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At SEH, our strength comes from employee-owners who consistently go above and beyond – demonstrating dedication, creativity, and collaboration in their everyday work.
Each quarter, our employee-led Act of Excellence (AOE) Committee reviews nominations from peers and selects honorees in three categories: Accomplishment/Innovation, Character, and Teamwork. These individuals reflect SEH’s core values and contribute to the culture that makes our workplace thrive.
Please join us in recognizing our Spring 2025 AOE award recipients: Mark Sherril, Jake Jorgenson, Derek Hetland, Simon McCormack, Matt Nguyen, and Thad Webb. Read on to see how each employee-owner is making a lasting impact at SEH.
Accomplishment/Innovation
Mark Sherril, Professional Geologist*
Environmental Engineers and Scientists
The Act: A client asked SEH to convert a large Excel dataset with more than 3,600 records into an interactive GIS web map. The goal was to digitize location data, link internal reports, and create a user-friendly platform for accessing historical information. Previously, the information lived in spreadsheets with limited functionality, requiring manual cross-referencing across multiple systems.
When automation attempts failed, SEH estimated that manually digitizing and linking the data would take over 1,000 hours. Instead, Mark developed and implemented advanced scripts that automated the location digitization and report linking – significantly reducing time and cost.
With core functionality complete, the team is running data quality checks and adding enhancements. They are already delivering several advanced features originally planned, turning long-term capabilities into practical tools employees can use today.
Character
Chris Clark, Professional Engineer*
Civil Engineering
The Act: Jake led a University of St. Thomas civil engineering student capstone project focused on reconstructing the main runway at Mora Municipal Airport. The project involved replacing runway lighting and designing a precision approach path indicator lighting system.
Over two semesters, Jake guided the students through research, technical learning, design reviews, team collaboration, and the development of their final presentation. He shared his passion for engineering, aviation infrastructure, and SEH’s work, mentoring students on design criteria, environmental considerations, AutoCAD, and airfield lighting systems.
His dedication played a key role in the project’s success and reflects SEH’s commitment to supporting future engineers. Through his volunteer efforts and enthusiasm for the industry, Jake left a lasting impression on the students – building meaningful connections with the next generation of civil engineering professionals while showcasing SEH’s values in action.
Teamwork
Top L-R: Derek Hetland, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering and Simon McCormack, Professional Engineer*, Water Engineering
Bottom L-R: Matt Nguyen, Professional Engineer*, Water Engineering and Thad Webb, Professional Engineer*, Wastewater Engineering
The Act: When a large-scale disruption caused a complete loss of water service for several days, the client asked SEH to conduct a third-party assessment. The project included a root cause analysis to identify the factors that led to the system failure, as well as a comprehensive needs assessment of the local water treatment and distribution systems. SEH documented system assets and conditions then recommended improvements, replacements, and redesigns to enhance overall reliability and resiliency.
A dedicated SEH team delivered more than 1,500 engineering hours in just 60 days to meet tight deadlines. Thad, Simon, Derek, and Matt led the effort, reviewing thousands of records, conducting root cause analysis, and documenting facility conditions. Together, they contributed nearly half of the total engineering hours and collaborated with the broader team to produce a comprehensive report detailing findings and recommendations.
The team submitted the final report in April 2025 and released it publicly a few weeks later. During the public announcement, the client recognized the contributions of Thad, Simon, Derek, Matt, and the full SEH team – highlighting the impact of their collaboration and expertise.
*Professional Licensure:
Mark Sherrill is a professional geologist registered in MN and WI
Jake Jorgenson is a professional engineer registered in MN and TX
Simon McCormack is a professional engineer registered in MN
Matt Nguyen is a professional engineer registered in FL, MN, VA, and WI
Thad Webb is a professional engineer registered in VA
Join our team
Inspired by employee-owners like Mark, Jake, Derek, Simon, Matt, and Thad? Image the impact you could make here. Explore our culture and discover current career opportunities.