Staff Recognition Committee
STAFF RECOGNITION COMMITTEE
The Staff Recognition Committee discuss, analyze, evaluate, and initiate ways for GHA to positively recognize employees for years of service, exemplary achievements, or a noteworthy performance
The Staff Recognition Committee’s responsibilities generally include such things as creating employee tenure lists, coordinating annual Years of Service luncheon, content development, management, and updates for the office video monitor, and development staff recognition content for social media outlets. The Committee will also establish, manage, and coordinate activities related to acknowledgements, achievements, rewards, plaques, thank yous, etc. for staff recognition.
Being a member of the Staff Recognition Committee will typically involve providing approximately 10 hours over the entire year, and they will typically meet quarterly; however, additional meetings may be required, as necessary.
Health and Wellness Committee
HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE
The Health and Wellness Committee promotes physical and mental wellness through assessing, planning, and implementing activities that will help GHA employees-owners be more aware and motivated to increase their own and other’s well-being. The Health and Wellness Committee will largely be responsible for evaluating the current health and wellness programs, services and policies that are available at GHA and assessing employee-owner needs and preferences. They will develop a health promotion operating plan that provides activities to employees that will increase awareness on various health topics (i.e., healthy eating, exercise, relaxation methods). They will also provide and promote activities that will help to build the required skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle such as fitness classes, fitness challenges, cooking classes, etc., and motivate employee owners to be aware of opportunities to improve their health provided by GHA.
Social Events Committee
ESOP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Social Events Committee functions to improve the social environment in and around the office(s), encourage collaborative action, and help create a sense of togetherness amongst our co-owners. The Social Committee is generally responsible for evaluating, coordinating, and implementing creative events employee-owners will enjoy as well as promoting these events through various media in the office. In the past this included bi-monthly events such as paint night, paintball, company picnic, Ravinia, and Arlington Racetrack to name a few.
The Social Events Committee will typically entail contributing approximately 25 hours over the entire year (excluding event attendance), and they will typically meet monthly; however, additional coordination meetings may be required early in the year as needed. Committee members are expected to attend the committee planned events.
ESOP Advisory Committee
ESOP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The ESOP Advisory Council meets monthly and strives to increase the value of the ESOP by encouraging ownership thinking and fostering ownership behaviors for all employee-owners.
Every GHA Service Division is represented in the ESOP Advisory Committee, ensuring that ideas and consensus come from across the entire firm. The members of the committee provide an active and participatory atmosphere in the company through a wide variety of activities, contests, and much more.
Membership opportunities occur annually.
Greg Newton, GISP Presents at NaTMEC
Greg Newton, GISP Presents at NaTMEC 2022
GHA is excited to return to the National Travel Monitoring Exposition and Conference (NaTMEC). Greg Newton, GISP conducted a presentation outlining the integration of GIS into our Traffic Data Collection services, and the efficiencies created by that integration including meeting project requirements, improving field support, stakeholder transparency, and the distribution of deliverables. Greg brings a unique perspective in his roles as Assistant Director of Data Collection Services and GIS Manager for our firm.
The National Travel Monitoring Exposition and Conference (NaTMEC) provides travel monitoring professionals and transportation data users from around the world opportunities to share knowledge and good practices, exchange ideas, revisit fundamental concepts, learn new processes, procedures and techniques, and see the latest advancements in policy, technology, and equipment.
Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvements
GHA's Mike Warner at Burr Oak Area DCEO project groundbreaking ceremony.
GHA Principal, Mike Warner, P.E., CFM, participated with Lake County and City of Lake Forest officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvement Project. This project includes the construction of storm sewer upgrades and underground storage facilities for residential and business areas within the north downtown area of Lake Forest.
The Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvement Project is funded in part by federal American Recovery Plan Act coronavirus relief funding distributed through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Mike Warner, Principal of Water Resources, is a key figure in GHA’s project team on this important project. He joined GHA in 2020 following his longtime role as Executive Director of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission where he led the agency in planning, engineering, design and construction of stormwater programs and projects.
GHA Elevates GIS Services
GHA is excited to announce a major overhaul and upgrade to our GIS web servers and data hosting environment. After months of research and discussions, GHA migrated from an on-premises GIS server to a managed cloud-based environment.
As a client, you are not expected to experience any downtime during business hours. This upgrade will allow us to provide better service with faster applications and less downtime.
Migrating to a cloud environment will allow us to provide better service on several fronts:
Faster performance – Web applications will load and run noticeably faster for clients and mobile users. Our current system sits behind layers of firewalls and IT security that cause maps to load slower than we’d like. The new system will run faster for all users, increasing efficiency and decreasing frustration.
Increased Availability & Reliability – GIS in the Cloud can put out information in the public domain, for continuous updates and open access. Down time will be significantly reduced if not eliminated.
Easier Accessibility for Users – Services are available automatically, regardless of the user’s location, and consumers are not required to interact with each service provider. Consumers do not necessarily need technical knowledge of computing services to be able to access and share information.
Unlimited Users – Clients can add unlimited users to access secured services or edit data in the field/office.
Increased Security – The structure of new system reduce the risk of hackers while maintaining GHA’s standard of data security. GIS data will be backed up every 4 hours, meaning your data is always secure.
Scalability – As your GIS database and resources increase in size, our new system will be able to accommodate for years and years to come.
Reduced Maintenance Costs – The new system will require less maintenance and administration time for GHA staff, meaning less cost for clients.
Up-to-Date Technology – The cloud system will allow GHA to more easily upgrade to the latest software meaning clients to the latest GIS solutions and resources.
For more information about GHA’s valuable GIS services, contact Greg Newton, GISP
Todd Gordon Named CEO
Todd Gordon Named CEO
Todd P. Gordon, P.E., was named Chief Executive Officer of GHA. Gordon has been with GHA for over 22 years and has served as Director of Construction and Survey, and Director of Transportation Services. He has brought consistently excellent leadership and vision, and is poised to guide GHA now and into the future with emphasis on an inclusive culture, community involvement, and a wide variety of opportunities for GHA staff growth.
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. Prior to joining GHA, Mr. Gordon served as Assistant Director of Engineering for the Village of Gurnee.
Art Penn Adds President to COO
Art Penn Adds President to COO
Arthur J. Penn, P.E. has been named President of GHA and will remain Chief Operations Officer as he has been since 2020. Penn’s focus is on creating and refining processes that enable GHA’s ability to consistently deliver services and deliverables with accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. Art has been with GHA for over 20 years, formerly serving as Director of Data Collection, in which he refined systems that support industry-leading turnaround time and data integrity.
Arthur J. Penn, President and Chief Operations Officer, served as GHA’s director of Data Collection Division for 16 years prior to his appointment as COO in 2020, then President in 2021.
GHA Principals Named
GHA proudly announces that several key leaders who have played important roles in developing GHA’s reputation for excellence and dependability are now Principals. In this, each Principal is enabled to be dedicated to further developing specific areas in which they have focused:
Donald Dixon, P.E.
Don has been instrumental in Site Design for many clients in their educational and campus improvements, and has become a leading figure in Data Center site development. In this growing market, he will put his expertise to work with a primary focus on Data Center development clients.
Donald Matthews, P.E., CFM
Don is well-known throughout the Site Design community. He is Vice President of GHA and most recently, Director of Site Design Services where he has played significant parts in designing and managing innumerable projects in Parks and Recreation, and Campus Design.
Michael Shrake, P.E.
Mike, who was GHA’s first-ever intern, has served in a variety of leadership roles, most recently, CEO. He chose to focus entirely on helping clients in special use sites as well as Parks and Recreation, fueled by his extensive experience in all phases of projects.
Michael Warner, P.E., CFM
Mike joined GHA in early 2020 following his well-known presence as executive Director of the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. His expertise on both the regulatory and project management sides brings great insight to GHA’s Water Resources work.
Walter Graft, P.E.
Walt has been with GHA for over 30 years as a Civil Engineer, concentrating his focus on municipal engineering, school, hospital, park, and commercial site development, and stormwater management. He is particularly well-known for his athletic facilities projects both for educational and park district clients.