On March 15, 2017 the Annual Bob Baines Blarney Breakfast was held for the 17th consecutive year at the Center of NH at the Radisson hotel in downtown Manchester. This Saint Patrick’s Day tradition raises money for three local charities that make a difference in our community, Special Olympics New Hampshire, the American Red Cross and the Shirley Brulotte Fund for the International Institute of New Hampshire. Many local businesses and individuals generously support this event through sponsorship and attendance, and it is a great way to kick-off the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities!
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TFM at the 17th Annual Bob Baines Blarney Breakfast
TFM’s COO attends Governor Sununu’s State of the State Address to the Manchester Business Community
New Hampshire’s Governor Chris Sununu delivered the State of the State Address to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce business community on March 1, 2017. TFM’s COO, Dylan Cruess attended the breakfast forum which took place at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Manchester. Governor Sununu spoke about the potential for economic growth in New Hampshire, workforce wages, the Northern Pass, the state budget and more. Bellwether Community Credit Union was the presenting sponsor, corporate sponsors were AutoFair, Eversource and NYCOA.
For more information and photos of the event, we invite you to link to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s website.
TFM Civil Project Engineer, Maureen Kelly, promoting biodigesters in Haiti
Maureen Kelly has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She was the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society Chapter President during 2014 and 2015. Maureen has a passion for engineering and for helping others. She has continued her involvement with the student engineering group at UMass Lowell. Maureen had an opportunity in January to travel to Haiti with the group to promote biodigesters as a means of sanitation and sustainable energy production. We asked Maureen if she would share her experience with us, and with you. She was delighted to tell her story, and to share her knowledge about the situation in Haiti. Thanks to Maureen and to all the engineers in her group who are making a difference in the lives of the Haitian people, for a better future. We hope you enjoy Maureen’s story below.
For more information about Biodigester Aided Solutions in Haiti or the Haiti Development Studies Center, please contact [email protected] or visit www.uml.edu/research/HDSC.
Working Towards a Sustainable Haiti
by Maureen Kelly, TFMoran Civil Project Engineer
On January 15th, a small group of students, alumni, and professors from the University of Massachusetts Lowell landed in Port-au-Prince for a week of teaching and research in Haiti. Among the group was TFMoran civil project engineer Maureen Kelly, who returned to work in the country for the first time since finishing school. Each traveler had specific goals for the week ahead. A geology professor carried suitcases of instruction materials, a mechanical engineer bore designs for a biomass grinder, and the civil engineering team prepared to inspect a biodigester at Pwoje Espwa, an agricultural teaching orphanage. Their home for the week was a research oriented facility in the southern city of Les Cayes.
The Haiti Development Studies Center (HDSC) was founded by UMass Lowell physics professor Dr. Robert Giles. Aiming to encourage sustainable change from within, HDSC allows educators and researchers access to an in-country “home base.” The use of the Center as a springboard helps to ensure that the technological solutions advanced by scientists and engineers are a good fit for the Haitian lifestyle and environment. Maureen, a UMass Lowell graduate, was first introduced to HDSC in the fall of 2016 through Biodigester-Aided Solutions in Haiti (BASH), a student group that aims to promote biodigesters as a means of sanitation and sustainable energy production. Combining the efforts of faculty, students, and alumni, BASH is working to improve access to biodigester technology.
Biodigesters for Fuel, Fertilizer, and Sanitation
Biogas, flammable gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic material, was observed by peoples as far back as the ancient Persians1 and biodigestion plants have been used to produce biogas for fuel dating back to 1850’s India2. Methane is the main component of biogas, and its combustion produces significantly less CO2 than the combustion of coal or oil3. It can be used to power generators, cooking stoves, and even converted vehicle engines. For communities in need of a sustainable fuel source, biodigesters offer a chance to produce methane reliably and responsibly.
In addition to the possibility of a sustainable fuel source, biodigesters can provide a means of sanitation. In Haiti, close to half of the population lacks access to clean drinking water and coverage of sanitation services is below 20%4. The capital city of Port au Prince, which hosts a greater population than Boston, has no public sewer system5,6. Waste of all types is commonly left in the streets and frequently blocks drainage structures. The mixture of surface runoff with trash and sewage allows contaminants to spread into streams and roadside ditches, which are utilized as sources of cooking, washing, and drinking water. Biodigesters can act as a tool for the disposal of organic material, and they can greatly reduce the pathogen load in a material like raw sewage7. The resulting slurry can be used to return vital nutrients to over-worked and eroded soils.
Preliminary research done by BASH confirms that biodigestion technology has a chance to become a viable source of fuel, fertilizer, and sanitation in Haiti. The tropical climate is ideal, the need exists, and the technology can be scaled to fit almost any size community. Locals need not wait for political stability and government investments in infrastructure to achieve a hygienic lifestyle, and the technology even has the potential to make money through biogas sales. The assessment performed by Maureen and others in January revealed that the existing biodigester at Pwoje Espwa is a poor candidate for rehabilitation. However, BASH quickly adapted to a new order of objectives as dictated by the needs on their project site.
The team has already begun the design of a new system that will use pig manure as a substrate. Heartened by the successful use of the concept elsewhere in the world, the team is preparing designs to build and test a prototype unit in Massachusetts over the summer of 2017. Once the team has gained the necessary data to instruct others in its construction and operation, the pig manure biodigester will be installed in Haiti and the biogas will power irrigation pumps. This pilot installation will be the basis for future iterations of BASH designs, marching ever closer to a sustainable sanitation tool for the people of Haiti. HDSC will play a pivotal role in the ability of BASH team members to develop their project into a reliable, socially acceptable, means of processing waste. The project combines technical hurdles with cultural roadblocks, making the in-country resources at HDSC a key to success.
The Haiti Development Studies Center: Progress through Education
BASH is not the only group whose work has been facilitated by HDSC. Teams affiliated with the Center have worked on varied projects including bio-sand water purification, primary school education, biomass fuels, and plastics-to-fuel conversion. These groups can stay in Haiti, near their project site, while they gather data, install equipment, and build personal relationships with in-country contacts. The Haitian staff and American facility director coordinate meals and transportation to make research in Haiti as safe and effective as possible. HDSC also employs interns, hardworking and academically talented young adults from Haiti who work at the Center. These interns, in addition to their regular duties, work overtime when guests are present. They assist visiting groups by serving as guides and translators.
The two interns currently working at HDSC are also UMass Lowell students, thanks to many months of preparatory work. When their local high school education fell short of the standards expected by American universities, Dr. Giles coordinated supplementary instruction to fill the gap. Today they are unique and resilient distance learners, completing college level courses despite the shortages of electricity, extreme weather events, and other challenges that come with everyday life in their home country. Even Hurricane Matthew, which tore a destructive swath through southern Haiti, did not deter these students from their studies.
Sustaining the Forces of Change
For those hoping to make a difference in the world, HDSC is a valuable asset and a symbol of international goodwill at its finest. Because instability reigns in Haiti, organizations with a consistent and agile presence have the best chance to effect lasting change. Through damaging storms, political unrest, and challenges in funding, Dr. Giles and his HDSC staff have built a facility that is well-regarded both at UMass Lowell and in its home city of Les Cayes. The Center is gathering attention among students, faculty, and alumni, as well as interested parties outside the University. Through participation and donations, this engagement is the force that keeps HDSC alive and able to facilitate progress through research and education.
References
- “Biogas.” US Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program. https://www.wbdg.org/resources/biogas
- “A Short History of Anaerobic Digestion.” Penn State Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/waste-to-energy/resources/biogas/links/history-of-anaerobic-digestion/a-short-history-of-anaerobic-digestion
- “Emission Factors for Greenhouse Gas Inventories.” United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/emission-factors_2014.pdf
- “Water and Sanitation: Evidence for public policies focused on human rights and public health results.” Pan American Health Organization. 2011.
- “Mars 2015 Population Totale, Population de 18 Ans et Plus Menages et Densites Estimes en 2015.” March 2015. Institut Haitien de Statistique et d’Informatique (IHSI). http://www.ihsi.ht/pdf/projection/Estimat_PopTotal_18ans_Menag2015.pdf
- “QuickFacts Boston city, Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2017. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/2507000
- Cuttica, John J. “Anaerobic Digester CHP.” Penn State Bioenergy Short Course Series. March 17, 2010. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/wood-energy/resources/2010-biomass-presentations/0106Digesters
TFMoran’s president, Robert Duval in panel discussion at the Northern New England Office & Industrial Summit
New England Real Estate Journal hosted the 2017 Northern New England Office & Industrial Summit on Thursday, February 23rd at The Event Center in Nashua, New Hampshire. Approximately 90 people attended the half day event consisting of a breakfast buffet, panel discussions and networking with the speakers. TFMoran’s president Robert Duval was invited to be on the panel discussing “Opportunities and Challenges in Industrial Market”, which followed the earlier discussion “Evaluation at the Office Market and what Tenants require Today”. Both discussions sparked conversations of real estate professionals in attendance with the panel speakers, creating an engaging networking session.
Thanks to Rick Kaplan and New England Real Estate Journal for organizing and hosting such a valued event.
TFM’s Portsmouth division, MSC, is providing SWPPP inspections for NHDOT projects in the seacoast region.
MSC, a division of TFMoran, is providing Stormwater Inspection services for several high-profile NHDOT construction projects, including the Little Bay Bridge in Dover/Newington for R.S. Audley, Inc. and the highway work on Route 4 and Route 16 for Severino Trucking Co. in the same area.
SWPPP Monitors duties include daily weather forecast monitoring and recording, pre-storm, post-storm and weekly SWPPP inspections, weekly erosion control meeting attendance including preparation and distribution of meeting minutes. In addition to these services, MSC is also providing turbidity monitoring of construction stormwater discharges during rain events, as well as the design and monitoring of flocculation treatment systems used to reduce turbidity in accumulated stormwater to ensure construction site stormwater discharges are within NHDES compliance limits.
Working closely with the NHDOT, NHDES and contractors in the interest of stormwater pollution prevention and erosion control, MSC’s monitors reports are issued within 24 hours of the time of inspection and include pictures of findings, comments, new action items and resolved action items.
NHDOT Specifications require SWPPP Inspectors for their projects to be certified by a third-party organization (Envirocert International) as Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspectors (CESSWI) or Certified Professionals in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC). The inspection and monitoring duties are being performed by three MSC engineers; Jack McTigue, P.E. CPESC, Jessica Winston, CESSWI and Chris Gagnon, CESSWI.
TFM Welcomes Maureen Kelly to the Civil Department
TFMoran announces that Maureen Kelly has joined the firm as a Civil Project Engineer in our Bedford office. Maureen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She was the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society Chapter President during 2014 and 2015. Maureen is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Her experience includes watershed analysis, drainage assessment, stormwater retention, and for residential and commercial structures.
TFM’s Family Christmas Sweater Party
TFM’s Bedford office hosted a “Christmas Sweater Party” for the staff and their families. As you can see from the photos, there were quite a few interesting, creative, cute, festive and even ugly sweaters to choose from when going to the “voting station”. TFM’s Joe Sears, won the prize for the “Ugliest”, though he thought it was more “Festive”.
Tidewater Catering, once again put on a fantastic spread of hot appetizers, from scallops wrapped in bacon, beef wellington, coconut chicken, to festive fruits, veggies and cheeses.
The TFM kids had fun eating Christmas cookies and making Christmas crafts in the conference room, bringing home a few homemade ornaments.
We wish everyone a very, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
The office will be closed on Monday, December 26th.
Thanks Stonyfield!
A Big THANK YOU goes out to the good folks at Stonyfield Farm in Londonderry, NH for rolling their specialty yogurt cart into the lobby of TFM’s Bedford office. Many of TFM’s staff took a short break from their projects on Wednesday afternoon to enjoy some delicious Stonyfield yogurts. The tasty treats included strawberry, blueberry and cherry organic greek yogurt and 100% grassfed yogurt.
The reason for the visit? Stonyfield is on the Advisory Committee for the NH Food Bank, and volunteers their time and products to help fight hunger in New Hampshire. Because TFMoran also helps to fight hunger by participating in the NH Food Bank’s 2016 Canstruction Competition, Stonyfield was delivering TFM’s trophy. The judges declared TFM’s 3-dimensional canstructure (a TFM engineer sitting under an apple tree) the winner of the “Best Use of Labels” category. The structure consisted of nearly 500 cans of different sizes, 18 boxes and miscellaneous jars and bars. TFM’s COO, Dylan Cruess headed up the TFM Canstruction Team, and gratefully accepted the etched glass award on the Team’s behalf. This was the second consecutive year TFM participated in the Competition and we are looking forward to 2017.
Once again, thank you Stonyfield for the yummy afternoon treat and yogurt coupons, too!
Aaron Lamond joins TFM Survey Department
TFM is pleased to announce that Aaron Lamond has joined the Survey Department in the Bedford office. Aaron serves as a Survey Field Technician with over 5 years of experience. His education includes Civil Technology with a concentration in Surveying and Mapping from the Thompson School of Applied Science at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to boundary and topographic surveys, Aaron’s experience includes construction layout, as-builts, ALTA, LOMA and septic surveys.
Thanks for Visiting TFM at the 2016 Tri-City Expo!
Once again, the Tri-City Chambers of Commerce (Manchester, Nashua and Concord) did a fantastic job hosting the largest Business to Business networking event in New Hampshire, Tri-City Expo. The 28th Annual Expo was held on Thursday, September 29, 2016 from 3:00 – 7:00PM at the Center of NH Expo Center at the Radisson Hotel, in downtown Manchester, NH. For the first time, admission was FREE! Admission included sampling delicious food from local restaurants and caterers at the ever-popular “Bistro”.
This year’s theme “Innovate, Collaborate, Inform” featured a new floor plan layout to add to the excitement of this high-energy networking event. Thanks to those who stopped by TFMoran’s Booth, which was located near the main entrance. We featured a variety of recent exciting projects in the Tri-City areas, such as the Macy’s multi-use redevelopment in Bedford, multi-family residential along the Nashua and Merrimack Rivers in Nashua, and the new Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester, to name a few. TFM’s Engineers were on hand to answer questions and discuss any of the projects folks were interested in.
Thanks again to the Tri-City Chambers who work so hard in planning, organizing and putting on such a great event. We are looking forward to the 2017 Tri-City Expo!