Our company
Employee Angelia Parham named No. 1 in public works
 Proclaiming her the “road warrior,” American City & County magazine selected Sandy Springs, Ga., Public Works Director and CH2M HILL OMI employee Angelia Parham as its 2008 “Public Works Director of the Year.” Magazine editors Bill Wolpin, left, and Lindsay Isaacs, right, presented the award to Angelia earlier this month to recognize her outstanding leadership in public works. She is the first woman and first private-sector employee to be named Public Works Director of the Year.
Parham has been responsible for establishing the public works operations for Sandy Springs, which incorporated in 2005 and contracts with CH2M HILL OMI for public works and other general government services. “The activity of the Public Works Department under Director Parham’s leadership has been amazing. Ms. Parham has managed to improve our traffic problems by common sense changes that do not cost millions,” says Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos. “She is certainly deserving of this important award.” The August issue of the magazine profiles Parham and her contributions to Sandy Springs.
CH2M HILL OMI helps host USAID Egyptian delegation
 As part of a USAID study tour, two dozen utility managers from the Cairo, Egypt, area recently met with dozens of people from across CH2M HILL to better understand the processes, technologies and management practices being used by U.S. water and wastewater utilities. Among their hosts were three CH2M HILL OMI employees who outlined how water and wastewater plants are operated and maintained in the U.S. and how those procedures can be applied in Egypt. They also shared some of best practices that CH2M HILL OMI deploys, focusing in particular on asset management strategies, process improvement consulting, and the quality principles followed to yield top results for clients. The study tour grew out of a CH2M HILL contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development, through which CH2M HILL provides broad management assistance to Egyptian water utilities. USAID provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world.
Magazine ranks CH2M HILL among nation's fastest-growing firms
Last month, Inc.com, the online arm of Inc. magazine, announced its annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States – and CH2M HILL came out on top in both the revenue category and gross dollars of growth category. CH2M HILL, with $5.8 billion in revenue last year, had a three-year growth rate of 85.2 percent. Editors also said CH2M HILL is the largest company ever to make an Inc. 500 or Inc. 5000 list. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 are at www.inc5000.com.
Our partners
Central wins top Louisiana Municipal League  award The city of Central, La., was just incorporated in 2005 – and already has earned one of the Louisiana Municipal Association's most prestigious awards. Presented at the LMA’s 71st annual convention, the 2007 Community Achievement Awards recognize municipalities for outstanding achievement and pay tribute to the “vision and ingenuity of elected municipal officials and those who assist them in planning and improving citizen services, community life, and economic conditions.” Central won a 2007 Community Achievement Award in the “basic services” category for cities with 10,000-25,000 people. It was recognized “for its master plan to assess infrastructure capacity on new development, utilizing GIS mapping technology.” CH2M HILL OMI has been the city’s primary municipal services provider since March 1.
City manager gets article published in ICMA magazine
Sandy, Ore., City Manager Scott Lazenby not only serves his city but he’s also a published author. Lazenby’s analysis of research performed on the subject of employee motivation was selected for the September issue of Public Management, the official magazine of the International City/County Management Association. Lazenby also is an ICMA Credentialed Manager. ICMA is the professional organization for managers, administrators and assistants in cities, towns, counties and regional entities throughout the world. The magazine focuses on “local government operations from the real perspective of the chief administrator and other management practitioners.” The city of Sandy has relied on CH2M HILL OMI for the management of its water and wastewater systems since 2002 and recently extended this partnership for another 10 years.
Our communities
Time to take a dip for World Water Monitoring Day
 From Walla Walla, Wash., to Lehigh County, Pa., CH2M HILL OMI people are helping support World Water Monitoring Day events across the U.S. Starting this month, the WWMD program encourages people to go out to a water body in their community, draw a water sample, and test it for four basic characteristics of water quality: pH, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. The results are then added to an international database – managed by the Water Environment Federation – that provides a snapshot of global water quality. CH2M HILL has supported World Water Monitoring Day since the program’s inception in 2003 as a way to increase public awareness and involvement in the protection of water quality around the world.
Giving back for back-to-school
Kids in need are getting off to a great start for school, thanks to contributions from CH2M HILL OMI employees. For example, in Denver, a recent community project called Pack to School raised more than $600 in school supplies and gift cards for haircuts, shoes and clothes. The items were packed into brand-new backpacks delivered to the deserving students. And in Swainsboro, Ga., our team of 23 employees held their biggest-ever school supplies drive to help kids in need across the entire county school system. Employees donated about $650 of paper, composition books, pencils, pens, highlighters, glue, crayons, erasers, binders, folders and more. Since 1992, CH2M HILL OMI has operated and maintained Swainsboro’s wastewater treatment plant and provided public works services.
Our industry
Infrastructure documentary to air in October
 Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU-TV) will premiere a public television event on the looming crisis underneath our feet and how communities are trying to meet this challenge. “Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure” tells of America’s distressed essential infrastructure systems: drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. These complex and aging systems – some in the ground for more than 150 years – are critical components for basic sanitation, health, public safety, economic development, and other necessities of life. The 90-minute documentary will be available nationwide to all public broadcasting stations beginning Oct. 1, and a short trailer can be viewed online at the Liquid Assets Web site. CH2M HILL is among nearly two dozen sponsors providing support for community outreach efforts.
Our people
New Mexico team takes 5 awards
It’s gratifying to make a difference every day by providing vital community services to citizens – and it is especially gratifying when that commitment gets noticed. Five CH2M HILL OMI employees in New Mexico recently earned honors from the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association for exceptional contributions to their profession. Starting second from the left are:
- Craftsperson Wayne Tsosie of Farmington, who won the region’s Plant Maintenance Merit Award.
- Project manager Anthony Martinez of Grants, who won the Plant Operation Merit Award.
- And from Rio Rancho, industrial pretreatment coordinator Neal Klimek, who won the Industrial Pretreatment Award, and craftsperson Richard Sims, who won the Collection System Award. Not pictured is laboratory analyst Beth Norris, who won the Analytical Merit Award.
At the far left and far right, respectively, are area manager Ron Rosen and project director David Sohns. “These prestigious individual awards showcase the outstanding talent that drives CH2M HILL OMI and the success of our projects," says Kirby Chaney, regional director of operations. The RMWEA represents Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado. 
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President’s perspective
The strong principles, ethics and integrity that guide CH2M HILL’s business practices are traceable back to our company’s founding fathers. James C. Howland, the last of CH2M HILL’s original co-founders to survive, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 92. We’re all still mourning his passing.
I had the opportunity to meet Jim shortly after I came to work at CH2M HILL in 2001, and I'm so glad I did. It was the same feeling I got after seeing Ray Charles play live – grateful to have been in the presence of a living legend. Not a day goes by that we don't use Jim's wisdom to make decisions in this company. Whenever I'm faced with a tough decision, like so many others here, I ask myself "What would Jim Howland do?"
In addition to the leadership he modeled personally, Jim also documented “the CH2M HILL way” through a guide that came to be known as the Little Yellow Book. Every new employee continues to receive a copy of his pocket-sized book. It provides brief messages about people, organization and ethics, such as “Integrity is the all-important prerequisite to employment.” “Rules are for everyone.” “Work is enjoyable when one is doing a good job.” And my personal favorite: "There is a fine line between a genius and a nut."
These reminders and so many others demonstrate the importance of living our fundamental values through Everyday Excellence, and how they underpin our business success. Jim's basic message of respect for our partners and our people has served us well in the past and forms a solid foundation for a bright future. Thanks, Jim.
Respectfully,
Elisa M. Speranza
President
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Thanks for your views
 Thank you to everyone who took last month's reader survey. We appreciate your feedback!
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Come see us!
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Conferences give us a great way to continue connecting with clients, sharing our technical expertise and supporting our industry. Plus, they’re fun! Here are some of the upcoming hot spots where you can meet CH2M HILL OMI: |
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Clients in government and industry rely on the people of CH2M HILL OMI to provide a range of custom-tailored operations and maintenance solutions. The company's services include water and wastewater system optimization; contract O&M of water, wastewater and other utilities; and complete municipal operations, including administration, public works and community development – all backed by a commitment to safety, quality, innovation and customer service. Founded by CH2M HILL in 1980, the Denver-based company serves clients in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, management and operations for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With more than $5 billion in revenue and 25,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2007). The firm’s work is concentrated in the areas of energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For and one of America’s Most Admired Companies (2008).
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