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Engineers Week is a chance to celebrate the work that keeps communities moving—often behind the scenes, always with purpose. Across DCCM, our engineers are solving everyday challenges with technical expertise, collaboration, and steady problem-solving. This year, we’re honored to feature Mariah Rodriguez, EI, Andrew Sawyer, Stephanie Williams, PE, Tom Bartlett, PE, and George Hicks, PE—five DCCM engineers whose experience, perspective, and commitment to excellence reflect the strength of our team and the work we do across the country. Representing different stages of their careers, each brings a unique insight into the profession and the work that drives it forward. Their Q&As below offer a closer look at the people behind the projects, the lessons that have shaped their paths, and the perspectives they bring to engineering every day. Job title and location: George: Supervising Civil Engineer – Fairfield, California Stephanie: Senior Engineer – Atlanta, Georgia Andrew: Engineer – Lakeland, Florida Mariah: Staff Engineer –  Fishers, Indiana Tom: Project Manager – St. Augustine, Florida How has your role evolved since you started? Stephanie: I started with DCCM in July 2025 as the first-person doing Land Development out of our Atlanta/Sandy Springs office. We have recently hired another engineer to expand this team. I’m currently mentoring him to grow this division. Andrew: My understanding of project timelines, as well as interactions with parties involved in projects, has significantly progressed. To this extent, I now do more client interface interactions such as RPR work, emailing utility companies, preparing permits, and coordinating technical work. Mariah: Since starting at DCCM 3 years ago, I’ve gained more technical responsibilities and leadership roles within my department! I’ve gone from being a mere novice drafter to designing different project elements, completing design calculations, writing technical reports, and leading the utility coordination for a variety of projects. What part of your work has the biggest impact on communities? George: Being able to draw from and apply my 30 years experience serving as a City Engineer/Director of Public Works to help clients navigate successfully though those complicated and unusual situations they sometimes encounter. Andrew: To me it is constantly being there for our clients, which for the most part are public. Cities like Bartow, Auburndale, Wauchula [Florida], and more are always a pleasure to serve. Mariah: The part of my job that impacts our local communities the most would be during the design and planning portion of a project. This phase of a project is when we’ll decide what improvements are needed, what pedestrian facilities should be included, and what safety features to add. Well-designed roadway corridors increase driver and pedestrian safety, promote economic growth, and optimize travel! Tom: Water resources & stormwater management impact the health and growth of the community Who helped shape your engineering career, and how? George: I was fortunate early in my career to have a seasoned City Engineer that believed in me and spent the time to teach me not only “what” we do in our profession, but more importantly “why” we do things and many practical stories and applications for each lesson. This training helped me to develop a series of values that allowed me to make sound decisions when there wasn’t necessarily a clear “right” answer. Stephanie: Good managers. Over the years I’ve had several managers who have been phenomenal to work with and for. Loving who you work with is just as important as loving what you do. Andrew: I think Andre Rives and Austin Hungate have really shaped my engineering career. Andre’s diligent work ethic, always putting his head down and grinding, sets a lingering example of how I should also be doing my work. Austin’s presence and how he holds himself to professional standards in the workplace is truly role-model like and is something I hope people see in me one day. Mariah: My supervisors, peers, and involvement with professional organizations, like WTS, have all helped to shape my engineering career in some way. My supervisors have consistently provided thorough guidance on new tasks I undertake and ensure that I’m exposed to new topics within our field. My peers have helped to develop my professional identity and have molded how I interact with others in our field, how I attack new tasks or situations, and have each contributed to how I’ve developed my different workflows. My involvement in WTS has also exposed me to unique perspectives in our field and shown me what strong, capable women engineering leaders can look like. Tom: Bill Murchie PE – Helped me in my former position with designing an industrial seawater system used for marine research in the Florida Keys. What part of engineering excites you most right now? Andrew: Always problem solving. I love the work and being challenged. When I get water/wastewater engineering tasks, I love to work them out as quickly as I can to approach the next tasks swiftly and efficiently. Mariah: The part of engineering that excites me the most right now is developing solutions to ensure our infrastructure grows with our communities and best serves their individual needs. I am very intrigued by diverse roadway corridors that effectively implement public transit, accessible pedestrian facilities, greenspace, and vehicular travel lanes all in one! Tom: Water resources and wastewater treatment – Where the water goes and how we deal with waste is the most exciting to me currently What drew you to engineering in the first place? Stephanie: My grandfather, dad, and brother were all civil engineers. I remember visiting job sites with my dad as a child on Saturday morning. As a high schooler, I excelled at math and scienced and decided to continue that passion in college. Andrew: My skills in math and computers. I think I never went the more computer-like path in school because I enjoyed interacting with people too. I love making allies, and establishing relationships, before helping to solve their problems. Mariah: Growing up, my dad worked as an architect and would often take me with him to city hall, client meetings,

World Wetlands Day is observed each year on February 2nd to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands. This year’s theme, “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage,” is a timely reminder that wetlands are not only ecological assets. They are landscapes that live, shaped by generations of observation, stewardship, and place-based practices. That framing matters for those of us who plan, design, permit, and build infrastructure. Wetlands sit at the intersection of water, land, and community. When we treat them as constraints to “get around,” projects can become harder to permit, more expensive to build, and less resilient over time. Wetlands become part of the solution when we treat them as systems to understand and partner with. Why wetlands matter to every community Wetlands reduce runoff from development and store floodwater, lessening downstream impacts. They improve water quality by treating pollutants and nutrients, support fisheries and wildlife, and store carbon. Losing wetlands carries tangible costs. Global assessments warn that wetland decline could drive massive economic losses in flood protection, water supply, food systems, and more, underscoring that wetlands serve as vital infrastructure, like concrete structures. The “traditional knowledge” connection is practical, not poetic Building on the importance of wetlands, we find that traditional and local knowledge is often described in cultural terms, but is also technically grounded. It reflects patterns observed over decades: for example, where water collects first, how tides behave in a storm, which vegetation indicates persistent saturation, which channels migrate, and which areas rebound naturally after disturbance. When project teams listen early, that insight can improve decisions that engineering models alone may not fully capture, including: How a site functions during extreme events (not only the design storm) Where seasonal saturation affects constructability and maintenance How to shape design choices for public access, working waterfronts, or heritage landscapes This is especially relevant in 2026 as communities are balancing growth with water constraints, risk of flooding, and coastal change. A shifting regulatory landscape raises the stakes for getting wetlands right Wetland and stream jurisdiction, permitting paths, and documentation expectations continue to evolve. In the U.S., the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) has been revised and implemented differently across states through litigation and rulemaking. The most important takeaway for project owners is clear: uncertainty is not a reason to delay formulating a wetland strategy; it shows the need to start earlier. Projects that move smoothly through permitting typically share three traits: Early field verification and clear documentation of aquatic resources A design approach that avoids and minimizes impacts instead of “mitigating” them A realistic plan for compensatory mitigation and monitoring when required When wetlands are integrated into the design from the start Effective projects do not bolt on wetlands after other design decisions have been made. Instead, they are planned alongside them. Examples include: Site and grading design conforming to natural drainage patterns Stormwater strategies mimicking natural storage and delayed release Design of landscape and public realms to protect wetland buffers while creating valued community spaces Phasing plans that reduce disturbance, protect soils, and effectively control erosion and sediment transport This is where gray and green solutions converge to create resilient infrastructure that relies on wetland functions, regardless of project labeling. Protecting wetlands with purpose: DCCM’s science-driven, delivery-focused approach DCCM supports clients nationwide across diverse infrastructure markets, providing design, consulting, and program and construction management services. We leverage our water resources capabilities, including hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, watershed management, and conservation planning, to deliver resilient, sustainable outcomes. Wetland management is routinely included in the planning and design decisions made for our clients, including: Managing flood risk to avoid over-building or over-permitting Aligning stormwater systems with natural hydrology and long-term maintenance Reducing permit risk by designing for avoidance and minimization, and developing workable mitigation strategies Coordinating disciplines to ensure environmental constraints are considered in geometry, utilities, and construction staging from the start. Across DCCM’s nationwide offices, environmental services supporting wetlands include regulatory permitting, wetland determination and delineation, and environmental mitigation and restoration. What project owners can do this year If wetlands are within or near your project boundary, consider these three moves before design is difficult to change: Consider wetland issues as a primary driver of the project.Budget time for field review, stakeholder input, and alternatives to reduce impacts. Use both model results and field realities.Pair hydrologic and hydraulic analysis with knowledge from local operators, residents, and long-time land stewards to learn how the site behaves. Combine permitting and constructability in the same conversation.Permits, erosion control, sequencing, and long-term performance are linked. Align them early to reduce future surprises. A closing thought for World Wetlands Day Wetlands connect the past with the future. They hold water, store carbon, sustain habitat, protect shorelines, and reflect cultural relationships at every location. World Wetlands Day reminds us to see wetlands as both vital ecosystems and valued community assets. By understanding and integrating wetlands, we build resilient, permittable infrastructure that respects landscapes and people. If you’re planning a project where flooding, drainage, coastal processes, or wetland resources may shape design or permitting, DCCM’s hydrology and water resources teams can help you evaluate options early and move forward with clarity. Explore our capabilities and connect with our team to start the conversation.

Revitalizing the SR 103 over I-70 Bridge through cost-savings and forward-thinking rehabilitation techniques. DCCM upgraded the safety and accelerated project completion for this critical bridge to minimize community disruption and support long-term connectivity…

With over 30 years of extensive involvement in all aspects of jail design, DCCM has observed a remarkable evolution of county jails, from basic incarceration facilities to ones that offer a more comprehensive approach to rehabilitation and reduction in recidivism. Utilization of advanced construction systems, modularization, and technology has expanded the capabilities of jails, beyond what was possible a few decades ago. However, the continuously changing correctional design environment, due to alterations in legislation, inmate populations, budgets, and resources, has necessitated constant adaptation. Looking ahead, DCCM believes the “jail of tomorrow” must focus more attention on restoring the human spirit for those incarcerated. While there have been ongoing discussions around deinstitutionalization, designers must find ways to contribute to it through innovative, adaptable facility layouts that give counties the flexibility to evolve their onboarding and offboarding approaches in the future. The facilities of the future must allow for a multi-faceted approach to addressing the underlying problems causing such a large increase in incarcerated population, placing greater emphasis on creating Intervention Centers where trained professionals can fully understand the scope and cause of the problem. This approach allows for early classification and implementation of a targeted-care perspective. It is vital that our jail designs shift toward smaller, more specialized facilities in a campus-like environment that provide trauma informed design for inmates with specific needs, such as mental health or substance abuse issues, while maintaining separate areas of full security for other classifications. (See Figure 1) Delaware County Justice & Rehabilitation Center Delaware County Mental Health Facility Figure 1 In our enhanced Pod design that we have developed and refined over the last ten years, DCCM has taken proactive steps toward developing a fully customizable design that reacts to early classification, offering sheriffs the opportunity for multiple levels of security for upwards of 350 inmates within one visual control point. This design not only provides our clients with a tailored, cost-effective solution but also addresses programmatic and staff efficiency needs during a time of reduced workforces and heightened awareness of wellness and well-being. (See Figure 2) Figure 2 With a more diverse population, the need for smaller treatment units has been greater than ever. Our designs provide a more normative environment, with all the required support and treatment spaces within the housing unit including classrooms, video arraignment, interview rooms, isolation/padded cells, and medical spaces. Controlled access allows for self-directed movement of inmates, leading to fewer opportunities for conflict and better utilization of staff. A mix of two-person and four-person cells, along with dormitories, provides incentivized options for inmates as they move through the system toward becoming productive and responsible members of society. (See Figure 3) Jail Pod With Visual Control Point Video Control Room Classroom Medical Space Figure 3 As an example, the DCCM Justice Studio designed the new Hancock County Jail, constructed in 2021. This modern facility was developed with a strong focus on mental health, rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism. The design incorporates dedicated programmatic pods and classroom spaces where inmates can participate in educational training, such as earning their GEDs. These specialized areas also support counseling and addiction recovery programs, providing opportunities for personal growth and preparation for reentry into society. By integrating these restorative and educational components directly into the housing unit, the Hancock County Jail reflects a shift toward a more holistic, treatment-oriented correctional model that prioritizes healing and transformation alongside safety and security. “The Hancock County Jail represents more than a place of confinement; it embodies a commitment to change. We are planting seeds of hope and opportunities into the very foundation of this facility. By integrating education, treatment, and recovery programs, we are providing individuals with the resources needed to rebuild their lives and successfully reenter our community. This modern design reflects our belief that true public safety is achieved through transformation, rehabilitation, and renewed purpose — not incarceration alone. The investment in this facility is an investment in people, in progress, and in the belief that change is always possible.” – Sheriff Brad Burkhart Mental health facilities are changing how county jails function by providing specialized care for inmates with mental health issues, but they will have to be more involved at the county jail level. This could involve offering counseling services, medication management, and other forms of treatment to help address their mental health needs. Mental health facilities are also changing how county jails approach discipline and punishment. Instead of relying solely on punitive measures such as solitary confinement, jails are increasingly using therapeutic approaches to address behavioral issues. Moreover, there must be an increased focus on restorative justice, which aims to repair harm caused by criminal behavior through a collaborative process involving the victim, the offender, and the community. This process would involve more restorative justice programs being offered within county jails as well as a greater emphasis on community-based alternatives to incarceration. (See Figure 4) Delaware County Mental Heath Waiting Room Delaware County Mental Health Classroom Delaware County Mental Health Living Quarters Delaware County Mental Health Bedroom Delaware County Mental Health Facility DCCM is committed to being the leader in providing viable, innovative solutions to address the evolving future of jails, as we grapple with changing laws and ideologies. We believe that our design expertise in the “jail of tomorrow” will bring positive impacts to the lives of inmates, the staff, and the community at large. Sanjay Patel, AAIA, LEED AP, CPTED Senior Project Manager – Justice Studio Lead, Indiana Sanjay leads the DCCM’s Justice Studio and has played an integral role in every detention project for the last 35 years. His leadership and expertise have led to DCCM jail design innovations, including direct contact ports in central control and self-contained housing pods with all support components. Additionally, Sanjay has developed a flexible systematic approach to control bed counts and costs. This has been instrumental in DCCM’s success in hitting early established construction budgets. His excellent communication and collaborative approach results in solutions that are tailored to a client’s specific needs and

The DCCM Construction Inspection team is currently partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) LaPorte District on a major roadway improvement project along a 10-mile stretch of SR 29 near Logansport, Indiana. This corridor plays an important role in connecting the City of Logansport to Indianapolis and the many rural communities in between..

DCCM partnered with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Crawfordsville District and the Town of Waveland to complete a $6.9 million improvement project along a one-mile stretch of SR 59. This project included full pavement reconstruction through the heart of historic Waveland, along with overlay treatments through surrounding residential areas. The goal was to address the deteriorating roadway, improve drainage, and modernize the corridor while carefully preserving the historical character of this small Indiana town…

As environmental professionals, DCCM is deeply passionate and committed to protecting our planet’s natural environment and resources while supporting responsible growth. As populations expand across the globe and communities evolve, we understand that responsible development is necessary to meet the growing needs of our communities; however, there must be a balance between progress and preservation.

DCCM is proud to partner with the Hageman Group and the City of Valparaiso to bring a transformative new development to the heart of their community. The Linc Apartments, a $29 million mixed-use project, is reshaping downtown Valparaiso by introducing much-needed urban housing and retail opportunities in a walkable, vibrant setting.