Thomas J. Pugh, P.E., Hole Montes’ director of environmental engineering, has been named the Mac Ulsch Award winner by the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). It is the second time Pugh has won the award, which is named in honor of Mac Ulsch, who was instrumental in chartering Florida’s APWA chapter. The award, which Pugh also received in 2014, recognizes a member who has shown long-term, outstanding and dedicated service to the chapter. “The APWA is a vast organization that includes numerous disciplines, so being recognized twice with the Mac Ulsch Award is an incredible honor,” Pugh said. “In our field, it’s important to share best practices and continuously learn from each other, and the APWA is helping improve public works across Florida and beyond.” The APWA is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies and individuals dedicated to providing high-quality public works goods and services. Its membership includes professionals specializing in emergency management, engineering and technology, facilities and grounds, fleet services, leadership and management, solid waste management, recycling programs, transportation, utility and right-of-way issues, stormwater management, water resources management and wastewater management. As director of environmental engineering at Hole Montes, Pugh leads the firm’s division that keeps Southwest Florida’s water supply safe and maintains the region’s quality of life. Hole Montes provides design, consultation and project management services for water, wastewater and water reuse systems throughout Southwest Florida. The firm designs, inspects and provides operations support for water and wastewater treatment plant projects, force mains and lift stations, and water and sewer lines for local government agencies and private utilities. In addition, Hole Montes takes a leadership role in the planning and development of regional wastewater systems to meet demands of a growing year-round and seasonal population. Pugh has 32 years of engineering experience

Hole Montes has designated Controller June Sapp as a shareholder in recognition of her nearly two decades of service to the company. Sapp joined Hole Montes in 2003 as an accounts payable manager before moving into roles as a human resources benefits coordinator, assistant to the president and payroll lead. In 2007, she became director of human resources, where she ensured federal and state compliance, served as benefits manager, oversaw the employee wellness program, worked with insurance brokers, recruited and developed employees, and implemented team building programs. In 2019, Hole Montes elevated Sapp to controller, a role in which she manages accounting procedures, prepares financial statements and business reports, monitors expenditures, implements cost-control measures, follows trends in the financial market, ensures legal compliance and keep’s the firm’s financial state in good standing. Prior to joining Hole Montes, Sapp was a staff accountant and administrative assistant for a manufacturing company that produces parts for RV, marine and automotive industries. “June has held a variety of leadership roles at Hole Montes, excelling at each position while making the company stronger from a financial and human resources perspective,” said Hole Montes President Bob Mulhere. “We place a great emphasis on career progression and loyalty, and our entire leadership team is thrilled to recognize June as our newest shareholder and one of the reasons our firm is thriving today.” Hole Montes is a full-service Naples-based firm that provides environmental, transportation and aviation engineering services, as well as landscape architecture, site development, land planning, permitting, zoning, storm water management design, surveying and mapping. The company first designates top team members as associates, recognizing those who demonstrate a high level of technical competence, excellent project skills, leadership qualities and the ability to work effectively with co-workers. Associates are expected to advance the company’s reputation with a commitment to excellent client

NAPLES, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2022) – Hole Montes has hired Thomas J. Pugh, PE, as director of environmental engineering to lead the firm’s division that keeps Southwest Florida’s water supply safe and maintaining the region’s quality of life. Among an expansive suite of services, Hole Montes provides design, consultation and project management services for water, wastewater and water reuse systems throughout Southwest Florida. The firm designs, inspects and provides operations support for water and wastewater treatment plant projects, force mains and lift stations, and water and sewer lines for local government agencies and private utilities. In addition, Hole Montes takes a leadership role in the planning and development of regional wastewater systems to meet demands of a growing year-round and seasonal population. Pugh has 32 years of engineering experience in a variety of leadership roles, including vice president for an engineering firm, regional engineering manager for a water and wastewater engineering firm, senior utility project manager for a planning and design firm, and other positions. Pugh is a Florida-licensed engineer and wastewater treatment plant operator, and he has completed certification programs through the National Association of Sewer Service Companies for pipeline, lateral and manhole assessments. Some of Pugh’s signature projects include the design, permitting and construction oversight for the addition of gravity sewer throughout Hickory Island along with communities west of U.S. 41 between the Imperial River and Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs for Bonita Springs Utilities; the design, permitting and construction oversight of approximately four miles of 10-inch to 20-inch diameter reclaimed water mains to serve Eastwood Golf Course, Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club and The Forum, including a horizontal directional drill pipeline installation under I-75 for the City of Fort Myers; and upgrades and rehabilitation to the Isle of Capri Potable Water Pumping Station and 5 MG Storage Tank for

Brenda Brylanski has joined Hole Montes as a marketing specialist to streamline communications between staff, clients and the community. Brylanski will oversee marketing, advertising, public relations, social media and other communications for Hole Montes, a growing firm that specializes in environmental, transportation and aviation engineering, as well as landscape architecture, site development, land planning, permitting, zoning, storm water management design, surveying and mapping. A former educator, Brylanski spent 24 years teaching at Cape Elementary School in Cape Coral and Gateway Elementary School in Fort Myers. Her leadership responsibilities included serving as a grade-level chair, professional learning community facilitator and education trainer for The School District of Lee County. Additionally, Brylanski also served as assistant to the Hendry-Glades coordinator for Edison Community College, which is now known as Florida SouthWestern State College. There, she oversaw recruiting, marketing, registration, advising and counseling, and helped promote higher education in rural areas as well as assist Florida Gulf Coast University as it established a distance learning program. Brylanski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida.

Hole Montes names Dawn Barnard as Employee of the Year NAPLES, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2022) – Hole Montes has named Dawn Barnard, a project manager and senior environmental operations specialist, as its 2021 Employee of the Year. Barnard has 43 years of experience as a wastewater treatment facility operator in Florida, working in both the public and private sectors. At Hole Montes, Barnard’s responsibilities include reviewing plans and specifications for wastewater facilities and providing oversight from the planning process through construction. She also troubleshoots potential problems, assists with pilot-scale treatment systems and trains wastewater treatment operators across Florida. In recent years, Barnard’s project management experience has included permitting projects for local and state water and wastewater treatment facilities. “This was the first year we named an Employee of the Year, and Dawn sets the standard for all future winners,” said Bob Mulhere, president of Hole Montes. “Since she joined Hole Montes 25 years ago, Dawn has embodied every quality we want in a team member – passion for the industry and environment, extensive expertise, outstanding client services and a commitment to excellence.” Barnard is a member of the Florida Water Pollution Control Operators Association, Florida Society of Environmental Analysts, Florida Water Environment Association and Florida Rural Water Association. She is certified in Florida as a Class A wastewater treatment plant operator, wastewater treatment instructor, public sector manager and professional notary. Barnard attended the University of Florida, University of Tampa and University of South Florida.  

Stanley Hole Golf Tournament raises $25,000 for the CREW Trust NAPLES, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2022) – The 2021 CREW Stanley Hole Golf Tournament raised $25,000 to support CREW Land & Water Trust’s mission of preserving and stewarding water resources and natural communities around the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW). Named in honor of engineer, environmentalist and avid golfer Stanley Hole, the annual golf tournament is one of two major fundraisers that supports CREW Land & Water Trust. Hole co-founded the engineering firm Hole Montes in 1959 and was a founding member of CREW Trust’s Board of Trustees, helping establish the nonprofit in 1989. “Stanley Hole was an incredibly talented engineer, but his true passion was supporting environmental causes across Southwest Florida,” said Bob Mulhere, president of Hole Montes. “Our firm was proud to sponsor the golf tournament once again and help carry out our founder’s personal mission of protecting the region's natural resources, especially water quality.” Today, Hole Montes is the region’s leading engineering, surveying and planning company with a focus on water resource management, including the treatment of stormwater and wastewater, flood control and restoration tools, and innovative approaches to assess, protect and restore water bodies. Beyond its sponsorship of the Stanley Hole Golf Tournament, Hole Montes maintains a close connection with CREW Land & Water Trust through former CEO and Board Chairman Thomas M. Taylor serving on the nonprofit’s board of trustees. The CREW Land & Water Trust formed to coordinate the land acquisition, land management and public use of the 60,000-acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. The nonprofit partners with the South Florida Water Management District, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Conservation Collier and Conservation 20/20 in Lee County. CREW lands help recharge groundwater for the region’s drinking water supply, offer natural flood protection, purify water, provide habitat for wildlife and

Hole Montes completes Yellowbird Street improvement project NAPLES, Fla. (June 28, 2021) – Hole Montes has completed a series of street, traffic calming and utility improvements to Yellowbird Street on Marco Island that make the roadway safer for motorists, pedestrians and residents while providing reliable utility service into the future. Defined as a local connector road, Yellowbird Street stretches three-fourths of a mile from North Collier Boulevard to Bald Eagle Drive. Hole Montes designed the replacement and widening of the existing 20-foot-wide, two-lane road into a 24-foot-wide thoroughfare, also adding paved shoulders that serve as bike paths. Additionally, the design included new water and sewer lines, improved the drainage system and updated concrete sidewalks to meet ADA compliance standards. Hole Montes also designed traffic calming devices, including mid-block side islands and a mini roundabout. The City of Marco Island awarded Hole Montes the Yellowbird Street design contract in 2016. Construction began in April 2020 and finished a year later. “Yellowbird Street is an active roadway that runs through a residential neighborhood, and our engineers were diligent in their initial field work so we could minimize the potential disruptions once construction began,” said Bob Mulhere, president of Hole Montes. “The improvements make Yellowbird Street much safer now for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, and the utility improvements will see it into the future.” Transportation engineering, in addition to aviation and environmental engineering, are among Hole Montes’ areas of focus. The 55-year-old company’s additional services include landscape architecture, entitlement planning, site development, land planning, permitting, zoning, storm water management design, surveying and mapping.