Our company
Wealth of new information now on the Web  During the past few years we’ve expanded the range of operations and maintenance solutions that we offer – and our new corporate Web site now reflects it. Still located at www.omi.ch2mhill.com, the site has a brand-new look and lots of new information about how our people can help improve communities and companies. In addition, the site provides an enhanced News Room, outlines how we live our commitment to corporate citizenship, includes a short video of our associates in action, and more. You also can read past issues of NewsSplash. Check it out!
A flurry of new, renewed partnerships this fall
Our people work hard every day to deliver excellence to our clients, so it’s an honor when those partnerships are expanded or continued. Thank you! Among recent new or renewed projects are: Vienna, Ga., signing a 15-year operations and maintenance contract for its wastewater treatment facility; Live Oak, Fla., a 5-year contract with automatic 5-year renewal for O&M of its water and wastewater facilities as well as public works; Quincy, Fla., a 5-year contract with automatic 5-year renewal for O&M of its water and wastewater facilities; Dallas, Ore., a 3-year O&M contract for its wastewater plant; and Farmington, N.M., an 8-year contract for O&M of its water and wastewater system.
Upgrades at Suncor Energy expand success
Environmental compliance standards frequently change, and when they do, CH2M HILL OMI can help our clients meet them. That’s what happened for Suncor Energy at its major oil refinery in Commerce City, Colo. After
CH2M HILL designed and managed the construction of new processes and infrastructure upgrades for Suncor, experts from CH2M HILL OMI then provided startup and commissioning services and trained Suncor how to most effectively operate the processes and technologies. Our O&M experts continue to provide technical assistance and training on an as-needed basis. Not only was Suncor able to expand its refining capacity, but it also is successfully meeting new, more stringent compliance standards from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Suncor’s commitment to excellence coupled with our O&M consulting services has led to one smart, custom-tailored solution.
Our communities
Southeast Region team spruces up DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
More than 50 managers from CH2M HILL’s southeast region descended on DeFuniak Springs, Fla., earlier this month for their annual regional meeting – and for their annual community service event. Employees volunteered at Lake Stanley Park to build amenities for citizens to enjoy: six grills, two picnic tables, a sandbox, fencing and a bench that commemorates the partnership between the city and the company. This is the third year that the team has held a service event as part of its meeting, in line with the company’s commitment to citizenship. CH2M HILL OMI has operated and maintained the city’s wastewater treatment plant, water wells and lift stations since early 2003.
Sign up today to help us build a house
As we told you last month, we’re kicking off our participation in the National League of Cities’ Congress of Cities by hosting a volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity – and we’re inviting our clients to join us. On Nov. 13 in New Orleans, we will support the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and help build a house. CH2M HILL OMI will provide transportation to and from the work site and lunch to our clients and partners who volunteer. Our registration site is now open, so sign up today to aid our New Orleans neighbors.
Grants, N.M., associates help third-graders spell success
Nearly 700 third-graders in Grants, N.M., rece  ived their very own dictionary this fall, thanks to the “Dictionary Project” supported by CH2M HILL OMI. For the third year, our associates in Grants have joined with other companies to collect donations and distribute dictionaries to all local schools. Pictured here is operator Josh Martinez, handing out the books to eager readers at Mt. Taylor Elementary. The project aims to help keep kids excited about school, expand their knowledge, and inspire them to continue their education. We’ve partnered with the city of Grants since 1988 to operate and maintain its water and wastewater treatment systems, and we’ve maintained their parks and sports complexes since 2000.
Our partners
Two clients among ‘U.S. News’ Top 10 retirement spots
We know our municipal clients are some of America’s nicest cities – and U.S. News & World Report editors agree! The magazine recently revealed its list of the 10 “ Best Places to Retire,” and two of our clients made the list: Fayetteville, Ark., and Venice, Fla. Overall, editors ranked more than 1,000 cities against criteria such as cost of living, climate, crime rate, access to healthcare, educational opportunities, and cultural/recreational amenities. Additional kudos to other clients that made the list, including Norwalk, Conn., in the Top 10 of Northeastern cities; Morgan Hill, Calif., in the Top 30 of Western cities; and Liberty, Mo., in the Top 40 of Midwestern cities.
Sandy Springs, Ga., recognized for strong financial reporting
Congratulations to Sandy Springs, Ga., which recently earned two awards for its comprehensive annual financial report: an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement and a Certificate of Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting. Both come from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The certificate is the highest recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting, and it represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. Sandy Springs finance director Steve Rapson was primarily responsible for preparing the report, supported by CH2M HILL OMI finance team members. We manage all major municipal services for Sandy Springs, with the exception of police and fire.
Our industry
Top tips on creating strong public-private partnerships
Aiming to help international communities develop high-quality public-private partnerships, the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe have written a new governance guide. Called the UNECE Guide to Promoting Good Governance in Public-Private Partnerships, the booklet highlights best practices in transparency, accountability, and sound legal, regulatory and financial frameworks for establishing PPPs. More information about this valuable resource – launched this month – is available on the NCPPP site.
Clean Water Act turns 35 this month
The water and wastewater industry wouldn’t exist as we know it today without the Clean Water Act – which celebrates its 35th anniversary in October. The Act established new pollution regulation and control programs, set new surface water quality standards, and provided funding to build a new generation of wastewater treatment systems. New legislation to further protect and enhance water quality and fund water system improvements has been introduced in Congress this year, building on the progressive leadership set through the Clean Water Act in 1972.
Our people
Senior VP to lead two U.N. ‘water and finance’ sessions
CH2M HILL OMI senior vice president Gary Miller will moderate two sessions at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative in Australia later this month. UNEP Finance Initiative Global Roundtable is a unique public-private partnership between the UNEP and the global financial sector. The 2007 event — held in Melbourne Oct. 24-25 — includes an open debate panel, which aims to identify ways to mobilize funds from private-sector financial companies and capital markets into the water sector, especially in developing countries. The second is a technical workshop focusing on “best practices” between financial companies and water companies to provide sustainable water solutions. Other experts joining Miller at the sessions come from entities such as Manila Water, WWF Freshwater Programme, International Finance Corp. and Macquarie Bank.
Associate earns top Virginia Tech alumni award  Steve Meininger, regional vice president at CH2M HILL OMI, has received an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Virginia Tech’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Meininger graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, and today is responsible for our industrial projects and for municipal projects in the Northeastern U.S. The award was presented last month at the Alumni Achievement Awards banquet, held on campus in Blacksburg. In addition to employing great Virginia Tech engineering alumni, we also have formed research partnerships with Virginia Tech to advance the greater body of knowledge of the water and wastewater fields.
Industrial solutions expert interviewed by BetterProcess.com
BetterProcess.com, an online radio program that covers issues important to the manufacturing industry, recently turned to the expertise of Rich D’Amato, regional vice president at CH2M HILL OMI, for his perspectives. In addition to outlining our safety and quality programs, D’Amato discussed the key challenges that manufacturers have today and the different ways we can help industrial clients meet those challenges. Download the 13-minute interview or listen to it directly online. D’Amato manages business-development activities for industrial and municipal O&M services. |
