The Region
Known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda is an East African nation of 13.4 million people approximately the size of Massachusetts. Multiple flights and a four-hour drive heading northwest from the capital city of Kigali will bring you to the municipality of Nyabihu – and the site of the Kavumbu Trailbridge.
Nearly 4,000 people reside in the communities of Rutazigurwa, Sukiro, Kiraza-Murambi and Nyragokokora in the locality of Kavumbu. Primarily farmers who cultivate crops including tea, corn and potatoes, these community members must cross the Nyamukongoro River to sell their goods at local markets as well as access schools and medical centers. The river becomes dangerous during the rainy season and is often impassable for weeks at a time, cutting off access to critical resources. Attempts to cross the river during flooding have led to three deaths in the last three years alone. A bridge over the Nyamukongoro River will serve the surrounding communities by providing safe, year-round access to education, food and health care.
The Project
Our eight-person team traveled to Rwanda to partner with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) on the construction of the Kavumbu Trailbridge to serve the needs of these communities. The trip was our company’s first build in Africa, further expanding our ability to Make a Difference for those in need both at home and abroad.
The team arrived in Rwanda ready to work, diving right in with surveying and anchoring cables. Despite some rainy days during their first week on the ground, the team cut and bent rebar hangers, backfilled the abutments with large rocks and launched the decking crossbeams. They also painted the tower supports blue, yellow and green – the colors of the Rwandan flag. They made significant progress during the second week, installing decking panels and fencing, tensioning cables and constructing retaining walls in partnership with B2P engineers and local volunteers.
The team also forged strong relationships with local community members, many of whom visited the construction site to watch the team at work. The team visited a nearby school to drop off supplies and spent the morning playing football and soccer and jumping rope with local children.
Our Impact
Once the team had put the finishing touches on the Kavumbu Trailbridge, it was time to celebrate. Community members of all ages attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the bridge. Our team had the opportunity to watch residents cross the bridge for the first time and celebrate alongside them.
After two weeks of hard work, collaboration and lifelong memories, our team returned home knowing that the Kavumbu Trailbridge will serve these communities for many years to come.
Mohamed Bagha is a civil and water resources engineer who serves as Michael Baker’s Southern Regional Practice Lead – Water. A seasoned project manager, he has 22 years of experience in surface water management, numerical modeling and drainage design. Mohamed has worked on and led flood hazard modeling and mapping initiatives at the national and regional levels, has expertise with hazard mitigation applications and is proficient in the use of GIS applications in the water resources domain. He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager and certified Project Management Professional.
Mohamed was born and raised in Kenya. Because of this, he cares deeply for projects that improve safety, access to water and sanitation in East Africa. Mohamed lives with his wife and three children in West Houston, Texas.
Why is it important to be a part of an organization like Michael Baker that has programs like this available to employees?
Giving back to the profession by volunteering to help underserved communities is something many people want to do. The fact that Michael Baker encourages this and commits to sending folks across the world to build a bridge means that Michael Baker supports the cause. Working for a firm like this gives me a lot of pride and a sense of belonging.
Katie is a Mechanical Engineer – Oil & Gas in Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office. Her focus for the last 14 years has been the design of mechanical piping systems, primarily for oil and gas clients, and her focus at Michael Baker is the design of cross-country pipelines. Katie has served as project manager, technical staff and client representative on repair projects and enjoys the variety her clients provide.
Born and raised in Alaska, Katie is always excited to see her work go from a challenge her client is experiencing, to a solution on a page, to a structure in real life. Katie’s avocation is the promotion of STEM in young people – especially young women – and she participates in local and international service through her involvement with Rotary. She is thrilled to be able to merge her passion for community service with her professional life with the construction of the Kavumbu bridge. Outside of work, she has two “children” (a dog and a cat) and enjoys hiking, quilting and reading.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
I was sitting by the lunch tent cutting short spans of wire for the fencing, when a woman old enough to have earned some wrinkles walked along the path outside of the build site. She paused and looked at me, so I waved (wire cutters in hand). She mouthed “murakoze” (thank you), nodded and moved on. This simple gesture reminded me that our work would be appreciated.
Justin Miller serves as a Mobility Project Manager within the Urban Design Studio in Michael Baker’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office. He has extensive experience working with communities on planning, design and mobility projects and has presented on transportation, land use and planning policy at national conferences. Before joining Michael Baker, Justin served as Principal Transportation Planner for the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure (DOMI).
Justin has a passion for travel and has visited nearly 50 countries. He loves a good challenge and believes in giving back wherever he can. The inspiring story of the people of Rwanda and their journey toward peace and reconciliation compelled Justin to contribute his skills for this B2P project. In his free time, he is an avid collector of records and enjoys traveling.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
People in rural Rwanda largely live in basic conditions and must share resources with the broader community to survive. The culture of “everyone pitches in” made working with community members a breeze. Everyone did their best to get the job done, often with strength and endurance that was very humbling to our group of Americans.
Matt Gray serves as an electrical engineering technical manager in Michael Baker’s Salt Lake City, Utah, office. He works on a wide variety of projects and designs electrical systems for government and military facilities throughout the world. He spent nine years working for SkyWest Airlines as an avionics technician repairing commercial aircraft and taking advantage of the free airfare, which fueled his desire to travel. Matt went back to school to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah to further his electrical knowledge, and in 2010, he made a career change to engineering with an emphasis on power systems. Matt is a licensed Professional Engineer in 18 states.
Matt’s desire to give back to a community in need motivated him to be a part of the 2022 Michael Baker-B2P team. He earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award in 1996, and in his free time, Matt enjoys traveling, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, camping, fishing and anything in the great outdoors with family and friends.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
This experience will always stand out as my first humanitarian project and the start of my aid to others in need. I will also always remember the local community – especially the children – and how happy, friendly and kind they were to the Michael Baker team.
Matt Guiney serves as a Civil Associate – Bridge in Michael Baker’s Boston, Massachusetts, office. He joined the company in 2017, starting in the bridge and tunnel inspection group then moving to the structural group. His responsibilities include bridge load ratings and bridge design.
Matt is passionate about helping others and paying forward the advantages he has experienced. He was compelled to be a part of the 2022 Michael Baker-B2P team by the chance to have a hand in a project that will help individuals and an entire region prosper. A native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, renovating his house and woodworking.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
I learned that complex construction tasks can be efficiently performed together between two people who do not speak the same language. I installed some of the metal walkway panels with a local community worker, Deborah. Using actions and a few English and Kinyarwanda words, we quickly overcame the language barrier and were able to install the panels efficiently.
Charlie is an Assistant Project Manager based in Michael Baker’s Columbia, South Carolina, office. He started as an intern and joined the company full-time upon graduating from the University of South Carolina. He primarily serves as a design engineer and task leader on a multitude of surface transportation projects, including highway bridge designs, bridge load ratings and roadway structures.
The 2022 Michael Baker-B2P trip to Rwanda was the first time Charlie traveled outside of the United States. He was driven by the opportunity to improve the quality of life for someone else and be immersed in a different culture. Charlie is currently working to earn his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. Outside of the office, he enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, learning about history and following all things sports.
How did you feel when you walked across the completed bridge for the first time?
I was proud of our work, but more than that I enjoyed watching the local community walk over the bridge for the first time. A few older men crossed the bridge before all the children wildly ran across it, and it was a very humbling experience to watch the huge grins spread across their faces as they walked from one side to the other.
Danielle Peltier is an Engineer-In-Training and serves as a Civil Associate – Water out of Michael Baker’s Palm Desert, California, office. She joined the company in 2020 and performs a wide range of drainage design for projects across southern California, including hydrologic and hydraulic calculations and modeling. She also prepares technical reports, exhibits and design drawings, works on the design of drainage improvement channel projects and performs stormwater field inspections.
Danielle has a passion for making a difference in others’ lives. She was inspired to be a part of this project because of the power a single bridge has to change the way a community lives and prospers. Danielle previously worked for the nonprofit Inland Empire Waterkeeper, where her focus was the Clean Camp Coalition project to reduce the pollution from disadvantaged communities experiencing homelessness in the Santa Ana Watershed. She also managed STEM-based educational programs for children and coordinated events and conferences. In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her friends (and her two cats), playing video games with her nephews and adventuring in Joshua Tree National Park.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
The kids were the absolute highlight of the trip for me. I walked with kids from the community on the trail to and from the work site every day, and they taught me Kinyarwanda and a little about their culture. They were just so happy and had such imagination, and I loved talking with them and playing games.
Steve Gravlin is the Office Executive overseeing Michael Baker’s Michigan Operation. He has over 35 years of experience in engineering working on bridge, road, traffic, drainage and surveying projects in both the public and private sectors. He is the 2021 recipient of the Ray LaHood Award from WTS for his work to engage women and minorities in the transportation industry.
Steve is interested in researching how engineers can play a bigger role in climate change resiliency. He served on the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) Board of Directors and previously served as President-Elect, Vice President and President of the Michigan Council. Steve also serves on the ACEC National Transportation Steering Committee and the Digital Delivery subcommittee. He was appointed by two different governors to serve on the State of Michigan Licensing Board for Professional Surveyors, and he was appointed to Governor Whitmer’s climate change work group relating to transportation.
Steve grew up in the industry as his father was a surveyor and his ancestor, Joseph Graveline, was an interpreter, boatsman and surveyor on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Steve is an avid Michigan football fan and enjoys hunting, fishing, and boating.
What has this experience meant to you?
At the onset, it was an opportunity to realize a real infrastructure impact for an underserved community – something I relish and the reason I became a civil engineer. Once there, the relationship with the community and the opportunity to place real faces with the impact of our project was an even more rewarding experience.
Mohamed Bagha is a civil and water resources engineer who serves as Michael Baker’s Southern Regional Practice Lead – Water. A seasoned project manager, he has 22 years of experience in surface water management, numerical modeling and drainage design. Mohamed has worked on and led flood hazard modeling and mapping initiatives at the national and regional levels, has expertise with hazard mitigation applications and is proficient in the use of GIS applications in the water resources domain. He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager and certified Project Management Professional.
Mohamed was born and raised in Kenya. Because of this, he cares deeply for projects that improve safety, access to water and sanitation in East Africa. Mohamed lives with his wife and three children in West Houston, Texas.
Why is it important to be a part of an organization like Michael Baker that has programs like this available to employees?
Giving back to the profession by volunteering to help underserved communities is something many people want to do. The fact that Michael Baker encourages this and commits to sending folks across the world to build a bridge means that Michael Baker supports the cause. Working for a firm like this gives me a lot of pride and a sense of belonging.
Katie is a Mechanical Engineer – Oil & Gas in Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office. Her focus for the last 14 years has been the design of mechanical piping systems, primarily for oil and gas clients, and her focus at Michael Baker is the design of cross-country pipelines. Katie has served as project manager, technical staff and client representative on repair projects and enjoys the variety her clients provide.
Born and raised in Alaska, Katie is always excited to see her work go from a challenge her client is experiencing, to a solution on a page, to a structure in real life. Katie’s avocation is the promotion of STEM in young people – especially young women – and she participates in local and international service through her involvement with Rotary. She is thrilled to be able to merge her passion for community service with her professional life with the construction of the Kavumbu bridge. Outside of work, she has two “children” (a dog and a cat) and enjoys hiking, quilting and reading.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
I was sitting by the lunch tent cutting short spans of wire for the fencing, when a woman old enough to have earned some wrinkles walked along the path outside of the build site. She paused and looked at me, so I waved (wire cutters in hand). She mouthed “murakoze” (thank you), nodded and moved on. This simple gesture reminded me that our work would be appreciated.
Justin Miller serves as a Mobility Project Manager within the Urban Design Studio in Michael Baker’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office. He has extensive experience working with communities on planning, design and mobility projects and has presented on transportation, land use and planning policy at national conferences. Before joining Michael Baker, Justin served as Principal Transportation Planner for the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure (DOMI).
Justin has a passion for travel and has visited nearly 50 countries. He loves a good challenge and believes in giving back wherever he can. The inspiring story of the people of Rwanda and their journey toward peace and reconciliation compelled Justin to contribute his skills for this B2P project. In his free time, he is an avid collector of records and enjoys traveling.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
People in rural Rwanda largely live in basic conditions and must share resources with the broader community to survive. The culture of “everyone pitches in” made working with community members a breeze. Everyone did their best to get the job done, often with strength and endurance that was very humbling to our group of Americans.
Matt Gray serves as an electrical engineering technical manager in Michael Baker’s Salt Lake City, Utah, office. He works on a wide variety of projects and designs electrical systems for government and military facilities throughout the world. He spent nine years working for SkyWest Airlines as an avionics technician repairing commercial aircraft and taking advantage of the free airfare, which fueled his desire to travel. Matt went back to school to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah to further his electrical knowledge, and in 2010, he made a career change to engineering with an emphasis on power systems. Matt is a licensed Professional Engineer in 18 states.
Matt’s desire to give back to a community in need motivated him to be a part of the 2022 Michael Baker-B2P team. He earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award in 1996, and in his free time, Matt enjoys traveling, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, camping, fishing and anything in the great outdoors with family and friends.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
This experience will always stand out as my first humanitarian project and the start of my aid to others in need. I will also always remember the local community – especially the children – and how happy, friendly and kind they were to the Michael Baker team.
Matt Guiney serves as a Civil Associate – Bridge in Michael Baker’s Boston, Massachusetts, office. He joined the company in 2017, starting in the bridge and tunnel inspection group then moving to the structural group. His responsibilities include bridge load ratings and bridge design.
Matt is passionate about helping others and paying forward the advantages he has experienced. He was compelled to be a part of the 2022 Michael Baker-B2P team by the chance to have a hand in a project that will help individuals and an entire region prosper. A native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, renovating his house and woodworking.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
I learned that complex construction tasks can be efficiently performed together between two people who do not speak the same language. I installed some of the metal walkway panels with a local community worker, Deborah. Using actions and a few English and Kinyarwanda words, we quickly overcame the language barrier and were able to install the panels efficiently.
Charlie is an Assistant Project Manager based in Michael Baker’s Columbia, South Carolina, office. He started as an intern and joined the company full-time upon graduating from the University of South Carolina. He primarily serves as a design engineer and task leader on a multitude of surface transportation projects, including highway bridge designs, bridge load ratings and roadway structures.
The 2022 Michael Baker-B2P trip to Rwanda was the first time Charlie traveled outside of the United States. He was driven by the opportunity to improve the quality of life for someone else and be immersed in a different culture. Charlie is currently working to earn his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. Outside of the office, he enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, learning about history and following all things sports.
How did you feel when you walked across the completed bridge for the first time?
I was proud of our work, but more than that I enjoyed watching the local community walk over the bridge for the first time. A few older men crossed the bridge before all the children wildly ran across it, and it was a very humbling experience to watch the huge grins spread across their faces as they walked from one side to the other.
Danielle Peltier is an Engineer-In-Training and serves as a Civil Associate – Water out of Michael Baker’s Palm Desert, California, office. She joined the company in 2020 and performs a wide range of drainage design for projects across southern California, including hydrologic and hydraulic calculations and modeling. She also prepares technical reports, exhibits and design drawings, works on the design of drainage improvement channel projects and performs stormwater field inspections.
Danielle has a passion for making a difference in others’ lives. She was inspired to be a part of this project because of the power a single bridge has to change the way a community lives and prospers. Danielle previously worked for the nonprofit Inland Empire Waterkeeper, where her focus was the Clean Camp Coalition project to reduce the pollution from disadvantaged communities experiencing homelessness in the Santa Ana Watershed. She also managed STEM-based educational programs for children and coordinated events and conferences. In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her friends (and her two cats), playing video games with her nephews and adventuring in Joshua Tree National Park.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
The kids were the absolute highlight of the trip for me. I walked with kids from the community on the trail to and from the work site every day, and they taught me Kinyarwanda and a little about their culture. They were just so happy and had such imagination, and I loved talking with them and playing games.
Steve Gravlin is the Office Executive overseeing Michael Baker’s Michigan Operation. He has over 35 years of experience in engineering working on bridge, road, traffic, drainage and surveying projects in both the public and private sectors. He is the 2021 recipient of the Ray LaHood Award from WTS for his work to engage women and minorities in the transportation industry.
Steve is interested in researching how engineers can play a bigger role in climate change resiliency. He served on the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) Board of Directors and previously served as President-Elect, Vice President and President of the Michigan Council. Steve also serves on the ACEC National Transportation Steering Committee and the Digital Delivery subcommittee. He was appointed by two different governors to serve on the State of Michigan Licensing Board for Professional Surveyors, and he was appointed to Governor Whitmer’s climate change work group relating to transportation.
Steve grew up in the industry as his father was a surveyor and his ancestor, Joseph Graveline, was an interpreter, boatsman and surveyor on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Steve is an avid Michigan football fan and enjoys hunting, fishing, and boating.
What has this experience meant to you?
At the onset, it was an opportunity to realize a real infrastructure impact for an underserved community – something I relish and the reason I became a civil engineer. Once there, the relationship with the community and the opportunity to place real faces with the impact of our project was an even more rewarding experience.
