After a day at work, Geotechnical & Structural Engineering Lead Field Associate Dave Smeltzer can think of nothing more relaxing than hiking on his favorite trail at Tomlinson Run State Park, located near Newell, WV. The park has been a second home for Dave, who has been on a project assignment at Sammis Power Station for the past two years in Stratton, OH. When he’s not writing novels – a true Renaissance man, indeed – Dave donates time to the park he so highly reveres by participating in an Adopt-A-Trail program. “I really love the park and its trails and wanted to give something back,” Dave writes.

Some duties that Dave performs can range from picking up trash to clearing fallen trees from his favorite trail, White Oak, but in true GAI fashion, he’s even built a number of foot bridges over a few wet trail areas. “The building of the bridges wasn’t as bad as carrying the materials almost two miles.” Dave is a terrific representation of the type of people who work at GAI Consultants, Inc., and we commend him on his unmatched sense of philanthropy and willingness to become involved in his community away from home.

Archaeologists and students help renovate local cemetery in West Jefferson Hills, PA. 

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The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) maintains an Engineering Apprenticeship Program to introduce area high school students in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program to the profession of engineering. The students visit with the engineers at their places of employment to learn what engineers do on a daily basis. These visits are prearranged with employers and usually last about 4 hours. Students from the GATE Program visited GAI offices in Homestead, PA on December 20, 2006. The students particularly enjoyed the hands-on presentations and "battlefield" stories shared by GAI professionals. For several students, this opportunity was a first visit with an engineering consulting firm.

Fort Wayne, Indiana - For the last several years, GAI employees in Fort Wayne, Indiana have been involved with the annual Winona Lake 4th of July Festival. As the primary sponsor, GAI employees design and provide flyers, signs, sponsor letters, newspaper ad copy, and provide general support to the publicity committee with meeting minutes and other administrative items. Toyota Motorsports is one of the major sponsors and the Warsaw High School cheerleaders provided face painting. This festival is funded by the sponsors and the town and is free to everyone.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - GAI's Cultural Resource Group frequently engages in opportunities for unique public involvement and educational programs on behalf of our clients. On this project, GAI's archaeologists worked with fourth graders who enjoyed digging and "recovering their finds" at an arranged on-site visit to PennDOT's Coverts Crossing Bridge Replacement project in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The FHWA "Excellence Award in Archaeology" was awarded to the Coverts project as the direct result of GAI's "Kid's Dig." The program also included an assembly presentation for a local eighth-grade class, a "Show and Tell," multiple informational flyers/mailers, and a museum display at the Lawrence County Historical Society. These efforts were designed to teach students about what archaeologists are finding in their communities and the story the excavation tells about the prehistory of the area.

Once a year, engineers nationwide are celebrated during National Engineers Week. The National Society of Professional Engineers established this event in 1951 in recognition of our first president, George Washington, who was a military engineer and land surveyor. In Pittsburgh, the local celebrations have been held at the Carnegie Science Center (CSC) for the past few years. In 2005, the CSC hosted two days of hands-on engineering activities and displays showcasing over 60 organizations and companies zeroed in at attracting future colleagues. Thanks to the contributions, sponsorships, and individual volunteers from companies such as GAI, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section supervised and staffed three activities: soil liquefaction, bridge building (part of the Girl Scouts Make-It-Matter engineering badge), and landslides.

Fort Wayne, Indiana - Indiana Members of  have recently adopted a two-mile stretch of Indiana Route 14 just west of Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne. This "adoption" represents a two-year commitment by GAI staff to keep this stretch of highway clean and free of debris as part of the Indiana Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway Program. "Adopt-A-Highway" offers citizens the opportunity to show their pride in their state by caring for the environment. This effort is just one example of our employees' involvement in the local community, and commitment to improving our environment.

On Thursday, September 22, 2005, Michael Mingrone, Business Development Officer for the South Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross, came to GAI's offices in Homestead, PA to accept a check for $12,835 that was collected for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. Employees from all of GAI's offices gave from their hearts and donated an amazing $7,835, while the company generously matched that with an additional $5,000. GAI is also looking forward to partnering with the American Red Cross and possibly becoming one of their corporate sponsors. This partnership would entail activities such as training GAI employees for disaster relief and preparedness, volunteer opportunities for employees, and other programs.

As the signature fund-raising event for the American Heart Association, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment. This year over 1,000,000 walkers will participate in more than 600 events across the country, raising funds to save lives from this country's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke. GAI participated in the Greater Orlando Heart walk and raised over $1,255 for the American Heart Association. The 5K Walk was held on Saturday October 23, 2004 and over 4000 people from Central Florida attended. GAI had 9 employees and family membersparticipate in the walk.