Noteworthy
News
M·E Becomes a Partner of the National Complete Streets Coalition (April 2008)
"Complete Streets" (a term coined by the America Bikes Board) accommodate the need for an integrated, connected street network that serves all of its users, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. The idea is not revolutionary in concept, it only makes sense that streets be designed to cater to everyone using them, but the reality validates the need to pay closer attention to the streets we travel. Does your street have sidewalks and/or crosswalks? Does it have a bike and/or bus lane? Are there wide shoulders and/or refuge medians? These are only a few features of complete streets often missing in our neighborhoods.
M·E is now a proud Bronze Partner of the National Complete Streets Coalition, a diverse coalition of more than 50 organizations, including AARP, the League of American Bicyclists, the American Public Transportation Association, and the American Planning Association, among others. The coalition supports complete streets policies across the country, including the recent Senate Bill S. 2696 (3/3/08), The Complete Streets Act of 2008, promoting street design that is safe for all users.
In addition to improved safety for all users, a few key benefits of complete streets include:
- Economic growth as a result of a balanced transportation network, reduced travel cost and time, and increased property values.
- Public health improvement as a result of street features that encourage users to engage in a more active lifestyle (walking/biking), as well as improved air quality from reduced motor vehicle use.
- Reduced congestion as a result of additional travel choices.
M·E Enhances GIS Capabilities (February 2008)
A geographic information system (GIS) allows users to create, store, integrate, edit, analyze and share geographically-referenced data. Any information that can be located spatially by X, Y, Z coordinates (longitude, latitude and elevation) or by other geographic data such as zip codes and mile markers, can be fed into a GIS. Data entered into a GIS from any number of sources can then be transformed, transferred, integrated, overlaid, processed and displayed in many different formats that make the information easier to interpret, analyze, and share.
M·E combines the power of a GIS with trained experts who can manipulate the software to create precise visual mapping that “speaks more than a thousand words.” The maps they produce can be used to display current conditions at specific locations (such as a transportation corridor or a site to be developed), as well as to forecast or model future conditions based on any number of variables (such as planned improvements or environmental changes).
In an effort to stay at the forefront of GIS technology, M·E has joined ESRI's Business Partner Program. The ESRI Business Partner Program is a network of more than 2,000 domestic and international developers, consultants, data partners, value-added resellers, authorized instructors, and authorized partner education centers that, utilizing ESRI technology, provide solutions and training to meet the GIS needs of every industry. Working together, ESRI* and its business partners solve business problems with new software applications, data, value-added services, and training.
Through participation in ESRI's Business Partner Program, M·E staff will stay up to date and receive training on new and developing technology, have access to the latest GIS software, and be connected to other program partners leading the GIS industry. In short, M·E will be better able to help our clients’ GIS needs, from software research, to training and implementation.
In addition, M·E has a GIS professional certified by the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI**), one of less than 2,000 certified professionals in the world. Mr. Rodney Saylor, GISP, has the knowledge and expertise to match GIS vast capabilities to clients’ project-specific needs.
* Founded in 1969, ESRI (www.esri.com) is the world leader in the GIS software industry. ESRI offers innovative solutions that help users create, manage, analyze, and display information to make timely decisions and solve problems they encounter every day. ESRI’s comprehensive product line ranges from desktop GIS to GIS for the enterprise.
** The GIS Certification Institute (www.gisci.org) is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization that provides the geographic information systems (GIS) community with a complete certification program. GISCI offers participants from the first early years on the job until retirement a positive method of developing value for professionals and employers in the GIS profession.
Trademarks provided under license from ESRI.
M·E Hosts Future City Competition (January 2008)
For the fifth consecutive year, M·E Companies served as the local host for the National Engineers Week Future City Competition™—Ohio Region. Teams from 30 Ohio middle schools, and more than 30,000 students in 1,100 schools in 38 regions nationwide participated at this year's competition held January 19, 2008.
Five schools were awarded medals in the competition in addition to 15 special awards. The first place team receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent the Ohio Region at the national finals, February 18-20, during National Engineers Week. The top five teams:
First Place – Heritage Middle School, Westerville
Second Place – Genoa Middle School, Westerville
Third Place – Felicity-Franklin Middle School, Felicity
Fourth Place – Arbor Hills Junior High, Sylvania
Fifth Place – Anna Local Schools, Anna
The Best Map special award, sponsored by M·E, went to:
First Place – Arbor Hills Jr High, Sylvania
Honorable Mention – Genoa Middle School, Westerville and Heritage Middle School, Westerville
The competition invites teams of 7th and 8th graders to create a city of the future using SimCity™ software, creating a map, and building a 3-D model of it. Students also write an abstract describing their city and an essay pertaining to the year's topic. Teams are judged on their oral presentation about the city, computer design and map, model, essay and abstract.
M·E's Client Newsletter Available Online (September 2007)
In M·E's September issue of The Innovator:
- M·E Helps Get Cincinnati Zoo Master Plan Rolling
- Upcoming Funding Program Deadlines
- Acquisition in Hot Development Areas
- Delivering Water to Communities
- M·E Staff News
M·E Companies Ranked 61 in ROADS & BRIDGES Top Road & Highway Design Firms (August 2007)
M·E made the list of top design firms in North America as compiled by ROADS & BRIDGES magazine (August 2007 Issue). The magazine asked government subscribers (approximately 21,000 Department of Transportation members) to nominate go-to firms leading the transportation industry. The result was "a complete and thorough series of lists that those in the transportation industry can use to chase down the top designers. They are the go-to companies" (ROADS & BRIDGES, August 2007 Issue, p.S4). M·E ranked 61 in the Top Road & Highway Design Firms in North America.
M·E Companies Awards Scholarships to Future Engineering Students (April 2007)
WESLEY WISEMAN of New Lexington High School (Perry County) and MEGAN BENADUM of Fairfield Union High School (Fairfield County) will each receive a $2,000 scholarship from M·E Companies toward their college tuition this fall. Benadum plans on studying engineering at Purdue University, and Wiseman is going to study civil engineering at The Ohio State University.
M·E’s 2007 Scholarship Program received 130 applications from high school students in southeastern Ohio counties. This is the fifth year M·E has awarded the scholarships. Ohio University, as an independent third party, reviewed the qualified applications and recommended the recipients.
High school seniors from Adams, Athens, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Scioto, Vinton and Washington counties were eligible to apply. These counties were selected to participate in this year’s program based upon the work of M·E’s Municipal Department within those counties. While students entering all career fields were eligible, there was an emphasis on awarding scholarships to those applicants interested in pursuing study in the field of engineering at an accredited university.
M·E Hosts Successful Future City Competition (January 2007)
Teams from 47 Ohio middle schools built cities of the future for the 2007 National Engineers Week Future City Competition™- Ohio Region, held January 20, 2007 at COSI Columbus.
M·E Companies served as local host for the event, with two employees serving on the year-long planning committee: Bob Foley and Ana Piquinela. Pam Campbell contributed a lot of volunteer assistance throughout the year as well.
Teams of seventh- and eighth-graders built a city using Sim City 3000™ software, created a map and a 3-D model of their vision, wrote an abstract description, and presented to a team of judges. Engineers judged the teams on their oral presentation of the city, computer design and map, model, essay and abstract. The first place team received an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to represent the Ohio Region at the national finals, held during National Engineers Week, February 19-21.
The top five teams: 1st Place – Heritage Middle School, Westerville
2nd Place – Genoa Middle School, Westerville
3rd Place – Bexley Middle School, Bexley
4th Place – Felicity-Franklin, Felicity
5th Place – Arbor Hills, Sylvania
M·E Back Among Central Ohio’s Fast 50 (October 2006)
M·E Companies marked its return to the Fast 50 list, ranking #34 in the list of greater Columbus' fastest-growing, privately-held companies. The list, compiled by Business First, recognizes companies for their growth and performance over the last three years (2003-2005). This is the sixth time M·E has made the list. We previously appeared in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.