Raleigh, NC — February 12, 2012 — When Barbara Mulkey, PE, FASCE launched Mulkey Engineers and Consultants 19 years ago, she envisioned growth, success, and involvement in projects that improved the community. She did not, however, see her memoir on the horizon. Yet, after accomplishing all that she envisioned and being inducted into the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame, an account of her journey through the world of engineering seemed a natural next step.
“Having been blessed with the opportunity to experience career success built on strong relationships, I knew I wanted to share my journey with others who may identify with or learn from my story,” explains Mulkey. “It’s my hope to inspire others to excel in this worthy line of work, especially women who may be intimidated by a once male-dominated business.” Her debut novel, Building Bridges – A Collection of Thoughts About Engineers Connecting in Business, at Home and in Life, is now available on Amazon.com, and will surely inspire. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—February 13, 2012 — Barbara Hill Mulkey, PE, FASCE, founder and chairman of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants (Mulkey), has been named by Business Leader as one of their Top 50 Entrepreneurs for 2012. Each year, Business Leader recognizes the top entrepreneurs of the South with this award that honors those who have developed innovative, high-achieving companies that contribute to their industries and business communities. An event ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 23 in Raleigh to honor Triangle area winners.
Barbara Mulkey founded the full-service civil engineering firm in 1993. Over the past 19 years, Mulkey has grown to more than 130 employees in five offices across the Southeast. When Barbara started the company, she sought to find balance both in her life and her employees’ lives while still providing high-quality service and a commitment to clients. This has been instrumental to Mulkey achieving an industry reputation for excellence in service and technical expertise. She has proven that a firm can be successful while being sensitive to employees’ personal lives, needs, and obligations. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—January 10, 2012 — Candace Whisenant, PHR, has recently been promoted within Mulkey Engineers & Consultants (Mulkey) from Senior Human Resources Generalist to Human Resources Manager. Candace achieved this promotion by taking on responsibilities for strategic decision-making and
company-wide employee/HR initiatives.
Candace’s career at Mulkey began in May 2009 as the sole HR representative for the company. Throughout her more than two and a half years at Mulkey, Candace has proven her abilities and passion for HR by growing and strengthening employee programs, including implementing the company’s first wellness program in 2011 and assisting with a mentor program for 2012 to give employees the opportunity to enhance their professional skills by interacting with their peers.
“Candace’s hard work and dedication to HR programs at Mulkey is invaluable to our employees and our company. We commend her for helping to positively shape our work environment,” said Carla Starr, Principal & Director of Administrative Services at Mulkey.
Raleigh, NC—Dec. 12, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants (Mulkey) was recently recognized as one of The Healthiest Employers of the Triangle 2011 at an awards presentation sponsored by the Triangle Business Journal. The award honors organizations committed to making wellness a priority by supporting and encouraging their employees’ health. Mulkey, along with 19 other local companies, was presented with the award on Dec. 8 at the Raleigh Marriott at Crabtree.
Mulkey introduced a company-wide wellness initiative for the first time in 2011, providing employees with healthy activities and programs throughout the year. “We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the overall health and well-being of our employees through this initiative,” said Candace Whisenant, Mulkey’s Human Resources Manager. “We’ve also instilled positive lifestyle changes throughout the company.”
Prior to the awards presentation, attendees were able to participate in a Wellness Fair featuring local wellness groups that offered health screenings, flu shots and spa treatments. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Nov. 30, 2011— Jill Wells Heath, President and CEO of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants (Mulkey), was a panelist at the Women’s Leadership Roundtable hosted by the Association for Women in Business (AWIB) at Duke University on Nov. 28. AWIB is a professional group for female graduate students in Duke’s Fuqua School of Business MBA program that provides career development and support to raise awareness of the unique challenges facing women in the workplace.
The event featured female business leaders from six different companies in the Triangle area. As panelists, these leaders fielded questions from AWIB members, offering business and career insights as well as sharing personal success stories for an audience of female Fuqua MBA students. Following the panel session, these leaders spoke to students in small roundtable groups to discuss their business perspectives in more detail. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Nov. 23, 2011— The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of North Carolina awarded Mulkey Engineers and Consultants (Mulkey) the 2012 Honors Award for Engineering Excellence – Structural Systems for its work on the WakeMed Raleigh campus addition at its recent gala. Mulkey served as structural engineer for this award-winning, four-story, 185,000-square-foot addition to WakeMed’s Raleigh campus, housing the Children’s Hospital and state-of-the-art Heart Center. The expansion also included a spacious parking deck connected to the hospital with two pedestrian bridges.
Valoree Eikinas, PE, LEED® AP, Mulkey principal and the lead structural engineer on this project, had a prominent role in designing these intricate structures in an aggressive timeframe. Multiple connections to the existing building demanded design creativity to accommodate challenges such as an underground tunnel connection, multiple story connections and bridge connections. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Nov. 23, 2011— The North Carolina Turnpike Authority held the Triangle Expressway Trot for over 500 attendees on Sunday, Nov. 20 on Phase I of the newly constructed Triangle Parkway. The event included a 5K road race followed by a kids’ 100-yard dash. All proceeds from the event benefitted Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
As a sponsor for this family-friendly running, walking and strolling event, more than 40 Mulkey employees and family members participated in the Trot. Mulkey did more than just trot on North Carolina’s first constructed toll road, they have been a part of this significant transportation project from the beginning. Mulkey prepared the environmental documents for the project in merely 18 months – a process that typically takes about 7 years to complete – and roadway designs for the 3.4-mile Triangle Parkway portion, as well as CEI quality assurance and survey services for the entire Expressway. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Oct. 7, 2011— Jill Wells Heath, President and CEO of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, has been selected as a Business Leader 2011 Movers & Shakers Award winner in the Triangle area. Jill was honored yesterday at an awards dinner with fellow Triangle area winners at the Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh.
As the leader of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, Jill inspires employees everyday. Jill believes that each day is an opportunity to teach, lead, listen, encourage and coach those around her, and she understands good leaders surround themselves with great people. Her persistence, determination and leadership skills make her a Business Leader Mover & Shaker.
Jill’s leadership strengths extend beyond Mulkey to the community. She currently serves on the Capital City Club Board of Governors and the Wake Technical Community College Foundation Board. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Sep. 27, 2011— Valoree K. Eikinas, PE, LEED® AP, director of building structures and land development at Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, was a key player in “The Great Collaboration,” also known as the Public and Private Higher Education Design and Construction Symposium, hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of North Carolina’s Buildings & Infrastructure Committee. The event brought together a group of over 200 North Carolina architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals and representatives from local colleges and universities on Sept. 22 at the Jane S. McKimmon Conference and Training Center on North Carolina State University’s campus.
This group of AEC professionals joined forces with design and construction decision-makers from North Carolina’s public and private universities and colleges to discuss as well as learn more about the higher education AEC industry in the state. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Sep. 6, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, a 125-person, woman-owned, full-service civil engineering firm, is pleased to announce its recent hire of Mark Ray, RWS, as a senior environmental scientist in the firm’s Roswell, Georgia office. Specializing in mitigation projects, he has performed more than 450 public and private development projects in 28 states.
Ray comes to Mulkey with 26 years of hands-on experience with the many facets of natural resource projects throughout the southeast. A 13-year participant in the National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Association, he has created 18 mitigation banks in 10 states, protecting endangered species, wetlands, streams and other natural resources through perpetual conservation easements. Ray is Rosgen level IV Natural Stream Channel Design certified.
“Mark is a great asset to our firm. His natural resource experience and knowledge expand the capabilities we are able to offer our clients,” stated Neil Davis, PE, Chief Engineer, and Georgia Office Manager.
Ray earned his M.S. degree in environmental science from the Miami University Institute of Environmental Sciences and his B.S. degree in biology from the University of Akron.
Raleigh, NC—Aug. 25, 2011— Carla Starr, a principal and administrative director at Mulkey Engineers & Consultants in Cary, has been named by the Triangle Business Journal as a Woman in Business for the class of 2011.
The Women in Business awards program recognizes Triangle women who have proven to be dynamic and outstanding leaders with established track records of significant accomplishments in business and/or community service. The inspiration category honors women leaders who through their words, actions and attitude inspire those who work with and around them.
“We are so proud of Carla. She is such an asset to our leadership team and to Mulkey as a whole, inspiring us all with her insight and strategic vision,” said Jill Heath, Mulkey President and CEO.
This year’s winners were announced at an awards luncheon today at the Sheraton Imperial in Durham. Starr is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Smithfield, N.C., native. She has been employed by Mulkey since 2003.
Raleigh, NC—Aug. 23, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, a 125-person, woman-owned, full-service civil engineering firm, is pleased to announce its recent hire of Alex Stone, PE, as a transportation project manager in the firm’s Roswell, Georgia office. His role includes responsibility for day-to-day management of the transportation group as well as business development and client relations in the Georgia market.
“I’m excited to be associated with a firm with such a great reputation, and I look forward to being an integral part of this strong transportation team,” said Stone.
Stone comes to Mulkey with some 15 years experience effectively managing complex highway design projects of various size and scope, many of which involved working with municipalities throughout Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Aug. 22, 2011— As the third guest on Business Leader Radio’s new program for Women Extraordinaire, Valoree Eikinas, PE, Principal and Director of Building Structures and Land Development, shared her insights on business leadership and the engineering/design industry along with keys to achieving her current success at Mulkey Engineers & Consultants. During the hour-long interview, Valoree thoughtfully discussed her professional background and career, industry issues and trends as well as Mulkey’s accomplishments and future outlook.
“Nothing drives innovation more than challenge,” said Valoree. These words have become her mantra, more important now than ever during trying economic times. Valoree added her advice on maintaining success despite economic challenges, reminding companies and businesses to “be persistent, build relationships, maintain a strong trust with your clients, and most importantly, be proactive, creative problem solvers.” (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Jul. 28, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultant President and CEO Jill Wells Heath, LEED®AP has been elected Board Chair-elect for the Wake Technical Community College Foundation Board for the 2011-12 term. Heath, who will become Board Chair next year, has served four years on the Board.
New officers were approved by the Foundation Board’s nominating committee and were then voted on by the full Board. Board members are charged with establishing policy, raising and managing funds, fostering relationships with potential donors and supporting the objectives of Foundation staff.
Recently elected to the Board of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Heath is also active on the Capital City Club Board of Governors. She also serves as chair of the YMCA of Cary Advisory Board and on the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Board of Directors. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Jul. 25, 2011— The American Red Cross blood donation bus will roll into the parking lot of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants at their Cary headquarters on Thursday, July 28 from 7-11:30 a.m.
The initiative for this blood drive is employee driven, inspired by Colista Freeman, a planner who has worked at Mulkey for four years. She notes her desire to pay forward the powerful impact such a donation had on her family. “Blood donations were literally life saving for me and my newborn son, and I wanted to be able to give that gift to others,” Freeman said.
In order to schedule the blood drive, 45 Mulkey employees, family members and friends pledged to donate. Mulkey is giving all participating employees time off with pay for the approximately 1.5 hours needed to complete the donation process. The actual blood donation only takes about 10 minutes.
The event is open to the public. Anyone who donates blood during the month of July will be entered into an American Red Cross drawing to win $3,000.
Raleigh, NC—Jul. 25, 2011— Barbara Hill Mulkey, chairman and founder of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants in Cary, has been elected by the 13-member N.C. State University Board of Trustees to serve as Chairman of the Board for the 2011-12 term. Mulkey served her first four-year appointment on the N.C. State Board of Trustees from 2007-2011, and the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors recently re-appointed her for a second four-year term.
The Board of Trustees is charged with promoting the sound development of N.C. State, helping it to serve the people of North Carolina to complement the activities of the other 15 higher education institutions and aiding it to perform at a high level of excellence. Each Board of Trustee is an advisor to the Board of Governors on matters relating to the university and also advises the Chancellor concerning the institution’s management and development.
The largest university in North Carolina, N.C. State, consists of 10 colleges serving more than 34,000 students in its more than 700 buildings. It is featured among the nation’s top 40 public universities. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—May 3, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants received the Most Creative Local Marketing Campaign Award at the 2011 Triangle Crew 13th Annual Champion Awards on April 28 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham. Valoree Eikinas, PE, LEED® AP, Mulkey principal and director of building structures and land development, accepted the award at the event attended by nearly 400 powerful players in the Triangle’s commercial real estate industry.
The award-winning, multi-touch lunch ‘n learn campaign featured a “back-to-school” theme to support its end of summer launch time frame. A chalkboard, chalk and notebook paper reflected this theme. A nostalgic folded paper fortune-teller game helped drive traffic to the website, enabling Mulkey to capture client data. The website provided clients the opportunity to learn more about the educational series being offered. The unique design of the campaign featured a typeface and a drawing of the corporate logo that appeared to be written in chalk, capturing the essence of the school theme.
The campaign’s success was measured through the increase in teaming opportunities for the building structures, land development and survey services groups, acquisition of new clients, greater public awareness of Mulkey’s capabilities and face-time with prospective clients. Sanford-based Kelly MarCom designed the project pieces.
Raleigh, NC—Apr. 12, 2011— Barbara H. Mulkey, PE, founder and Chairman of the Board of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, has become a member of the recently formed advisory board for the Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
This CEE advisory board includes community business leaders and engineers from area consulting firms and research groups that meet to connect the business community with UNC Charlotte CEE students, discuss suggestions and improvements for the department as well as share the education and training they seek in future UNC Charlotte CEE graduates. The group, which is led by professor and department chair David T. Young, Ph.D., P.E., will have its second meeting today.
“We are working to prepare these new engineering professionals through relevant coursework as well as enable them to successfully meet new challenges, such as those in the areas of sustainability and energy, when they join the growing engineering community in our region and beyond,” said Mulkey. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Apr. 6, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants’ planning and design work on the Morganton Road Bridge Replacement/Widening/Intersection Improvements in Fayetteville, N.C., has captured the 2011 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award from the N.C. Triangle Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar. The .6-mile long project that expanded the roadway and bridge from six to eight lanes will now be submitted for the international WTS competition.
Improving safety along Morganton Road was a primary purpose of the project, which involved replacing a 30-year old structurally deficient bridge, building three retaining walls and improving four intersections. There were 226 accidents and one fatality reported for the project area in the three years before the project began.
The road was closed at the interchange ramps for six months to expedite the bridge replacement process and save $640,000. The retaining walls enabled the project to stay within the existing right-of-way. The existing bridge columns and footings were reused, saving 12 cubic yards of concrete and 30,000 pounds of reinforcing steel. Project construction was completed under budget by 2.8 percent, saving $331,000.
Morganton Road is a congested area that connects two major retail areas and crosses over the All-American Freeway, the main entrance point onto Fort Bragg. These improvements benefit the more than 30,000 vehicles that travel the road daily, and this volume increases 15 percent during the holiday shopping season from Thanksgiving to mid-January.
Raleigh, NC—Mar. 14, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants announces General Hugh Shelton, former Joint Chiefs of Staff under both the Clinton and Bush administrations, has joined Mulkey as an Advisor to its Board of Directors. “I am thrilled the General has agreed to advise Mulkey’s Board of Directors. He epitomizes leadership success, high ethics, and a global knowledge that serves the board well as they plot the strategic direction and future markets for Mulkey,” stated Barbara Mulkey, founder and Chairman of the Board.
Edgecomb County native Shelton established the Shelton Leadership Initiative, which is administered through NC State University, in 2002 to teach the leadership skills that led to his own success to students, faculty, executives and community leaders. As Executive Director, this NC State University alum is committed to developing values-based leadership skills that enhance corporate, government, education, non-profit and youth development organizations.
The relationship between General Shelton and Mulkey began nearly eight years ago when the Mulkey/Shelton Leadership Award was created as part of the Shelton Leadership Initiative. To support the effort to provide leadership and ethical training as well as other educational opportunities for young people, the firm made a five year, $25,000 commitment to support the annual General H. Hugh Shelton National Leadership Forum held each November. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Feb. 17, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants founder and Chairman of the Board Barbara Hill Mulkey, PE, has been named a 2011 Legacy Leader by Triangle Business Journal.
This award honors individuals at least 50 years old who have had a powerful impact on their local communities and who have been instrumental in making the Triangle a great place to live, work and play. This is the second year Legacy Leaders have been selected. This year’s 10 winners were honored today at North Ridge Country Club.
Mulkey has been a leader and influencer in the Triangle for more than three decades. Her many awards include being a 2010 Inductee of the NC Transportation Hall of Fame, receiving a 2009 Extra Mile Award from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and being a 2009 recipient of a Trailblazer Award from Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She is also on the Board of Trustees at NC State University, her alma mater. (more…)
Raleigh, NC—Feb. 14, 2011— Former North Carolina Speaker of the House Joe Hackney nominated Jay Bissett, PE, principal and Carolinas transportation manager with Mulkey Engineers & Consultants, to serve on the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council (GICC) effective Jan. 1. “Being nominated to serve on the GICC is an honor,” Bissett said. “What an important role this is to help improve North Carolina’s geographic information.”
The North Carolina GICC develops policies regarding the use of geographic information, GIS and other related technologies. The GICC conducts strategic planning, resolves policy and technology issues, and provides coordination of State, local and private sector GIS efforts. The GICC is responsible for promoting geographic information as a strategic resource in the state in order to improve the quality, access, cost-effectiveness and usefulness of North Carolina’s geographic information.
Raleigh, NC—Feb. 9, 2011— Mulkey Engineers & Consultants announces that Amy Dean, SE, PE, PMP, LEED® AP has joined the firm in its Cary office where she will serve as the building structures group manager. In this role she will oversee daily department operations, handle project administration and participate in marketing efforts.
Dean previously worked as an in-house structural engineer in a local architectural firm. This experience allowed her to work side by side with architects and clients as project decisions were being made, giving her invaluable insight to all project perspectives.
“I’m thrilled that Amy has joined our firm. With education in both architecture and structural engineering as well as a project management professional certification, Amy brings a unique combination of skills that enable her to give new dimension to our building structures group,” said Valoree Eikinas, principal.
Dean earned her Master of Architecture, with Faculty Letter of Commendation, from Arizona State University in 1997. She received her B.S. in Civil Engineering, magna cum laude, from West Virginia University in 1994.
Raleigh, NC—Feb. 8, 2011— Valoree Eikinas, PE, LEED® AP, has been named to a two-year term as a board member of the Triangle Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Eikinas will serve as Board Liaison of the chapter’s advocacy committee, whose purpose is to work with local government and community leaders to support sustainable design practices in codes, policies and laws. In this capacity, she will interact with North Carolina legislators to strengthen the 2012 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code.
Established in 2004, the NC Triangle Chapter of the USGBC is a nonprofit 501c3 membership-based organization that promotes green building in the Triangle area and Eastern North Carolina through advocacy and education.
Eikinas is a professional engineer who puts sustainability and LEED principles into action. A principal and director of building structures and land development at Mulkey Engineers and Consultants, she has been involved with the LEED process for more than three million-square-feet of new construction and facility renovations. She has also successfully led Mulkey’s green initiative, bringing her environmental stewardship to the corporate level.
With over 22 professional and community affiliations, Eikinas’s volunteer service enables her to put her commitment to sustainability into vital community action. Senator Basnight appointed her to the State of North Carolina’s Building Commission in 2009. Eikinas is serving her second term of the Senator’s 2006 appointment to serve on the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board representing both Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC) and the American Council of Engineer of North Carolina (ACEC/NC). She serves as secretary/treasurer on the board of ACEC/NC and is active on the Paul ZiaLecture Committee at NC State University.
Eikinas received her B.S. in Architectural Engineering – Structures from The Pennsylvania State University in 1989 and her M.S. in Civil Engineering – Structures from Northeastern University in 1997.
Raleigh, NC—Dec. 15, 2010— Among 16 accomplished women business leaders in the Triangle community, Valoree Eikinas, PE, LEED® AP, was honored with Women Extraordinaire at a luncheon on Dec. 10 hosted by Business Leader Media and sponsored by First Citizens Bank and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The award honors women of outstanding accomplishment, a leader, an innovator, a problem-solver and an inspiration and mentor to others.
“To receive this award along with other extraordinary women is such an honor. Leading my team, helping clients solve problems and mentoring future engineers makes me feel accomplished. Being recognized for feeling accomplished? Well that’s a bonus,” said Eikinas.
Valoree was nominated by her peers at Mulkey Engineers & Consultants based on her strategic thinking and creativity, technical and analytical problem-solving skills and willingness to mentor future leaders and young professionals. She was selected from a record number of nominations to be honored.
This event marks Business Leader Magazine’s ninth annual Women Extraordinaire awards. Each recipient will be featured in the December issue of Business Leader magazine.
Raleigh, NC—Dec. 2, 2010— Three respected leaders have joined Mulkey Engineers & Consultants’ board of directors. Loren Sokolow, Teresa Helmlinger Ratcliff and William G. Marley, Jr. will provide a fresh perspective to Mulkey’s leadership. “We are happy to welcome these outstanding leaders to our board of directors. Each brings a unique perspective that, when combined with our talented professional staff, will enable us to apply today’s knowledge and expertise to tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Barbara Mulkey, Founder and Chairman of the Board.
Loren Sokolow, CFO and Treasurer of Los Angeles based Psomas, an employee-owned civil engineering and surveying company, has more than 20 years experience as a financial and operations executive. Sokolow will advise and direct Mulkey financially with his consistent record streamlining business operations and increasing profits. Loren is involved with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Design Firms Finance Officers Group (DFOG) and the National Contracts Management Association (NCMA). He was a semi-finalist for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “CFO of the Year” in 2007 and 2009.
Teresa Helmlinger Ratcliff, PhD, PE, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Extension and Engagement for North Carolina State University, is responsible for directing all facets of business in the nation’s first university engineering extension service. As Executive Director of the Industrial Extension Service (IES) at NC State, she leads the effort to offer technical and technology management assistance to businesses and industries across the state of North Carolina. Mulkey will benefit from her knowledge of current and up-to-date software and technology. A graduate of North Carolina State University and Duke University, Ratcliff is the only North Carolinian and only woman to have served as president of the National Society of Professional Engineers. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.
William (Bill) Marley, PE, PLS, has more than 42 years of civil engineering experience, specifically highway planning, design, construction, maintenance and management. Most recently, Marley served as VP/Area Manager of Parsons Incorporated in their Raleigh, N.C. office. Prior to that, Marley was the State Highway Administrator for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, where he retired from service after 31 years. Marley’s experience and knowledge will provide Mulkey with insight into transportation planning and design.