GUY honored with three awards at the June Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers conference

Civil Engineer Ryan Bellatti, manager of GUY’s Edmond office, was selected as the 2018 Young Engineer of the Year. Each year, only one Young Engineer of the Year is selected for Oklahoma, based on educational and collegiate achievements, professional and technical society activities, civil and humanitarian activities, professional experience, and achievements within the field of engineering. This is the fourth year in a row that an engineer from GUY has received the Young Engineer of the Year award.

GUY President John Blickensderfer received the Outstanding Engineer in Management award. A retired Colonel with the USAF Air National Guard, Blickensderfer has served as GUY’s president since 2014. He has overseen company growth in revenue, number of employees, and services offered. In addition, he was instrumental in developing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan at the company so that all employees are rewarded for their hard work.

GUY also received the 2018 Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award for the improved design of North 193rd East Ave in Rogers County. This major collector roadway connects Owasso and a high-end housing development to SH-266, SH-167, and the Port of Catoosa. The original two-lane roadway was inadequate for the traffic level and required frequent maintenance. In addition, the lack of shoulders and steep grade caused safety concerns. GUY designed a safer roadway with 12ft lanes, a center turn lane, and 4ft shoulders.

Habitat Delineation

Just because your project lies within the range of the American burying beetle (ABB) doesn’t mean you have ABB issues. Your area might be unfavorable habitat, as defined by the US Fish & Wildlife Service:

Land that is tilled regularly, planted in monoculture, and does not contain native vegetation
Pasture or grassland that has been maintained through frequent mowing, grazing, or herbicide application at a height of 20 cm (8 inches) or less
Land that has already been developed and no longer exhibits surficial topsoil, leaf litter, or vegetation
Urban areas with maintained lawns, paved surfaces, or roadways
Stockpiled soil without vegetation
Wetlands with standing water or saturated soils (defined as sites exhibiting hydric-soils, and vegetation typical of saturated soils, and/or wetland hydrology)

If the habitat within your project area is unfavorable for the beetle, one of GUY's environmental specialists can document that there is no reasonable concern for impacting the species.

If your project area might impact favorable habitat, that habitat can be delineated into favorable herbaceous or favorable forested for determining impact rates. Favorable herbaceous sites may be assigned a “temporary impact” rate, while favorable forest sites may be assigned a “permanent cover change impact” rates. These rates determine the mitigation that may be necessary for project permitting.

Habitat delineations can be conducted anytime and are not restricted to the active ABB season. To learn more, call Environmental Specialist Stephanie Rainwater at (918) 437-0282 ext 105 or email Stephanie@GUYengr.com.

GUY is happy for opportunities to give back to our communities, both local and world-wide. In June, we collected cell phones in support of the American Association for Lost Children (AAFLC). This organization finds and rescues abducted and abused children. Since their founding in 1987, they have rescued 135 children.

GUY also hosted a luncheon for bicycle enthusiasts to learn more about Tulsa Hub, a local group dedicated to changing lives through cycling. Tulsa Hub refurbishes and donates bicycles and provides bicycle safety education to children and adults.