Fishbeck

Congratulations to Amanda Laramie, PE from our Wastewater team for being named New Professional of the Year by MWEA! 🎉 She credits her success to a diverse and supportive team that has been “constructive without judgment” as she navigated new roles and responsibilities. Amanda looks forward to continuing to build up others both inside and outside of Fishbeck. Amanda highlighted the importance of joining the state’s MWEA chapter, where she witnessed firsthand how “getting involved and helping support the development of others builds camaraderie and benefits us all.” Reflecting on her journey, Amanda noted how her perspective has evolved over the years: "At Year 1, I thought the people that win these awards were making some crazy technical advancements above and beyond their peers. Now, at Year 8, I would also include those that work to improve the water and environment industry as a whole, people who build up their team and increase the knowledge base at the facilities we work with.” We’re incredibly proud of Amanda’s commitment to growth, teamwork, and industry impact. Congratulations again on this well-deserved honor!👏

Then and Now: Structural Engineering 🏗️ In the 1800s, Emily Warren Roebling became a trailblazer in structural engineering. When her husband, the Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, fell ill, Emily stepped in—managing construction, solving complex technical challenges, and communicating directly with project leaders. Her determination and expertise were crucial to the bridge’s completion, and she broke barriers for women in engineering at a time when few believed they belonged in the field. Today, Sabrina Carvajal-Martinez, one of our Structural Engineers, is building on that legacy. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Sabrina moved to the U.S. in 2017 to pursue her dream of becoming an engineer. After earning a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a master’s in structural engineering from Western Michigan University, she joined us in 2023. Her role involves designing with steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and aluminum—creating safe, functional structures for the community. Reflecting on her journey, Sabrina shares: “I always felt like it wasn’t possible for me to pursue my dream as an immigrant and a woman in engineering. Now, I feel privileged to be a structural engineer at this company.” Looking ahead, Sabrina hopes to see more women empowered to lead in the construction industry and to inspire younger generations—especially girls—to pursue careers in STEM. From Emily’s historic role on the Brooklyn Bridge to Sabrina’s work today, women continue to shape and strengthen the world around us. #WomenInEngineering #StructuralEngineering #WomenInSTEM #BreakingBarriers #EngineeringLeadership #EmpoweringWomen #WomenWhoLead #Fishbeck

This project marks the beginning of a new chapter for Kalamazoo, where seniors will find a place to call home and a community to grow with. Yesterday afternoon was the groundbreaking ceremony for The Legacy Senior Living! Huge thanks to our team: Alisa Lindsay, PE • David Stegink • Erik Peterson • Ronnie Knoll • Kyle Knaub • Paul Jackson • Madison Schrader • Mahta Naziri Saeed • Therese Searles We are proud to support Hollander Development Corporation and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in bringing The Legacy Senior Living to Kalamazoo's Northside. This 70-unit affordable housing development will provide seniors with a sustainable, accessible, and supportive community. Our role: ~ Environmental consulting and brownfield planning ~ Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments ~ Securing EGLE grants for field investigations ~ Ensuring site safety and regulatory compliance This project will include two modern, three-story buildings and is set to finish in 17 months!

The Fishbeck accounting team took a break from their normal accounting routine to catch a Grand Rapids Griffins game last night. Thank you Aaron Steele, CPA, CGMA for setting up this team event!

📚Trailblazer Tuesday: Tabatha Briones🔧 From engineering to education and back again, Tabatha Briones’ career journey is one of resilience, passion, and perseverance. Now a Project Manager for Site Design at Fishbeck, she started her career as an assistant city engineer before moving into private-sector hydraulics. After eight years, she made a bold shift—pursuing a master’s degree in education and spending nearly a decade teaching middle school engineering and high school math. However, her love for design and project management never faded, leading her back to engineering. Tabatha’s path has been anything but conventional. Encouraged by her parents to pursue engineering, she attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as part of one of the early classes of women. As a student-athlete, she played basketball and softball, even pitching the first no-hitter in school history! But perhaps her biggest challenge came off the field—becoming the first female student to have a child on campus. While some administrators were unsupportive, her civil engineering professors stepped up, ensuring she had the resources needed to succeed. That perseverance shaped her career, helping her push through the demands of the industry while balancing life as a mother. After initially stepping away from engineering, Tabatha realized how much she missed the problem-solving and creativity of the field. Today, she’s passionate about not just the work itself, but also about fostering an environment where employees feel supported in both their careers and personal lives. 💡 Her advice? No one succeeds alone. She believes that true change happens when people work together. She encourages others to be the ones who uplift and support those around them, as that’s what truly makes a great team player. Take a look at some of Tabatha's site design projects below! ⬇️ #Trailblazer #WomenInEngineering #Resilience #EngineeringJourney #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #WomenInSTEM

Then and Now: Geospatial Services 🗺️🌍 Marie Tharp’s pioneering work in mapping the ocean floor in the 1950s set the stage for modern geospatial science, turning complex data into accessible, informative maps. Her work revealed the intricate patterns beneath the ocean’s surface, forever changing the way we understood Earth’s geography. Tharp’s contributions not only advanced the field of oceanography but also paved the way for future generations of geospatial professionals to explore and map the world in innovative ways. Fast forward to today, and Melissa Blaser, GISP, one of our Senior GIS Specialists, is continuing the tradition of pushing geospatial boundaries. With over 9 years of experience at Fishbeck, Melissa has worked across a wide range of GIS applications, from utilities and asset management to spatial analysis and cartographic design. But one of her most exciting milestones has been transforming interior space mapping, an area traditionally limited to static PDFs, into interactive, dynamic tools. Melissa’s ability to map and visualize indoor environments allows clients to make data-driven decisions that improve operational efficiency and optimize facility management. By integrating outdoor assets with indoor environments, Melissa has expanded the possibilities of geospatial data and turned it into a more interactive, accessible tool for real-world applications. As the industry evolves, she’s excited about the future of connected platforms and digital twins—data-driven models that can create a dynamic, real-time view of operations, helping organizations make better decisions. Melissa’s work represents how far geospatial science has come since Tharp’s early ocean maps, evolving from a tool for exploration to an indispensable resource for innovation and problem-solving across industries. #GeospatialScience #GIS #MappingInnovation #DigitalTwins #GISpecialist #SpatialAnalysis

Fishbeck is excited to announce the promotion of Bryan Turczynski, PE, and Ryan Musch, PE, LEED AP, SITES AP, to Senior Vice President. Bryan's passion for integrating innovative solutions—such as AI, automation, and drone technology—into project delivery will play a key role in driving growth in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Ryan, with nearly two decades at Fishbeck, has led landmark projects and will now guide the land development department with his expertise in design, project management, and client relations. Congratulations to both on this well-deserved promotion!

🌉 Trailblazer Tuesday: Maurren Theresia, P.E.🔧 Braving icy bridge inspections, crawling through culverts, and navigating creeks in every season—Maurren Theresia, a bridge engineer in our Toledo office, is no stranger to the challenges of the field. Specializing in bridge rehab, design, load ratings, and inspections, Maurren plays a key role in turning plans into real-world structures that serve communities every day. Her journey started in Indonesia, where she worked as a Project Coordinator for a small lighting firm. After earning her master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan, she joined NCI, which was later acquired by Fishbeck. Over her five years with us, Maurren has become an integral part of the team, earning her PE licenses in both Michigan and Ohio, as well as certification as a team leader for bridge inspection. Maurren reflects on the early challenges of being a young female engineer in the field, especially when spending long hours outdoors, exposed to the elements. Despite the difficulties, those hands-on experiences taught her valuable lessons that have shaped her career and deepened her commitment to the work. She believes in the power of persistence and consistency—"When things become easier, you get used to it and end up liking it," she says. With this mindset, Maurren continues to embrace the challenges and rewards of bridge engineering. #TrailblazerTuesday #BridgeEngineering #WomenInSTEM

Had a great time last week leading a STEM activity for high schoolers at MSU for Dia De Ciencias! A few of us from Fishbeck were able to help lead students through planning, designing, and constructing the tallest tower made of spaghetti and tape to hold a single marshmallow. Many lessons were applicable to our everyday work including interdisciplinary team work, time and resource constraints, as well as the engineering design process. Experiences like this help shape the future workforce for the Architecture/Engineering/Infrastructure industry, and I hope to have inspired some to pursue the career 😎 #Engineer #Volunteer

Speaking at the AWMA (Air and Waste Management Association) Workshop in Grand Rapids MI. Title: Circular Economy Approach: Hazardous Waste #hazardouswaste #circulareconomy #AWMA #Fishbeck