CELEBRATING LEGACY AND NEW BEGINNINGS: A MILESTONE MOVE, JOHNSON ENGINEERING IS NOW AN APEX COMPANY

In a momentous shift that marks the beginning of a new chapter for Johnson Engineering, our firm has been acquired by Apex Companies, a national leader in consulting and engineering services.

In August 2024, Apex Companies finalized the purchase of Johnson Engineering. This acquisition represents a pivotal moment in our company’s history and presents exciting new opportunities for both our team and our valued clients.

Throughout the last 78 years, Johnson Engineering has grown to be one of the oldest and most prominent civil engineering firms in Southwest Florida. We began in 1946 when Carl E. Johnson, P.L.S., acquired the records of a local engineering and surveying company owned by Harry K. Davison, P.E., a well-known engineer in the Southwest Florida community since the early 1900s. Through the years, the company transformed into a multi-disciplined civil engineering firm and even acquired Marco Surveying & Mapping, a Naples, Florida based company, to enhance the firm’s surveying services.

It was this rich history with decades of successful projects, a strong reputation, and unmatched employee tenure which drew Apex to want to combine forces to build an even stronger presence throughout the southeastern United States.

We didn’t make this decision lightly; we carefully chose Apex as our partner because their values and principles align with ours. We deeply value the well-being and stability of our team and have always been committed to keeping our staff and clients at the heart of what we do. With Apex Companies, we’ve found a partner whose vision and goals resonate with our own. Apex is a people-first, family-oriented firm that genuinely respects our team and our culture. Their goal is to integrate our strengths to broaden the range of services we offer, allowing us to provide even more comprehensive solutions to our clients. This alignment of values and commitment to maintaining our successful operations makes this partnership an exciting and natural evolution for Johnson Engineering.

Apex was established in 1988 and is a national multidisciplinary consulting and engineering services firm with a broad portfolio that includes water, environmental services, compliance and assurance, health and safety, and transportation and civil services. Apex is known for its technical expertise, rapid response, and exceptional client satisfaction, boasting impressive rankings such as #12 among ENR All-Environmental firms and #58 in the Top 200 overall.

This union brings together the strengths of Johnson Engineering and Apex, alongside Apex’s recent acquisition of Water Science Associates. The combined expertise of these firms offers unparalleled depth and breadth in services, reinforcing our long-standing presence in Florida and enhancing our ability to serve both public and private markets.

For our clients, this acquisition translates into enhanced capabilities and a broader range of services. The integration with Apex Companies means that Johnson Engineering will now have access to an expanded suite of technical resources and industry-leading expertise. We are excited about the new opportunities this partnership presents and are committed to maintaining the high standards of service and quality that have defined our work for decades.

Our team remains dedicated to providing innovative solutions and exceptional outcomes, and we are confident that our alliance with Apex will only strengthen our ability to meet and exceed your expectations.

As we embark on this new journey with Apex Companies, we remain focused on delivering the excellence and client satisfaction that have been hallmarks of Johnson Engineering. We look forward to leveraging our combined strengths to support your projects and goals more effectively than ever before.

We thank our clients for their continued support and partnership. We are excited about the future and the opportunities it holds for us all. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue with our same great team to evolve and enhance our services under the Apex umbrella.

For more information on the services Apex currently offers visit https://apexcos.com. For questions, please contact Juli Kern at [email protected].

FDOT OPENS NEW WILDLIFE CROSSING ON I-4 IN POLK COUNTY

One June 2024 morning, the heat and humidity took backseat to the excitement of the event when Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One, State legislators, Polk County officials, NGO representatives, and others met to witness the official ribbon cutting for the newly completed wildlife crossing on I-4. The crossing is located east of the new SR 557 interchange and connects portions of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s Hilochee Wildlife Management Area previously bisected by the interstate. The new crossing is located within the Green Swamp Florida Forever Project, an area of approximately 280,000 acres, containing a mosaic of cypress swamps, pine forests, and pastures, and the headwaters of four major river systems. The Green Swamp also provides an important wildlife corridor between the expanding cities of Tampa and Orlando.

The $73 million infrastructure project primarily focused on improving traffic patterns and safety at the interchange of SR 557 and I-4, while also including the construction of the first dedicated wildlife crossing on I-4. The crossing consists of a 61-foot wide, 67-foot long, 8‑foot-high bridge that will allow terrestrial animals ranging from raccoons and white-tailed deer to Florida black bears and Florida panthers, to pass safely underneath the highway above. The crossing also includes a water crossing for smaller aquatic species like turtles, and fish, as well as just over a mile of 10-foot-high fencing along the interstate to help funnel animals to the crossing. The crossing is the first of three proposed wildlife crossings on I-4, one of which will be the first dedicated wildlife overpass.

The State of Florida contains about 60 wildlife crossings and bridges, with most of those located in FDOT Districts One and Five (spanning roughly southwest and central Florida), an area that is home to the only breeding population of Florida panthers, and many of the core subpopulations of Florida black bears. Since its completion in 1965, I-4 has been connecting the state’s east and west coasts as one of the most highly traveled corridors. Wildlife crossings are not only beneficial to animals, but also to humans traveling along roads. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) estimates about 200 people die each year in more than one million vehicle crashes with wildlife. At least two male panthers and multiple black bears have failed to- successfully cross I-4, but wildlife crossings such as this will help to mitigate future wildlife deaths by vehicle collisions.

Johnson Engineering conducted a wildlife crossing re-evaluation project for FDOT District One in 2016, to reassess potential wildlife crossing locations along I-4 in Polk County, including the site that is now the completed crossing. In a separate project for FDOT, Johnson Engineering wildlife biologist, Dr. Jennifer “Jen” Korn, took the lead placing cameras under bridges and wildlife crossings from I-4 to Alligator Alley to monitor for use by Florida panther, Florida black bear, white-tailed deer, and other species that cover large distances and rely on wildlife corridors. Dr. Korn attended the ribbon cutting in June to watch the culmination of all the hard work by FDOT and their partners (construction contractors, engineers, environmental consultants, NGO representatives, and more).

Two of the headliners of this effort were FDOT District One’s Brent Setchell (Drainage Design Engineer) and Nicole Monies (Environmental Permits Coordinator) pictured above. News footage from the ribbon cutting and drone views of the entire wildlife crossing can be viewed at FDOT’s YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/Gug2TWjc0vA?si=aJAQWn6nFQ2U0hXs.

For more information, contact Jen Korn at [email protected].

CHAMBERLIN PARKWAY IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORT RSW’S SKYPLEX

Chamberlin Parkway was the original gateway to Southwest Florida when the Southwest Florida Regional Airport opened in 1983. The roadway served as the entrance to the original terminal, which was positioned on the north side of the runway with a large parking lot and a loop roadway design for easy movement of the arriving and departing vehicle traffic. In 2004, the terminal was moved to the current midfield location to meet the needs of the growing community. To better serve the traveling public, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is now connected directly to Interstate I-75 by the Terminal Access Road we use today.

The Chamberlin Parkway corridor has transitioned to be the spine of Skyplex, a major economic hub on the north side of the Airport property. Skyplex spans 1,100 acres, with current operations including Alta Resources, Gartner, and Skywalk commercial center, and zoning approvals are in place for additional aviation-related and non-aviation development.

Lee County Port Authority sought to improve conditions of the 40-year old Chamberlin Parkway and contracted with Johnson Engineering to provide planning, design, and permitting services to improve and re-align the corridor. The goal of the re-alignment was to remove old geometric features of the roadway that allowed it to serve as a circulator to and from the old terminal, transforming it into a corridor that meets the needs of Skyplex.

Construction is substantially complete, including a roundabout at the intersection of Skyplex Boulevard, landscaping, utility improvements, lighting, and a stormwater management system designed to accommodate runoff from adjacent development sites. We are proud to have been a part of a project that enhances the driving experience on airport property and contributes to the success of RSW and Skyplex.

For more information contact John Glenn, PE at [email protected].

THE CITY OF NAPLES UPGRADES THEIR EMERGENCY GENERATORS

Backup power is critical infrastructure for the City of Naples Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF).

Upgrading the City’s emergency generators isn’t just about enhancing infrastructure; it’s about safeguarding the community and ensuring that essential services remain operational when they’re needed most.

It is essential that a water reclamation facility continue to operate during a power failure to ensure continuous processing of wastewater and recovery of reclaimed water from it. This process helps preserve our natural resources, meets regulatory requirements, and provides inexpensive reclaimed water for irrigation to lawns and golf courses, keeping them green during Florida’s dry season.

Reliable electrical power equipment and control systems are critical to drive the pumps and processes in a water reclamation facility. Once these systems age, they become increasingly difficult to operate and maintain reliably. Operating equipment, until it fails, leads to unexpected downtime and is not acceptable for critical infrastructure. To prevent unplanned downtime, emergency standby power systems are necessary to keep the plant up and running 24/7/365, even when electric utility power is unavailable. Plant staff are always proactively trying to gain greater reliability, efficiency, and productivity with limited resources by leveraging new technology and equipment that includes networked equipment, power surge protection, and enhanced operational capabilities via an upgrade of the existing obsolete generator systems.

Retrofit projects are particularly challenging due to the amount of field research, incomplete documentation, incorporation of existing equipment, space limitations, plant layouts, and requirements to keep the plant fully operational even during construction. The City of Naples Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) project scope included replacing the existing 1250 KW and 1500 KW diesel generators at the WRF that operated independently and which were supplied with diesel fuel from two 6,000-gallon above-ground diesel fuel storage tanks. The two existing generators were replaced with four 600 KW generators, each with integrated diesel fuel storage tanks that are configured to work together in parallel for 2400 KW of total emergency standby power.

The two existing generators were located indoors which occupied valuable space and created operational challenges related to the generator cooling and exhaust systems. The four new generators are located outdoors which simplifies the cooling and exhaust systems and allows for the re-purposing of the existing generator rooms into an electrical room annex and other future uses. Since the new generators were designed with integrated diesel fuel tanks, the existing diesel storage tanks and associated piping were able to be removed which eliminated potential fuel leakage and the environmental issues associated with maintaining and operating diesel fuel within the plant. Since there are two separate electrical rooms, the design included significant underground conduit duct banks and associated pullboxes to provide power to both rooms from one common location.

In addition to design services, Johnson Engineering provided construction services consisting of programmable controller programming, operator terminal programming, and control system start-up and commissioning to integrate the new generators into the existing plant power and control system’s electrical and network infrastructure.

For more information contact Wayne Wright, PE at [email protected].

CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF OUR VALUED TEAM MEMBERS

Johnson Engineering’s legacy of exceptional employee tenure stands as a testament to the dedication and commitment of our workforce. It is with both pride and sadness that we announce the retirement of a few esteemed members who have contributed significantly to our company’s success. These individuals, with their decades-long service spanning 19, 24, and 37 years, have left an indelible mark on our organization. As they embark on this new chapter of their lives, we reflect on their invaluable contributions and wish them all the best in their well-deserved retirements.

STAN LEONHARDT – 19 YEARS

Stan began working for Johnson Engineering in May of 2004 as a survey rodman and is retiring as a survey Party Chief. Over the last 19 years he performed thousands of surveys throughout Southwest Florida for our clients including projects such as hydrographic surveys of the Peace River, Subsurface Utility Explorations for FPL and the I-75 IROX project, as well as FDOT bridge surveys for the I-75, Sanibel Causeway, and Marco Island bridges. Throughout his tenure, he became a heavy equipment operator, obtained his CDL, and became SCUBA certified. We wish Stan well in his retirement with relaxation and countless new adventures.

CAROL DOCKER – 24 YEARS

Carol served as the Director of our Human Resources group for the past 24 years, playing a pivotal role in shaping our HR policies and procedures for the last two decades. Her dedication and expertise not only influenced our company culture and operations, but also significantly contributed to the overall success and growth of our organization. Her unwavering commitment and readiness to assist wherever needed has been invaluable to our success. We extend our heartfelt wishes for a fulfilling retirement journey.

MARK THEIS – 37 YEARS

In 1987, Mark embarked on a journey to relocate his family to Fort Myers from Ohio after vacationing in the sunshine state. During his job search, Johnson Engineering kept emerging as a top recommendation. He applied, interviewed, and was hired as an Engineering Technician. Mark had the privilege of being trained and mentored by our team of seasoned veterans who had strong work ethic, integrity, and strong demand for quality plan preparation.

Throughout his tenure, Mark had to adapt to many technological advancements including transitioning from hand-drafted designs to computer-aided drafting. Before e-mail existed, Mark recalls the days where it used to take him weeks to produce hand-drawn plan sheets using ink and Leroy lettering templates and hand deliver them to clients. Today this work can be produced electronically and e-mailed in mere minutes.

His career milestones included spearheading the establishment of our Port Charlotte office in 1992, a pivotal moment in his professional trajectory. Mark swiftly rose from an entry-level Engineering Technician to Project Manager working on a variety of development projects throughout Charlotte County.

Mark’s strong project management skills are etched in the significant projects he undertook, notably the Charlotte Correctional Institution. Being one of his first large projects and one of the biggest projects in the County at the time, Mark was admittedly intimidated by this $40 million project on 275-acres which included wetland impacts and a large 40-acre wetland mitigation area. Mark remained steadfast and the project was a notable success. His career take-away was to never give up on a challenge, you can always handle more than you think you can.

As Mark concludes his 37-year tenure at Johnson Engineering, his absence will surely be felt. Mark, with his quiet demeanor and subtle wit, was always ready to lend a hand wherever it was required. A genuine and hardworking individual, he leaves behind a commendable legacy of dedication to Johnson Engineering. We extend our sincere gratitude and wish Mark all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

GATEWAY BLVD & GRIFFIN DRIVE’S NEW ROUNDABOUT

Johnson Engineering provided construction engineering & inspection (CEI), as well as constructability review services, for the new intersection improvements at Gateway Boulevard and Griffin Drive in Fort Myers.

This project included drainage and utility improvements, roadway reconstruction and rehabilitation and most notably, a center fountain. Existing traffic was maintained throughout construction to minimize the impact to the traveling public. Our team worked closely with Lee County, the contractor, and the Engineer of Record to assist in the development of a logical phasing plan. Constructability reviews conducted by Johnson Engineering resulted in both cost and time savings to the project by utilizing existing material on the project to the greatest extent possible. This project was recently completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Modern roundabouts have seen a tremendous uptick in recent years, as they slow vehicles down, reduce idle time, and keep traffic continually moving, maximizing both safety and efficiency.

For more information contact John Glenn, PE at [email protected].

CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF DEDICATION: HONORING THE CAREER OF ANDY TILTON, PE

After four decades of unwavering dedication and countless contributions to our company, we bid farewell to Andy Tilton, PE, as he embarks on a well-deserved journey into retirement. With gratitude and heartfelt appreciation, we reflect on Andy’s career and the profound impact he has had on our organization.

Andy’s journey with Johnson Engineering actually began more than a half-century ago, when he was a young boy working with his father, Walter, who provided carpentry and masonry work for our company founder, Carl E. Johnson. Walter built drafting tables and even developed customized tapered concrete property corner survey markers for the company in the early 1960s. This work fostered a relationship that led to Walter addressing uneven floor settling issues at Carl’s home. As a young boy, Andy recalls crawling under the jacked-up home, measuring, and shimming to restore the floor to a level condition.

Andy is one of only a handful of Johnson Engineering employees who had the pleasure of knowing Carl. Prior to his passing, Carl sold the company to Archie Grant in the late 1960s.

Andy went on to attend the University of Florida to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in the late 1970s. During his school breaks and summer vacations, Andy worked at Johnson Engineering where he fondly recalls conducting water level recordings along Trout Creek on Babcock Ranch, where ironically, he would eventually become the District Engineer for the Telegraph Cypress Water Management District in the 1980s. That marked the beginning of decades of Andy’s instrumental contributions to the water management and hydrology at Babcock Ranch.

When Andy graduated from UF, he had many offers from other engineering firms, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity when then-Johnson Engineering President Archie Grant offered him a full-time job. Before diving into the professional realm, Andy negotiated an extended start date to embark on a road trip adventure across the United States. His adventure took five weeks, covered 6,000 miles, and only cost him $400.

The year was 1978 and the beginning of Andy’s 45-year tenure at Johnson Engineering. On Andy’s first day, Forrest Banks tasked him with hand-coloring elevation contours on a blueprint for what is now McGregor Woods Subdivision. With no specific instructions, Andy began coloring with a red marker for the most prominent elevation. When Forrest returned hours later, to his dismay, he discovered Andy was actually colorblind. This was his first task at overcoming obstacles. Forrest built him a legend and asked him to start again, which he successfully did.

His job responsibilities had him dabbling in everything from survey curves and tangents calculations to designing residential and commercial developments throughout Lee County. Andy developed an interest in sizing pipes and stormwater routing work. Recognizing Andy’s passion for this area, Archie offered him the opportunity to work under him, focusing primarily on stormwater-related projects. This marked the beginning of Andy’s career path and the formation of the company’s Water Resources group.

In the early 80s Andy would spend hours hand calculating backwater profile calculations, which are the foundational piece of each water management system. Today, these calculations are produced in seconds thanks to modern computer software. As technology evolved, so did Andy’s methodologies, which allowed us to tackle complex projects with greater precision and efficiency.

Throughout his career Andy was thoroughly dedicated to the hydrology of Southwest Florida recording rain events, tracking inches of rainfall, and crawling through storm drains to observe and record water flow patterns, which gave our company immeasurable amounts of data that no one else had. Andy was instrumental in pioneering the company’s water management database system which contains more than a half century of water resources data.

During his role as Director of the Water Resources market group, Andy has been at the forefront of providing efficient solutions to some of the region’s most pressing water-related challenges. He has spearheaded numerous projects aimed at managing water resources, mitigating flooding risks, and safeguarding the environment for future generations. His expertise in hydrologic modeling, watershed analysis, and stormwater management has played a pivotal role in the development of comprehensive master plans for numerous cities and counties in the area. During his tenure, he embraced emerging technologies, pioneering computer modeling techniques that helped Johnson Engineering remain at the forefront of innovation in the water resource field.

Andy’s impact on Johnson Engineering’s growth and success is undeniable. From his pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence into new territories like LaBelle and Clewiston to his leadership in major projects such as Babcock Ranch and the Midfield Expansion at Southwest Florida International Airport, Andy’s legacy is integral to our decades of success.

Known for his strong faith, Andy Tilton is also a man of integrity, unwavering commitment, and unparalleled work ethic. He is an incredible mentor for the next generation of engineers who have had the privilege of working alongside him. As we honor Andy’s career and bid him farewell, we extend our sincerest wishes for a retirement filled with joy, relaxation, and new adventures. Andy’s presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come.

RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL UNDERGOES A MUCH-NEEDED RENOVATION

Johnson Engineering is proud to be the civil engineer collaborating closely with GHC Architects DBA BSSW Architects for the much-needed renovation of Riverdale High School in Lee County. Established in 1972, the school is currently undergoing vital renovations to enhance overall campus infrastructure, accommodate the growing student population, and facilitate extracurricular activities.

The renovation plans include the construction of a new science building, a new sports complex gymnasium spanning approximately 40,400 square feet, as well as new sports fields, sand volleyball courts, and additional student parking.

This extensive project involves numerous components and requires close collaboration with various companies. Adding to the complexity, renovations are occurring during school hours, with 2,000 students present. Throughout the project, our foremost priority is ensuring student safety while minimizing disruptions to the school’s daily operations. This includes the critical task of renovating the sanitary sewer, fire, and potable water systems without interruption of service.

One of the most significant enhancements is the redesigned front access, aimed at optimizing parent pick-up and drop-off procedures. By consolidating the school access points from three to one, the new design prioritizes safety and security while improving traffic flow during peak hours.

We recognize the pivotal role that educational institutions play in shaping the future, and we take great pride in contributing our expertise to projects that enhance learning environments for students in our community.

For more information contact Dana Hume at [email protected].

NAVIGATING THE TURBULENT WATERS: IMPLICATIONS & STRATEGIES FOLLOWING THE FLORIDA STATE 404 PROGRAM UPDATES

In December 2020, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) “assumed” the Section 404 federal wetland permitting program from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for certain non-tidally influenced projects in Florida. However, on February 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. issued a decision to vacate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “approval of Florida’s assumption application,” effectively ending the Florida State 404 program. The Court stated that the EPA and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) “committed a serious error” by allowing the state program to utilize Section 7 (of the Endangered Species Act) Incidental Take protection, which is limited to federal agencies and actions and provides legal protection for certain “incidental” or minor impacts to endangered species.

The Court decision indicated that State 404 permits issued to date remain valid. Florida’s state wetlands regulations and permitting authority (called Environmental Resource Permits [ERP]) and USACE 404 wetland permit applications for projects in retained waters remain unaffected. However, projects awaiting FDEP’s State 404 permit review are now in limbo, as the FDEP cannot act on pending State 404 applications and is not currently providing compliance oversight of existing State 404 permits.

Recognizing the ever-changing nature of environmental permitting, our team is proactively assisting our clients affected by this development. Our ecologists are diligently preparing and submitting new 404 applications to USACE to mitigate project delays. While the duration of court proceedings remains uncertain, we’re committed to closely monitoring the situation and offering guidance as it unfolds.

For further information, please contact Laura Brady Herrero at [email protected].

CHARTING THE COURSE: RSW MASTER PLAN UPDATE TAKES FLIGHT

Johnson Engineering’s planning team is celebrating acceptance by the FAA of the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Master Plan Update.

Our firm has supported RSW’s development since its inception in 1983. RSW is a gateway to Southwest Florida and has welcomed more than 10 million passengers in 2023 and ranks among the top 50 airports in the United States for passenger traffic.

Airport master planning is important to ensure the timing and scope of needed improvements are planned, permitted, and funded to align with aviation industry trends and our region’s growing needs. Over a two-year long planning process, our planning team managed an extensive team of specialists to assess all aspects of airside, landside, terminal, and non-aviation future development opportunities and constraints. We evaluated the facility needs generated by anticipated growth in demand and determined the timing and strategy for implementing improvements. From rental car facility upgrades slated for 2028, to a future parallel runway anticipated in the 2040s, the plan defines “right-sized” improvements for the next 20 years.

Public engagement was facilitated via an online portal and public meetings, and engagement opportunities were posted in the newspaper and on social media.

Lee County now has a Master Plan Update prioritizing safety, efficiency, and resilience so that RSW is positioned for 20 more years of continued success. For more information contact Laura DeJohn, AICP at [email protected].