Fishbeck

As communities across Michigan face mounting housing challenges, local leaders are coming together to explore practical, long-term solutions. At the Michigan Municipal League Capital Conference, one of our Senior Brownfield Specialists, Trudy Galla, provided insight into recent updates to the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act and how they can support housing initiatives. Read the full article to learn how municipalities are leveraging tools like land trusts, zoning changes, and targeted incentives to increase housing access:

Renovare Development is proud to continue to present a series of posts featuring Women in Housing, Commercial Real Estate and Community Development. Today we take great pride in featuring Courtney Dunaj, Senior Hydrogeologist at Fishbeck. Fishbeck provides services in engineering, environmental sciences, architecture, and construction management. Courtney leads Fishbeck’s Environmental Due Diligence Team and serves as the primary point of contact for clients in need of environmental due diligence to support real estate transactions and redevelopment planning. With over eight years of experience in environmental consulting, Courtney has emerged as a leading trusted advisor for the real estate industry offering collaborative, innovative, and cost-effective approaches to complex environmental challenges. From providing environmental cleanup liability protection assistance through the Baseline Environmental Assessment process to developing comprehensive strategies for site reuse, Courtney utilizes her technical skills and familiarity with state and federal regulations to help advance site readiness for industrial growth, facilitate new affordable housing, and repurpose contaminated properties safely. Collaborating with Fishbeck’s Brownfield Team and local and state funding agencies, Courtney has also been instrumental in securing incentives to offset costs related to environmental due diligence activities supporting brownfield redevelopment. Renovare Development would like to thank Courtney for her help with our brownfield site in Ypsilanti, Dorsey Estates. She is also working with us on our project in Benton Harbor. Her services have played a tremendous part in helping us bring affordable housing to both areas.   #RenovareDevelopment #Renovare #Fishbeck #Dorsey #DorseyEstates #ProjectT #Benton Harbor #Ypsilanti #YpsiLiving #LiveInYpsi #YpsiCommunity #DowntownYpsi #HistoricYpsilanti #WalkableYpsi #AffordableHousing #MissingMiddle #WomenLead #WomenLeaders #EmergingLeaders 

Landon Barrow is one of our Transportation Engineers located in our Fishers, Indiana office. He shares why spring maintenance is essential for keeping our infrastructure safe and reliable! Common Winter Damage: • Potholes & Cracks: Water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands, weakening the pavement and creating potholes. • Faded Markings & Signs: Snow, salt, and plowing wear down lane markings and signs, reducing visibility and making roads less safe, especially at night or in bad weather. • Drainage Issues: Clogged drains prevent water from flowing properly, weakening the road base. Why Spring Repairs Matter: • Prevent Bigger Problems: Early repairs stop minor issues from becoming costly failures. • Enhance Safety: Fixing potholes, repairing bridges, and repainting lines improve road safety. • Protect Vehicles: Timely repairs reduce wear and tear on tires, suspensions, and alignments. Community Benefits: • Smoother, Safer Travel: Well-maintained roads ensure safer, more efficient transportation. • Economic Impact: Repairs keep local economies moving and reduce repair costs for drivers. • Long-Term Savings: Regular maintenance extends the lifespan of infrastructure, preventing costly reconstructions. Thanks to Landon for sharing his expertise on keeping our communities safe! #InfrastructureSafety #RoadRepairs #TransportationEngineering #CommunitySafety #PreventativeMaintenance #RoadSafety

Meet Emily Edwards, EIT and Ariana Wade, two of our Water and Wastewater Engineers who help keep our systems running smoothly. They know that protecting infrastructure starts with all of us, right in our own neighborhoods. As snow melts and spring rains arrive, stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater systems are working overtime. Here are a few things to watch for this spring to help keep water flowing where it should: 💧 Emily Edwards recommends: • Clear storm drains of leaves and debris left from fall. Blockages can lead to backups and flooding. • Inspect pipes around your home for freeze damage. Small cracks can become big issues if left unchecked. • Think before you flush. Even "flushable" wipes don’t break down and can clog sewer systems. 💧 Ariana Wade recommends: • Use lawn care products wisely. Fertilizers and pesticides can wash into storm drains and affect drinking water quality. • Keep an eye out for hydrant flushing. It’s part of essential system maintenance to ensure clean, safe drinking water. • Be mindful of irrigation. Avoid overwatering your lawn and try not to water during peak demand times like early morning or evening. This helps reduce strain on local drinking water treatment plants. Small steps at home help keep the bigger system working for everyone.

Hello, April! 🌷 As spring unfolds, it’s time to give our communities a fresh start! Roads, water systems, public spaces, and buildings all need some TLC after winter’s wear and tear. This month, we’re excited to showcase insights from our own experts as they inspect, repair, and prepare the infrastructure we all rely on, keeping everything running smoothly and safely. We can’t wait to share their expertise and get ready for the season ahead!

Congratulations to Amanda Laramie, PE from our Wastewater team for being named New Professional of the Year by MWEA! 🎉 She credits her success to a diverse and supportive team that has been “constructive without judgment” as she navigated new roles and responsibilities. Amanda looks forward to continuing to build up others both inside and outside of Fishbeck. Amanda highlighted the importance of joining the state’s MWEA chapter, where she witnessed firsthand how “getting involved and helping support the development of others builds camaraderie and benefits us all.” Reflecting on her journey, Amanda noted how her perspective has evolved over the years: "At Year 1, I thought the people that win these awards were making some crazy technical advancements above and beyond their peers. Now, at Year 8, I would also include those that work to improve the water and environment industry as a whole, people who build up their team and increase the knowledge base at the facilities we work with.” We’re incredibly proud of Amanda’s commitment to growth, teamwork, and industry impact. Congratulations again on this well-deserved honor!👏

Then and Now: Structural Engineering 🏗️ In the 1800s, Emily Warren Roebling became a trailblazer in structural engineering. When her husband, the Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, fell ill, Emily stepped in—managing construction, solving complex technical challenges, and communicating directly with project leaders. Her determination and expertise were crucial to the bridge’s completion, and she broke barriers for women in engineering at a time when few believed they belonged in the field. Today, Sabrina Carvajal-Martinez, one of our Structural Engineers, is building on that legacy. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Sabrina moved to the U.S. in 2017 to pursue her dream of becoming an engineer. After earning a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a master’s in structural engineering from Western Michigan University, she joined us in 2023. Her role involves designing with steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and aluminum—creating safe, functional structures for the community. Reflecting on her journey, Sabrina shares: “I always felt like it wasn’t possible for me to pursue my dream as an immigrant and a woman in engineering. Now, I feel privileged to be a structural engineer at this company.” Looking ahead, Sabrina hopes to see more women empowered to lead in the construction industry and to inspire younger generations—especially girls—to pursue careers in STEM. From Emily’s historic role on the Brooklyn Bridge to Sabrina’s work today, women continue to shape and strengthen the world around us. #WomenInEngineering #StructuralEngineering #WomenInSTEM #BreakingBarriers #EngineeringLeadership #EmpoweringWomen #WomenWhoLead #Fishbeck

This project marks the beginning of a new chapter for Kalamazoo, where seniors will find a place to call home and a community to grow with. Yesterday afternoon was the groundbreaking ceremony for The Legacy Senior Living! Huge thanks to our team: Alisa Lindsay, PE • David Stegink • Erik Peterson • Ronnie Knoll • Kyle Knaub • Paul Jackson • Madison Schrader • Mahta Naziri Saeed • Therese Searles We are proud to support Hollander Development Corporation and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in bringing The Legacy Senior Living to Kalamazoo's Northside. This 70-unit affordable housing development will provide seniors with a sustainable, accessible, and supportive community. Our role: ~ Environmental consulting and brownfield planning ~ Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments ~ Securing EGLE grants for field investigations ~ Ensuring site safety and regulatory compliance This project will include two modern, three-story buildings and is set to finish in 17 months!

The Fishbeck accounting team took a break from their normal accounting routine to catch a Grand Rapids Griffins game last night. Thank you Aaron Steele, CPA, CGMA for setting up this team event!

📚Trailblazer Tuesday: Tabatha Briones🔧 From engineering to education and back again, Tabatha Briones’ career journey is one of resilience, passion, and perseverance. Now a Project Manager for Site Design at Fishbeck, she started her career as an assistant city engineer before moving into private-sector hydraulics. After eight years, she made a bold shift—pursuing a master’s degree in education and spending nearly a decade teaching middle school engineering and high school math. However, her love for design and project management never faded, leading her back to engineering. Tabatha’s path has been anything but conventional. Encouraged by her parents to pursue engineering, she attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as part of one of the early classes of women. As a student-athlete, she played basketball and softball, even pitching the first no-hitter in school history! But perhaps her biggest challenge came off the field—becoming the first female student to have a child on campus. While some administrators were unsupportive, her civil engineering professors stepped up, ensuring she had the resources needed to succeed. That perseverance shaped her career, helping her push through the demands of the industry while balancing life as a mother. After initially stepping away from engineering, Tabatha realized how much she missed the problem-solving and creativity of the field. Today, she’s passionate about not just the work itself, but also about fostering an environment where employees feel supported in both their careers and personal lives. 💡 Her advice? No one succeeds alone. She believes that true change happens when people work together. She encourages others to be the ones who uplift and support those around them, as that’s what truly makes a great team player. Take a look at some of Tabatha's site design projects below! ⬇️ #Trailblazer #WomenInEngineering #Resilience #EngineeringJourney #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #WomenInSTEM