The HR Green Project of the Year Awards celebrate outstanding internal project teams whose work embodies our mission: Building Communities. Improving Lives. These awards recognize projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, exceptional client service, and strong financial performance.
Each business unit—Broadband, Construction, Land Development, Municipal Services, Transportation, and Water—submits one project per region for consideration. An internal committee then evaluates the submissions and selects a top project for each business unit. From these finalists, one is chosen as the Ultimate HR Green Project of the Year.
During the coming weeks, we’ll spotlight each winning project and the teams behind them, ending with the announcement of this year’s top honor!
Congratulations to all the teams recognized—your work exemplifies the impact and quality we strive to deliver every day.
Broadband Project of the Year
Congratulations to the Burlington, Iowa High-Speed Fiber project team for receiving the Broadband Project of the Year.
Internet Service Provider ImOn needed a trusted partner to help bring high-speed fiber to over 13,000 addresses—on a tight timeline and within budget. HR Green partnered with ImOn to deliver a full-scale fiber design solution using a customized GIS-based model that streamlined production and reduced review cycles.
Leveraging early 2024 investments in GIS tooling and internal process improvements, the Broadband team optimized design workflows with built-in checkpoints for field inspections, design stages, and QC reviews. The customized tools ensured each phase met client-specific requirements before progressing, significantly minimizing errors and rework. The team completed the project three weeks ahead of schedule, delivering 36 drawing packages and maintaining consistent communication and quality throughout the process.
The project team delivered exceptional results: Eric Mykleby, Zach Cook, Jayden Rogers, Sandra Smith, Phil Zima, Campbell Hoffman, and Cory Conard–Jarmes. Not pictured: Matt Hilbert, Austin Nielsen, and Julia Fergus.
Land Development Project of the Year
Congratulations to the Grandview Reserve Master Planning project team for receiving the Land Development Project of the Year.
Located on approximately 770 acres in the Falcon/Peyton area of El Paso County, Grandview Reserve is a thoughtfully designed master planned community that aims to deliver 3,335 new homes, along with schools, parks, a church, a recreation center, and a future commercial district.
HR Green served as a trusted advisor, forming a multidisciplinary team of professionals across multiple practice areas to design and deliver key on-site and off-site infrastructure systems. With seven dedicated project managers coordinating the complex components, HR Green managed permitting, engineering design, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing collaboration with local government, utility providers, school districts, public safety departments, and adjacent developers.
Impressive performance by everyone involved in the project: Jamie Ramos, Blaine Perkins, Chris Walton, Colleen Monahan, Ken Huhn, and Sean Callahan. Not pictured is Phil Stuepfert.
Municipal Services Project of the Year
Congratulations to the Pinellas County Disaster Recovery Support project team for receiving the Municipal Services Project of the Year.
In the wake of two devastating hurricanes that struck Pinellas County, Florida in quick succession, residents were left navigating widespread property damage, displacement, and confusion about where to turn for help. HR Green stepped in as a trusted partner, quickly mobilizing a multidisciplinary team to support the county’s recovery initiatives.
Drawing on knowledge across its business lines, including Certified Floodplain Managers and disaster recovery specialists, the firm offered technical assistance, resident outreach, and educational services tailored to the evolving needs of the community. As demand grew, HR Green launched a nationwide disaster recovery call center, providing guidance on FEMA relief programs, construction standards in floodplain areas, and strategies for avoiding fraud and predatory contractors.
Outstanding work by the project team: Stacy Woodson, Derrik Mills.
Water Project of the Year
Congratulations to the North Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment Facility project team for receiving the Water Project of the Year Award.
The South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) identified North Wilmes Lake in Woodbury, Minnesota, as a priority site for phosphorus reduction, targeting a reduction of 153 pounds per year to improve water quality within the lake and the broader watershed. A previous study determined that an alum treatment facility would be the most cost-effective solution for reducing phosphorus levels.
HR Green was selected to lead the project through every phase—from alternatives analysis to final design and construction services. The project includes an innovative stormwater treatment facility that pumps water from the lake’s influent channel into a chemical dosing station, where alum is introduced to bind with phosphorus. The treated water then flows into a constructed settling pond before returning to the lake, significantly reducing phosphorus levels.
