GHA's Tom Rychlik's Shares Insights with IIT Students
GHA's Tom Rychlik's Shares Insights with IIT Students
GHA’s Tom Rychlik, P.E., LEED AP was honored recently to present to a group of aspiring Civil Engineers, applying engineering techniques to real-world scenarios as part of their Junior and Senior year Capstone projects at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
The subject of this presentation focused on insights into Construction Documents related to a well-known Chicago sports venue and its urgent stormwater management engineering improvements.
Tom has provided valuable information and thought-leadership for a wide variety of groups including engineering students, public and private sector sports facility professionals, as well as many internal GHA staff development and cross-disciplinary programs.
Facilities & Utilities Management Division Hosts C.E. Event
Facilities & Utilities Management Division Hosts Continuing Ed Event
GHA Facilities and Utilities Management Division hosted a Continuing Education Credit event for Public Works personnel from around the Chicagoland area. It was great to see so many dedicated professionals coming together to learn and share best practices.
The presentation covered a range of important topics related to hydrant maintenance, including some of the latest trends and challenges in the field. We were delighted to have American Flow Control and A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. on hand to share their expertise and insights.
We believe continuous learning and professional development are essential to providing the best possible service to our communities. That’s why we’re proud to support events like this and to work with partners who share our commitment to excellence. Thanks to everyone who attended and to all the presenters. We look forward to continuing the conversation and collaborating on more events in the future.
Todd Gordon, P.E., MBA
Todd P. Gordon, P.E., MBA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
GHA’s CEO, Todd P. Gordon is a Registered Professional Engineer practicing for over 30 years as a Civil Engineer with emphasis on municipal engineering, roadway design and construction engineering.
He has held numerous leadership positions within GHA including Director of Transportation and Director of Construction & Survey. Prior to joining GHA, Mr. Gordon served as Assistant Director of Engineering for the Village of Gurnee.
My Favorite Thing About Civil Engineering Is
“I love driving on a road that GHA designed and constructed, especially when it’s been a few years and it still looks great and is wearing well.”
What People May Not Know About Me
“I’m a basketball fanatic. Can’t get enough, especially NCAA.”
GHA Announces New Service Divisions
GHA Announces New Service Divisions
As GHA expands our expertise in a wider variety of services, the rapid growth of several service lines has sparked the need to create their own divisions. Now, in addition to GHA’s Municipal, Transportation, Data Collection, Site Design, Construction/Survey, and Finance/Admin Divisions, we introduce, and congratulate the new Directors of:
GEOSPATIAL SERVICES
When GHA began providing GIS services in 1997, it was not yet known how useful GIS would become – creating management tools for a variety of organizations, including governmental, educational, recreational, and more. GIS has advanced at a rapid rate and staying in step with advances has led GHA to this point. Through technical skill and client-centric project management, Greg Newton now leads a team of GIS Analysts who serve our clients at a high level, with responsive service and scalability in mind.
GREG NEWTON, GISP
Director of Geospatial Services
FACILITIES & UTILITIES MANAGEMENT
GHA was fortunate when Mike Grinnell retired from Lake County Public Works and joined GHA putting his extensive knowledge in the Public Works world, with an experienced eye and treasures of insight in projects that interface with public works priorities. This led to GHA introducing Water Operations services for numerous municipal clients that were in great need of assistance. This service, along with a variety of public works support services are now crucial to maintaining essential operations.
MIKE GRINNELL
Director of Facilities & Utilities Management
HUMAN RESOURCES
Human Resources is important to any organization, but for GHA, it is even more. As a firm experiencing high growth, recruiting and on-boarding are only the beginning. GHA looks to Anika and the Human Resources Division to help develop our unique culture that embraces and advances diversity, opportunities for personal and professional growth, as well as managing a large collection of employee benefits. GHA’s HR activities previously operated as part of the Finance & Administration Division.
ANIKA MOORE, MAIO
Director of Human Resources
We will miss you, Mike Shrake! 37 Years of Service
Mike Shrake Retires After 37 Years with GHA
We thank Mike Shrake for all his years of leadership, mentorship, and dedicated service to GHA. Mike was GHA’s first intern starting in 1985, became a full-time employee in 1986, Associate Partner in 1991, Principal in 2011, Director of the Construction/Survey Division in 2014, President in 2017, and CEO in 2021.
Mike’s emphasis was always on building strong and trusted relationships with our GHA team, our clients, permitting agencies, the contractors we work with, as well as many stakeholders in the communities we have worked in. Mike’s desire and goal for each project he worked on was to have a positive impact on our client and the community. Mike has developed and maintained strong, positive relationships with many in the industry throughout his career because of his high integrity and his sincere desire to make the communities he works in a better place for all.
Over Mike’s career, he was the Project Manager on several high-profile projects. Mike also served as Village Engineer to many communities that we still represent; that includes the Village of Kildeer, Riverwoods, Lake Barrington, Long Grove, and Wadsworth. Mike had mentored and transitioned the role of Village Engineer to others to give them the opportunities to develop their skills, responsibilities, and advancement in their careers.
Thanks for 37 years of Mike Shrake!
Welcome to GHA, Scott Gaunky, CPMM
Welcome to GHA, Scott Gaunky
GHA is delighted to announce the addition of Scott Gaunky, CPMM to GHA’s Leadership, bringing 40 years of educational facility maintenance and construction project experience. Scott recently retired from his long-time role as Director of Facilities for the Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District and is well known for excellence in management, guidance, and training of personnel, budgets and inventory management, and maintenance program planning and execution. He provided Construction Project Management of more than $53 Million in buildings and grounds projects.
Scott Gaunky joins GHA as Principal in our Site Design Division and will share his expertise across the GHA organization. Clients will benefit from his decades of service and the insights gained in facility management.
Award Winning! Gillson Park Beach House
Award Winning! Gillson Park Beach House
We’re delighted that AIA Chicago awarded Wilmette Park District’s Gillson Park Beach House a Design Excellence Award at AIA Chicago’s DESIGNIGHT 2022, the premier architectural celebration celebrating the global design achievements of members, was hosted at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Monday, September 12, 2022.
GHA is proud to have worked with the talented team from Woodhouse Tinucci Architects on the project, providing a wide range of civil engineering and support services including survey, conceptual site planning, preliminary and final design, permitting, and construction engineering across the 60-acre shoreline site.
Learn more about GHA’s contribution to this highly successful project.
Intern Coordination Committee
ESOP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Intern Coordination Committee meets regularly to coordinate all processes with GHA’s summer interns, the intern manual, logistics, training, and more. Many of GHA’s staff started as interns here and we prioritize the lasting value and importance of the intern experience.
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
The Diversity & Inclusion Committee meets at regular intervals with a primary focus to bring awareness of systemic and national issues to the GHA community as well as develop partnerships with experts and practitioners in our community.
Philanthropy Committee
PHILANTHROPY COMMITTEE
The Philanthropy Committee’s mission is to develop and implement fundraising plans and strategies to assure the prosperity of GHA through philanthropy and fund development.
Committee members are expected to be ambassadors for GHA within the community.
They will evaluate charities, develop fundraising plans, and recommend philanthropic activities to maximize GHA’s potential to raise and donate funds and/or manpower.