Ingenuity Spring 2018

14 Pond | Pondco.com result of its efforts related to its workplace culture. “I think there’s a direct connection between the kind of culture that they’ve built and the bottom-line business success and growth that they’ve experienced,” he says. With the industry’s keen competition for engineering talent, Sullivan adds: “Culture can make all the difference.” In recognition of its efforts to grow and develop its own workforce to deliver improved results, ENR Southeast recognizes Pond as its Southeast Design Firm of the Year. Company Growth Pond lists its major areas of emphasis as aerospace/aviation; architecture/interiors; community development; defense; energy; facilities engineering; and transportation. The firm also acts as a construction manager, mostly for certain projects where it is already performing design or inspection work. The energy sector has been one of Pond’s most “dynamic” over the last decade, says Lorraine Green, executive vice president and group leader. The firm’s work in this sector has “morphed because of our clients,” she says. “We’ve just kept expanding our services based on the requests of our clients. Now we’re pretty much a one- stop shop.” Working on pipelines and facilities in both the natural gas and liquids markets, the firm’s energy-sector services can include process engineering, coating design and inspection of new facilities as well as mechanical integrity inspections for existing ones. Other projects falling under Pond’s energy umbrella include aviation fueling systems for military and commercial owners as well as erosion control for a variety of markets. Geographically, Pond’s energy work includes projects in Europe, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East, Green adds. Other growing markets include t r anspo r t a t i on and commun i t y development, which includes parks and trails, for instance. Transportation projects run the gamut from interstate projects to roundabouts and other, “traffic-calming” designs. Ron Osterloh, senior vice president, says a focus on local municipalities also led to an expansion of services. In response to the staffing limitations that many cities and counties face, the firm has expanded its planning services for both transportation and community development projects, says Osterloh, who leads both segments. “There are a lot of local municipalities that just can’t handle their work load, so we do plan reviews for them, or inspections, and serve as that value-added resource,” he says. “It helps maximize their money, and it helps us understand the project before it gets to the design phase.” A related project that recently garnered industry accolades was Mableton, Ga., Town Square, which earned a Design Merit award from ACEC Georgia. Here, the firm integrated roadway engineering and an unusual approach to traffic engineering, landscape architecture and lighting design in an effort to revamp an “Great people are going to want to come to great companies. And great people are also going to want opportunities...” “There’s a direct connection between the kind of culture that they’ve built and the bottom-line business success.”