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PROFILE
Shaping the future: April Barkasi President and CEO of Cedarville Engineering Group (Pottstown, PA), a civil and environmental design-build firm that delivers value through innovation.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
C edarville Engineering Group is a federally-certified 8(a), woman-owned small business and DBE/WBE certified engineering technology company. April Barkasi, its president and CEO, is also the founder and a civil engineer at the firm. THE CROSSROADS OF TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. “I have a passion for improving people’s quality of life through technology and infrastructure,” she says. “It’s just what civil engineers do.” Barkasi has a heightened interest in harmoniously using technology in CEG’s infrastructure projects and says that they are not afraid to try new things in order to use the right tools for the job. In fact, the company has been recognized as an industry leader in 3D modeling and digital twin technology. In 2016, Barkasi was the recipient of the Engineering News Record Newsmaker Award for her use of innovative technology for redevelopment of contaminated public lands; and in 2021, she received the Villanova University Professional Achievement for her contributions to technology and entrepreneurship.
“When it comes to the future of the industry, I’m most excited about the technology that’s becoming available,” Barkasi says. CEG is currently exploring two AI proposal writing tools, but has not made a decision as of yet. One was created by the Department of Defense for its procurement office and the other is more generic in nature, but powerful nonetheless. Recent projects that used 3D modeling tech include creating a 3D model of Fenway Park where it worked with Aerial Genomics to collect data; and taking a photogrammetric survey by an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to capture photographs for a client that provided an existing conditions model to illustrate manholes, building outlines, curbs, and roadways, helping to identify current infrastructure conditions. Contours were also shown on the model for a better understanding of the terrain. MEETING GROWTH DEMANDS. In addition to being excited by tech, Barkasi is also motivated to grow the firm and it seems to
See SHAPING THE FUTURE , page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER JUNE 2, 2025, ISSUE 1588
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