Troy, MI, December 19, 2019– Peter Basso Associates (PBA), is pleased to announce the following nine year-end staff promotions.
Promotions to Director
Celebrating a promotion to Director of Human Resources is Wendy Gregarek. Wendy has been an integral part of Peter Basso Associates, Inc., since 2000. Prior to her promotion as Director of Human Resources, as Human Resources Manager, Wendy excelled at performing strategic as well as tactical roles in providing HR expertise in staffing, employee relations, compensation, performance management and organizational development. In addition, Wendy is an active participant in workforce planning and staff development initiatives; aligning needs and priorities of PBA's four market sectors. Wendy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI and is Certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Human Resource Certification Institute.
Celebrating a promotion to Director of Office Services is Michelle Van Auker. Michelle has been with Peter Basso Associates since 2002. She began her career at PBA as Office Manager and has grown the department to strengthen how it supports staff engineers and their ongoing projects. She has shown versatility by supporting Accounting, HR, Marketing and was integral in supervising the office refresh project in 2016. Michelle is a graduate of Northwood University, Midland, MI and Oakland University, Rochester, MI with degrees in Executive Secretarial and General Studies, respectively.
Promotions to Project Leader
Mechanical engineer, Andrew Johnson has been promoted to Project Leader. Andrew first joined PBA as a co-op in 2016 in PBA’s Controls Design Group. Following his graduation from Oakland University, Rochester, MI Andrew joined the firm’s Higher Education Group, where he continues to apply his controls design experience to several projects the firm currently has in design. Andrew has played a key role in multiple PBA projects including, Western Michigan University’s, New Student Center and Dining Facility, Kalamazoo, MI and Wayne State University’s, Chatsworth Tower Apartments Renovation, Detroit, MI.
Rebecca Tritt is a mechanical engineer for PBA’s Corporate Office and Government Group (COG). Prior to her promotion to Project Leader, Becca’s engineering experience has included equipment selection and layout, heating and cooling load analyses, HVAC system design, and plumbing design. Becca joined PBA in 2014 as a co-op and in 2015 was hired as a full-time mechanical engineer for its COG group after receiving her Master of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI. In her five years at PBA, Becca has been involved in mechanical systems design for the renovation of existing buildings, with an emphasis on historic high-rise office buildings, and new athletic facilities. Notable projects have included Interlochen Center for the Arts, Music School Addition, Interlochen, MI and the University of Notre Dame, Basketball Practice Facility Renovation LEED Design, South Bend, IN.
Brandon Reynolds joined PBA as a co-op in 2014. Following graduation from Oakland University’s Electrical Engineering program, Brandon joined PBA as a full-time electrical engineer in 2016. Brandon has been integral in the continued success of PBA’s Higher Education Group and has provided electrical engineering design services for several noteworthy projects including Northern Michigan University’s, University Center Renovations, Marquette, MI and the University of Notre Dame, Basketball Practice Facility Renovation LEED Design, South Bend, IN. Brandon has also been developing proficiency in using engineering-related software such as AGi32, AutoCAD, Revit, and SKM.
Aaron Frantz, PE received his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI and in 2018 became a certified Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan. Aaron has played an integral role as a mechanical engineer in the COG Group since joining the firm in 2015. Notable projects have included Bedrock Detroit’s One Campus Martius Addition Core & Shell, Detroit, MI, GM Renaissance Center’s GM World Creation, Detroit, MI, Ford Motor Company’s, Wagner Place Mixed-Use Development LEED Design, Dearborn, MI and DTE Energy’s, Lumen Restaurant at Beacon Park, Detroit, MI.
Ken Fitzgerald, PE joined PBA in 2013 as a co-op for PBA’s COG Group. In 2016, Ken became a full-time mechanical engineer following his graduation from Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. In 2019 Ken moved from COG to PBA’s Higher Education Group. Since joining PBA, Ken has worked as a Project Leader, developing mechanical drawings in AutoCAD and Revit. He is also one of the first at PBA to work with 3D point clouds, utilizing scans to draft existing systems into a building by implementing software such as Autodesk ReCap and Navisworks. He is a member of the firm’s Tech Focus Group, conducting research on design tools, techniques and software for integration into PBA’s design process. Notable projects have included Elkhart Health, Fitness, Aquatic and Community Center, Elkhart, IN, University of Michigan, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Department of Dance Building Addition, Ann Arbor, MI and Macomb Community College, Building SK Renovation, Warren, MI.
Promotions to Associate
Gerard Hentrich started his career with PBA as a co-op in 2012, and transitioned into a full-time electrical designer in 2013. Gerard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Gerard has played a significant role on many of PBA’s higher education projects including, most notably, Oakland University’s new Hillcrest Hall Student Housing LEED Design, Rochester, MI and the University of Michigan’s, Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus Athletics South Competition and Performance Project, Ann Arbor, MI.
Electrical designer Sue Mitchell started her career in 2014 in PBA’s COG group. Sue studied electrical engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, and earned a Master of Science degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University, Rochester, MI. Sue has played an integral role on multiple design projects including the Croswell Opera House Renovation in Adrian, MI and the Wurlitzer Building Renovation and Adaptive Reuse for Hotel project in Detroit, MI.
More about Peter Basso Associates
Peter Basso Associates (PBA) excels at highly technical, challenging projects, and our in-depth knowledge of best practices extends across multiple markets. Recognized as a leader in mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering, PBA is at the forefront of application of new technology. We focus on cost-effective solutions that pay returns over the life of the facility, balancing performance with cost. In 2020, PBA will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the firm also has an office in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
