New staff member to lead
Northern Tier operations
Michael R. Ferko, P.E., P.L.S., has joined GTS Technologies, Inc., as its senior engineer for the northeast region of Pennsylvania. Ferko will be responsible for project initiation, administration, and management; business development; and managing GTS' Wellsboro office.
Ferko brings more than 36 years experience as a geo-environmental engineer and permitting manager, including more than 30 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as its eastern region district engineer, and in related management positions. During his tenure with DEP, he successfully managed $300 million of geo-environmental and reclamation projects and was responsible for the construction of more than 100 acres of wetlands. Ferko is a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, and earned his master's and bachelor's degrees in mining engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
Ferko's background includes a wealth of experience in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier. He has comprehensive knowledge of project permitting requirements, from preparing permit applications and supporting design efforts to state regulatory review, approval, issuance, inspection, and compliance monitoring. His wide range of professional knowledge encompasses project development and management, contract management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, planning, investigations, testing/sampling, feasibility studies, conceptual and preliminary design, cost estimating, final design, contract document preparation, and construction inspection and administration.
Ferko's credentials include erosion and sediment control, stormwater BMPs, surface and groundwater hydrology, natural stream restoration, wetlands, earthwork and grading, site reclamation, subsidence (including drilling, grouting, and hydraulic injection of materials into underground voids), embankment/slope stability analysis, and survey and mapping. His environmental background includes water management and impoundments, water quality, NPDES permitting, mine pool engineering, regulatory compliance inspections, drilling programs, acid mine drainage, threatened and endangered species, wildlife habitat, historic and archaeologic resources, and public involvement.
GTS, an established 50-year-old firm, specializes in geotechnical engineering, non-invasive geophysics, surveying, environmental science, water resources, and energy.
Lawyer speaks
at legal seminar
Clifford Rieders, a partner in the law firm of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Harris, Waters and Waffenschmidt, presented at a high-level seminar produced by the Pennsyl-vania Assoc-iation for Justice entitled "Historic Changes: New Joint & Several Liability Law."
The law passed earlier in the summer, a news release from the firm said, totally changes the way that damages may be apportioned between offenders in multiple-party litigation. Rieders addressed specifically how the new law will impact medical liability cases in the multiple defendant physician situation, where physicians are employed by hospitals, and where both physicians and hospitals have been sued. Rieders is Past President of the Pennsylvania Association of Justice, as well as the Past President of the Federal Bar Association, Central Pennsylvania chapter. Rieders is a longtime speaker for both the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The attorney is the author of multiple textbooks, including the bestselling Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania, Law and Forms. Rieders is the only board certified civil trial advocate in the North Central Pennsylvania region.
Vice president gets
approval to teach
The Williamsport office of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC announces T. Michael Hall, first vice president for wealth management, has been approved by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board to offer Pennsylvania continuing legal education credits. The rules were adopted to assure that lawyers admitted to practice in Pennsyl-vania maintain the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
"The importance of staying at the forefront of changing industry requirements and regulations speaks to the need of quality continuing education," said Hall. "Clients can feel confident knowing that the professionals with whom they deal have the highest ethical integrity and informational knowledge to represent their needs."
Hall is also approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Accountancy to teach courses to accountants and CPAs. He has been working with the Central Pennsylvania community of CPAs and accountants for several years in providing quality continuing education courses.
Hall has nearly 20 years of experience in the industry and currently resides in Williamsport with his family.
Office names
month's employee
Jeff Stepanik, civil engineer supervisor for the traffic, safety and studies section, has been named the state Department of Transportation district office Employee of the Month for September 2011.
Stepanik, according to a news release, has made significant improvements to the reporting and tracking of low-cost safety projects. Through his efforts, all available funding within the nine-county district is used by the close of the fiscal year. Stepanik continuously works with the counties to review potential safety issues and develop projects.
Stepanik, the release said, took a lead role in developing projects for the recent decade of investment exercise. By evaluating current safety needs, he was able to develop projects that further emphasize safety on district roadways. Jeff also took the lead in preparations for the recent public outreach meetings.
By preparing information on past and future projects and attending meetings, he was able to communicate to the public the ongoing safety efforts within district.
In his role as the district's risk manager, the news release said, Stepanik's knowledge of safety issues and the appropriate use of devices such as rumble strips, warning signs and roadway geometry contribute greatly to his ability to make district a safer place for all who use the roadways.
Stepanik, a 12-year PennDOT employee, lives in Northumberland with his wife Robbin and their four children: Nicholas, Aaron, Caroline and Jeffrey.
New agent joins
real estate firm
Melissa Goodell has joined the sales team at Weichert, Realtors - Premier in Williamsport. A member of the West Branch Valley Association of Realtors, she serves buyers and sellers in her home town of Williamsport and surrounding areas.
Goodell, according to a news release, has completed the exacting professional Weichert agent training that defines the company and says that she is "prepared to tackle any transaction." A lifelong area resident, she graduated from Loyalsock Township High School in 2004, attended Pennsylvania College of Technology, and worked in a service industry, as well as in advertising and promotions for the Sun-Gazette, before choosing a career in real estate.
