The National Park Service and DC Water invite the public to comment on a proposed project to improve water quality in Piney Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek. DC Water proposes to build a 4.2-million-gallon underground combined sewer overflow (CSO) storage tunnel to capture sewage, combined with stormwater, that would otherwise overflow into Piney Branch during heavy rains.

 

This project is needed to reduce sewage overflows that contribute to poor water quality in Piney Branch and ultimately the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay; and to comply with the 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered into by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Justice, as amended January 2016.

If you would like to send your comments into NUCA of DC so we can weight in, please send them to NUCA of DC’s Executive Director by Feb 10.  READ MORE

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is pleased to announce the issue of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the design and construction of the H Street Bridge NE Replacement. The RFQ will be the first step of a two-step design build procurement for this project.

The RFQ is available for download from the District Transportation Access Portal (DTAP) at: https://dtap.ddot.dc.gov/Project/Solicitation.

All questions or requests for clarification regarding the RFQ shall be submitted to OCP at HStreetBridgeProcurement@dc.gov in accordance with the procedures set forth in the RFQ.

July 13, 2021
DC Water today announced the hiring of Robert Bornhofen as Director of Innovation, a newly created position to spearhead the Authority’s innovation program.  
 
In conceiving the position, DC Water’s CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis envisioned a creative leader with a proven track record. “We performed a national search to find someone with the mindset to foster an enterprise-wide culture of innovation while also implementing an innovation operating model and roadmap to guide the journey from idea intake to execution. DC Water’s success in providing world-class service is not just about getting the ‘blocking and tackling’ right. It also requires a culture of innovation,” said Gadis.
 
“Mr. Bornhofen is the perfect candidate to drive this effort on behalf of the organization. He has a steep history of leading innovation efforts at some of the world’s leading companies including IBM, Citibank, and Delta Air Lines. He combines this with a passion for education and mentoring, teaching part-time at Cornell University and the University of Maryland.”
 
Bornhofen will be tasked with program and strategy development and delivery, oversight of research and idea capture, key stakeholder engagement, partnerships, value creation, delivery, communication and workforce engagement, and innovation sustainability. He will work closely with all DC Water’s business functions and with Blue Drop, LLC, the entity created to turn creative ideas into non-ratepayer revenue to offset rate increases.

As a dynamic innovation leader, Bornhofen brings hands-on experience in leading organizations toward realizing innovation goals. His career spans over 20 years across a broad mix of industry experience involving both large and small companies.
 
In Bornhofen’s previous post at IBM, he led the formulation and development of strategy for IBM Enterprise Services. He conducted Innovation Challenge events involving more than 8,000 IBM employees worldwide and built an innovation pipeline of ideas through crowdsourcing.
 
“Innovation is about making a positive impact that delivers value to customers,” says Bornhofen. “It’s about solving key problems and acting on opportunities with creative ideas. I am honored to be in this role, and to help formulate and implement strategy that leads to innovative solutions consistent with DC Water’s vision, mission, and core values.”
 
Bornhofen earned a Doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science degree from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. He holds two U.S. patents for original and patentable technologies.

Tracy Kenestrick has been promoted to: Vice President,   Client Service | Employee Health & Benefits

The Marsh & McLennan Agency, known locally as Insurance Associates, is pleased to announce that Tracy Kenestrick has been promoted to Vice President, Client Service | Employee Health & Benefits.

Tracy has done an incredible job for our team since joining us 7 years ago as a Client Service Advisor. In 2019, we added to her responsibilities the additional role of Client Service Manager, where she assumed the overall supervision of the Legacy IA Inside Service Team. This new title not only reflects a “job well done”, but is also one of the key foundational steps we continue to take as we build out our combined Capital Region EH&B Practice.

We are also happy to announce that we have filled Hailey Stoudt’s position; effective July 6th, please join me in welcoming Torri D. Carter as an Assistant Client Service Advisor. Her duties will primarily include handling renewals and marketing efforts for both current and new clients of the Fairfax Office. Currently she’s been working on the Business Insurance side at Clements Worldwide downtown, after spending the first half of her career in the Benefits business. Torri likes to watch true crime shows and all things aquatic. She also volunteers her time with the elderly, mental health advocacy and supporting adult literacy programs. Please join us inwelcoming Torri.

The NUCA of Metropolitan Washington DC 2021 Membership Directory has been published.   For additional copies of your company’s hard copy, please contact ed@nucaofdc.org, or click below for your downloadable file!

 

NUCA Membership Directory-2021 FINAL

  (Fairfax, Va.) –  The chief executive officer of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), Doug Carlson, issued the following statement about the Senate EPW Committee’s unanimous 20-0 passage of the “Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (S. 914):

“NUCA strongly supports the U.S. Senate’s bill delivering $15 billion over five years for each of the clean water and drinking water state revolving funds. This is a big increase from previous Senate proposals, which indicates the Senate knows how important clean water is for American communities.”

“I am optimistic that between the U.S. House’s proposed $40+ billion for the Clean Water SRF and $20+ billion for the Drinking Water SRF, and the Senate’s funding increases, Congress will finally appropriate in 2021 the much-needed federal resources local communities must have to repair their obsolete and deficient water infrastructure systems. This bill is a welcome step in the right direction.”

A comprehensive list of the utility construction industry’s 2021 legislative infrastructure priorities can be reviewed online at www.nuca.com, under Media/Comment Letters, released March 3, 2021.

Congratulations to NUCA  member Aronson, LLC for being named a 2021 TOP Workplace!

Top Workplaces has named Aronson LLC to its list of Top Workplaces USA 2021.

This award celebrates nationally recognized companies that make the world a better place to work together by prioritizing a people-centered culture and giving employees a voice.

 

February 3, 2021
Today, DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis announced the hiring of Kirsten B. Williams to fill the new role of Chief Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, effective March 1, 2021.
 
In this newly created role, Williams will be responsible for developing a strategic communications plan for the Authority and overseeing marketing, media relations, crisis communications and reputation management.  Serving as a member of the executive leadership team, she will advise the CEO and other senior officers on a broad range of internal and external communications, while also setting the vision and strategy for stakeholder engagement.
 
“As we focus on delivering the six strategic program areas and values of The Blueprint, our new strategic plan, Kirsten’s impressive portfolio of experience, combined with her steadfast dedication to our community, make her the perfect executive to assume this important role,” said David L. Gadis, DC Water CEO and General Manager. “Her expertise will position us for future success as we continue to tell DC Water’s story and enhance our relationships with our employees, customers and key stakeholders,” Gadis said.
 
Williams has a demonstrated history of helping utilities build innovative community programs and collaborate with key stakeholders to support organizational goals and improve the customer experience. She began her public affairs career at Duke Energy where she provided strategic external and internal communications support to the Customer Service, Sales and Marketing division and McGuire Nuclear Station. Locally, Williams was a Senior Public Affairs Manager at Pepco, addressing policy and legislative matters in the District as well as stakeholder relations. She was also the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association, executing the development and implementation of the association’s regulatory and legislative campaigns. Most recently, she serves as the Deputy Executive Director at the D.C. Public Service Commission, which regulates the gas and electric companies in Washington, D.C.
 
Williams said she’s eager to join DC Water and explore new ways to communicate and engage with customers and employees. “My entire career has been guided by a singular purpose – to contribute positive change in the communities I serve,” Williams said in a statement. “I consider it as much a calling as it is a privilege to be given this opportunity to join DC Water. I share the Authority’s commitment to raising the bar on stakeholder engagement and look forward to communicating its story of operational excellence.”
 
Williams is a graduate of Appalachian State University where she holds two Bachelors of Science degrees in Public Relations and Public Communications and a Master of Public Administration. Williams also holds a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.

Biden Sworn-In As 46th President of the United States

NUCA Calls on New Administration to Keep Its Focus on Infrastructure

 

The chief executive officer of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), Doug Carlson, issued the following statement about President Biden’s inauguration: 

 

“The National Utility Contractors Association congratulates President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on taking their oaths of office today in Washington.” 

 

“On behalf of our members nationwide, we applaud the new Administration for its strong emphasis on business recovery and infrastructure projects.  The nation requires long-term economic solutions that must include billions of dollars in new resources to rebuild America’s infrastructure, and we applaud the new Administration for its recognition and support of that much-needed outcome.”

 

“President Biden’s infrastructure plan has the promise to help American utility construction businesses and their employees recover and return to prosperity.”

NUCA of Metro DC Founding Member, Eagle Bank has been busy helping other NUCA members and clients during this challenging time.

In deploying more than 70 Bank specialists to support efforts being made by Eagle Bank’s Small Business Lending Group, they were able to process over 1330 applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – applications that resulted in over $491 million in PPP loans through May 10th, 2020 – and still counting. These loans are estimated to have saved over 41,000 jobs throughout the DC Metropolitan area.

Eagle Bank is also committed to giving back and supporting our community. In recent days, the EagleBank Foundation has donated $100,000 to our frontline heroes in area hospitals, food banks and relief organizations. These funds have been specifically earmarked for assistance in the fight against COVID 19 and to sustain the health care providers, humanitarians and first responders who are working around the clock to save lives. EagleBank also provided $50,000 in emergency funding to George Mason University to provide a lifeline to students displaced and struggling with sudden campus closures.

Kudos to our members as they help other members and the community continue operating!

 

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