James W. Sewall News RSS feed

Sewall and other members of Offshore Wind Consortium meet with DOE Secretary Chu to discuss offshore wind energy in Maine

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:42:19 -0400

As a member of the Offshore Wind Consortium, Sewall presented work on geospatial data analysis for siting offshore wind to Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the University of Maine’s AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center, on June 14. Sewall CEO Dr. James Page and Director of Renewable Energy Services Patrick Graham, PE, attended the event, which was led by the University and included a tour of the Center. As part of the event, Dr. Page attended a closed luncheon with Secretary Chu, Senator Susan Collins, and Governor John Baldacci to discuss offshore wind prospects and policy.

Rockland County GIS Portal receives Geospatial Leadership Award

Fri, 07 May 2010 14:30:25 -0400

Rockland County, New York, recently received GeoWorld’s Geospatial Leadership Award in the Public Enterprise category for its GIS Portal. The Portal, based upon Sewall GeoPower™, is an innovative enterprise solution for the delivery of GIS mapping, applications, and associated information over the web.

The Public Enterprise Award recognizes a “government entity or nonprofit organization that has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve broad system buy-in and use by a large number of constituents.” Rockland County was selected as one of five finalists from an international pool of candidates nominated by GIS professionals and subscribers to GeoTec Media publications and online media, including GeoWorld Magazine, GeoReport e-newsletter, and GeoPlace.com. Final voting for the nominees—the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for the HAZUS Program; the Government of Mongolia, for the Mongolia National Land Information System; the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation and Public Works, AE&ES Division, for the Milwaukee County Interactive Mapping Service; OpenGeo, a Division of the Open Planning Project, for the OpenGeo Suite; and Rockland County, for the GIS Portal—was conducted online through GeoPlace.com.

The GIS Portal, developed by Sewall and implemented in October 2008, provides multiple users, including citizens, businesses, and local governments, with instant web access to a wide variety of geographic information and interactive map applications in a centralized geodatabase. With over 500,000 hits per month, an average of 3,000 unique visits, and over 4,000 megabytes of map downloads, the Portal has streamlined the County’s business processes and freed staff for the true mission of public service.

“Rockland County has made a commitment to provide an effective, user-friendly way for our constituencies to access valuable GIS-related resources,” says County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. “Our Portal meets that commitment by providing a gateway to these resources, while making County operations more efficient.”

County GIS Director Doug Schuetz agrees, “The Portal has truly changed the way we are able to make data available to the public and has moved us further toward the goal of becoming a more electronic government and digital county. We appreciate the support we have received from our Portal users and are grateful to those who voted for us to receive this award.”

Rockland County, the smallest county in New York State outside the boroughs of New York City, has a rich history, unparalleled parkland, growing economic opportunity and a diversity of population. The GIS Division of the Planning Department is the lead agency responsible for developing enterprise GIS to serve County agencies and the public at large.

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies.

To access the GIS Portal, please visit https://geopower.jws.com/rockland. For more information on Sewall GeoPower, please contact: J. Randall Cercopely, Solutions Manager, at 843 224 6953; randall.cercopely@sewall.com; or visit the Sewall web site at www.sewall.com

Sewall releases VirtualAsset Online for managing municipal assets

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:29:46 -0400

James W. Sewall Company announces today the release of VirtualAsset Online™, an innovative, software-as-a-service solution for managing municipal infrastructure assets. With VirtualAsset Online, municipal utilities and public works departments can access the complete suite of CartêGraph asset maintenance management software over the web for a fraction of the cost it takes to install, operate, and maintain the software and support systems inhouse. VirtualAsset Online, which interfaces with desktop or mobile devices, requires only a current version of the Windows operating system and an Internet Explorer connection, allowing organizations to take advantage of CartêGraph’s powerful toolset on a limited budget.

“VirtualAsset Online,” says Clarence Young, Sewall Senior Project Manager, “extends the power of Sewall’s web-enabled interfaces by providing a standard way for delivering integrated ESRI GIS and Cartegraph asset management software. For customers looking to reduce IT costs associated with asset record maintenance, the services delivered with this solution will provide dramatic returns on the small annual fee.”

Developed in partnership with CartêGraph, VirtualAsset Online joins web, desktop, and mobile technologies in a flexible environment in which solutions are tailored to best fit the needs of the client organization. Although the standard package is designed to support organizations with eight or fewer simultaneous users, the concept is scalable to larger user groups by introducing a Citrix server or similar delivery component.

Sewall is demonstrating VirtualAsset Online this week at the Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference in Phoenix (Booth #624) and at the Sustainable Tribal Utility Summit in Hollywood, Florida. For additional information, please contact Clarence A. Young, Senior Project Manager, at 800 648 4202; cyoung@sewall.com; and visit our web site at www.sewall.com

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 130 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies.

CartêGraph develops and markets powerful, easy-to-use asset management software solutions to public and private organizations. CartêGraph software, a suite of advanced analysis and reporting tools for work flow and asset management, plus GIS integration and developer tools, is proven effective in reducing the costs and increasing the value realized in infrastructure assets for thousands of communities nationwide. For more information, contact: Teri Fairchild, Vice President of Marketing, at 800 688 2656; terifairchild@cartegraph.com; and visit the web site at www.cartegraph.com

By air and ground. Aerial mapping to maximize profits on wind farm projects

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:53:46 -0500

As the demand for renewable energy increases worldwide, wind energy companies are challenged to develop clean, reliable sources of wind power with maximum profitability. Developers recognize the enormous opportunity that exists in the northeastern United States, particularly in the state of Maine, which leads New England in new wind farm construction. Maine’s mountains offer abundant wind resources, proximity to transmission lines, and low population density. Read more

Steward for success. Old Town's Jim Page is driven to succeed

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:47:12 -0500

Old Town's Jim Page is driven to succeed. For the past 13 years, the unassuming leader has rolled up his sleeves and gotten down to business, guiding his famiy's company beyond the Maine border. Read more

Old Town firm to design trails in Millinocket

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:34 -0500

An Old Town company will design and oversee the creation of a $625,000 walking and biking trail along Millinocket Stream slated for completion by November. Read more

Local businesses welcome broadband boost

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:32:49 -0500

Today's announcement of $25.4 million in federal money to expand Maine's high-speed Internet network comes as good news to many in the Bangor region, including the James W. Sewall Co. of Old Town.

The 129-year-old engineering and mapping company was selected earlier this year by the state to map broadband service and availability throughout Maine, in anticipation of federal funds that should be arriving in the next couple of days, according to Clarence Young, a business development manager with the engineering and geospatial consulting firm. Read more

Sewall releases new user interface for GeoPower portal

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:28:28 -0500

National GIS firm James W. Sewall Company announces today the release of a new user interface for GeoPower™, Sewall’s innovative enterprise solution for the delivery of GIS mapping, applications, and associated information over the web.

The new interface, developed jointly by Sewall and multimedia design firm Apt Media, dramatically improves the navigability and visual appeal of the GeoPower portal. GeoPower, based on ESRI server technology, provides multiple users with instant web access to geospatial data and applications in a centralized geodatabase. Currently implemented in five client organizations, GeoPower is streamlining the management and delivery of geospatial data across these enterprises and to the public.

“Sewall’s goal for GeoPower,” says Gary E. Mullaney, Sewall Director of Systems Engineering, “is to enable our clients to reach many different audiences with high-quality spatial information in a form that is appropriate and accessible to each. The new user interface advances this goal by incorporating intuitive ease-of-use into the highest standards of graphic design for modern web applications.”

To view a demonstration of the new GeoPower interface, visit: https://geopower.jws.com/demo/

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies. For more information on Sewall GeoPower, please register for a GeoPower webinar at: www.sewall.com/invitations/sewall_geopower_webinar.htm; or contact: J. Randall Cercopely, Solutions Manager, at 843 224 6953; randall.cercopely@sewall.com

Apt Media is an interactive design firm specializing in web sites and application interfaces. Founded in 1988, the company has a diverse national client base from the commercial, nonprofit, and NGO sectors. For more information, contact: Kim Bieler at 301 588 8555; and visit the web site at www.aptmediainc.com

Mapping Maine cancers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:09:30 -0500

Maine's predominantly rural population of 1.3 million has the distinction of having the oldest median age in the United States, as well as the more dubious distinction of having one of the highest age-adjusted incidence rates for all cancers in the country. Indeed, since 2000, Maine has consistently ranked among the top three states in cancer incidence for all anatomical sites and for persons of all ages, races and genders (National Program of Cancer Registries, 2009 #92). Figure 1 shows the incidence rates for 15 common cancers mapped against Maine's 16 counties, showing that Maine's age-adjusted cancer incidence rates are significantly different from the confidence intervals in the U.S. overall. Read more

Governor Baldacci announces creation of statewide map to support broadband development

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:59:44 -0400

(Augusta, Maine—13 October 2009) Governor John Baldacci today announced the launch of a project to create the first comprehensive geographic inventory of high-speed Internet services statewide for use in identifying unserved and underserved areas and in planning expansion throughout the State. The project will lay the foundation for administering future State public- and private-sector grants for broadband, creating unprecedented opportunities for broadband service providers (SPs), the business community, public institutions, and the citizens of Maine. The Governor has tasked the ConnectME Authority to direct the project.

"My Administration and the Maine State Legislature recognize the importance of making broadband services available throughout our entire State," said Governor Baldacci. "Future economic opportunities depend on our ability to have these services affordable and available to all residents of Maine. While many providers have made great strides in
most parts of the State, we must seek ways to encourage development in all of our unserved areas."

Following a nationwide search, the ConnectME Authority has awarded James W. Sewall Company of Old Town, Maine, a three-year contract to map broadband service and availability for the entire state. The project, funded in part by the Authority and eligible to receive $2.6 million in federal stimulus funding under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) State Broadband Grant Program, will extend over three years, with the majority of the mapping to be completed in the first half of 2010.

Sewall will bring an innovative sustainable systems approach to the inventory process, integrating service provider (SP) address data and the State’s E911 roads data into a State broadband map and geodatabase that can be maintained over time without large additional investment. Once implemented and hosted online, the system will provide a broad user community with web-based access to information and search tools, enabling government officials to identify critical unserved and underserved areas for funding, SPs to determine optimal locations for placing resources, and private citizens to locate SPs in their area.

“The ConnectME Authority views this initiative as a significant step forward in meeting our goal to expand broadband access throughout the entire state, and especially in the most rural, unserved areas of Maine,” says Jean Wilson, Chair of the Authority. “Sewall is the logical choice to be our consultant. Sewall understands the broadband challenges the State faces, has the technical abilities needed to meet our requirements, and shares our commitment to advancing broadband as a strategic pillar of economic development. We look forward to working with Governor Baldacci’s office, with Sewall, and with other members of the broadband coalition to advance broadband for all Maine’s stakeholders.”

The ConnectME Authority was established by the State of Maine legislature to stimulate investment in advanced communications technology infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas of the State so as to enhance economic development, healthcare, education, tourism, public health and safety, and government efficiency. ConnectME’s current mapping project brings together a coalition of organizations with a wide breadth of broadband and mapping experience, including the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Office of GIS, the Broadband Strategy Council, and Sewall. For more information, visit the web site at www.maine.gov/connectme.

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company’s diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. For more information on the Maine broadband mapping project, please contact: Lisa Schoonmaker, Communications Director, at 207-827-4456; schl@sewall.com; and visit the web site at www.sewall.com.

Delegation aims to advance wind energy

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:43:13 -0400

(Portland, Maine--21 September 2009) In an unusual move, firms that want to do business in Europe focus on an industry, not a locale.

The itinerary is packed for Maine participants in a renewable energy trade mission to Spain and Germany this week.

Briefings, a wind energy trade show, a tour of a turbine manufacturer, networking receptions and matchmaking sessions with possible business partners are all part of the trip organized by the Maine International Trade Center. More

Sewall launches ASGPipelineTM Generation 3.0 at GITA Oil & Gas

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:55:43 -0400

James W. Sewall Company is pleased to announce the launch of ASGPipeline^TM Generation 3.0, the newest version of Sewall's industry-standard pipeline alignment generation software. Generation 3.0, to be commercially released in late 2009, introduces ASGPipeline^TM Designer, an innovative graphical interface for fast, intuitive pipeline sheet layout and definition.

ASGPipeline Generation 3.0 maintains the best features of ASGPipeline^TM, including (1) compatibility with major GIS and asset management systems; (2) advanced white-space management, which eliminates manual editing and allows custom reporting; and (3) sheet generation in industry-standard formats.

The ASGPipeline Designer module introduces a design "canvas" and forms to streamline the sheet design and generation process. The canvas provides desktop tools and templates that assist the user in visualizing the layout of the alignment sheet. Pre-defined menus and lists enable the user to configure data origins and connections to the data source without requiring complex coding. Use of the new module reduces the time required to develop an alignment sheet layout by up to 75 percent.

The updated solution, compatible to older versions, includes a set of migration tools that read existing layout (.ini) files and saves the results into the new format. This functionality allows the user to maintain existing alignment sheet layouts, including multiple parallel lines, tabular data, and design insets. Leveraging the power of the new module, the user reduces the time required to update existing designs.

Sewall is demonstrating ASGPipeline Generation 3.0 this week at GITA's Oil & Gas Conference in Houston, Texas (Booth #214).

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software, including integrity management solutions to the pipeline industry.

For information on ASGPipeline Generation 3.0 and on Sewall's full suite of integrity management software, please visit the Sewall booth at GITA Oil & Gas Conference (#214); contact: Clarence Young, Senior Project Manager, at 207 827 4456; cyoung@sewall.com; and visit the web site at www.sewall.com/pipeline.

Sewall launches new webinar series on geospatial solutions

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:20:48 -0400

James W. Sewall Company is pleased to announce the launch of Sewall Webinars, a series of interactive web-based seminars on geospatial solutions for government, utilities, and the natural resource industry.

The first scheduled webinar is GeoPower^TM for Municipalities: Online Technology for Shared Services & Cost Savings. Presenter Gary Mullaney, Sewall Director of Systems Engineering, will introduce the GeoPower portal, a web-based system that provides municipal mapping, data maintenance and applications across government departments and into the private sector. Municipalities using GeoPower have reported that instant web access to parcel data, related information layers, and applications streamlines business processes, reduces overhead, and frees staff for the true mission of public service. Importantly, the public can obtain the same information on-line, improving their access to services.

The webinar, scheduled bimonthly during August, September, and October, includes a discussion of these features and benefits, a live demo, and an interactive question-answer period.

Webinars on the use of GeoPower and other applications for renewable energy and utilities will be added to the series in the coming months. For more information on Sewall Webinars and to register online, please visit: www.sewall.com/webinars; or contact Dana Wiser, Inside Sales Coordinator/Analyst at 800 648 4202; Email: dana.wiser@sewall.com

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies.

Mapping cancer. Old Town company, genetics institute team up to chart the landscape of endemic disease

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:41:00 -0400

Bangor, Maine--August 1 (Bangor Daily News). What is the relationship between Maine's lung cancer cases and the location of the state's craggy granite outcroppings? Why is the incidence of melanoma - a life-threatening cancer of the skin linked to prolonged exposure to sunlight - not highest along the lobster coast, as public health experts might predict, but rather in-land, in the forested foothills of Maine's western mountains? Is there a connection between rates of breast and prostate cancers and the hormone-disrupting properties of arsenic found in natural deposits - as well as in industrial spills and dumps - around the state? Read more

Dewberry and Sewall form partnership to provide expanded services

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:31 -0400

(Fairfax, VA--10 July 2009) Dewberry and James W. Sewall Company have formed a partnership to offer expanded services to their clients in government and industry. Under the teaming arrangement, Dewberry is integrating its broad GIS and mapping technology capabilities with Sewall's expertise in renewable energy, forestry, and natural resources consulting.

The two firms are now teamed on multiple contract opportunities, to include Dewberry's recent selection by the U.S. Geological Survey for its Geospatial Products and Services Contract (GPSCII).

During the upcoming ESRI International User Conference, Dewberry and Sewall will jointly present the firms' capabilities at booth #415. Dewberry will host Patrick Graham, PE, Sewall's Renewable Energy Group Leader, at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. Graham will be available to expand on his presentations on applying GIS to wind project development and to the Maine BioGeoBank, an integrated system for genetic and environmental cancer research.

About Dewberry
Dewberry is a 2,000-person professional services firm, specializing in management and consulting services, infrastructure engineering services, and architectural and building engineering services.

Established in 1956, the firm has more than 40 locations nationwide, with headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The firm's geospatial and program integration service area performs photogrammetry, LiDAR, GIS, and quality assurance and control tasks, and specializes in program management and quality assurance of major geospatial programs for federal, state, and local clients nationwide. For more information, visit www.dewberry.com.

About Sewall
Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. Sewall offerings have expanded in recent years to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies. For more information, contact Lisa Schoonmaker, Communications Director, at 207 827 4456; Email: schl@sewall.com

Sewall monitors five impaired urban streams

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:20:09 -0400

(Old Town, Maine-17 June 2009) The City of Bangor last week launched a two-year project to monitor the flow of five local streams defined as impaired by the Maine DEP-Penjajawoc Stream, Birch Stream, Arctic Brook, Capehart Brook and Shaw Brook. The project, part of Bangor's long-term initiative to improve water quality, is a critical first step to controlling stream contamination from stormwater runoff.

To assist the City, environmental engineers at James W. Sewall Company are now tracking both continuous instream flow (velocity and volume) and precipitation levels to determine the amount of stormwater runoff that impacts stream flow. Depth and precipitation monitors, permanently deployed in the five streams at ten data collection stations, record information at 15-minute intervals, which Sewall downloads and evaluates monthly. Once correlated with data on water quality, including such stressors as chloride, dissolved oxygen, stream temperature and nutrients, this information will provide the basis for modeling water quality and developing best management practices (BMPs) for water quality control.

Sewall Senior Environmental Scientist, Chester Bigelow, PWS, explains, "Runoff from paved roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces carries heat and pollutants into streams, such as road salt, nutrients from fertilizer, oil and grease, and organic material. In an urban environment these all work together to impact water chemistry and the health of the aquatic community. If we know how much flow is coming off of the land surface and can tie this information to water quality data, we can determine ways to reduce high stream flows, to restore and maintain the balance of the system, and to moderate the impact of pollutants on our streams. These practices will become part of Bangor's larger watershed management plan to improve water quality to Maine DEP standards over the long term."

According to Wendy Warren, City of Bangor Environmental Coordinator, "This project is a result of a huge amount of citizen support of the need for more water quality information. The data collected through this program will enable the City and facilities located in watersheds of impaired streams to develop more accurate models for making better decisions as to the sizing and efficiency of certain stormwater treatment systems. The anticipated result will be a win-win situation for facilities and the environment. Accurate modeling will assist facility managers in implementing the most cost-effective systems, and stormwater discharges will receive the treatment necessary to improve the water quality of receiving streams. We are very excited to receive the funding from the Maine DEP, Maine Municipal Bond Bank and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that allows us to collect this information for all five of the City's impaired streams over the next two years."

Founded in 1880, Sewall provides integrated solutions in geospatial, engineering and natural resource consulting to government and industry. Sewall environmental engineers specialize in environmental assessment, wetland delineation and functional assessment, spill response and damage assessment, field collection and statistical analysis of chemical and biological data, and state and federal environmental permitting. For information, contact: Chester Bigelow, PWS, at 207 827-4456; Email: mailto:chet.bigelow@sewall.com

Joseph H. Osborne joins Sewall as Utilities Solutions Manager

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:38:22 -0400

James W. Sewall Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph H. Osborne as Utilities Solutions Manager. A consultative sales professional, Mr. Osborne brings twenty years of experience in GIS and related technology solutions for government and the utilities industry. At Sewall, he will play a strategic role in expanding the firm's traditional client base in utilities, including gas and electric distribution/transmission, water/wastewater and telecommunications.

Mr. Osborne has a career record of accomplishment in strategic account management and sales. As Vice President of Geospatial Solutions Sales at Rolta International, Mr. Osborne guided company business development, directed sales staff, and managed client accounts for major gas and electric utilities, leading sales to record growth in revenues. As Regional Sales Manager at Bentley Systems, Inc., he directed sales efforts with channel partners and managed strategic accounts, playing a key role in developing technology and infrastructure solutions for public and privately owned utilities. He was recognized for selling the largest utility solution in Bentley's history with the top sales award for a worldwide team. As Sales and Marketing Director at Digital Resources Group, he managed sales staff in multiple offices, coordinated record-setting sales activities, and established GSA schedule procurement processes that increased government sales by 112 percent. In addition, as Partner for CADD Specialists Corp., now MS-CAD, he was responsible for driving corporate sales efforts, overseeing operations, forecasting and budgets, and negotiating contracts.

Sewall VP of Marketing & Sales Wayne Hampel, says, "We are pleased that we were able to attract Mr. Osborne to our team at Sewall. He brings a keen understanding of client needs and business challenges and an innate ability to resolve complex issues through the application of available technology. These qualities will be invaluable to our clients going forward."

Mr. Osborne says, "I am pleased and proud to become a member of the Sewall Team. The professionalism and enthusiasm expressed by the team have been genuinely refreshing. I look forward to being a part of their ongoing success."

Mr. Osborne has a BS in business administration and computer science from Minnesota State University and is currently pursuing his MBA. He is a member of the American Management Association (AMA), American Public Works Association (APWA), Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
Mr. Osborne also served in the US Air Force in Vietnam and received a Presidential Unit Citation for Strategic Air Command Global Shield. In recent years, he has been awarded for his service to Habitat for Humanity.

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include services in environmental engineering, renewable energy, and web-based technologies. For more information, contact: Lisa Schoonmaker, Communications Director, at schl@sewall.com

Sewall announces strategic hires in Forestry and Natural Resources

Thu, 21 May 2009 11:48:50 -0400

James W. Sewall Company is pleased to announce the hiring of John Kaufman, Mark Leathers, and Scott Twillman to the company's Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) Consulting Group. The hiring of these staff supports Sewall's strategy to serve a growing global market for natural resource analysis and consulting services.

John Kaufman joins the firm as Forest Resource Economist to provide Sewall clients with a range of financial and econometric applications. With a Master's in Forestry from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, he brings experience in financial analysis of silvicultural treatments, forecasting timber sales, analyzing timber inventories, conducting forest economics research, and teaching. Mr. Kaufman will be evaluating forestland investment opportunities, forecasting timber and non-timber revenues, conducting wood supply/demand studies, and providing a wide range of natural resource economics services. He will also be editing Sewall's quarterly newsletter, Timberlands. Mr. Kaufman's special interests in natural resource policy, private investment in the environment, and environmental science will support Sewall's expanded offerings in ecosystem services.

Mark Leathers, a licensed professional forester and wood scaler in Maine and registered Maine guide, is now Business Manager/Resource Analyst of Sewall's FNR Group. He comes with 14 years of forest industry experience in Maine and Wisconsin, where he managed harvest, road building, and silvicultural activities, administered multi-million dollar budgets, and supervised wood flows for large real estate and timberland investment management organizations, including Plum Creek Timber Company and Wagner Forest Management. In various roles as operations forester, resource supervisor, and consulting forester, Mr. Leathers has negotiated harvest, trucking, and road construction contracts; and developed collaborative relationships with State regulatory agencies. In addition to overseeing FNR operations, he manages lands for forestland owners who promote sustainability, biodiversity, education, and public recreation. He has a Master's in Forestry from the University of Maine.

Scott Twillman joins the FNR Group as Resource Analyst, working out of the company's North Carolina office. He comes to Sewall with 9 years' industry experience in timberland appraisal, due diligence consulting, and timber sale analysis. While working for Plum Creek, Forest2Market, and TerraSource Valuation, Mr. Twillman produced timberland appraisals; conducted raw material cost analyses, resource assessments, and timber inventories; and compiled and managed mill production and consumption databases. He has specialized expertise in silviculture, growth and yield, and economics behind the major species. At Sewall, he provides fee appraisals, due diligence services, and resource analysis. Mr. Twillman focuses on investment-grade pine and hardwood investments throughout the eastern US.

According to Dr. Bret Vicary, Sewall's Vice President of FNR, "We are very fortunate to be adding to our staff at a time when many firms are barely holding their own or declining. John, Mark, and Scott have all hit the ground running, and they all have unique skills. They play important roles in helping Sewall deliver interdisciplinary solutions to an expanding customer base and across increasingly diverse geographies. It is a privilege to be surrounded by such great people."

The oldest forestry consulting firm in the US, Sewall consultants have appraised over 100 million acres of natural resources and provided independent third-party due diligence in many major transactions in North America, including the largest private timberland sale in US history. Sewall's traditional client base in the continental US and Canada began expanding into offshore markets 10 years ago. The FNR Group now serves clients in Hawaii, South and Central America, Australasia, and Europe. For more information, please contact Dr. Bret Vicary, MAI, CGA, LPF, at (207) 827-4456; bret@sewall.com.

Sewall and Reed & Reed deliver wind projects on difficult terrain

Mon, 04 May 2009 17:28:59 -0400

James W. Sewall Company and Reed & Reed are helping develop wind energy projects on some of the toughest terrain in the eastern US-the mountains of Maine. Under contract to wind developer First Wind, Sewall and Reed & Reed have teamed to deliver the largest operating commercial-scale wind farm in New England, the $100 million, 57-megawatt wind farm on Stetson Mountain. Sewall and Reed & Reed previously worked together on the $55 million, 42-megawatt wind farm on Mars Hill, the first commercial-scale wind farm in Maine. A third project, TransCanada's $320 million, 132-megawatt project on Kibby Mountain, is under way and slated for completion in October 2010.

Built on mountain ridgelines up to 3,650 feet in elevation, with variances in elevation of over 1,000 feet, all three projects have presented unique design and construction challenges, including building access roads for transporting 120,000-pound turbines and 440-ton cranes with 300 feet of boom. Steep terrain, rocky soil, wetlands, and extremes of weather have added complexity to the development effort. The resulting product is nevertheless elegant in its simplicity-230 megawatts of clean, renewable energy that will power up to 100,000 homes on an annual basis. Currently, the Mars Hill and Stetson Mountain wind farms produce enough clean energy to power approximately 43,500 homes.

Sewall, headquartered in Old Town, Maine, has provided civil site design and permitting services for all three projects, and aerial mapping and surveying for two of them. The company is also engaged in seven additional wind projects in Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia, providing civil site design, permitting, aerial mapping and surveying, and siting analysis support using GIS and web-based technologies.

Reed & Reed, located in Woolwich, Maine, is the EPC contractor on the Mars Hill, Stetson, and Kibby projects, providing excavation and construction of the foundations and installation of towers and electrical collector systems. Reed & Reed also built the 4.5-megawatt Beaver Ridge wind farm in Maine, now in operation. Currently the two firms are working together in the pre-construction phase of other planned wind projects in New England.

Sewall and Reed & Reed will be showcasing their wind energy solutions at Windpower 2009, the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference and exhibition in Chicago, Illinois, May 4-7. Reed & Reed is also sponsoring a hospitality suite with Sewall as co-host.

Founded in 1880, Sewall is an integrated team of geospatial, engineering and natural resource consultants who partner with clients to create practical, sustainable solutions. The company's diverse portfolio is based on 100 years' experience in surveying, forestry consulting, and civil engineering; 60 years' in aerial mapping; and 20 years' in geospatial systems and software. In the last 10 years, Sewall's offerings have expanded to include traffic, environmental and structural engineering and web-based GIS and portal technologies.

Founded in 1928, Reed & Reed performs a wide range of construction services for both public and private clients. From complex cable-stayed bridges to industrial facilities, marine terminals to wind farms, commercial and institutional buildings to pile driving, parking garages to environmental remediation, Reed & Reed has a proven track record of superior performance.

For more information, please visit the Sewall booth at Windpower 2009 (#5574); contact: Patrick Graham, PE, Director of Project Development, at 207 827 4456; patrick.graham@sewall.com; and visit the web site at www.sewall.com

Also please visit the Reed & Reed booth at Windpower (#4785), contact: Patrick DeFilipp, PE, Senior Project Manager, at 207 443 9747; and visit the web site at www.reed-reed.com

Remsoft launches Consulting Partner Program

Mon, 04 May 2009 09:54:21 -0400

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick (http://www.remsoft.com/) - May 4, 2009 - One of the world's leading forest management software companies, today launched a new program for Remsoft clients who provide consulting services to users world-wide.

The program, which is available to only the most skilled and well respected firms that offer a range of services and competencies around Remsoft products, gives consultants access to exclusive training, business and technical resources that will improve the services they deliver. The addition of the partners program also means that Remsoft clients can be confident in choosing a consultant who is highly experienced and can offer a superior level of service.

"This is something our consultant clientele have been asking for," says Greg Singleton, Business Development, of Remsoft, "It is a big differentiator in our industry. These consultants are leaders in solving complex planning problems. Adding our endorsement through the partner program provides added credibility to these forward thinking consultants."

This new program provides the foundation for Remsoft Consulting Partners to attract, enable and support key clients who understand the importance of using the best technology and people available to address a myriad of complex planning issues in a transparent and defendable manner.

In addition to announcing the launch of the new program, Remsoft is pleased to welcome the inaugural members to the Consulting Partner program, American Forest Management , BR Walker, Cortex Consultants, FORSight Resources, LandMark Systems, Mason, Bruce & Girard, Pöyry Forest Industry, Sewall, Timberland Appraisal Inc., and Timberline Natural Resource Group.

"We are delighted to welcome these companies into the program" says Andrea Feunekes, co-CEO of Remsoft, "We have worked closely with all of them for a number of years and know that they have some of the most skilled analysts in the industry. We are confident that they hold the same high standards and customer focus that we do, and will deliver superior service."

For more information on Remsoft Consulting Partners, please visit http://www.remsoft.com/