Get to Know Xpera Group, VERTEX's Newest Family Member
In August, VERTEX announced the acquisition of Xpera, Inc. (Xpera Group). Xpera Group was founded in August, 2009 offering construction consulting and quality assurance solutions. Since then, Xpera has grown its team of experts, delivering specialized services to clients at all phases of the development process. Now, as part of VERTEX, services are offered globally to attorneys, insurance and surety professionals, architects, property owners and developers, property managers, and contractors.
As a multi-faceted, employee-owned AEC firm, VERTEX is able to bring solutions that meet each client’s unique goals, whether it’s for pre-acquisition due diligence, design, development or renovation, ensuring quality standards, avoiding costly construction delays and claims, achieving successful resolution for troubled projects, or demolishing, VERTEX is a turnkey solution.
Dr. Fitzpatrick has over 30 years of experience in environmental and energy consulting and has worked at VERTEX for nearly 25 years.
We are proud to share that Russell recently completed his Ph.D. in Leadership Development, with a dissertation titled, “A Developmental Approach to Leadership Training”. Dr. Fitzpatrick’s research focused on combining leadership theory with approaches to adult development and learning into a framework for leadership training. Russell plans to create a leadership development program for The Vertex Companies, Inc. based on his research.
Dr. Fitzpatrick serves as the Chief Learning Officer of VERTEX University and our Lifetime of Learning (LOLP) Program. Russell also serves as the Executive Vice President of VERTEX's International Division, managing our businesses in Mexico (VERTEX Ingenieros Consultores, S. de R.L. de C.V.) and Canada (VTX Consulting Inc.).
In a litigated construction defect setting, expert witnesses may recommend repairs to certain building envelope configurations at all locations where they may exist. If such recommendations are made, some retained cost experts only provide one cost estimate to completely remove and replace the entire system without considering reasonable and cost-effective means and methods for selective repairs. There are instances when removing and replacing the entire cladding system or moisture management system is necessary to accomplish recommended repairs and other instances where complete replacement of a building envelope system is the more-economical decision. VERTEX's Zach Bradshaw, PE discusses how selective repairs can frequently correct many of the most commonly cited construction defects.
Piping failures can lead to a wide spectrum of losses and potentially millions of dollars in property damage, especially when the piping contains hazardous materials like sanitary waste and petroleum products. These losses can occur in residential, commercial, and industrial water distribution and sanitary waste plumbing systems, HVAC systems, manufacturing process systems as well as several other critical plumbing systems that can be found in everyday life. VERTEX's Anthony Timpanaro, M.S., P.E. discusses some causes of piping failures.
The use of Methamphetamine, also known as "meth", is not a recent phenomenon. Although the precise inception of methamphetamine is somewhat contested, it became wildly popular during the second world war as it was used by militaries around the world. Due to the devastating health effects, all forms of amphetamines became classified as Schedule II substances by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Unfortunately, individuals have been continuously trying to chase that high by using and producing meth ever since. VERTEX's Alex Johnsen, CIH discusses considerations for real estate owners, developers, and landlords.
Metals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc are required elements for the human body to function; however, even non-toxic metals can become toxic at high enough doses. Metal contamination in soil, groundwater, and surface water is regulated based on potential toxic effects on humans and other organisms. VERTEX's Brooke Tomchinsky discusses environmental contamination and remediation of metals.
DNAPLs are a dense non-aqueous phase liquids that are denser, or heavier, than water. Unlike light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), they do not float on top of the water table, but migrate downward and accumulate at the bottom of the aquifer. Reducing DNAPL groundwater impacts to meet state regulatory cleanup requirements has typically been very challenging and required large amounts of time and money, which has prevented many sites from achieving closure. VERTEX's Amy Littler discusses some DNAPL site challenges and solutions.
At many petroleum storage sites, such as gasoline stations and fuel storage depots, there is a long history of ownership. Over time, releases may have occurred. If not fully remedied, historical releases leave residual contamination in the soil and groundwater that require ongoing remediation to comply with local, state, and federal remedial requirements. When a new release occurs at a site with historical impacts, there can be questions and disputes regarding who is responsible for the remediation. VERTEX's Christopher C. De Carlo, CHMM, LSRP discusses petroleum forensic investigations and how they can help.
