Today happens to be a bit of a milestone for me—45 years old! It also dawned on me that it’s been 23 years since I first walked into Howell as an intern… although it almost didn't happen. I remember driving all the way home from Penn State for my interview, only to be told by the secretary, “Oh, we’re going to have to reschedule; Mr. Howell is out driving his new Porsche this afternoon.” I remember thinking, “This guy must be a real jerk”. Of course, my initial judgment was wrong, and luckily, I was still able to secure the internship after a phone interview.

The realization of how long it’s been hits a little harder when you remember receiving township review letters via facsimile, complete with the creepy screeching sound of the fax machine that somehow meant both excitement and bad news at the same time, printing plans on mylar, and a time when “cloud storage” or “remote work” weren’t even in the vocabulary.

A lot has evolved in civil engineering—software, permitting and the fast-paced, stressful world of land development. But one thing remains constant: this is a relationship-driven business.

The projects that always seem to run the smoothest are those built on communication and trust between clients, municipalities, contractors and consultants. I can tell you from experience, it makes a world of difference presenting to a planning commission where you’ve built a reputation versus walking into "East Bumble Township" for the very first time.

One of the things I appreciate most is seeing the growth of the people around us. Watching interns become project managers and first-time clients become long-standing friends is the most rewarding part of what we do. Amidst the deadlines, riding the wave of busy weeks, especially Tuesdays, it’s a great reminder of how lucky I am to work with such a great group of people.

Since this goes out on my birthday, I did a little math (I am an engineer after all) and realized something slightly exciting: Today, I have officially spent exactly 50% of my life with Denny Howell as my boss. That’s 8,220 days.

Depending on your perspective, that either shows incredible loyalty and consistency... or a very limited desire for a career change.

In all seriousness, it’s been an honor to spend those years working alongside such great coworkers and watching this company and this industry grow. Here’s to the next 8,220!

Well... maybe not that long...