The infrastructure and real estate development profession is characterized by a continuous cycle of opportunities and challenges, lending both excitement and significant community impact to our work. This past quarter was particularly notable for WGI, marked by the integration of new leadership, numerous project achievements, and substantial contributions to our clients' successes.
I am pleased to begin this edition by welcoming two key leaders to our firm. Mike Mills, P.E., joined us as the new Vice President of Water Resources in early April. With over 35 years of experience, Mike is skilled in hydraulics and hydrology, also specializing in transportation, water resources, and land development. Before joining WGI, he co-founded and led a successful engineering firm for over two decades. His deep expertise in complex drainage and transportation projects is crucial as he both fosters innovation and guides our water-resource design professionals to deliver outstanding service. His arrival coincides with an exciting growth phase at WGI as we enhance our water-resource capabilities through further integration with our subsidiary, Streamline Technologies.
In late April, we were also fortunate to add Robby Vogel, P.E., as our new Director of Structural Engineering within our Buildings Division. This division encompasses our architecture, parking, building restoration, and MEP engineering practices. Robby’s experience significantly bolsters WGI’s leadership in structural engineering for a diverse range of structures, including mid-rise and high-rise buildings, sea walls, and ocean piers, and extends our expertise into the education, industrial facilities, and healthcare sectors. His prior role as the Texas Structural Team Lead at a major international firm further underscores his leadership stature.
As we approach mid-2024, we observe ongoing economic dynamics influenced by the Federal Reserve’s continued efforts to control inflation. The resultant high interest rates had varying impacts across private development markets, while the previously buoyant labor market has moderated. These trends reflect the intended outcomes of Federal Reserve policies.
Nevertheless, the public infrastructure sector and specific segments of private development continue exhibiting strength, particularly in the southeast and southcentral U.S. Our core markets in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina show consistent growth and resilience. Our increasing project backlog, month after month, is a testament to the successful collaborations with our clients -- and the dedication of our associates.
A notable public sector achievement was the $1 billion grant secured by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a new passenger rail route between Raleigh, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. This success was primarily due to the diligent efforts of WGI’s Cheryl Collins, who authored the grant proposal on behalf of NCDOT, securing these competitive federal funds. Congratulations to Cheryl for her outstanding work!
Our Geospatial team recently earned three prestigious awards for its contributions to the Brightline High-Speed Rail project in Florida—the first privately owned high-speed rail in the U.S. This project is anticipated to significantly boost Florida’s economy by over $6.4 billion by the end of 2029. Our team's innovative solutions were instrumental as the exclusive geospatial provider for the project's fourth phase. Further details are available in our white paper, "Brightline Behind the Scenes - WGI's Geospatial Expertise and Creativity Make All the Difference!"
These efforts were acknowledged with the National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the Geospatial Excellence Award from the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS), and the Engineering Excellence Award from ACEC-Florida.
As hurricane season approaches, our subsidiary Streamline Technologies is at the forefront with cutting-edge tools revolutionizing flood forecasting and management. Our real-world case study in Orlo Vista, Florida, showcases how our FloodWise™ and StormWise™ technologies can predict flooding events days in advance, facilitating timely evacuations during events like Hurricane Ian.
On a personal note, and on behalf of all our associates at WGI, I am deeply optimistic and excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the second half of 2024. WGI is poised to continue our mission of serving our clients, communities, and nation with unwavering dedication and expertise.
- David Wantman, PE
Chief Executive Officer, WGI
