Orlando, Fla. – GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI) – a national engineering and environmental consulting firm – announced it has acquired Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. (RERC) of Orlando, FL to broaden GAI’s services to its existing clients. RERC provides real estate and economic advisory services to public, institutional and private clients throughout the United States who have complex community development issues or substantial real estate property holdings.

Gary DeJidas, P.E., GAI President and CEO, explained the decision to acquire RERC was a logical extension of the firm’s continued professional association with RERC. “GAI has long partnered with RERC and realized the fastest and most effective way to enhance our shared interests in community development, public finance, and public/private initiatives was to formalize and strengthen our relationship.”

DeJidas further clarified, “RERC will continue to operate under its own name and identity as a GAI Company, reflecting our company’s respect for RERC’s goodwill and leadership role in the community.”

Principals of RERC Owen Beitsch, Tom Kohler and David Darsey will retain their roles in the wholly-owned subsidiary where they have been active partners for almost 20 years. The three will also become stockholders in GAI and continue as officers in RERC as part of the arrangement between the two companies.

Mr. Beitsch, the major shareholder of RERC, noted the seamless transition of resources, contacts, and new markets between companies, “We are particularly pleased to gain access to GAI’s network in the nation’s Midwestern states. Prior to the actual acquisition, our two firms had already explored working together in this region.” DeJidas added, “GAI respects the differences and services between the two firms, but I anticipate both companies will leverage their valuable client relationships. We expect that RERC will continue to grow and prosper as a company in this new association.”

GAI and RERC were introduced in Orlando, FL in the early 1990s when they began working on Orlando’s downtown circulator system now known as LYMMO. They are currently working together on projects at Orlando Health and Health Central, among others.

Pittsburgh, Pa. – GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI) – a national engineering and environmental consulting firm – announced today it has acquired Lee-Simpson Associates, Inc. (LSA) to broaden GAI’s services in airport design. LSA provides civil, energy, environmental, and electrical engineering services and specializes in designs for airports, infrastructure, electrical systems, wetlands, and bridges.

President of LSA, Edward Nasuti, P.E., explained, “GAI mirrors LSA’s passion for excellence in engineering. Joining our professionals and resources heightens our ability to deliver cost-effective, quality engineering to our clients.”

The acquisition enhances GAI’s capabilities in airport design. LSA has more than 50 years of airport engineering and planning experience and has worked on more than 300 projects for 21 airports. Additionally, the company’s engineers lend support to GAI’s work in the energy, municipal, and transportation markets.

“This strategic union brings together two companies that foster trusted client relationships based on solid technical professionalism and superior customer service,” offers GAI President and CEO, Gary DeJidas, P.E.

As part of the arrangement, LSA will operate as Lee-Simpson Associates, Inc., a GAI Company, serving its local DuBois customers and maintaining its office in DuBois, Pa., which expands GAI’s presence to seven cities across Pennsylvania. GAI operates a total of 23 offices throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeastern United States.

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Engineering and environmental consulting firm, GAI Consultants, welcomes Derrick Dielman, P.E., as Director of Midwest Engineering–Transmission Design.

Mr. Dielman leads GAI’s Midwest expansion into Jackson, Michigan. With experience working for a range of reputable energy clients, he will play an integral role in building GAI’s electric transmission business in the Midwest while collaborating with staff in the Northeast Region. Mr. Dielman will work alongside Senior Director of Engineering and Group Manager of Geotechnical, Structural, and Transmission Line Engineering, Steve Miller, P.E.

Mr. Dielman earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Michigan State University and has completed Primary, Basic, and Advanced U.S. Army Leadership courses. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and served on the Board of the Lansing Jackson Branch for two years.

Columbus, OH – Engineering and environmental consulting firm, GAI Consultants, welcomes Duane Phlegar, P.E., as Senior Engineering Manager with the firm’s recently-opened Columbus office.

Mr. Phlegar has more than 30 years of management and leadership experience in the electric utility industry. He joins GAI’s Midwest operations following his retirement from American Electric Power (AEP), where he built his career in power generation. Mr. Phlegar’s expertise includes managing all facets of a generation facility, corporately leading reliability and regulatory compliance efforts, and facilitating efficiency improvements.

Mr. Phlegar earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Murray State University and his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern University. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Ohio and is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Charlotte, NC – Engineering and environmental consulting firm, GAI Consultants, welcomes Jonathan Rosenau, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, as Project Engineer in the Charlotte office.

Mr. Rosenau specializes in comprehensive civil engineering design for all types of private, residential, commercial, industrial, military, and municipal projects. His experience focuses on downtown core area work including infrastructure improvements, high-rise office/commercial/mixed-use developments, and urban infill. In his new position, Mr. Rosenau will support GAI’s land development, energy and environmental services.

Mr. Rosenau has a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, with a minor in mathematics, from the University of Central Florida. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida and is a member of the Southern Branch of the North Carolina Section of ASCE.

Charlotte, NC – Engineering and environmental consulting firm, GAI Consultants, welcomes Michael Korzelius as Environmental and Management Consulting Manager in the Charlotte office.

Mr. Korzelius joins GAI’s Utility Management Consulting department and brings asset optimization and management expertise to the practice. He previously worked with the City of Charlotte Environmental Management Division and has experience in sustainability management, risk assessment, and environmental compliance.

Mr. Korzelius earned a B.S. in environmental geo-sciences from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and a Master of Science in organizational change and leadership from Pfeiffer University at Charlotte. He is a member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Mayor’s International Cabinet City of Charlotte. His professional affiliations also include the Water Environmental Federation (WEF), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and American Water Management Association (AWMA).

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Senior Project Engineer, Cheryle Culler, P.E., received specialty certification from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers^® as a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE). This honor places Ms. Culler in the top four percent of environmental engineering experts.

Ms. Culler is a licensed Professional Engineer in Indiana and Ohio and holds a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Dayton.

Jacksonville, Fla. – Winners of the America’s Transportation Awards (ATA) competition were announced, honoring the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – District 2 as the Grand Prize winner for its I-10/I-95 Interchange reconstruction project.

A panel of transportation experts voted for its favorite project in the country and selected FDOT’s interchange rebuild, known as “The Big I,” as America’s Best Transportation Project. The award and $10,000 cash prize were presented during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting. The money will be used to support a charity or academic scholarship program.

AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 4th Annual ATA competition, which recognizes outstanding transportation projects in three categories: On Time, Under Budget, and Innovative Management. In August, the Big I was honored as the ATA winner in the On Time, Medium Project category. FDOT then joined nine other national finalists to compete for the Grand Prize and People's Choice Award.

FDOT worked with prime consultant GAI Consultants (CEI), Archer Western Contractors (contractor), and URS Corporation (engineer of record) to complete the $157 million reconstruction project.

“GAI is proud to be part of this collaboration with FDOT and Archer Western,” offers Greg Nettuno, P.E., Vice President and GAI-Jacksonville Managing Officer. “When a project team works together to solve major challenges associated with constructing complex transportation projects, the results will have a direct benefit to the taxpayer and the traveling public.”

The Big I required 17 bridges, 21 ramps, and 25 lane miles to be built through one of the busiest interchanges in Florida. Construction commenced in February 2005, and was completed six months ahead of schedule in October 2010. The project transformed Jacksonville's downtown transportation system, providing congestion relief and additional road capacity for approximately 172,000 vehicles daily.