Our company
ENR ranks CH2M HILL as No. 1 environmental firm
Leading industry publication Engineering News-Record has compiled its 2008 list of “Top 200 Environmental Firms” – and once again CH2M HILL came out on top. The firm was also ranked No. 1 in 2007 for providing environmental services and products to domestic and international markets. CH2M HILL’s portfolio of sustainable solutions crosses a wide range of disciplines, including building design, renewable energy, greenhouse gas management, and water and wastewater operations. According to the magazine, people are finally realizing that “the basics of human survival on earth – clean water, clean air, sufficient energy and usable land – are finite commodities.”
Employees provide record-setting support to Water For People
 Setting a record for success, CH2M HILL employees around the world raised more than $170,000 in employee contributions to help Water For People, an international nonprofit that helps people in developing countries by supporting locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and health and hygiene education programs. Not only did employee donations well exceed the initial $100,000 goal for the firm’s sixth annual campaign, but the workplace giving campaign was the most successful in Water For People’s history. Together with cash and in-kind contributions, CH2M HILL and its employees committed more than $220,000 to advance Water For People’s work. On behalf of all employees, Elisa Speranza, president of CH2M HILL OMI, presented a check last month to fellow Water For People board member Steve Pearlman.
Our partners
‘Top 10’ rankings for two clients
Congratulations to two of our clients who were recognized recently on two different national “Top 10” lists. In June, the city of New Haven, Conn., won a 2008 All-America City Award from the National Civic League. The program recognizes 10 neighborhoods and governments for outstanding civic achievements; New Haven had launched an innovative resident card that can be used at libraries, parking meters and other city places. And in July, the city of Fayetteville, Ark., made Kiplinger’s list of “ 10 Best Cities to Live, Work and Play.” Coming in at No. 7, Fayetteville was cited for its commitment to sustainability, affordable housing, easy average commutes and other benefits. CH2M HILL OMI operates and maintains wastewater facilities in both cities.
Centennial, Colo., celebrates first Public Works Department
With the roar of a dump truck and a procession of public works vehicles, the city of Centennial, Colo., launched its Public Works Department on July 1. Managed by partner CH2M HILL OMI, the department will handle traffic engineering and operations, permit processing, inspections, administrative services, and street and roadside maintenance. City Manager Jacque Wedding-Scott led a small opening ceremony for the department, pledging it would “pave the way to greatness for this city.” Also attending were Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca McClellan, City Council members and city staff.
State leaders drop in to tour Cedar Water Treatment Facility
State officials recently stopped by the Cedar Water Treatment Facility in Seattle to learn more about how the plant treats water for the Seattle area. The group included state representatives; state environmental, agricultural and natural resources employees; and people from the neighboring Cedar Water and Sewer District. The group was impressed with the  operations and asked if they could bring others for a visit. The Cedar Water Treatment Facility, operated for Seattle Public Utilities by partner CH2M HILL OMI since 2004, provides 70 percent of the Seattle area’s drinking water and treats up to 180 million gallons of water per day. It was designed and built by CH2M HILL.
Johns Creek mayor elected chair of mayors group
The 66 mayors who govern cities in the 10-county Atlanta metro region have elected a new chairman for their Metro Atlanta Mayors Association: Mayor Mike Bodker of Johns Creek, Ga. Congratulations to Mayor Bodker, who will serve a one-year term. Johns Creek has been a municipal services client for CH2M HILL OMI since the city was incorporated Dec. 1, 2006.
Our communities
Nine years of nests in Canton, Mich.
 For nearly a decade, CH2M HILL OMI employees in Canton have provided the materials and expertise to help kids build birdhouses during the township’s annual River Day event. Held last month, the community River Day celebration is focused on beautifying the Lower Rouge River in Canton and educating people about the river environment. The birdhouse project has become one of the main highlights; this year employees provided 175 birdhouse kits for kids along with hard hats and stickers for completing a short summer safety quiz. CH2M HILL OMI has provided wastewater O&M services for Canton’s Western Townships Utilities Authority since 1994.
Helping invest in college educations
Six students will be attending college this year with a little help from CH2M HILL OMI. Since 2001, the company has awarded scholarships to eligible children of employees. A team of university professors chose the six $1,500 winners based on college entrance exam scores, grade point averages, extracurricular activities and a 1,200-word essay. And the winners of the Henry Huffman Memorial Scholarship are: Arial Aranda, Grants, N.M.; Katherine Billups, Williamstown, W. Va.; Logan Helliwell, Sweet Home, Ore.; Melissa McCann, Parker, Colo.; Robert Nuttall, Decatur, Ga.; and Mercedes Smith, Lompoc, Calif. The scholarship is named in honor of a beloved employee in Oak Ridge, Tenn., who passed away in 2006.
Community support across the country
Our people believe it’s vital to volunteer in their communities. Here are three other recent activities accomplished by our team:
- Employees who work at the Fort Lupton, Colo., wastewater and water plants and at our corporate office in Denver team up every year to organize and sponsor the city of Fort Lupton’s annual fundraising golf tournament. The event benefits the Fort Lupton Recreation Center’s youth activities program, which gives teenagers opportunities to participate in sports, educational activities, team-building activities and other events. In May, they raised more than $4,000.
 - Staff in Coos Bay, Ore., recently joined with the city to replace a tree at City Hall that had been blown over during storms. Over the years, the Coos Bay wastewater O&M team has planted dozens of trees to help the community maintain its “Tree City USA” status. From left to right are assistant project manager Mike McDaniel and project manager Steve Simpson from CH2M HILL OMI, along with Jim Hossley, the city’s director of public works and development.
- For the fourth year in Grants, N.M., employees are partnering with the Grants Volunteer Fire and Rescue department to conduct a “Dictionary Project” for the 2008-2009 school year. The project raises money to buy and distribute dictionaries to local third-graders. In 2007, nearly 700 children received free dictionaries. It is part of the national “Dictionary Project” nonprofit program.
Our industry
U.S. Mayors vote to phase out bottled water
Generating a variety of media coverage around the world, last month The U.S. Conference of Mayors voted to phase out regular use of bottled water for employees and for city functions. The resolution, adopted at the conference’s annual meeting in Miami, said in part “the evidence suggests that banning bottled water from government use highlights the importance of municipal water and decreases the impact of bottled water on municipal waste.” At the same time, mayors recognized “the importance of bottled water in times of emergency and times when municipal water is unavailable.”
More insight from mayors
Four mayors testified last month before the U.S. Senate’s Banking Committee about the state of the nation’s infrastructure. According to an article about the event in USA Today, called “ Mayors urge Congress to help fix water, rail systems,” the American Society of Engineers estimates that “bringing the nation’s transportation and resources networks up to a properly functional level would require $1.6 trillion and five years of work. Still, the mayors say, even that wouldn't accommodate the new strains placed on roads in coming years.”
Our people
Meet Rick Hirsekorn, an environmental leader
 When ground was broken this spring to expand the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Georgia, Rick Hirsekorn couldn’t have been prouder. Rick, vice president of municipal services for CH2M HILL OMI, is a longtime board member of the Nature Center and helped plan and raise funds for its new Discovery Center and Pavilion. The new facility will serve as the interpretive center for the entire Chattahoochee River – which the group works to preserve, protect and educate the public about. “It’s a privilege to serve as a trustee and past chairman for this important environmental organization,” says Rick. “The CNC is a unique place to focus on the ecology of this valuable natural resource and the role people play in protecting it.”
Applause for award-winning ‘Frontline Leaders’
Great companies need great leaders. So to help recognize and further develop CH2M HILL managers and leaders, the firm this year started a “Frontline Leadership Excellence Award” program, which allows employees to nominate their supervisors for recognition. Across the firm, 50 were named Frontline Leadership winners, including three people from CH2M HILL OMI: Doris Alejandro, a project manager in Hoboken, N.J.; Jeff Messer, a traffic services manager in Sandy Springs, Ga.; and Joe Simbolick, a director of consulting services based in Orlando, Fla. Congratulations to these three leaders who help bring out the best in their teams, ultimately helping us deliver the best service to our clients.
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President’s perspective
I’ve learned, explored and enjoyed so much since becoming CH2M HILL OMI’s president six months ago. But nothing tops the thrill of traveling in the field to meet with our clients. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to listen to the challenges you face, hear the kind of services you need, and understand how our company can continue to evolve to provide the right management and operations solutions for your community or company.
Here’s where my travels have taken me most recently. (Thank you once again to all of my gracious hosts!) First, I visited three of our clients on Florida’s Emerald Coast. In Mary Esther, where we’ve provided wastewater O&M services since 2003, I saw first-hand how important safety is to our people. It was a lot of fun to see them play – and learn from – a game of “Safety Jeopardy.” In Crestview, I toured the newly upgraded wastewater plant, which we have operated since 1994. We’ve cared for the DeFuniak Springs wastewater system since 2003, and there I saw how our ingenious staff made some creative improvements.
Then the following week, I was able to meet our great team and clients at Lehigh County in Pennsylvania, where we’ve managed an industrial pretreatment/municipal facility since 1995, and then I attended a gala celebration of the 20-year anniversary of the North Hudson Sewerage Authority in Hoboken, N.J., and its only chairman Richard Wolff. NHSA has been our partner for 20 years too. At every stop, I was humbled by the awesome job our people are doing, the obvious pride they exhibited, and the positive feedback I got from our clients.
We believe that respecting our partners means keeping our promises and delivering great service. From public works to water and wastewater treatment, from community development to full municipal services, I've seen some great examples of those promises in action and plan to continue these visits in the future. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any thoughts or suggestions.
Respectfully,
Elisa M. Speranza
President
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Come see us!
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Conferences give us a great way to continue connecting with clients, sharing our technical expertise and supporting our industry. Plus, they’re fun! Here are some of the upcoming hot spots where you can meet CH2M HILL OMI: |
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Clients in government and industry rely on the people of CH2M HILL OMI to provide a range of custom-tailored operations and maintenance solutions. The company's services include water and wastewater system optimization; contract O&M of water, wastewater and other utilities; and complete municipal operations, including administration, public works and community development – all backed by a commitment to safety, quality, innovation and customer service. Founded by CH2M HILL in 1980, the Denver-based company serves clients in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, management and operations for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With more than $5 billion in revenue and 25,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2007). The firm’s work is concentrated in the areas of energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For and one of America’s Most Admired Companies (2008).
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