The Region
Located just south of the equator, the East African nation of Rwanda is known for its rolling hills, lush forests and spectacular wildlife. Nicknamed “the land of a thousand hills,” the country has mountainous terrain and steep river valleys that can create isolation among its rural population. Rwandan residents living in the Nyabihu municipality—located northwest of the capital city of Kigali—experienced this isolation.
Nearly 3,500 local community members must cross the Giciye River to reach schools, healthcare facilities and markets. But during the rainy seasons, which typically last from March to May and October to December, crossing the river becomes dangerous and often deadly due to flooding. No safe crossing existed for these community members, so they were cut off from essential resources when the river flooded. The nonprofit Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) identified a site for the Kigusa Trailbridge to meet the needs of these communities.
The Project
Ten Michael Baker International employees from across the United States made the long journey to Rwanda to embark upon a two-week bridge build in partnership with B2P. On the ground in Rwanda, the team worked to construct a 246-foot suspended bridge over the Giciye River that would connect the villages of Jomba and Moringa.
The team exemplified Michael Baker’s Wolf Pack Philosophy—that we are stronger together—as they worked tirelessly alongside B2P staff and members of the local community. They partnered and problem-solved through each step of the build, which included installing the bridge cables; cutting and bending rebar for the bridge suspenders; constructing the abutment wall masonry; painting the concrete abutments blue, yellow and green to match the Rwandan flag; backfilling the abutments with large rocks; hanging suspenders on the bridge cables; installing decking panels; adding permanent fencing; and installing handrails leading up to the bridge. The entire team signed their names on the final decking panel before it was installed, leaving their mark on the bridge that would positively impact thousands of lives.
The team members also forged relationships with local community members during their time in Rwanda. In their free time, they enjoyed soccer matches with local residents, played games, hosted a barbeque for the local construction crew and took countless photos with their new friends to commemorate their time together. The team also visited a local school, where they distributed coloring books, Lego sets and other toys and played volleyball and soccer with the children.
Our Impact
To mark the grand opening of the Kigusa Trailbridge, the Michael Baker team participated in a special inauguration celebration attended by B2P staff, local government representatives and community members. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the bridge, the team had the honor of watching community members of all ages cross the new bridge for the first time.
The newly constructed bridge provides thousands of community members with safe, year-round access to essential resources and opportunities for themselves and their families. One young community member, Claudine, is now able to safely make her way from her home in the village of Jomba to her school in the village of Muringa. The Kigusa Trailbridge provides her with the opportunity to pursue her education and achieve her dream of one day becoming a teacher.
The team’s efforts and partnership with B2P are a shining example of how We Make a Difference for communities near and far.
Jeff Baker serves as the Office Executive for Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office. His engineering career has been focused in Alaska with an emphasis in arctic engineering, water resources and pipeline engineering. Jeff is passionate about the team he leads, and he serves as a mentor for others in the company.
Jeff gives back to his local community by serving on the school board of a local elementary school, coaching youth basketball, umpiring for a youth softball league and serving as a volunteer shooting coach. He is excited to be a part of the Michael Baker-B2P team that is building a bridge over the Giciye River in Rwanda. Originally from Massachusetts, Jeff has lived in Alaska for more than 30 years and logged countless miles backpacking and mountain hunting in the Alaska wilderness.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
When there is a common goal, language and cultural barriers come down.
Justin Baird is a senior structural engineer and project manager at Michael Baker. He has been with the company for more than 21 years with a primary focus on bridge and retaining wall design and rehabilitation. Justin has extensive experience in bringing bridges from the conceptual phase to design and construction. He also has hands-on construction experience, having previously owned his own construction company.
Justin is thrilled to be a part of the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team and for the ability to use his technical know-how to create a safer environment for a community in need. Outside of work, he enjoys woodworking, pool, kayaking and traveling around the East Coast in his family’s RV. Justin lives with his wife, two daughters, a dog and a cat in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Why did you want to be a part of this experience?
Since my childhood, I’ve had the opportunity to build things using my hands and have learned several valuable trades many times over. I wanted to use those talents to help better the quality of life in a community where infrastructure development needed improvement and to create friendships across borders.
Renardo Bezati is a civil engineer in Michael Baker’s Santa Ana, California, office. A licensed Professional Engineer, he specializes in the Traffic/ITS and Tolling disciplines. Renardo has worked on projects in multiple states, including Michigan, California, Washington and Texas.
Renardo was inspired to be a part of the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team because of his interest in providing a service that would greatly enhance the lives of an entire community. Born in Europe, Renardo now resides in California and enjoys traveling, bike riding and restoration projects of all kinds.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
No matter how difficult and demanding the work is, working together as a team toward a common goal will make every day enjoyable. The local community was always smiling and happy to be on-site, and that kept me going the whole time.
Cage Cluff is a Civil Associate E.I.T. working for Michael Baker’s Dallas, Texas, office. Based in Maryland, she works on bridge, highway and roadway design projects and is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers. In 2021, she took a major step toward her goal of earning a Professional Engineering license by passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.
Cage is a strong believer in building infrastructure to strengthen communities. It’s what compelled her to pursue a career in engineering and to be a part of the Michael Baker-B2P team. In her free time, Cage enjoys visiting museums, taking recreational classes, going on long walks with her dog, watching movies with her husband and a variety of artistic hobbies. She enjoys adventure, strives to outsmart challenges with creative solutions and has a keen ability to make the best of difficult situations.
What were the most challenging aspects of the construction process?
Completing construction using entirely manual labor was a demanding challenge. Thankfully, our team pulled through by sharing the load, and we built a great sense of pride along the way. Building something manually adds a significant personal investment that makes the result even more rewarding.
Phillip King is a Senior Inspector for Michael Baker’s Construction Services practice. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, he joined the company in 2015. Phillip has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the construction of more than 150 bridges.
Phillip’s ultimate goal in life is to help others. His desire to participate in the B2P project as the team’s Safety Lead stems from his interest in sharing hope with others in their time of need and being part of a shared humanitarian endeavor. A father of seven, Phillip enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling.
What is it like building a bridge in Rwanda vs. building a bridge in the US?
Having been in the construction field for almost 30 years, I was blown away by the mechanisms used in this build: basic mathematics and manual labor. We rely so much on computer software engineering and machinery in America, it was refreshing to experience the techniques used in past generations. The community involvement, dedication and enthusiasm were unmatched in any of the 150+ bridge builds I have personally been involved in.
Amanda Melendez is an Engineer-in-Training and serves as a Civil Associate – Structural Bridge out of Michael Baker’s Chicago, Illinois, office. Before moving to Chicago two years ago, she was an intern in Michael Baker’s Louisville, Kentucky, office for two summers while earning her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis from the University of Kentucky.
Amanda’s interest in Bridges to Prosperity comes from the passion she has for vulnerable communities and resilient infrastructure. The work being done resonates with her because both of her parents come from small rural towns in Mexico that require transportation upgrades. She also hopes to set an example for young women who are thinking of pursuing a career in engineering. Amanda is an avid volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and serves as a mentor for ACE Mentor Program of Chicago, an after-school program for high school students. She is a food fanatic, enjoys being outdoors and plays intermural soccer.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
The community members of Jomba and Muringa will always remain my heart. I learned that verbal communication is not the only way to communicate or teach someone something. Actions speak louder, whether that be a smile or a demonstration on how to properly install a deck panel. The community members trusted us in helping to build the bridge they will continue to use every day, and I believe we gained more from them than they did from us.
Jordan Nilson is a Civil Associate – Land Development based out of Michael Baker’s San Diego, California, office with a passion for problem-solving and improving the world around him. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jordan developed a love for engineering at a young age and pursued a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jordan is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has worked on a variety of complex, large-scale Land Development projects, primarily in the healthcare, commercial real estate and higher education industries.
Jordan’s role as Construction Lead for the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team combines his love for volunteering with his passion for engineering and construction. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and mentors high school juniors and seniors through the ACE Mentor Program. Outside of work, Jordan is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
Every single moment—from the warm welcome of the local community when we arrived on-site to the hugs and smiles from those same community members on the bridge’s inauguration day—are moments I will cherish for as long as I live. This opportunity to share a truly unique experience with such a remarkable group of people is one for which I am eternally grateful.
Muthu Narayanaswamy serves as Operations Manager – Innovation and leads the Modeling and Data Solutions Team in Michael Baker’s Alexandria, Virginia, office. Muthu specializes in using computational modeling to develop practical solutions to challenges in coastal flooding, hydrodynamics, waves, and fixed and floating structures. His technical strengths include 2D and 3D wave and coastal hydraulics modeling, structural finite elements, tsunami and hurricane modeling, coastal flood risk mapping, extreme value analysis, met-ocean data analysis, and coastal and ocean engineering.
Muthu’s experience growing up in a developing nation has given him a clear understanding of how basic transportation infrastructure can be a critical lifeline for remote communities. By helping to build the Kigusa Trailbridge, he hopes to improve the quality of life of a community in need. In his free time, Muthu enjoys playing basketball and tennis and traveling to various beach destinations across the world with his family.
What has this experience meant to you?
The experience of building a trail bridge in 10 days and learning about the challenges that the locals face on a daily basis and the positive impact this bridge will have on the quality of their lives was incredibly rewarding and humbling. I am proud of the fact that Michael Baker is engaged in this noble and impactful endeavor that truly Makes a Difference and am grateful that I had the opportunity to contribute.
Allyson Radford joined Michael Baker in 2019 as a Contract Administrator for Construction Services/Aviation projects. Based in the company’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office, she serves as an embedded consultant at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Allyson primarily manages the Department of Aviation’s On-Call Construction program, a series of contracts across trades to address immediate construction needs at PHL. She is a Certified Associate Project Manager (C.A.P.M.) and is currently working toward earning her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Allyson has a passion for helping others. Her past experiences participating in construction-based service trips in Peru and South Carolina inspired her to apply for the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team. She was excited for this unique opportunity to join a team working toward a goal to benefit a community. Allyson is grateful to have been a part of this team that, for a moment in time, came together to do good. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, hiking and reading (especially to her niece).
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
This experience has reminded me of the value of connection and how vital it is to affecting positive change. A team of about 50 people—all with different backgrounds, levels of experience and speaking different languages—found ways to communicate, connect and uplift each other through the physical and mental challenges of each day.
Marc Robinson works as an IT Support Specialist in Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office, where he has supported the company’s engineering professionals for more than 16 years. He previously served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard, and his background includes fixing machines and doing construction work in Virginia and the Caribbean.
A history buff with a particular interest in the nation of Rwanda, Marc is thrilled for the opportunity to meet the Rwandan people and contribute to their society. He moved from Northern Virginia to Alaska in 2002, where he built his own home in the mountainous area of Eagle River. In his free time, Marc enjoys exercising and hiking.
What has this experience meant to you?
This has been an amazing and eye-opening experience. It will take many weeks to fully digest all the lessons learned about myself and others. It was an honor to participate in this project, to work side by side with the Rwandan people to build something of lasting value.
Jeff Baker serves as the Office Executive for Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office. His engineering career has been focused in Alaska with an emphasis in arctic engineering, water resources and pipeline engineering. Jeff is passionate about the team he leads, and he serves as a mentor for others in the company.
Jeff gives back to his local community by serving on the school board of a local elementary school, coaching youth basketball, umpiring for a youth softball league and serving as a volunteer shooting coach. He is excited to be a part of the Michael Baker-B2P team that is building a bridge over the Giciye River in Rwanda. Originally from Massachusetts, Jeff has lived in Alaska for more than 30 years and logged countless miles backpacking and mountain hunting in the Alaska wilderness.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
When there is a common goal, language and cultural barriers come down.
Justin Baird is a senior structural engineer and project manager at Michael Baker. He has been with the company for more than 21 years with a primary focus on bridge and retaining wall design and rehabilitation. Justin has extensive experience in bringing bridges from the conceptual phase to design and construction. He also has hands-on construction experience, having previously owned his own construction company.
Justin is thrilled to be a part of the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team and for the ability to use his technical know-how to create a safer environment for a community in need. Outside of work, he enjoys woodworking, pool, kayaking and traveling around the East Coast in his family’s RV. Justin lives with his wife, two daughters, a dog and a cat in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Why did you want to be a part of this experience?
Since my childhood, I’ve had the opportunity to build things using my hands and have learned several valuable trades many times over. I wanted to use those talents to help better the quality of life in a community where infrastructure development needed improvement and to create friendships across borders.
Renardo Bezati is a civil engineer in Michael Baker’s Santa Ana, California, office. A licensed Professional Engineer, he specializes in the Traffic/ITS and Tolling disciplines. Renardo has worked on projects in multiple states, including Michigan, California, Washington and Texas.
Renardo was inspired to be a part of the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team because of his interest in providing a service that would greatly enhance the lives of an entire community. Born in Europe, Renardo now resides in California and enjoys traveling, bike riding and restoration projects of all kinds.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
No matter how difficult and demanding the work is, working together as a team toward a common goal will make every day enjoyable. The local community was always smiling and happy to be on-site, and that kept me going the whole time.
Cage Cluff is a Civil Associate E.I.T. working for Michael Baker’s Dallas, Texas, office. Based in Maryland, she works on bridge, highway and roadway design projects and is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers. In 2021, she took a major step toward her goal of earning a Professional Engineering license by passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.
Cage is a strong believer in building infrastructure to strengthen communities. It’s what compelled her to pursue a career in engineering and to be a part of the Michael Baker-B2P team. In her free time, Cage enjoys visiting museums, taking recreational classes, going on long walks with her dog, watching movies with her husband and a variety of artistic hobbies. She enjoys adventure, strives to outsmart challenges with creative solutions and has a keen ability to make the best of difficult situations.
What were the most challenging aspects of the construction process?
Completing construction using entirely manual labor was a demanding challenge. Thankfully, our team pulled through by sharing the load, and we built a great sense of pride along the way. Building something manually adds a significant personal investment that makes the result even more rewarding.
Phillip King is a Senior Inspector for Michael Baker’s Construction Services practice. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, he joined the company in 2015. Phillip has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the construction of more than 150 bridges.
Phillip’s ultimate goal in life is to help others. His desire to participate in the B2P project as the team’s Safety Lead stems from his interest in sharing hope with others in their time of need and being part of a shared humanitarian endeavor. A father of seven, Phillip enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling.
What is it like building a bridge in Rwanda vs. building a bridge in the US?
Having been in the construction field for almost 30 years, I was blown away by the mechanisms used in this build: basic mathematics and manual labor. We rely so much on computer software engineering and machinery in America, it was refreshing to experience the techniques used in past generations. The community involvement, dedication and enthusiasm were unmatched in any of the 150+ bridge builds I have personally been involved in.
Amanda Melendez is an Engineer-in-Training and serves as a Civil Associate – Structural Bridge out of Michael Baker’s Chicago, Illinois, office. Before moving to Chicago two years ago, she was an intern in Michael Baker’s Louisville, Kentucky, office for two summers while earning her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis from the University of Kentucky.
Amanda’s interest in Bridges to Prosperity comes from the passion she has for vulnerable communities and resilient infrastructure. The work being done resonates with her because both of her parents come from small rural towns in Mexico that require transportation upgrades. She also hopes to set an example for young women who are thinking of pursuing a career in engineering. Amanda is an avid volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and serves as a mentor for ACE Mentor Program of Chicago, an after-school program for high school students. She is a food fanatic, enjoys being outdoors and plays intermural soccer.
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
The community members of Jomba and Muringa will always remain my heart. I learned that verbal communication is not the only way to communicate or teach someone something. Actions speak louder, whether that be a smile or a demonstration on how to properly install a deck panel. The community members trusted us in helping to build the bridge they will continue to use every day, and I believe we gained more from them than they did from us.
Jordan Nilson is a Civil Associate – Land Development based out of Michael Baker’s San Diego, California, office with a passion for problem-solving and improving the world around him. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jordan developed a love for engineering at a young age and pursued a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jordan is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has worked on a variety of complex, large-scale Land Development projects, primarily in the healthcare, commercial real estate and higher education industries.
Jordan’s role as Construction Lead for the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team combines his love for volunteering with his passion for engineering and construction. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and mentors high school juniors and seniors through the ACE Mentor Program. Outside of work, Jordan is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing.
What experiences from the trip will stick with you for the rest of your life?
Every single moment—from the warm welcome of the local community when we arrived on-site to the hugs and smiles from those same community members on the bridge’s inauguration day—are moments I will cherish for as long as I live. This opportunity to share a truly unique experience with such a remarkable group of people is one for which I am eternally grateful.
Muthu Narayanaswamy serves as Operations Manager – Innovation and leads the Modeling and Data Solutions Team in Michael Baker’s Alexandria, Virginia, office. Muthu specializes in using computational modeling to develop practical solutions to challenges in coastal flooding, hydrodynamics, waves, and fixed and floating structures. His technical strengths include 2D and 3D wave and coastal hydraulics modeling, structural finite elements, tsunami and hurricane modeling, coastal flood risk mapping, extreme value analysis, met-ocean data analysis, and coastal and ocean engineering.
Muthu’s experience growing up in a developing nation has given him a clear understanding of how basic transportation infrastructure can be a critical lifeline for remote communities. By helping to build the Kigusa Trailbridge, he hopes to improve the quality of life of a community in need. In his free time, Muthu enjoys playing basketball and tennis and traveling to various beach destinations across the world with his family.
What has this experience meant to you?
The experience of building a trail bridge in 10 days and learning about the challenges that the locals face on a daily basis and the positive impact this bridge will have on the quality of their lives was incredibly rewarding and humbling. I am proud of the fact that Michael Baker is engaged in this noble and impactful endeavor that truly Makes a Difference and am grateful that I had the opportunity to contribute.
Allyson Radford joined Michael Baker in 2019 as a Contract Administrator for Construction Services/Aviation projects. Based in the company’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office, she serves as an embedded consultant at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Allyson primarily manages the Department of Aviation’s On-Call Construction program, a series of contracts across trades to address immediate construction needs at PHL. She is a Certified Associate Project Manager (C.A.P.M.) and is currently working toward earning her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Allyson has a passion for helping others. Her past experiences participating in construction-based service trips in Peru and South Carolina inspired her to apply for the 2023 Michael Baker-B2P team. She was excited for this unique opportunity to join a team working toward a goal to benefit a community. Allyson is grateful to have been a part of this team that, for a moment in time, came together to do good. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, hiking and reading (especially to her niece).
What have you learned from working and interacting with members of the community?
This experience has reminded me of the value of connection and how vital it is to affecting positive change. A team of about 50 people—all with different backgrounds, levels of experience and speaking different languages—found ways to communicate, connect and uplift each other through the physical and mental challenges of each day.
Marc Robinson works as an IT Support Specialist in Michael Baker’s Anchorage, Alaska, office, where he has supported the company’s engineering professionals for more than 16 years. He previously served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard, and his background includes fixing machines and doing construction work in Virginia and the Caribbean.
A history buff with a particular interest in the nation of Rwanda, Marc is thrilled for the opportunity to meet the Rwandan people and contribute to their society. He moved from Northern Virginia to Alaska in 2002, where he built his own home in the mountainous area of Eagle River. In his free time, Marc enjoys exercising and hiking.
What has this experience meant to you?
This has been an amazing and eye-opening experience. It will take many weeks to fully digest all the lessons learned about myself and others. It was an honor to participate in this project, to work side by side with the Rwandan people to build something of lasting value.
