BOSTON – Nitsch Engineering announced the company’s continued ownership and governance transition, with two new members joining the Board of Directors, a new corporate officer, and five new shareholders.
Senior Project Manager Stephen D. Farr, PE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate and Project Manager Jennifer L. Johnson, PE, CFM, CPSWQ, LEED AP have joined Nitsch Engineering’s Board of Directors.
Jenn and Steve join Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Lisa A. Brothers, PE, ENV SP, LEED AP BD+C; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Deirdra A. Taylor, CPA; Vice President and Chief Engineer Sandra A. Brock, PE, CFM, LEED AP BD+C; Senior Project Manager Deborah M. Danik, PE, CPESC, LEED AP BD+C; and Vice President and Director of Civil Engineering Aaron A. Gallagher, PE, CFM, LEED AP. The seven-person Board of Directors was elected by the firm’s shareholders (all of whom are employees) and is tasked with the responsible management of the firm.
As they welcomed new members, the Board of Directors also voted to elect Aaron Gallagher, PE, CFM, LEED AP as a Vice President and an Officer of the corporation.
Project Manager Michelle Callahan, PE, LEED AP BD+C; Project Manager Marc Gabriel, PE, CPESC; Project Manager Birendra Gurung, PE, PTOE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate; Senior Project Manager John Michalak, PE, ENV SP; and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Deirdra A. Taylor, CPA have become shareholders of Nitsch Engineering, bringing the total number of shareholders to 29.
Nitsch Engineering Chairman and CEO Lisa A. Brothers, PE, ENV SP, LEED AP BD+C, said, “As we welcome our new shareholders, officer, and Directors, I’m proud of how our employees’ belief in Nitsch Engineering’s success has allowed us to expand our ownership and governance team. 2020 is a particularly exciting time because it represents a major milestone in the leadership and ownership transition plan that we began in 1993: as we look towards the retirement of our founding principal, Judy Nitsch, PE, LEED AP BD+C, in April, this marks the year that Judy sold back the last of her shares in the company and stepped off the Board of Directors. We’re grateful to Judy for her early dedication to transitioning our leadership and broadening our ownership. Our 29 shareholders are excited to continue growing Nitsch Engineering while remaining true to the values that have made our company an amazing firm!”
About the New Members of the Board of Directors
Project Manager Jennifer L. Johnson, PE, CFM, CPSWQ, LEED AP has 15 years of experience in the field of civil and water resources engineering. Jenn specializes in tailoring sustainable stormwater management solutions at the site-, neighborhood-, and watershed-scale to meet regulatory requirements and help clients achieve their sustainability goals. She is a member of the New England Water Environment Association and the Water Environment Federation. Jenn received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Senior Project Manager Stephen D. Farr, PE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate has 30 years of experience in the engineering field. His experience has centered around the preparation of design documents, development of work schedules and budgets, management of junior staff engineers, and coordination with various local and
state authorities for transportation engineering projects in municipalities throughout Massachusetts. He is active on the Town of Needham’s Conservation Commission, and has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers since 1988. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
About the New Vice President & Corporate Officer
Aaron A. Gallagher, PE, CFM, LEED AP, has 22 years of experience in the civil engineering field, where he has provided design and consulting services on a wide range of projects. He is particularly experienced in designing utilities, site grading and layout, and stormwater management solutions (including Low Impact Development designs). As the Director of Civil Engineering at Nitsch Engineering, Aaron leads the company’s largest department while also managing some of the more complex projects. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2018. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
About the New Shareholders
Project Manager Michelle Callahan, PE, LEED AP BD+C began working with Nitsch Engineering as a co-op student, and has since gained more than 11 years of experience as a civil engineer. She has worked on a variety of civil/site design projects, including numerous projects with an extensive environmental permitting component. She is actively involved in CREW Boston and Canstruction Boston. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering both from Northeastern University.
Project Manager Marc Gabriel, PE, CPESC has over 15 years of experience providing site design services including layout, grading, stormwater and drainage design, utility systems, and construction administration support services. He specializes in providing site-specific sustainable stormwater management techniques in urban and suburban environments. He is an active member of the New England Water Environment Association, and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. Marc received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University, where he is currently on the Executive Board of the Northeastern University Civil Engineering Alumni Organization.
Project Manager Birendra Gurung, PE, PTOE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate has over 14 years of experience in the transportation engineering field, with an emphasis on performing traffic and parking studies, design, cost estimates, design scheduling, construction administration, and construction document plans for a wide range of projects. He is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Birendra earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering, both from University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Senior Project Manager John Michalak, PE, ENV SP has over 27 years of experience related to the design, management, and implementation of complex transportation and infrastructure improvement projects throughout New England. John manages a diverse range of projects including the design of state highways and municipal roadways, traffic studies and intersection improvements, Complete Streets projects, accessibility improvements, multi-use recreational trails, major utility construction projects, and surface parking lots. He sits on the ACEC/MA MassDOT-Highway Subcommittee and is a member of the Town of Holden’s Planning board. John received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Deirdra A. Taylor, CPA has more than 30 years of experience providing corporate leadership and business finance expertise within the A/E/C industry. A certified public accountant (CPA), Deirdra has a demonstrated record of success in providing financial and operational analysis, modeling, and reporting; strategic planning and implementation; performance-based budgeting; and information technology strategy. Deirdra received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Bentley College.
Nitsch Engineering Nitsch Engineering specializes in providing civil, transportation, and structural engineering; land surveying; green infrastructure; planning; and GIS services. Since 1989, the company has worked on major private development and public infrastructure projects in 21 states and five countries. Nitsch Engineering is certified as a women-owned business enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and in Massachusetts and Virginia.
