Between March 15-18, 2022, professionals, suppliers, contractors, and members of Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA) gathered in La Crosse for their annual Expo and Conference. During the opening session, representatives from WRWA awarded former GEC President, Jerry Foellmi, with a Lifetime Achievement award.

Jerry graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville with a BS in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering. He spent over 40 years of his career assisting clients at General Engineering Company. “Wastewater treatment is dynamic. I’m continuously impressed how, given the right combination of tanks, pumps, pipes and valves, operators can take waste and turn it into drinkable water and energy”, said Mr. Foellmi.

When asked about project highlights, Dekorra Wastewater Collection & Treatment came to mind as he had the opportunity to work on the project from conception in 1998 through startup in 2007 to the present.  Another was the Abbyland WWTP Upgrade where he worked closely with operator Jeff Hoeper to convert an old municipal plant to a state-of-the-art, high tech, industrial plant that takes hog process waste and converts it to drinkable water and bio-fuel. WRWA has been recognizing individuals who have demonstrated excellence throughout their career in the Wisconsin water and wastewater industry, since 1989.

Since the retirement of Surveyor, Mark Carlson, PLS, GEC has acknowledged the need to continue to provide legal surveying services to our clients. Because of that, we could not be more excited to announce the recent additions we have made to our Team.

First, Dawn Horacek, Survey Project Manager, has joined the GEC team, bringing with her more than 15 years’ experience in surveying. Some of Dawn’s specialties include ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys, Major & Minor Subdivision Plats, Construction Layout Staking, Route Surveying, Control Network Analysis, Boundary & Topographic Surveys, FEMA Elevation Certificates, Mortgage Surveys, and Title Research.

Second, GEC has recently acquired Green Lake Surveying in Green Lake, WI. Don Lenz, PLS, owner of Green Lake Surveying, and his wife, Jeanne, will now be part of our General Engineering family. GLS has been in business since 1980, with Don becoming the owner in 2006. Jeanne Lenz has been working side by side with Don since 2006, and will be invaluable as we move forward.

Don has over 30 years of experience as a surveyor becoming licensed in 1989. His expertise lies in all legal surveying needs; ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys, Boundary Surveys, Certificate of Survey Maps, Certified Survey Maps, Subdivision Plats, and Condominium Plats.

Mr. Lenz has won several awards from the Statewide Mapping Contest held by the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors. He is a member of the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, the Society of Southeastern Wisconsin Land Surveyors (Milwaukee Chapter Past President), and the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping. Don also serves as a Green Lake County Board Supervisor and the Green Lake County Land Surveyor.

We look forward to being able to serve our GEC clients, and now our Green Lake Surveying clients, with our surveying and engineering services for years to come.

General Engineering Company congratulates our newest Professional Engineer, Jim Nellessen. Nellessen joined GEC in early 2015 after graduation from UW-Platteville. He works in the structural engineering department and has proficiency in beam, column, and foundation designs for both residential and commercial projects.

Jim has worked on a variety of projects including a high school addition, dam rehabilitations, commercial truss designs, waterslide tower designs and inspections, adventure course structure designs and inspections, building foundation analyses, and retaining wall designs.

General Engineering Company is proud to announce that Ben Upward has earned his Professional Engineer credential. Ben joined GEC in May of 2014 after working in the public sector for the City of Tacoma, WA engineering department. He received his Associate of Applied Science Engineering Technician degree at Mid-State Technical College.

Mr. Upward came to GEC with a wealth of knowledge and specializes in municipal and private civil engineering. He works on stormwater management, street and utility design, grading plans, and site designs. Ben has worked on several large-scale resort projects both in and outside of Wisconsin.

Congratulations to Ben for reaching this professional achievement.

PORTAGE, WI – General Engineering Company is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members to our Portage office. Jaime Miller is our new Accounting/Benefits Coordinator. Shane Evans is an Architectural Technician joining the building design department. Finally, Brian Youngwirth is an addition to the environmental department as a hydrogeologist. (more…)

PORTAGE, WI – General Engineering Company would like to welcome two new additions to our Portage, WI office: Doug Hill, DES, in our MEP division and Richard Smith, AIA, Architect in our Building Design division. (more…)