Paul Ginther Named as Leader of GIS
Department
Kansas City, Mo. (January 23, 2007) – With the increasing demand for
geographically related information and services, Black & Veatch, a leading
global engineering, consulting and construction company, is expanding its
geographic information systems (GIS) offering within its global water
business.
The geospatial industry has been recognized as having one of the greatest
potentials for impact on the economy, according to the U.S. Department of
Labor. More and more, GIS is having an impact on how the world does
business.
To lead Black & Veatch’s proactive approach in building on the
technology and its capability to meet the growing demand, the company has
promoted Paul Ginther to head of the GIS Department within its water
business.
In his new role, Ginther will work to expand the new GIS Department, which
uses computer hardware, software and geographic data to capture, manage,
analyze and display many forms of geographically referenced information for
water-related planning and strategy.
“Paul brings an abundance of experience on GIS projects for engineering,
pipeline, utilities, municipalities and government agencies,” said Keith
Pronske, Chief of Strategic Services, and responsible for several technical
services-related departments, including GIS. “We’re very privileged to have him
as part of our staff, and we feel he’ll do a terrific job as we expand our GIS
Department.”
Ginther joined Black & Veatch in May 2006 as the leader for the GIS
Implementation Team, which previously operated within the Infrastructure
Planning Department.
“We created a new GIS Department, outside of infrastructure planning, to
provide direct value for clients and professionals. Paul’s vast GIS knowledge
and
qualities as a leader will help us to strengthen our GIS offerings,
ultimately assisting the client to obtain world-class projects,” Pronske
said.
Initially, the GIS Department will focus on expanding the range of
geospatial services to better support internal and external clients. The
department also will focus on promoting a better understanding of the uses for
GIS-related solutions and strengthen the working relations within the regional
and global offices of Black & Veatch’s water business.
“GIS is all around us. People use it every day and many don’t realize it,”
Ginther said. “Eighty to 90 percent of a utility’s data is somehow tied to a
geographic location. This aspect allows users to query and analyze information
that may have no other relationship. GIS is becoming a key language of business
information.”
Ginther has more than 25 years of experience in project management,
consulting and implementation experience on GIS projects. He has two degrees in
geology, including a master’s degree from Washington State University and a
bachelor’s from the State University of New York at Albany.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction
company specializing in infrastructure development in energy,
water,telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental
markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure
solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions
are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black
& Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services,
engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset
management, program management, construction management, environmental,
security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure
planning. With more than $2 billion in revenue, the employee-owned company has
more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100
countries on six continents.
Black & Veatch’s global water business provides innovative,
technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide.
Local project teams work with multinational water and wastewater treatment
process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of
consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management
services. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.
Media Contact:
George Minter
913-458-8001
minterga@bv.com
24-hour Media Line:
1-866-496-9149
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