TZL 1537

ON THE MOVE A. MORTON THOMAS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. WELCOMES STEVEN POMYKATA, PE AS WESTERN PA GROUP LEADER A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc. announced Steven Pomykata, PE has joined the firm’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office. Bringing 29 years of experience in transportation engineering and project management, Pomykata will lead AMT’s Pennsylvania Transportation office as group leader for Western Pennsylvania. His responsibilities include spearheading the firm’s transportation practice and regional expansion strategy, with a particular emphasis on cultivating relationships with PENNDOT and local governments. Pomykata’s

extensive experience includes serving as lead highway engineer and project manager on various notable projects in Pennsylvania such as, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Milepost 149 to Milepost 155, SR 0068 Corridor Project, I-81 Bridge Replacements, SR 0255 Sections A12 Culvert Replacement, SR 2027 Bridge Replacement over I-70, and SR 4012, Section K10 Culvert Rehab. Pomykata earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, and he holds a professional engineering license in Pennsylvania. He has a background in project management, organizational management, and staff development. Pomykata’s comprehensive knowledge

also encompasses a range of specialties including highway design, ROW plans, erosion and sediment pollution control plans, drainage design, maintenance and protection of traffic, as well as the development of PS&E packages. AMT provides multidisciplinary services including engineering, environmental, landscape architecture, surveying and construction administration and inspection. The firm works in the Eastern Region of the United States for a variety of public and private clients. More than 450 strong, AMT is committed to maintaining its reputation by working with its employees, clients and community to provide high-quality, sustainable projects.

Something that I often reflect on with great appreciation is that I may have been one of the last people to receive this awesome blessing from Tom, but I was certainly not the first. He invested the same in many others over his 50 years at SCS. Several of them are leading our company today. We are all grappling with attracting and retaining the next generation of leaders to our industry and our individual companies. Mentoring is a necessary and critical part of that challenge. As Tom knew and I am learning, if you find someone who cares about their development as much as you do, you can transform them from an energetic, driven, and raw young professional into the next leader of your firm and industry. So, my challenge to each of you is to find your own young professional and start investing in them. Not just the work version of them, but all of them. Before they’ve graduated from your newly formed mentoring school, make sure to teach them how to mentor. Then start again – keep on going. If you’re doing it right, you’ll pick your head up in a few years and be looking at your next generation of leaders. Think of that impact! I came to SCS hoping to make a difference in the world through engineering and developing systems and processes that improve the environment or reduce negative impacts. SCS is a great place where, as an engineer, I can do things that truly help improve our world. I remember talking with my father about this several years ago. We realized that when I look back on my career, my true impact won’t be measured by how much methane gas I prevented from entering the atmosphere but by how many lives I’ve impacted through my investment into them as Tom invested in me. Remember Tom’s example as you move forward and build your own leaders. I also encourage you to take the time to thank all of the “Toms” who have invested in you. I’m sure they’ll thank you and tell you to pay it forward. David Hostetter, PE, LEED AP, CEM is vice president and RMC business manager at SCS Engineers. Contact him at dhostetter@scsengineers.com.

DAVID HOSTETTER, from page 3

3. Tom was tenacious. He didn’t give up on me when he still needed to bleed all over my 23rd consecutive report. He just kept commenting and taking the time to teach me why he offered the comments. 4. If Tom did this for me, I most certainly need to do it for others, and Tom was a great example to follow. I’m happy to report that although I am in no way as proficient as Tom, I am paying it forward by mentoring several people here at SCS. I’m sure he’d be happy to hear that while I don’t bleed all over things in red pen much anymore, I do review and comment on the things my group produces. More importantly, I try to take the time to teach why I’m providing corrections and comments. Quite frankly, mentoring is probably the part of my job that I enjoy the most and where I get the most satisfaction. “We are all grappling with attracting and retaining the next generation of leaders to our industry and our individual companies. Mentoring is a necessary and critical part of that challenge.” 5. Tom’s motivations for mentoring me and taking a personal interest in my future were not just driven by a potential improvement in the company’s future or financial bottom line. I think Tom was just an extraordinary guy who knew that if he found someone who cared as much about their development as he did, he could mold them into the person they both wanted them to be. Unfortunately, Tom passed last year. We miss him a lot here at SCS. I would have loved to have him review this article. He’d sit there with his coffee and red pen and mark this all up. He’d do that not because this article was about him but because he cared about SCS and me.

THE ZWEIG LETTER MAY 13, 2024, ISSUE 1537

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