As narrated in a recent Highlights article, Michael Warwick, Natural Resources Specialist in the Delafield office, obtained hundreds of Purple Loosestrife-eating Galerucella beetles late last summer for release at Cushing Park in the City of Delafield, Wisconsin. Purple loosestrife, or Lythrum salicaria, is an invasive European wetland plant.

Last year’s effort was so successful that Mike decided to raise the beetles himself this year. In early May, he obtained pots and netting from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Program, dug up several young Purple Loosestrife plants, and potted them. In late May, Mike returned to Cushing Park to collect dozens of mating beetles. The success of last year’s release was evident in the fact that thousands of beetles were seen munching leaves throughout the population of Purple Loosestrife at the site.

Dozens of beetles were collected and placed on the potted Purple Loosestrife plants and covered in netting. The netting prevents the beetles from escaping while allowing in the air and sunlight necessary for the potted plants to grow. Since then, hundreds of beetle eggs have hatched and larvae can be seen crawling throughout the leaves.

Later this summer, these young beetles will be released at local dominant populations of Purple Loosestrife in Delafield and Hartland, controlling the invasive plant and allowing native vegetation to return and diversify the landscape.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Wisconsin highlighted 50 years of achievements in Wisconsin engineering with a Wonders of Engineering competition as part of their 50th Anniversary celebration. Yaggy Colby Associates received an Honor Award for the storm water management design of the Woodcreek Subdivision near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

When the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources required the proposed development cause no thermal impacts from storm water runoff to a near by high-quality cold water trout steam, the firm used precedent setting infiltration techniques to manage storm water and cool the water before releasing it into the stream. A bioinfiltration basin and swale system were designed incorporating existing soils and added native plants with extensive root systems. The project exceeds stringent infiltration standards and serves as a University of Wisconsin monitoring site for analyzing the effects of infiltration basins on groundwater modeling.

Yaggy Colby Associates continually responds to changes in the business climate, yet ethical practice, responsive service and a high quality product consistently remain the driving forces behind the firm’s practice. Another constant in the firm’s operation is committed and decisive leadership. With strong conviction to sustain the company values and successful practice, the Board of Directors announce the following changes in leadership roles:

Bob Ellis, President and Chief Operations Officer.
Bob will continue his role as COO and will assume the duties of the President of the firm. He has a BA in Business Management, has worked in the Engineering field for over 24 years and draws from past experience working as a surveyor, designer, project manager, and business manager.

Scott Samuelson, Chief Financial Officer. Scott will assume the role of CFO of the firm and continue his duties as Rochester Office Manager and Corporate Director of Transportation Services. He has over 23 years of experience as a licensed Professional Engineer in the field of Transportation Engineering.

Jose Rivas, Secretary.
Jose will continue the role of Secretary as well as Minnesota Business Development Director and Corporate Director of Architectural Services. He has over 18 years of experience as a licensed Architect with expertise in Institutional and Municipal Architecture.

Mike Court, Vice President.
Mike will continue as Vice President of Wisconsin Operations. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 18 years of experience in Land Development and Municipal Engineering.

Terry McCarthy, Vice President.
Terry will continue his role as Vice President of Iowa Operations and assume the role of Corporate Director for Municipal Services. He has over 29 years of experience in virtually every type of Municipal Engineering.

These five individuals, with a cumulative total of 86 years with the firm, have risen through the ranks of the firm and have earned the respect of their associates, peers and community. They exhibit the character, integrity and values to successfully lead the firm into the future. The new leaders are "committed to our clientele and will continue to provide the high level of professional service which has been the Yaggy Colby Associates hallmark for all these years."

Fellow namesake Christopher Colby has stepped aside from management and administrative duties, "to allow the next generation of ownership to expand their leadership role with the firm." Chris will continue to play an integral role in the firm, focusing on client relations and shaping the architectural legacy of Yaggy Colby Associates.

As he eases into retirement, former CEO Don Borcherding, PE will maintain his role of mentor to the firm’s younger generation of engineers and surveyors, while continuing to provide professional engineering leadership to some of the firm’s municipal clients. Don will spend some of his spare time teaching at St. Cloud State University.

Since 1970 Yaggy Colby Associates has been dedicated to serving the needs of public and private clientele with unparalleled professional performance. In the firm’s 37 year history, Yaggy Colby Associates’ award winning multi-disciplinary approach has garnered recognition in the industry and from clients throughout the upper Midwest. Today that operation has grown to 162 personnel in six offices, in three states, and engages the talents of 66 registered professionals in 8 disciplines.

The Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee was pleased to announce six new recipients of the Certified Construction Professionals designation (CCP), including Mark Augustine of Yaggy Colby Associates Delafield office.

In 2007 the State of Wisconsin passed a Continuing Education Law for contractors who pull permits for one and two-family dwellings, which requires contractors to participate in 12 hours of qualifying continuing education. The MBA worked with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to develop courses that would enable contractors to meet their education requirements either at the MBA’s location in Waukesha or through a DVD course series.

The MBA’s CCP program is intended to be both affordable and convenient for those participating in the program. It also recognizes individuals for their commitment to continuing education. Members must complete 24 hours of training, which is twice the number of hours required under the State of Wisconsin’s continuing education requirements.

Yaggy Colby Associates was recently named a pre-qualified consulting firm for the Dane County BUILD Program (Better Urban Infill Development). The BUILD program partners with Dane County communities to plan and implement infill development through planning grants, education, and code reform. To be included on the County-approved list, a firm must submit their qualifications to a County Review Panel and meet a set minimum score based on established evaluation criteria. For more information:
 http://co.dane.wi.us/plandev/community/build/default.asp

Heather McGuire of the Delafield, Wisconsin office recently passed her LEED certification and is now a LEED Accredited Professional. LEED, the "Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design" Green Building Rating System, is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings developed by the USGBC membership. Heather is an Associate and serves as a Project Landscape Architect in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture.

Jason Woodhouse of the Rochester, Minnesota office has been elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Paul, Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors. The American Institute of Architects Minnesota is a non-profit association for architects as a state component of the national AIA organization with three local chapters: Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Northern Minnesota. In his Director capacity, Jason will represent all Rochester area AIA members at the Chapter level.

Dave Bosshard of Yaggy Colby Associate's Delafield office was elected as Vice President of the Society of Southeast Wisconsin Land Surveyors. This is a three year term as Vice President then President elect followed by a final year as President.

Randy Kolinske of the Delafield, Wisconsin office recently passed his LEED certification and is now a LEED Accredited Professional. LEED, the "Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design" Green Building Rating System, is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings developed by the USGBC membership. Randy is an assistant Engineer in Delafield.

Yaggy Colby Associates along with the Rushford Planning Commission is in the process of updating the Rushford, Minnesota comprehensive plan. A weblog has been set up by Yaggy Colby Associates to inform the public on the planning process, post agendas and information, and to seek comments on the comprehensive plan.  The Minnesota Design Team, a highly skilled group of professionals that work with communities to help create a vision and plan for  the community, is scheduled to visit Rushford April 24th -26, 2008. We encourage community members to be a part of the planning process and to be informed.

Please visit the site at http://rushfordcompplan.wordpress.com