Friday, May 29, 2015

Manion Takes Triathlon State Championship



Amy Manion works with Garver through the Connecting Arkansas Program as a contracts manager, but recently she also found the time to manage winning the Sprint Triathlon Arkansas State Championship at Iron Mountain in Arkadelphia.

Amy’s has plans for more similar races—a half-Ironman in Colorado in June, and her first Ironman in New York in July.

“I did my first race two years ago as a way to get in shape after my third baby was born,” she said. “I was just hoping for a good, solid race this time, but I certainly didn’t think I could win.”

Congratulations to Amy and all our other Garver athletes competing in races this year. Garver understands the importance of a healthy work-life balance, and friendly competition is one of the many ways our employees take advantage of that. That’s why we do our best to provide an atmosphere that encourages health and wellness and the resources to meet our employees’ fitness goals--like on-site gym facilities and gym membership reimbursements.

For more photos of Garver employees competing, visit our Facebook page here.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

OWEA Elects Mary Elizabeth Mach VP


The Oklahoma Water Environment Association (OWEA), the state’s member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), recently elected Garver Project Manager Mary Elizabeth Mach vice president of OWEA. Mary Elizabeth spent the past three years on the OWEA board as the Young Professionals chair and an active member of the education and conference committees.

“This is a great opportunity to promote the importance of clean water to the people of Oklahoma,” Mary Elizabeth said. “I’m especially looking forward to improving operator membership in OWEA and advancing the Water Environment Federation’s ‘Water’s Worth It’ campaign.”

Mary Elizabeth will serve a one-year term as vice president of OWEA, but her election commits her to four years of leadership in the organization.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Water Design Center Raises Money for Charity



Garver’s Water Design Center (WDC) in Fayetteville, Arkansas is making the most of GarverGives, the company’s charitable arm, which launched earlier this year.

The WDC initiated “Flannel Fridays,” which allowed employees to wear flannel every Friday in return for a small monetary donation, but that eventually evolved into a variety of themes. For example, this week’s theme is “Fisherman Friday.” By the WDC’s self-imposed deadline, the group of employees recently raised $1,000, which GarverGives matched, then boosted it an extra 20 percent because more than five employees had combined in the fundraising efforts.

“When all was said and done, we provided the Christian Orphan Fund with a $2,200 check,” said Project Engineer Ben Ross, who helped organize the fundraising effort.

The employees are raising money from now until the end of the year, and while they haven’t chosen a specific charity to donate their money to, they’ve decided to support an organization or project that works to provide clean water to those who need it.

“Raising money for charity is always rewarding,” Ben said, “but it’s amplified when the company you work for is willing to recognize the charitable efforts of its employees by matching it.”
 

Friday, May 15, 2015

Garver Earns WEAT's Exemplary Employer Award


The Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) recently awarded Garver the 2015 Exemplary Employer Award. The award recognizes employers that support company-wide involvement in WEAT and the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

Garver employees are actively involved in the organizations at both the local and the national levels. Through participation in professional organizations like WEAT and WEF, Garver proves its commitment to the success of its employees and the water industry as a whole.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

NWABJ Names Adam White to Fast 15

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recently named Garver’s Fayetteville Aviation Team Leader Adam White to their Fast 15 list. The list recognizes the best and brightest up-and-comers in the region, regardless of industry.

Adam began an internship with Garver in 2006 and came on full-time after finishing his degree at the University of Arkansas. He’s been instrumental in the recent success of the Fayetteville Aviation Team.

“Adam exemplifies what we look for in an employee at Garver—he’s knowledgeable, he works hard, he’s got character, and he values the friendships he inevitably develops with his clients and his coworkers,” said Director of Aviation Mike Griffin.

Congratulations, Adam.

See the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Fast 15 profile of Adam here. If you're an up-and-comer like Adam, Garver would love to give you a place to thrive. See our current career openings at GarverUSA.com/JoinUs.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Former President Ted Hannah Dies at 80.


Former Garver President Ted Hannah 80, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Saturday, May 9, 2015. Ted spent nearly four decades at Garver, where he served as a great engineer, a great leader, and a great mentor to so many. All employees are indebted to his contribution to this company and the engineering profession as a whole.

Born April 29, 1935 in Little Rock to James Daniel and Eleanor Borroum Hannah, Ted was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Downtown Little Rock Kiwanis Club, Pleasant Valley Country Club, Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering, Little Rock Engineers Club, Little Rock City Beautiful Commission, Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council, and other professional and civic organizations.

Ted was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Little Rock High School. He attended the University of Mississippi on a Naval ROTC scholarship, received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1957, and his Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1967. He was commissioned by the Navy in June 1957 and attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida. After six years of active duty, Ted joined the Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of captain after completing 300 carrier landings in the A-4. One of the jets he flew is on display at the Arkansas Air & Military Museum at Drake Field in Fayetteville.

In 1963, Ted joined Garver, where he served as president from 1993 to 1998. Notable projects he designed and managed include I-440 over the Arkansas River; the South Terminal Interchange; I-49 in Washington County, Arkansas; various transportation projects in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee; and projects for several districts of the Army Corps of Engineers as well as the Indiana Port Commission. The Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers named him Engineer of the Year in 1994. Ted retired from Garver in 2001.

“Even though he was no longer working with us, his spirit has stayed with Garver since his retirement, and it will continue to do so after his death,” said President and CEO Dan Williams.

Ted enjoyed golfing, flying, fishing, bird hunting, water and snow skiing, traveling with his wife, Lorraine, and especially hosting his five daughters on an annual trip to Lake Tahoe, California and other locations.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Lorraine Hannah; children Susan Welch (Joe) of Macon, Georgia, Sharon Hannah of South Pasadena, California; Diane Barton (John) of North Little Rock; Caroline Hannah (Mark Masyga) of New York City, and Mary Hannah (Charlie Toohey) of San Francisco; grandchildren Nicholas and Alexander Toohey and Samuel Masyga; sister Peggy Thorne (David) of Gainesville, Georgia; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Ted’s daughter, Diane, manages Garver’s enterprise resource planning platform. Our company’s thoughts and prayers are with her and the rest of Ted’s family.
Services will be at Second Presbyterian Church Thursday, May 14 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception at the church.

Memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227 or Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, 5512 Ferndale Cut-off Road, Little Rock, AR 72223.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home. Ted’s online guestbook may be signed at littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Garver Employees Participate in Inaugural Mini Maker Faire

Garver employees recently volunteered in North Little Rock at Arkansas’s first Mini Maker Faire, which was a one-day, family-friendly exhibition of inventions, creativity, and resourcefulness. Garver CEO and President Dan Williams chaired the event, which was hosted by the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

CEO and President Dan Williams with the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub's Warwick Sabin
“I find it encouraging and inspiring to see what everyday members of our community are doing in STEM-related fields not just in class or at work, but also at home in their free time,” Dan said.

Participating makers of all ages and backgrounds ranged from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to engineers to scientists to garage tinkerers.

"It's a pretty broad and diverse group of people," Warwick Sabin, executive director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, told a local paper. "It's everything from science and engineering to art and crafts to education to inventors to amateur technologies.

Project Engineer Luis Cobos with Erin Hogan and her power tool-propelled drag racer
Garver has made a commitment to supporting STEM-based organizations in 2015 through GarverGives, and several employees made a conscious effort to do that by volunteering at Maker Faire.

“It’s interesting to see what people are capable of building, to see what they’re passionate about, and to allow yourself to be amazed by it,” said Richard Corbyn, Garver project engineer and Maker Faire volunteer.

Project Engineer Richard Corbyn oversees a maker's robot capable of negotiating mazes

Monday, May 4, 2015

Fayetteville Office Named Bicycle-Friendly Business


The League of American Bicyclists has designated Garver’s Fayetteville office a Gold-Level Bicycle-Friendly Business, which is the second-highest designation. Garver’s recognition underscores the firm’s commitment to improving employees’ health through fitness.

In 2015, the league has designated 161 new and renewing bicycle-friendly businesses in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Garver is one of eight Arkansas companies to receive a designation this year. Garver’s North Little Rock office received a Gold-Level designation in 2014 and will be up for renewal in 2018.

Employees in our Fayetteville office can now enjoy cycling the recently opened Razorback Greenway Trail, which runs 36 miles from Fayetteville to Bella Vista and was under construction for more than six years.

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