SOLTESZ EMPLOYEES GUEST LECTURE AT UMD A. JAMES CLARK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Soltesz Provides “Real World” Practical Insight into Site Design and Development to Students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Capstone Class at the University of Maryland, College Park

Rockville, MD November 11, 2019 – Soltesz recently taught a short lecture series to senior-level civil and environmental engineering students at the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. The students in the ENCE 466, or “capstone”, class are engaged in a unique project experience; designing and presenting master-planned improvements at Glen Echo Park in Montgomery County, MD.

Soltesz engaged with the students, most graduating in the Fall of 2019, to provide insight and feedback on several civil engineering concerns related to their site plans. Soltesz worked with the professor, Russell Anderson, PE as well as members of the Glen Echo Park Partnership to understand the semester-long project assigned to the students, and provide comparable, real-world engineering and planning examples to help the students as they develop their plans for the park improvements. The lectures were provided on campus in College Park, MD and covered several topics including Site Assessment, Preliminary Engineering, Entitlements, Final Engineering, Permitting, resources for accessing local public information, and professional tips for the various nuances relating to historical sites and project management with multiple levels of co-owners.

Jim Soltesz, CEO and President of Soltesz Inc., visited the students on campus to provide insight into the business aspect of engineering and how to appeal to client needs. Additionally, Jane Przygocki, AICP; Keely Lauretti, LEED AP; and Brandon Fritz, PE provided in-depth lecture content and answered student questions. The students were asked to develop conceptual plans for improvements to the park, provide expanded facilities and attractions for park users, incorporate modern utility and sustainability features, and provides a solution that will grow the site into a thriving community hub without distributing the current programs. Students focused their designs on implementing modern mobility and safety solutions with a large focus on livability, customer service, and economic development while maintaining environmental stewardship and ultimately improving the site.

The students in the class are split into several design teams, and each team presented their initial concept plans in mid-October 2019 to a panel of interviewers which included representatives from the client’s offices, UMD professors, and industry professionals. Marcie Bartlett, Marketing and Proposal Manager at Soltesz, provided the students with feedback from a marketing perspective, designed to provide the students insight before their final presentation at the end of the semester. Soltesz has been invited back to participate in the interviewing panel at the end of the semester during the first week of December, where the students will present their final plans.

Soltesz Inc. considers education to be a top priority not only for students, but for our employees as well; Soltesz has been approved by Maryland DLLR as a provider of Continuing Professional Competency requirements and is dedicated to providing quality professional education.