Columbus, Ohio (March 11, 2019) – Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Sonja Simpson, has been named Office Manager for the firm's Columbus, Ohio, operation, and will report to Paul Gluck, P.E., PMP, DBIA, Office Executive in Cleveland, Ohio. Ms. Simpson steps into the Office Manager role recently vacated by Lori Duguid, P.E., who has been promoted to the position of Assistant Program Manager in Michael Baker's Emerging Technologies Transportation group, reporting to Matthew Smith, P.E., Program Manager.
Ms. Simpson will focus on engaging clients throughout central Ohio with the goal of protecting and growing Michael Baker's core business. In addition, she will strive to create new work opportunities and provide operational management, staff management and project oversight for the office.
She joins the Company from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)—a Michael Baker client—where she most recently served as Assistant Director of Field Operations in ODOT's Central Office. Her prior ODOT roles included Deputy Director of District 5 as well as the Deputy Director in the Operational Division. She has 20 years of experience in transportation and planning throughout Central Ohio and served as the Transportation Coordinator for the City of Columbus prior to joining ODOT.
An Adjunct Instructor at Franklin University and The Ohio State University, Ms. Simpson was honored as one of the "40 under 40" in the Columbus Business First Journal and received the Rosa Parks Diversity Award from the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Columbus Chapter. She also is the immediate Past President of the American Public Works Association-Ohio Chapter, as well as the current President of the American Society of Public Administration-Central Ohio Chapter.
"Sonja understands Ohio's infrastructure needs and how to engage with communities, which makes her the ideal person to grow Michael Baker's core business across the state," said Paul Gluck, P.E., PMP, DBIA, Office Executive, Cleveland. "She is a highly regarded leader who knows how to get results for clients and is an outstanding addition to our firm."
Ms. Simpson earned a Doctorate in Business Administration degree from Northcentral University in San Diego, Calif., a Master of Arts degree in Geography and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pa. Ms. Duguid has more than 20 years of experience, including 17 years with Michael Baker. In her new role, she will lead the identification, planning, scoping and execution of projects in the Emerging Technology area and be responsible for supporting the firm's Connected/Automated Vehicle program and strategy. Her project experience spans multimodal transportation planning to traffic design to emerging technology implementation for a wide range of clients. During her seven years as the Office Manager of Columbus, she successfully grew the office and helped secure key technology wins including the US 33 Smart Corridor project and a role on the Smart Columbus project.
"Our work in the connected and automated vehicle space is evolving rapidly and Lori has been a trusted adviser for clients and colleagues in this sector," said Matt Smith, P.E., Program Manager, Emerging Technologies Transportation group. "We are thrilled that her new role will allow her to dedicate more time to work with clients to plan, design and deploy intelligent transportation solutions."
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.
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Contact: Brian Peiritsch
Email: brian.peiritsch@mbakerintl.com
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