Author: Burian & Associates

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Hayden

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Burian & Associates is excited to welcome Anyssa Hayden as a Planning & Policy Analyst, based in Fargo, North Dakota. Anyssa specializes in community and economic development initiatives, capital projects, and public policy implementation. Her robust background in data analysis and strategic planning makes her a valuable addition to our team.

Anyssa excels in gathering, analyzing, and visualizing data to develop informed policy recommendations and strategic insights. She is skilled in authoring strategies and policy documents, contributing to impactful public engagement efforts, and supporting funding and compliance activities through grant writing and management. Anyssa’s role in account development and expanding into new markets is pivotal to our growth and success. Her dedication to achieving project excellence and fostering sustainable community growth underscores her commitment to driving positive organizational outcomes.

Anyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Public Health Minor from North Dakota State University, where she graduated in December of 2021. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Rasmussen University, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2024.

Prior to becoming part of the B&A team, Anyssa worked as a Sales & Marketing Promotions Analyst where she reduced program execution time significantly by transitioning to a new system, consolidating programs, and setting up auto approval rules. She also enhanced data visualization tools, reducing file size and improving user experience, and improved team efficiency and collaboration by restructuring, training new team members, and enhancing dashboards in partnership with other departments.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate with an amazing team and contribute to projects that positively impact communities and regions,” expressed Anyssa.

Matt Lower, Director of Planning & Client Development, noted, “I am very excited to add Anyssa to our team. Her background in analytics and channel partner development elevates B&A’s ability to ensure our clients have the best information and resources to make decisions for their residents, stakeholders, and customers.”

Outside of the office, Anyssa enjoys staying active, working on DIY projects, and spending time with her family and friends.

We are excited to see the positive impact Anyssa will bring to our team and projects!

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Theisen

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Burian & Associates is excited to welcome Zack Theisen as a Land Surveyor and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Technician in Fargo, North Dakota. With over 15 years of surveying and CAD experience, Zack is a valuable addition to our team. In his role, he will survey, provide construction staking, and complete CAD for private and municipal projects.

Originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, Zack completed his education at St. Cloud Community and Technical College, earning a degree in Land Surveying and Civil Engineering Technology. He began his career in Dickinson, ND before settling in the Fargo-West Fargo area.

Zack has contributed to numerous notable projects across North Dakota and Minnesota, including the design of the largest building in North Dakota, the Amazon Fulfillment Center. His responsibilities included laying out the 110-acre facility, road and parking lot design, surveying and staking, and coordinating with project stakeholders and the City of Fargo. Additionally, Zack has worked on various road improvement projects and street and utility reconstructions.

He is proficient in design software such as AutoCAD Civil 3D and MicroStation and has completed training in OSHA 10 HR, eRailSafe #877038, H2S Awareness, and ND NSC Defensive Driving.

“I am excited to work for a company that fosters the growth and development of my career. I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of helping develop the survey department at Burian & Associates,” expressed Zack.

Caleb Kjetland, Assistant Operations Director and Professional Manager, noted, “I’m excited that Zack has chosen to join Burian & Associates due to his demonstrated experience in the civil engineering field. His expertise and track record in delivering high-quality results will be a valuable asset to our team. I’m looking forward to the positive impact he’ll make on our projects.”

Outside of the office, Zack enjoys lake trips, fishing, woodworking, and spending time with his wife, 4-year-old son, and their two German Shepherds, who were rescued from Journey Home Animal Rescue.

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Lane

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Burian & Associates is excited to welcome Kaycie Lane as a part-time Technical Consultant, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kaycie joins our team with extensive knowledge and experience, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she teaches within the new environmental engineering major. Her background as a consultant, coupled with her academic expertise, allows her to translate real-world insights into valuable lessons for her students. Kaycie’s diverse experience includes working with small, rural communities on academic research projects, providing her with a deep understanding of the unique challenges these areas face. Her work emphasizes finding technologically feasible and sustainable solutions from social, economic, and environmental perspectives.

Kaycie has an undergraduate degree in engineering physics from the Colorado School of Mines, with minors in biology and humanitarian engineering. She earned her PhD from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2020, focusing on risk management improvements for small drinking water systems. She is an Engineering Intern in Nebraska and is working towards her PE in Environmental Engineering.

Before joining Burian & Associates, Kaycie completed a 2-year post-doctoral position at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, working on a WQRF-funded project comparing point-of-use/point-of-entry technologies to centralized treatment upgrades in four US states. She collaborated with the Joint Monitoring Programme to examine global trucked drinking water trends and consulted on nitrogen removal technology designs for aquaculture ventures in Nebraska and Nova Scotia.

Kaycie is passionate about providing small communities with access to drinking water and sanitation services, not just in the United States but globally. Her ongoing partnerships with researchers worldwide enhance her ability to deliver innovative and effective solutions.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out into the field as an engineer with Burian & Associates because it improves my understanding of what my students need to know before they graduate and gives me more context when I’m in the classroom. It’s also fun to get the chance to work on all the new and exciting projects Burian & Associates currently has,” expressed Kaycie.

Steve Burian, President and CEO of Burian & Associates, noted, “We are excited to add Kaycie’s passion and expertise to the Burian & Associates team. We have a dynamic summer planned for 2024.”

Outside of work, Kaycie is a certified fitness instructor, teaching group fitness classes wherever she works and lives. She enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and general outdoor activities, especially with her family in Utah.

The Crucial Role of Land Surveyors in Shaping Our World

Posted on by Burian & Associates

03/21/2024

This week, we celebrate National Land Surveyors Week. We want to highlight the integral role surveyors play in engineering, construction, and urban planning by showcasing the impact they have on communities.

The primary objective of a land surveyor is to gather accurate and reliable data to support land development, construction projects, and establish and maintain boundaries based upon record and practice standards. Their expertise in boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction staking, and land development ensures accurate data and precise measurements for legal, engineering, and construction purposes.

Land surveyors undertake a multifaceted array of tasks crucial to the smooth functioning of land development and legal processes. They meticulously measure angles and distances between points, whether below, on, or above Earth’s surface, utilizing sophisticated tools and techniques to ensure accuracy.

In addition to fieldwork, they delve into the depths of survey records, land titles, and historical data, conducting thorough research to inform their assessments. Often traversing diverse terrains, they travel to different locations to identify key features that shape the landscape, all while keeping an eye out for signs of previous boundaries to ascertain their current placement.

Back in their offices, they dedicate themselves to preparing detailed maps, reports, and plots, each element carefully crafted to convey essential information to engineers, developers, and legal professionals. Their attention to detail extends to recording survey results, verifying data accuracy to uphold the integrity of their findings.

When the time comes to present their conclusions, land surveyors adeptly communicate their findings to government agencies and clients, providing clarity and insight into complex land matters. Furthermore, they play a pivotal role in officially establishing water and land boundaries for leases and deeds, lending authority to legal agreements and property rights. In essence, land surveyors are the backbones of land development and legal processes, their expertise shaping the landscapes we inhabit and the boundaries that define them.

Project Spotlight: North Dakota Lead Service Line Inventory

Posted on by Burian & Associates

03/18/2024

Project Importance

Lead, once common in pipes delivering drinking water into homes, was banned for this purpose by Congress in 1986. Despite the prohibition, the legacy of lead service lines remains a significant public health concern, particularly for children. Recognizing the urgency, the federal government took substantial steps in 2021, introducing the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) to the Safe Water Drinking Act. A key element of The Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, the LCRR mandates that all public water systems create, submit, and maintain an inventory of lead service lines, playing a crucial role in replacement plans and securing potential funding for initiatives.

B&A’s Role

Burian & Associates is leading North Dakota communities in this crucial initiative to remove lead from drinking water. We provide guidance on the associated issues and are actively involved in developing compliant lead service line inventories for 34 public water systems across the state. Our LCRR compliance approach aims to assist communities in conducting precise inventories using methods that are not only cost-effective and minimally intrusive, but also community centric.

Our approach commences with city staff meetings and a thorough examination of accessible historical records. Following this, we actively involve the public, encouraging their participation in identifying their respective service lines. Our dedicated team employs a user-friendly approach by disseminating educational “do-it-yourself” customized notices, aiding individuals in determining whether lead is a concern in their homes or businesses. This step-by-step method facilitates the collection of critical information and establishes an efficient process for sharing it, which enables our team to confidently assess the accuracy of self-performed analyses and ensure the creation of a comprehensive and precise inventory.

Beyond saving utility operators and managers time, our strategy builds trust between the public and the water utility, raising awareness of a complex and nationwide public health concern. Ultimately, this lays the foundation for ongoing and effective lead service line removal initiatives.

What You Can Do

Interested in your own service line? Use the following link to assist in identifying your service line material: Find the lead pipes in your home (npr.org).

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Lower

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Burian & Associates welcomes Matt Lower as the Director of Planning and Client Development, working in Fargo, North Dakota. Matt is a seasoned consultant with expertise in organizational strategy, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, economic development, and public-private partnerships. As the Director of Planning and Client Development, Matt collaborates with clients to formulate strategies that propel their objectives and yield successful outcomes. With extensive experience, he has provided valuable counsel to communities in the upper Midwest and throughout the nation on their planning, engineering, and construction projects.

Matt has an undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University at Buffalo, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Eastern Washington University and attended archaeological field school at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. He is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the United States.

Before becoming a part of the B&A team, Matt spearheaded consulting projects for telecommunications infrastructure across six states at CTC Technology and Energy. Notably, he played a key role in the $6 billion California Middle Mile Broadband Initiative. Matt also served as an advisor to the Newsom Administration and the California Government Operations Agency, contributing to permitting reform and the facilitation of streamlined infrastructure deployment. His prior experience includes managing a public sector consulting practice at a regional A/E/C firm and holding senior economic and community development positions within municipal and tribal governments.

Matt enjoys working with remote and emerging communities and fostering public-private partnerships. He is also passionate about placemaking, walkability, and transportation choice.

“Burian & Associates represents a unique and exceptional opportunity, seamlessly blending decades of industry leadership with the nimbleness of a startup. I am thrilled to be part of a team that delivers world-class service tailored to each customer’s specific needs,” expressed Matt.

Steve Burian, President and CEO of Burian & Associates, noted, “We are excited to add new leadership and expertise for the planning services provided by Burian & Associates. Matt’s vision, passion, energy, and experience will greatly benefit our clients.”

Outside of the work environment, Matt is a proud two-time winner of the Eastern Washington University Urban and Regional Planning Chili Cook-off, a husband, and a father of an infant son.

Veteran’s Day

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In the US, November 11 (Veterans Day) is a designated day in which we remember and thank those that served or serve in the armed forces and worked or work to protect our freedom. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our employees and thank him for his service. Troy Kostek served in the military for a total of 15 years.

At Burian and Associates, we are proud to have people with a variety of experiences and backgrounds. These different characteristics make our company stronger. They also make it so we can provide better and more well-rounded solutions to our clients. Our work is enhanced when we can relate to our clients in different ways.

While Veterans Day is important to all of us and we should each take time to remember and give thanks, we also think it is important to hear the voices of those who have served. With this in mind, we asked Troy to tell us more about what Veteran’s Day means to him.

In what branch(es) of the military did you serve and for how many years?

United States Air Force (USAF) – 4yrs

US Army – 3 yrs

USAF – 8yrs (Embedded Contractor)

What does Veteran’s Day mean to you?

Veteran’s Day is to honor all those who served and sacrificed in the defense of our country. All gave some and some gave all. Without all those who have served, yesterday and today, we would be without the freedom and liberty we all enjoy.

For me, as a Veteran, it is an honor being part of a family of brothers and sisters through history that have come from all walks of life, races, and religions to stand together and defend the USA, our Constitution, our families, and our way of life. I am proud to have been a part of that family and I am thankful for all those who also serve, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

What would you like people to celebrate/remember on November 11?

Remember and thank those who served. I know I will.

How do you feel being a Veteran has impacted you as a person?

Beyond the education and training that serving in the US Military provided me, the leadership skills and dedication it instilled in me, and the great friendships forged, it has also taught me that as a society we can celebrate our differences, stand together with pride as a nation and accomplish great things.

Thank you Troy!

We are proud to work beside people that have served our country with honor. Thank you to all those who have served.

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Stauss

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Burian & Associates is excited to welcome Jenny Stauss to its Grand Forks Office as a Senior Project Manager. Jenny brings unique and extensive project management experience, and passion for attention to detail, problem solving, research, and data analysis to her position at Burian & Associates.

Jenny’s background includes an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management Information Systems. Her work experience includes being a Technical Support Engineer for Great Plains Software (now Microsoft), the Customer Service Team Lead for Amazon, and most recently working for Ideal Aerosmith in a variety of positions – Purchasing, Materials Manager, Production Planning, and Project Management.

In her 22.5 years at Ideal Aerosmith, Jenny worked with mechanical and electrical engineers and production project teams to plan projects, identify resources, and drive schedules to meet commitments to customers. Her emphasis was project management of the contract manufacturing services Ideal Aerosmith provided to the aerospace industry.

“I am excited to be joining a new and growing company that will challenge me every day,” expressed Jenny.

Sarah Sesselman, Director of Development at Burian & Associates, noted “We’re fortunate to have Jenny join our Team! We are really looking forward to the wide-ranging project management experience and fresh perspective she will be able to share with our Team and our Clients!”

Jenny has hit the ground running in Grand Forks by assisting in User Outreach on the RRVWSP. Jenny is also assisting on the ND DEQ Lead Service Line projects and is currently managing seven of the cities we have been awarded with more to come.

Jenny is a very detail-oriented person and enjoys projects that require extensive research, information management, and planning upfront. Jenny is an amazing addition to the Burian and Associates team and she will, and already has started to, make an impact on our work going forward.

Project Spotlight-Memorial Village ll

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Written by: Katie Mowat, EIT, MS
Date: 9/19/23

Burian and Associates is excited to be part of the Memorial Village II (The Fieldhouse at Memorial Village) project at the University of North Dakota. This is a $49 million combined project that is being made possible through a public/private partnership between the City of Grand Forks, UND Athletics, the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, the Memorial Village Development Group, and donors Dave and Alexa Albrecht. This project includes a mixed-use building (commercial and apartments) and a new 500-seat softball field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1-Rendering of Memorial Village II provided by Rise Design Group.

The five story, mixed-use building will have commercial space on parts of the first and second floors as well as residential on the other parts of those floors and on the three additional floors. There will be diverse living arrangements with 1, 2, 3, and 4 beds, studios, and ADA studios located throughout the different floors. The tenants will also have access to multiple amenities, lounges, and patios. The Hawk’s Perch (observation deck) is positioned to overlook the new softball field and there will also be a roof top deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2- Rendering of Albrecht Field provided by ICON.

Articles by UND Today and Campus Renewal noted that site clearing is already underway (Criswell, 2023; Murphy, 2023). As of the third week of September concrete pouring for the project foundations has also started (Burian, 2023). The groundbreaking was celebrated on October 3, 2023.

Community Contractors has been contacted to build both Memorial Village II and the Softball Field. TL Stroh out of Fargo and Rise Design group are doing the architectural design for the multi-use building and ICON Architectural Group is doing the design for the Softball Field. Burian and Associates is doing the civil engineering for the whole project. This includes the designs for the water service, wastewater service, egress, ingress, stormwater management, parking, and site grading (Burian, 2023).

As an extension of the civil engineering work for the project, Burian and Associates is designing a new regional stormwater pond. This pond will collect all the stormwater for east campus to improve downstream water quality and quantity. Burian and Associates has also designed a new sanitary sewer extension for the City of Grand Forks. This extension was needed since the old line was built at the same time as the old stadium in 1918, was not able to handle the compacity that is needed now, was located in an undesirable spot with all the new projects going on, and was made of old clay material that is no longer used for sanitary sewer lines.

Steve Burian (President and CEO of Burian and Associates) through a sister company of Burian and Associates, Kevin Ritterman through a sister company of Dakota Commercial, and Greg Tweten of Community Contractors are, among other investors, the ones developing and owning the multi-use building (Burian, 2023). All three of the above mentioned are alumni of the University of North Dakota making this project and the ability to provide their skills back to their university unique and special.

UND’s Softball team agrees with how special this project is as stated in the article by UND Today, they “are ‘extremely excited’ and ‘thankful’ to everyone who helped make their new field possible” (Criswell, 2023). Furthermore, in the UND Today article, “UND Athletics director Bill Chaves referred to” the field “as ‘yet another piece of an amazing facilities upgrade for intercollegiate athletics,’” and the field “promises to be a game-changer for the team.”

In a conversation with Steve Burian, he said that he is excited to see Memorial Village ll as an extension of Memorial Village l and that both projects are moving the University of North Dakota to another level (Burian, 2023). He pointed out that the multi-use building will provide some really nice commercial amenities and high-end living spaces on campus. The building will also be located on one of the most prominent corners in Grand Forks.

Memorial Village ll will seamlessly connect to Memorial Village I and the rest of campus. Memorial Village ll will be connected via the Columbia Road skywalk to the UND parking structure on the other side of Columbia Road that is then connected to the University Student Union (Murphy, 2023). Thus, Memorial Village ll will be intimately connected to the UND Campus.

Burian and Associates is thrilled to be part of the Memorial Village ll project. We are already in the middle of working on the civil engineering design. It is exciting to be able to work on a project that will have such an impact on the UND community and landscape.

 

Sources:

Burian, S. (2023, September 18). Personal Conversation.

Criswell, W. (2023, September 12). New diamond in crown of UND Athletics. UND Today. https://blogs.und.edu/und-today/2023/09/new-diamond-in-crown-of-und-athletics/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sept.+12%2C+2023+issue

Murphy, C. (2023, September 12). Memorial Village II. Campus Renewal. https://blogs.und.edu/campus-renewal/2023/09/memorial-village-ii/

Burian & Associates New Hire Spotlight: Mowat

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Burian & Associates welcomes Katie Mowat as an engineering assistant working from Lincoln, Nebraska. Katie is passionate about people, enjoys expanding her knowledge, and is excited to be working as a civil engineer after being in higher education for nine years. She brings a unique outlook to Burian & Associates due to her educational background and experiences working in multiple areas of engineering.

Katie has an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree in environmental engineering, and is working towards a doctorate in engineering education research. She is also an engineer-in-training and is working towards becoming a professional engineer.

Over the last nine years, while working on her education, Katie has worked for a city, a run-of-the river hydroelectric project, an educational furniture manufacturer, a concrete and sand quality control lab, and has helped design septic fields in remote areas.

During her graduate education, Katie has studied treatment of hazardous air pollutants from ethanol plants using bio-trickling filters. She has researched self-efficacy of K-12 teachers teaching engineering and looked at faculty emotions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her dissertation focusses on perceptions of skills needed for engineers to work in the agricultural technology start-up field.

Sarah Sesselman, Director of Development at B & A observed, “To have Katie join our team is very exciting! She brings a unique set of high caliber skills gained from her tireless commitment to her engineering education. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with and support Katie as she finishes up her doctorate degree and transitions to the consulting engineering world.”

“I am excited to work for a company that values commitment, quality, innovation, improvement, and accountability. It is great to be working with fellow employees from all different backgrounds that are all focused on how to best serve our clients,” expressed Katie. She is a great addition to the Burian and Associates team and will make an impact on our work going forward and the world around her.