, grounds crew, and this is just the recent part of his career.  I could go on and on.

Although there is one thing he wasn’t particularly good at – that is, throwing things away.  We had to do that when he wasn’t looking.

In the past few years, perhaps Joe’s most important job has been getting our work down on paper and getting it out the door on time.  It is perhaps too easy to take this for granted, but ultimately our best work does no one any good unless it is plotted, scanned, copied, collated, and mailed or delivered into the right hands at the right time.

Joe was an indispensable part of that process, and we all learned to rely on Joe – often at the last minute – to get it done.  And he never let us down.  This is just one example of the extra effort on the part of every single member of the team that is necessary to become – and remain – a successful company.  The saying goes that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  And Joe has been a strong link in his many roles for the past 40 years.

So it is with great pleasure that I present this small token of our appreciation and ask everyone to join me and congratulate Joe on 40 years of service to TFMORAN!!

Forty years ago Joe graduated from college in 1976 with a BS in Business Management. He came out of school seeking a job at a Navy shipyard. While waiting for that position to begin, Joe took a temporary position at TFMoran. Lucky for us, temporary became permanent. Beginning in 1977 in Manchester, NH, Joe was among the original TFMoran crew. Beginning as a land surveyor/service technician, Joe tried out almost every position in the office.

We thank Joe for all he has done, and wish him the very best in his golden years! We expect and hope he will drop by now and again, to let us know what he’s been up to in retirement life.

 

03 Nov 2017
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Congratulations to Business Excellence Winner, Dylan Cruess!

November 3, 2017 | 0 Comments | , , , , ,

TFMoran’s Chief Operating Officer Dylan Cruess was honored to receive the 2017 Business Excellence Award in the Real Estate and Construction category from NH Business Review. The awards dinner reception, presented by Citizen’s Bank, was held on November 1st at the Center of NH, Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester.  Accompanying Dylan was his family, Robert, Anne and Galen Cruess; TFM Marketing Coordinator Susan Bartley; TFM Marketing Assistant Kelsie Gagner; and TFM Chief of Survey Jim O’Neil and his wife Diane.

The event recognizes the imagination, industriousness, innovation and achievements of business owners and operators. The awards given out fall into eight categories including: Excellence in Business & Professional Services, Excellence in Consumer Services, Excellence in Financial Services, Excellence in Health Care, Excellence in Manufacturing, Excellence in non-profit, Excellence in Real Estate / Construction, Excellence in Technology, and Business Excellence Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Dylan and all of the other award winners! Also, a big thank you to NH Business Review and those who helped sponsor the event!

To learn more about the event and to see additional photos, please visit: www.nhbr.com

Read more about Dylan below, or click on this pdf link Dylan Cruess receives 2017 NHBR Business Excellence Award

2017 Business Excellence Winner:
Dylan Cruess of TFMoran
Dylan Cruess, chief operating officer of TFMoran in Bedford, is the 2017 Business Excellence winner in the real estate and construction category for a small organization
Nominated by: Kimberley Griswold of Brainium

Dylan may have learned the ropes from his engineer father, but it is he and the new leadership team at TFMoran that have steered the company through a period of unprecedented growth. Since ownership of the company was transferred in 2013 to four senior employees, including Dylan, TFMoran has more than doubled its annual revenue, with continued double-digit growth. Because of Dylan’s background and upbringing, he grasps engineering, project management and surveying more than a typical operations person would. And that has enabled him to continue the original vision of TFMoran while strategically growing the company to new levels.

Having grown up among the TFMoran team, Dylan is well aware that it is the teamwork of the employees that is essential to the company’s success. That’s why Dylan has worked with the leadership team to increase the company match for employees’ 401K plans. And TFMoran’s positive culture is evidenced by its low turnover rate. Employees enjoy working at TFMoran because they are appreciated and encouraged to continue their education to become the best they can be. And the family-friendly atmosphere of the company allows not only for the flexibility to work from home when necessary but also the encouragement to give back to the community, as Dylan does.

Dylan’s leadership, work ethic, passion for community involvement and vision for TFMoran are why he is being honored with this award.