Appalachian Wireless, a rural wireless operator headquartered in Kentucky, has chosen Sitetracker to expedite the rollout of 5G services across communities in Kentucky and Virginia. Appalachian Wireless, the 14th-largest mobile broadband provider in the US and an East Kentucky Network (EKN) member, recently announced a multi-year project with Ericsson to modernize its Radio Access Network (RAN). This partnership aims to expand 5G access to underserved communities in the region. Following recommendations from industry partners who utilize Sitetracker for project management, Appalachian Wireless opted for the cloud-based platform to replace outdated spreadsheets and databases. This upgrade streamlines their business operations by providing a centralized, company-wide solution. “Our primary commitment is ensuring 5G connectivity for the communities we serve, and with Sitetracker, we are poised to extend the reach of wireless service to more individuals across Appalachia,” said Michael Huffman, Chief Operations Officer, Appalachian Wireless. “This is a business transformation that was incredibly necessary for our company. We are not merely updating our tools; we’re fundamentally transforming our operations with efficiencies and refined workflows that will pave the way to more collaboration and success.” Sitetracker equips Appalachian Wireless with standardized processes through pre-configured solutions and mobile applications. These tools minimize redundancy, expedite…
Precision Pipeline, LLC, (PPL) a MasTec, Inc., company and nationwide leader in oil and gas pipeline construction, is excited to grow their executive team with the appointment of Edward (Ed) D. Gonzales as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning, effective immediately. Gonzales has more than 40 years of experience in executing major pipeline-related projects for Fortune 500 Energy Firms with a strong emphasis on team building, project development and project management. He has a proven ability to work collaboratively with client representatives, engineering firms, construction contractors, vendors, and field personnel as well as federal, state and local agencies. This experience and competence will enhance and strengthen PPL’s leadership team and growth opportunities throughout the United States. “Ed has demonstrated success in delivering high-level, quality projects while maintaining a safe environment and highly satisfied clients,” says Bobby Poteete, President of PPL. “We are eager to have him join our leadership team.” Previously, Gonzales served as Project Director, Strategic Consultant and Owner’s Representative for multibillion-dollar pipeline projects. His accomplishments include a two-time winner of the Platt’s Global Construction Project of the Year for the NJ/NY Project and Sabal Trail Project, as well as a letter of recognition from the Governor…
Portland General Electric (PGE) (NYSE: POR) announced a significant collaboration for the development of the North Plains Connector, a groundbreaking high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line project. PGE has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Grid United and ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) to co-develop the North Plains Connector. This approximately 415-mile HVDC line will connect electric grids across vast distances, spanning from Bismarck, North Dakota to Colstrip, Montana. The North Plains Connector represents a first-of-its-kind achievement in the United States, facilitating HVDC transmission connections between three distinct regional electric energy markets: the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Western Interconnection, and the Southwest Power Pool. This enhanced connectivity will enable greater resource sharing and flexibility across multiple time zones. Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future “The North Plains Connector is a key step in serving the growing needs of customers with safe, reliable, clean energy through joint collaboration,” said Maria Pope, PGE President and CEO. “Additional transmission capacity will provide access to renewable energy over a wider and diverse geographic area, helping to deliver economic and environmental benefits.” This project represents one of several initiatives undertaken by PGE to address nationwide transmission congestion through regional collaboration. The North Plains Connector will…
Intelliwave Technologies has announced the availability of its SiteSense® Mobile Materials Management solution on SAP® Store, the online marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. SiteSense® seamlessly integrates with SAP S/4HANA, synchronizing purchase orders, receipts, transfers, adjustments, and issue tickets for materials, inventory, and warehouse management. This enables field crews to directly complete these transactions on mobile devices using RFID, BLE, and GPS technologies, resulting in ten times faster material location. “Construction projects dedicate roughly 40% of their budget to materials,” said Dale Beard, President and Co-Founder of Intelliwave. “By integrating SiteSense® with SAP S/4HANA data, we bridge the gap between procurement and planning teams and on-site inventory management personnel. This eliminates information silos and automates tasks, streamlining material, tool, equipment, and asset management – all of which translates to reduced time and resource needs on the jobsite.” Key Benefits for Construction Customers The integration of SAP S/4HANA and SiteSense® offers a range of benefits for construction companies: SiteSense® caters to four key areas in construction project management: SAP Store (store.sap.com) offers a streamlined and connected digital experience for customers seeking, trialing, purchasing, and renewing software solutions. It provides access to over 2,300 solutions from SAP and its partners, including validated…
McKinley Architecture and Engineering, a leading architecture and engineering firm celebrating its 50th year, has announced a series of strategic initiatives focused on regional expansion and client experience. Building on its established success – over 2,500 buildings completed and $2 billion in construction value – McKinley is expanding its regional footprint and investing in key personnel. “Our significant investments and progress across all pillars of our strategy – an expanded development team, as well as enhanced services and improved efficiency – have combined to achieve improved client relations and align with the firm’s legacy of delivering successful projects through experience and innovation,” stated Ernie Dellatorre, Director of Business Development. “We’ve experienced tremendous growth and momentum and are continuing to make significant investments in people and operations while exercising quality client management,” stated David H. McKinley, Chairman of McKinley Architecture and Engineering. The firm has appointed its first Chief Operating Officer, Sean Doyle. Doyle will oversee staffing, resource allocation, technology, and financial management, fostering a collaborative work environment and maintaining lasting client relationships. “McKinley Architecture and Engineering has continued to identify exceptional people in the hiring process, most notably, through referrals and word of mouth,” said Doyle. “When you attract high-performing…
PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission operator based in Pennsylvania, has achieved a significant milestone in its revamped interconnection process. The company announced the completion of Phase I System Impact Studies for 306 proposed generation projects within Transition Cycle #1. Project developers now have 30 days to decide whether to proceed with their requests into the next study phase of Transition Cycle #1, scheduled to begin on June 20th, 2024. Projects within this cycle are expected to complete PJM’s study process and be ready for construction by mid-2025. An additional 306 projects have already qualified for the Expedited Process, also known as the “fast lane.” PJM anticipates issuing Final Agreements for these projects throughout 2024. “This is another critical milestone for PJM’s widely supported interconnection process reform,” said Aftab Khan, Executive Vice President – Operations, Planning and Security. “New service requests for generation resources are moving through our process as designed and promised, with more than 200,000 MW of projects to be studied over the next two years to help states advance their energy policy goals.” Enhanced Transparency with New Webpage PJM has launched a dedicated webpage to share study results and project request status. This resource provides Phase I Study…
Jumptuit, a provider of data access and action software, has secured trademark protection for its logo and brand in key international markets. These awards represent a significant step in Jumptuit’s global expansion strategy. The company has been granted trademarks by the intellectual property authorities of the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, Japan, and Switzerland. This comprehensive protection strengthens Jumptuit’s brand identity in these strategically important markets. The registered trademarks encompass a wide range of industries, including finance, insurance, logistics, healthcare, travel, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, consumer goods and services, media, entertainment, gaming, government services, education, legal services, data services, and customer relationship management. The awarded trademarks cover both Jumptuit’s stylized name and its recognizable kangaroo logo. In the United States, the trademark specifically protects the logo “in connection with downloadable computer application software” for various mobile and computing devices. Regional Recognition “We are pleased to announce these Trademarks for Jumptuit’s logo and brand as we launch our strategic expansion into global markets, marking a significant milestone in our company’s growth,” said Jumptuit Founder and CEO, Donald Leka. “This announcement underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to customers worldwide.” Jumptuit has additional trademark applications…
JLL has announced the strategic acquisition of SKAE Power Solutions (SKAE), a New York-based provider of technical and project management services for data centers. This move strengthens JLL’s data center capabilities and positions them to better serve clients in this rapidly growing market. The acquisition comes amidst surging data center demand fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. JLL’s Global Data Center Outlook predicts data creation to double within the next five years, necessitating significant data storage capacity expansion. “As we help clients navigate evolving real estate needs driven by the rise in data center demand, we welcome the SKAE team and are excited to enhance our delivery of technical services for our clients’ critical assets,” said Neil Murray, CEO of Work Dynamics, JLL. “With the continued growth of the global data center market, we’re seeing increased opportunity to deliver the specialized expertise required to manage and maintain these assets. This acquisition immediately enhances our ability to expertly support our clients’ data center solutions now, and into the future.” SKAE brings a wealth of experience in planning, engineering, installation, testing, maintenance, and operations for data centers. This expertise will significantly enhance JLL’s ability to support clients across crucial…
Galorath, a firm focused on digital engineering solutions and consulting, has launched SEERai. This innovative chat-based generative AI is designed to empower digital engineers and project professionals across diverse sectors like IT, software, hardware, manufacturing, and aerospace. SEERai marks the first step in Galorath’s AI Strategic Initiative, a transformative program focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance digital engineering and estimation. This initiative aims to provide real-time data-driven insights for improved decision-making during project analysis and planning. Building on a Legacy of Cost Estimation Excellence Galorath’s flagship product, SEER®, is already recognized as a leader in cost, schedule, and risk estimation. SEER empowers businesses with real-time insights into cost drivers, risk factors, and the impact of various project variables, allowing for streamlined cost and schedule estimations and planning. SEERai builds upon this foundation by offering cost estimation professionals easy access to Galorath’s extensive knowledge base, accumulated and validated over four decades of experience. This enables users to have strategic, chat-based conversations with SEERai, gaining actionable insights specific to their projects and initiatives. “In today’s dynamic market environment, the fusion of technology and AI is crucial to support workflows and meet ever-evolving timelines,” says Dan Galorath, founder and CEO of Galorath…
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) has unveiled its Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP), a roadmap outlining its mission, goals, and strategic approach to advancing clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Aligned with the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, the MYPP identifies key challenges and proposes solutions through HFTO’s research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities. These activities aim to unlock the full potential of clean hydrogen and fuel cells in the near, mid, and long term. A Guide for Stakeholders and the Public Structured with an Executive Summary followed by sections on program implementation, specific focus areas, and technical details, the MYPP serves as both an operational guide for HFTO and a valuable resource for stakeholders and the public. It provides a clear overview of HFTO’s priorities and the critical RD&D pathways that will de-risk and advance technologies crucial to a thriving clean hydrogen economy. The MYPP outlines specific cost reduction targets for key technologies, including: The document also provides summaries of the technical areas covered and links to detailed information on targets and resources for each technology. You can read the full report here Overall, the HFTO’s MYPP signifies a significant step…
