TZL 1360 (web)

BUSINESS NEWS THREE DEWBERRY PROJECTS RECEIVE 2020 ACEC NY ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS Dewberry , a privately held professional services firm, received three awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York. The Engineering Excellence Award winners are selected among submissions from more than 60 member firms that are judged on a variety of criteria, including complexity, innovation, and value to society. Dewberry projects earned diamond and platinum awards. Diamond Award, Transportation Category – Wyandanch and Pinelawn Stations Track and System Installations for the New Second Track on the Main Line Ronkonkoma Branch Phase II Option No. 2 Dewberry served as the lead designer as part of the design-build team for MTA Long Island Rail Road Wyandanch and Pinelawn Stations. The MTA LIRR Wyandanch Station involved two 12-car-long platforms, with an automated snow and ice melt system, a pedestrian overpass with elevators, new stairs, canopies, and platform shelters. The firm designed a custom automated snow and ice melt system that heats the platform and prevents snow and ice from accumulating. The MTA LIRR Pinelawn Station included the design of two 192-foot platforms, passenger shelters, parking areas, and site improvements. Structural elements and building components were prefabricated

Platinum Award, Transportation Category – Arthur Sheridan Enhancement Project An AECOM/Dewberry joint venture led the effort for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in developing the preliminary engineering and design report, while providing community outreach support, leading final design completion, and providing construction support services. The project also incorporated NYSDOT’s design of the arch bridge over the Bronx River into the contract. This was the first project in New York state to de-designate a federal interstate highway. The existing expressway was transformed into an urban arterial highway with a boulevard treatment. Many iterations of traffic modeling and analysis were required to develop the pedestrian crosswalk features and signal timing to achieve optimal vehicle throughput and safety for the pedestrians. Dewberry is a leading, market-facing firm with a proven history of providing professional services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clients’ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 50 locations and 2,000+ professionals nationwide.

and assembled either offsite or in staging areas adjacent to the tracks for faster, safer installation for both stations. The project is valued by the traveling public and an economic driver for the Wyandanch area and the Town of Babylon. It supports transit-oriented development, which promotes sustainability, urban mobility, and the reduction of traffic congestion. The Second Track Program, for which these stations are an integral part, has changed the experience of the commute for riders along the 18- mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale by introducing the double track that provides more train service and flexibility for the reverse commute. Platinum Award, Studies, Research, and Consulting Engineering Services Category – Hunts Point Interstate Access Improvement Project An AECOM/Dewberry joint venture provided project scoping, preliminary engineering, and preparation of an environmental impact statement for the $1.7 billion project. The Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, located on the Hunts Point Peninsula, is the largest food distribution facility in the nation, but there is no direct highway connection into and out of the peninsula. The goal of the project was to improve mobility, operations, and safety within the corridor, while improving access to the peninsula.

JANE LAWLER SMITH, from page 11

❚ ❚ Review and compress. Finally, review all your notes to ensure that you have clearly stated conclusions, avoid ______ words, and write clearly. In the words of Winston Churchill, “It is slothful not to compress your thoughts.“ WELCOME THE CHANGE. As with so many things in 2020, this may be a new role for many people in your firm. However, if everyone is expected to step in as scribe on a rotating basis, an added bonus is you will be building a more efficient firm, day by day. And these skills will translate into whatever future work environments are to come. FromThe Basecamp Guide to Internal Communication: “Speaking only helps who’s in the room, writing helps everyone. This includes people who couldn’t make it, or future employees who join years from now.” Mark Zweig’s “The Importance of Communications” outlines some resources for training and coaching. Here are a few more resources that are as witty as they are right: ❚ ❚ “Writing = Math: Why Smart B2B Engineers Don’t Have To Be Bad B2B Writers” by Cliff Lewis ❚ ❚ Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris ❚ ❚ Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer JANE LAWLER SMITH, MBA, is the marketing manager at Derck & Edson, LLC. She can be reached at jsmith@derckandedson.com.

over the cubicle wall or saunter down the hall to ask for clarification. Therefore, the scribe or note-taker is a primary role. Allow for time to clarify points and confirm agreement. If possible, carve out 10-15 minutes, post-meeting, to finalize notes and distribute to all meeting attendees. ❚ ❚ Recap fast. As soon after your meeting as possible, flex your typing muscles and record all thoughts from the meeting. This is not the time for editing – just get the information recorded, as quickly as your fingers will allow. ❚ ❚ Put first things first. Next, review your notes and determine the most important conclusions or tasks. Create short statements to reflect each and move them to the beginning of your notes. Do not bury action items. “This may be a new role for many people in your firm. However, if everyone is expected to step in as scribe on a rotating basis, an added bonus is you will be building a more efficient firm, day by day. And these skills will translate into whatever future work environments are to come.”

THE ZWEIG LETTER SEPTEMBER 21, 2020, ISSUE 1360

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