San Diego's Sprinter Rail Honored with Project of the Year Award
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Vol. 22, No. 10 • Oct. 31, 2008 Southern California region offices merge As of Oct. 31, 2008, the Southern California region officially closed the Riverside and Palm Desert offices and remerged staff with the Ontario office. The consolidation of staff into one central location will improve ef- ficiencies in client service. For more information, contact Office Administra- tor/HRC Karen Di Padova (Ontario) at Cisco ext. 32851 or kadi@deainc. com. The main phone number for the Ontario office is 909-481-5750. Contents Above: The Sprinter Rail projects in San Diego, Calif., were honored with two awards from the San Diego Who’s who at DEA 2 and Imperial Counties chapter of the American Public Works Association in September. The Sprinter Rail DEAU corner 2 is just one example of the type of work being done by DEA’s transit services group. Additional projects can be found beginning on page 4 of this “Info.” Best in benefits 3 Transit services group feature 4 President’s message 6 San Diego’s Sprinter Rail honored Carbon reduction 7 “Info” goes digital 8 with Project of the Year award Chairman’s paragraph 8 DEA’s Sprinter Rail projects have received two awards from the American Public Works Association (APWA), San Diego and Imperial Counties chapter. The “Project of the Year” was awarded for work on the mainline and stations and the Days to remember Honor Award recognized the maintenance facility. Nov. 27-28 - Thanksgiving holiday DEA provided design support to the North County Transportation District for two projects for the 22-mile Sprinter commuter rail line in San Diego, Calif. The first project converted the Escondido Branch Railroad Line into a combined rail transit system and freight facility. The second included freight rail track replace- ment, partial double tracking, and work on the San Marcos Loop section. The new commuter rail line included several major freeway crossings, railway bridges, and 37 at-grade crossings. Flanked by several major creeks, the corridor Vol. 22, No. 10 – October 2008 (continued on pagePage 4 1) people Who’s who at DEA David Prull (Bend) design, to mechanical, electrical, and Position: Civil Engineer instrumentation/control systems. He DEA Anniversary: Nov. 8, 1995 enjoys working with junior staff and Favorite book: My copy of “Arctic sees his coaching of the Bend office’s Dreams” signed by Barry Lopez “bright, talented, and interested stu- dents” as an important part of his job. Favorite television show: American Above: The Prull family in 2006. Experience on OPB David has always liked the feel His hero: “My 21-year-old niece, Te- mental engineering, and construction of water, playing in and around it. He resa Schroeder, who suffered a broken management. His extensive experience also likes building things. His parents neck three years ago while snowboard- in construction management, admin- encouraged him to go to college and ing. While her injuries are severe, Teresa istration, and inspection makes him a he feels his career is a great fit — he’s has made terrific gains on her path to valuable client resource, during both the never looked back. He finds a great deal independence while maintaining an design and construction phase. of satisfaction in helping the commu- energetic and optimistic perspective.” Dealing with city water supply is nity he lives in by using the talents he’s Children: Sons, Rohan, age 4, and often the issue of the day for him. He been given. Mason, age 3 helps local municipalities with water Away from the office, David Pets: Nala the cat supply systems, working on everything enjoys spending time with friends and Hobbies: Swimming, boating, fishing, from wells to reservoirs, transmission, family and participating in one of the cycling, snowboarding, cross-country pumping, sewage collection, and devel- many outdoor activities he loves, includ- skiing, and mountain climbing opment of reuse alternatives. ing mountain climbing. In 1995, David As a project manager in the Bend “I like pipes and pumps,” David climbed Aconcagua, the highest point in office, David Prull provides senior said. “It’s all about water wells for me South America and in 2000, he climbed engineering design and construction and I’m starting to get a reputation for Mt. McKinley in Alaska, the highest administration services. As the Bend the work I’ve done on them.” point in North America. office civil engineering discipline leader, He enjoys projects on which David received a bachelor’s degree David works to develop engineering he can use his full range of technical in civil engineering in 1985 from the practices and mentor junior profession- knowledge and experience — projects University of Delaware. He is a member als. David has 20 years of experience in that range from analysis and planning of the Professional Engineers of Or- water resources management, environ- through structural and architectural egon and a senior associate at DEA. Info DEAU corner The DEA Info is published monthly for in-house use and information. Reader 2009 College of Financial Performance course offerings contributions and comments are welcome. by David Carter (Portland), dean of return on our expertise. The second is Contributors (photos, graphics, and text): DEAU College of Financial Performance through controlling expenses properly. Tami Boardman, Bristol Haggstrom, David Prull, Ruth Webster, Linda Weidmann Today, everyone is concerned Just like you do in your personal life, about the economy. Economic cycles DEA must do both as a company. Editor: Connie Mar – [email protected] go up and down. That is why one of For 2009, the college has been 503.223.6663 DEA’s values is Financial Security. The hard at work preparing two courses that Published by DEA Corporate Communications. mission of DEAU’s College of Finan- will help you do both here at DEA. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. cial Performance is to promote financial The first course, “Using DEA’s The Info is printed with soy-based inks on 100% excellence in order to maximize oppor- Standard Contracts,” will be rolled out post-consumer and FSC certified paper. Please tunity for our firm and our people. beginning December 2008. This one- recycle. There are two general ways in hour course will be offered via Live For more news and information about DEA, which financial security can be achieved. Meeting and will help you decide which go to http://merlin.deainc.com. The first is through maximizing the (continued on next page) Page 2 Vol. 22, No. 10 – October 2008 best in benefits DEA offers new adoption assistance program by Amy DeWallace (corporate), senior Jennifer’s proposal detailed the benefits specialist benefits and costs of a hypothetical DEA strives to provide benefits adoption assistance program for DEA. that support the well-being of our After completing additional research employees and their families. We under- and evaluating options, the benefits re- Above: Ecologist Jennifer Miller (Portland) and her stand that families grow in a number view team presented the proposal to the husband Eric adopted daughter Nola from China in 2007. That same year, Jennifer submitted a of different ways. In recognition of executive leadership team for approval. proposal to DEA, outlining an adoption benefits that, beginning Jan. 1, 2009, we will be “It’s wonderful that DEA has de- program for the company to consider. Based on offering an assistance program to help research stemming from that proposal, DEA will cided to offer an adoption benefit,” said implement an adoption assistance program for employees who are growing their fami- Jennifer. “This is a gesture of tremen- employees beginning in 2009. lies through adoption. dous good will and shows DEA’s com- Our current medical and prescrip- mitment to family-friendly policies.” DEA’s adoption assistance benefit, the tion drug benefits provide coverage for This program will provide for program summary and plan description the healthcare expenses of giving birth reimbursement to any full-time or is at Merlin> Benefits>Adoption As- to a child, as well as the costs related part-time employee who has elected to sistance Program. to the diagnosis of infertility. The new participate in the medical plan, for up to There are numerous resources program will allow for more equitable $7,500 of the expenses directly associ- for learning more about adoption. treatment of the various methods em- ated with the legal adoption of a minor One place to start is the Web site for ployees use to expand their families. child under age 18, or any disabled or Medline Plus (www.medlineplus.gov), DEA’s benefits review team began physically or mentally handicapped a service of the U.S. National Library investigating the possibility of adding person. This includes both domestic of Health and the National Institutes the benefit in 2007, when Ecologist and foreign adoptions and adoptions of Health. From the home page, go to Jennifer Miller (Portland)submit- of children with special needs. Some Health Topics>A>Adoption. Other ted a proposal to the team outlining a qualified expenses include adoption online resources you may find helpful possible adoption benefits plan for the fees, attorney and court costs, expenses for adoption information include: company to consider. At the time she related to travel away from home • www.adoption.org submitted the proposal, Jennifer and her (including lodging and meals), or re- • www.adoption.com husband Eric were preparing to travel adoption expenses related to the adop- • www.davethomasfoundation.org to China to meet their newly adopted tion of a foreign child. For a full listing The IRS website (www.irs.gov) daughter, Nola. of reimbursable expenses included in provides comprehensive informa- tion about tax credits and exemptions related to adoption. Some of the related topics are: • Tax Topic 607 - “Adoption Credit” (tax credit and exclusion from contract is appropriate to use given doing our part to make sure that we are income for adoption expenses) project conditions.