Empowering Communities Through Support Initiatives
Our mission is fundamentally focused on empowering communities. This spring, our team built new partnerships with schools, universities, and organizations, opening doors for learning and growth. By encouraging collaboration and education, Bolton & Menk helps communities unlock their potential and participate in programs that have a lasting, positive impact.
Spring STEAM Events and Festivals
Our volunteers in the Southeast supported the ASCE Carolina Student Symposium, where students participated in engineering competitions at Clemson University and explored new campuses.
Municipal Project Manager Tom Danielson served as the lead judge for the Sustainable Solutions competition, an event proudly sponsored by Bolton & Menk.
“The best part of being involved with events like judging the ASCE Sustainable Solutions competition is seeing the thought, care, and innovation that aspiring engineers are bringing to their projects,” said Danielson.
During that week, additional volunteers attended Clemson for the tailgate-themed career fair, acted as mentors for the competing teams, and assisted at events held throughout the competition.
“Being involved with up-and-coming engineers like this reinvigorates the engineering spirit for those of us working in the profession day to day,” reflected Danielson.
Last year, we embraced STEAM festivals and brought that momentum into spring. Our Charlotte team joined the Steam Innovation Expo at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, demonstrating our coastal Enviroscape and highlighting the need to protect our waterways.
While Charlotte discussed waterways, only a few hours away our Greenville team partnered with AJ Whittenberg Engineering Elementary School and Friends of the Reedy River at the iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival teaching children the importance of plants. The event highlighted how plants filter our waterways. The children also engaged in an activity where they assembled a model home and planted wheatgrass, providing them with an example to take home and observe its growth!
In the Midwest, employees were busy at high school career expos. From Mankato to Willmar and International Falls, Minnesota, our teams volunteered with high school students to present potential career paths in STEAM fields.
Municipal Design Engineers Zeke Myers and Jordan Bauch made a splash with their water tasting table in International Falls, highlighting water from three different local communities. “It went great! Engaging with so many young individuals—especially the 6th, 7th, and 8th—graders who asked incredibly thoughtful questions. It was inspiring to see their maturity and eagerness to learn more about their future opportunities,” Myers shared.
Iowa interns Stella Gerlock and Aiden Deim put together a fantastic activity for Storm Lake Kids’ Fest by building their own mini water tower. Through their display, kids were able to understand the relationship between water towers, water mains, and local homes and businesses. Using valves, kids were challenged to direct water from the water tower to different destinations.
“My favorite part was seeing the kids work together to come up with creative ways to complete our water challenge,” said Deim. “And to see them learn how water gets to their homes and schools was cool as well!”
Community Outreach and the Great Outdoors
Our Wilmington team worked alongside the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF) by replanting plants at Carolina Beach State Park. NCCF aims to protect and restore the North Carolina Coast by preserving salt marshes, oyster beds, water quality, and reducing marine debris. Our planting efforts contributed to restoring vital local marshlands.
“Hands-on experience with plants and restoration efforts is very important to me as a landscape designer as it provides a more intimate understanding of the habitat and ecology in which we work every day,” said Megan Machart, Landscape Designer.
Empowering Communities with Beautification
Our volunteers with Minnesota’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter celebrated a win with the completion of an outdoor programming space and rain garden at the Division of Indian Works.
Partnering with the University of Minnesota’s EWB chapter, the group has spent the last few years designing a space that accommodates outdoor classes, talks, ceremonies, and entertainment. They designed and built a patio, using the excess soil to create a rain garden and a berm to help catch rainwater and redirect water to native plant species instead of allowing run off into storm drains and rivers.
“My favorite part was easily the response and enthusiasm of the many volunteers that pitched in over numerous work events to help – especially with the excavation,” said Municipal Senior Project Manager Rich Revering. “The digging and hauling were all done with picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. The ground was rock hard, but at least it was hot and dusty on the worst days. I was proud of each volunteer just for showing up. The grit and persistence they showed was inspiring.”
Our architecture team was also excited to roll up their sleeves, grab their paint brushes, and help support Unity Church with its long-awaited addition and remodel.
“This initiative has been years in the making,” shared Angie Knodel, senior architect on the project. Despite many hurdles, including delays from COVID-19 and inflationary challenges, the project finally moved forward, and the team stepped in to volunteer. Armed with paint cans and rollers, the architecture team got straight to work painting Unity Church’s new addition.
“It was a lot of fun to spend the day together as an architectural team,” said Knodel, “and get to know each other a little better and give back to a project that is in need in our community.”
Our employees are passionate about giving back in diverse ways. No matter the event, our shared goal is to empower communities and create a sustainable future.
