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Welcome to our newsroom! Here you will find the latest information about our company, projects and people. Browse articles published by our engineers and scientists in national publications and conference proceedings, view our press releases and read through news coverage of Terracon.
If you are a member of the media, you may contact our media relations representative at media@terracon.com.
Terracon Foundation Awards Grant to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
https://youtu.be/jeRFkZ-c6qc
Pomona, Calif. — The Terracon Foundation announced a $5,000 University Grant to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) to support engineering students and empower local K-12 students to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math.
With a “learn by doing” philosophy, Cal Poly Pomona offers numerous fields of study within eight colleges, including the College of Engineering which offers 11 undergraduate programs and seven graduate programs. The college is currently ranked 5th nationally for its undergraduate engineering program, among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report (2020).
The grant will be used to support Cal Poly Pomona’s Women in Engineering (CPP WE) and Femineer® programs which provide outreach to female K-12 students and university students considering a career in engineering. Cal Poly Pomona Women in Engineering provides students with on-campus support and career preparation, while Femineer® provides K-12 students with technical engineering skills such as programming and helps them engage in critical thinking and project-based learning.
“Cal Poly Pomona has a reputation in the consulting industry as a top-notch educator of civil engineers,” said Carl Parten, senior principal and office manager in Terracon’s Colton office, who championed the grant. “Only about 13%of engineers are women, so we are proud to provide a grant that will be used to encourage more women to join and succeed in this dynamic and fulfilling career.”
Cordelia Ontiveros, Ph.D., P.E., professor emerita and CPP WE founder, from Cal Poly Pomona announced the grant Oct. 22 during a CPP WE videoconference workshop. Terracon CEO and President Gayle Packer commented on the importance of supporting the next generation of engineers.
“CPP WE has served more than 14,000 students since the program was founded in 2012. During that time, first-time freshman female engineering enrollment has grown from 13% to 21%,” said Ontiveros. “We are thankful to Terracon for this grant to support more women to thrive in engineering.” For more information about California State Polytechnic University Pomona’s College of Engineering, visit cpp.edu/engineering/.
About Terracon Foundation
To date, the Terracon Foundation has granted more than $3 million to community organizations, universities, dependents of employees, and for disaster relief efforts. The Terracon Foundation has been making grants to provide engineering students with scholarships since 2008. For more information about the Terracon Foundation and other organizations it has supported, visit terracon.com/foundation.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record’s 2020 list of Top 500 Design Firms.
Terracon Names Jon Arita National Director of Logistics
Arita joins Terracon with a proven track record of expertise in supply chain, logistics, transportation, and rail. He will work with clients to provide solutions to complex challenges, drawing upon his expertise with projects ranging from small intermodal opportunities to large capital expenditure initiatives. Terracon’s Logistics Team includes professionals who tailor our environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services to align with clients’ evolving needs at each phase of every logistics project’s life cycle.
“I’m incredibly honored to take on the job of National Director, Logistics. Terracon’s impressive growth combined with its culture of safety and innovation is what impressed me most,” Arita said. “I look forward to taking the vast services Terracon offers to the Logistics Sector to build long-lasting relationships. I’m thrilled to join the team.”
Arita brings years of experience to Terracon, including most recently at BNSF Railway. He is active in the American Railway Development Association, International Economic Development Council, and NAIOP- E-Commerce Forum. Arita earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Baylor University. He is based in Terracon’s Fort Worth office.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record’s 2020 list of Top 500 Design Firms.
Terracon Foundation Scholarship Awarded to University of Colorado Boulder Student
Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust Announces Awards to Engineering Students
OLATHE, Kan. — The Terracon Foundation announced $2,000 has been awarded to Joelle Westcott, a junior engineering student at the University of Colorado Boulder, to support her studies in civil engineering. The scholarship is the first award following establishment of the DFI Educational Trust/Terracon Consultants Scholarship Fund. The Terracon Foundation’s endowment of $50,000 will be used to fund this annual educational scholarship.
Westcott was recommended for the scholarship by current and former faculty, as well as staff of the university’s Centrifuge Research Center, where she works as a student engineering technician. An accomplished student, Wescott spent the summer of 2019 in Eswatini, working with the community as construction manager for a 69-meter pedestrian footbridge as part of an Engineers in Action project. She also completed an independent creative project where she merged engineering and photography to document the community collaboration and global engineering process.
Originally from Broomfield, Colo., Westcott chose engineering because she wanted to continuously solve challenging problems that make a tangible, positive impact on the world. A graduate of Thornton High School in Thornton, Colo., she earned an international baccalaureate diploma and received academic and athletic honors throughout high school. After she completes college, Westcott would like to work on innovative international projects, while also staying involved on development projects on the side.
The DFI Educational Trust manages 18 scholarship programs funded by endowments, donations, and fundraising events. Since 2006, the Trust has awarded $1.25 million in scholarships to more than 400 students studying at colleges and universities across the United States and the Province of Ontario, Canada. Donations to the DFI Educational Trust scholarship funds can be made online at www.dfitrust.org.
The Terracon Foundation has been making grants to provide engineering students with scholarships since 2008. For more information about the Terracon Foundation, visit terracon.com/foundation/.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record’s 2020 list of Top 500 Design Firms.
Terracon Acquires Environmental Planning Group of Phoenix
Builds on environmental planning, design and resource specialists’ depth in Southwest, Western U.S.
OLATHE, Kan. – Terracon is pleased to announce its acquisition of Environmental Planning Group (EPG), headquartered in Phoenix. EPG is a privately held consulting company with more than two decades serving public- and private-sector clients in the Western U.S. and nationally.
Founded in 1999, EPG offers interdisciplinary services including environmental planning and permitting, landscape architecture planning and design, biological and cultural resources, earth sciences, paleontology, public involvement, geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental mitigation and construction support.
“EPG brings a tremendous wealth of experience and strong professional presence in the region, further enhancing our environmental engineering and consulting services in the Southwest and Western U.S.,” said Gayle Packer, Terracon president and CEO. “We’re excited for this great team of professionals to bring their talents to our shared vision of client service, now and in the future.”
EPG’s approximately 50 employees will immediately become part of Terracon, serving clients from offices in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas. The organization will continue to serve clients locally as Environmental Planning Group, A Terracon Company.
“This opportunity is a result of our ongoing commitment to providing excellent capabilities and service to our clients,” said Paul Trenter, CEO of EPG. “Becoming part of Terracon’s national team of experts will leverage our existing strengths and set us on a new path for growth.”
The new acquisition is supported by Terracon’s existing offices in the Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas metro areas, and others throughout the region.
The company’s diverse portfolio of clients and projects include electrical transmission and generation, oil and gas, mining, municipal and private development, communities, parks and recreation, transportation, and other infrastructure projects.
Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record’s list of the Top 500 Design Firms.
Terracon Names Jeff Davis National Director of Federal Services
Davis joins Terracon with a proven track record of federal leadership and successful sales management. His diverse expertise in federal marketing and sales has provided clients in the public and private sectors with engineering, science, and construction solutions to complex challenges. Based in Terracon’s Orange County office, Davis will focus on leading strategy for Terracon’s federal sector, including client development and program management, while providing technical oversight.
“I am excited for the opportunity to join an employee-owned legacy company like Terracon,” Davis said. “With over 150 offices, the firm is well-positioned to respond and support federal agencies everywhere, including those with facilities in remote locations. I am looking forward to working with a great team of engineers and scientists to expand our services and continue providing value within the federal sector.”
With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Davis also has a distinguished record of accomplishment with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Most recently, he has been serving as California regional vice president and is on the SAME national board of directors. Previously, he held tenure as past president of the SAME Orange County Post, and chairman of several major events. Davis earned his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in atmospheric science from the University of California, Davis.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record’s 2020 list of Top 500 Design Firms.