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G2 supports its clients performing development activities in Illinois by providing environmental consulting services, assisting clients with site characterization as required by the State of Illinois’ Clean Construction and Demolition Debris (CCDD) program. In Illinois, CCDD is defined as uncontaminated broken concrete without protruding metal bars, bricks, rock, stone, or reclaimed asphalt pavement generated from construction or demolition activities. When uncontaminated soil is mixed with any of these materials, the uncontaminated soil is also considered CCDD.

The State of Illinois created the CCDD program in part to preserve the capacity of its existing Subtitle D non-hazardous waste landfills by routing non-hazardous materials to former mines, pits, and quarries that are going through the process of being reclaimed. Disposing of spoils from developments at a CCDD facility provides developers with reduced costs associated with “tipping” fees at a CCDD facility versus a Subtitle D landfill, and there are significantly more CCDD facilities in Illinois than there are Subtitle D landfills, resulting in lower transportation costs as well.

The CCDD program puts significant front-end requirements on developers and CCDD operators to ensure that material is actually “clean” before it is placed within a CCDD facility, as these sites are not constructed with liners as required for Subtitle D landfills. This is where G2 can assist its clients in determining the most cost-effective manner in which they will be able to dispose of spoils generated during site development. There are essentially two routes to certify the material from a project site as clean. The first would be an “owner” certification, in which the owner of a property retains G2 to perform due diligence (typically a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment) to support that the site is not a “Potentially Impacted Property” as defined by the CCDD program. G2 then assists the client with completion of the required form (LPC-662) and can provide soil sampling to determine if the pH of the material is within the allowable limits (6.25-9.0).

It is G2’s experience that developers are more inclined to limit their liability and opt for certifying the soils as clean with the second option, which is an “Engineer” certification. G2’s licensed Professional Engineer oversees the project and supports the certification of the material as clean with a soil sampling and analysis program that is appropriate for a given site, as well as acceptable to the CCDD facility, which typically has it’s own environmental department with specific sampling and analytical requirements. G2 collaborates with the CCDD facilities (if known) to ensure that sampling is representative of where excavations have or will occur, at the appropriate depths, with the correct number of samples, and that the relevant chemical constituents are analyzed. Depending on what is known about the current and/or historical use of a property, If the analytical results warrant, G2 will complete the required form (LPC-663) to provide to the client, facilitating setup for disposal at their chosen CCDD facility.

With experience in environmental consulting within the Illinois CCDD program since its inception, G2 can assist clients with an appropriate sampling program to maximize their potential for certifying soils as clean and suitable for disposal at a CCDD facility, which provides significant savings to their projects. Characterizing soils from a project site early in the project timeline assures developers know what their soil disposal cost will be and can plan accordingly.

For Project Engineer Zach Lilly, one college course sparked a lasting fascination with the ground beneath our feet. What began as curiosity in the classroom has grown into a career defined by problem-solving, adaptability, and hands-on exploration in geotechnical engineering. Here’s a glimpse into how he found his footing.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Geotechnical Engineering?
My interest in geotechnical engineering began after taking a soil mechanics course at Lawrence Tech. During my internships at G2, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and speak with some of the more experienced geotechnical engineers to learn more about their work. I enjoyed the variety of challenges each project presented and found the problem-solving aspect of the industry really engaging.

What do you enjoy most about working in Geotechnical Engineering?
I enjoy that each project and site in geotechnical engineering presents its own unique challenges. No two sites are ever the same, and each one requires careful consideration of different factors. Out of all the sectors of civil engineering, I find that geotechnical work demands the most adaptability, and you constantly have to think on your feet and adjust your approach based on the conditions you encounter in the field.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in Geotechnical Engineering?

My advice would be to take advantage of your time in the field and to find yourself a great mentor. A lot of people come out of school not exactly excited about working long days in tough conditions and all kinds of weather. However, in geotechnical engineering, the field experience is essential to lay the foundation (no pun intended) for the rest of your career. Additionally, having a great mentor who can guide you not only through the technical aspects of the industry but also on how to lead projects and work with people will make a big difference in how quickly you can grow early on.

We sat down with Michele Taylor, Environmental Scientist at G2, to learn how a love for the outdoors at 17 shaped a career that keeps her out of the cubicle and in the field. From navigating site visits in sweltering heat to finding the perfect balance between fieldwork and desk work, Michele shares how she found her path in environmental consulting and what continues to inspire her today.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Environmental Sciences?

I loved being outdoors, and I had a passion for the environment. At 17 years old, I had decided that I never wanted to work behind a desk every day.

I majored in Environmental Science with no idea what type of career that would entail. The college program I was in placed a strong emphasis on chemistry and mathematics. It was a challenging four years, but I loved it. Unfortunately, I had my shiny, brand-new degree and had no idea what to do with it. Most of my classmates went on to law school, medical school, or graduate school. My good friend and former roommate got a job as an environmental consultant after graduation and said, “Hey, I think you’d like this. You should apply here.” I did, and the rest is history.

What do you enjoy most about working in Environmental Consulting?

I got my wish; I do not work behind a desk every day. Some days that’s great, and other days I want to go back and smother my 17-year-old self. I like the variety of my job; it keeps me interested and engaged. I generally love doing site visits and fieldwork. It’s only when it feels like 10 degrees or 100 degrees outside that I begin to question my life choices. Those are the days that I am glad to be at my desk writing reports. I feel that at G2, I have a good balance between field work and desk work.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in environmental consulting? 

I think the real advice I’d suggest is to collaborate with your colleagues and share your knowledge. Whether it is regarding new technology, new laws, new websites for information, new techniques, or something you learned in school – share it. Everything an environmental consultant does is impacted by laws and regulations, which are constantly changing. Communication and collaboration between colleagues are important. We are constantly keeping up and sharing with one another new state and EPA regulations so that we can provide our clients with the correct information to make informed decisions. We are also always looking to improve our services and efficiency. So, share your knowledge, don’t gatekeep your expertise.

Working alongside your sibling might sound like something you normally would not want to do, but for Catherine and Elizabeth Borg, they did not mind the extra time spent with each other. Elizabeth, a returning intern at G2, welcomed her younger sister Catherine for her first year with the team. From navigating fieldwork challenges to leaning on each other for support, the Borg sisters have discovered that having family in your corner can make the internship experience even more meaningful. We sat down with them to hear what it is really like to work with your sister.

Q: What is it like to work alongside your sister?

Elizabeth: I love working with Catherine. As a returning intern, it has been a lot of fun to show her around and teach her how things work. I have been able to watch her learn and grow in new ways, and I’m proud of how successful she has been! I’m always so excited to see her at the office or receive a phone call to exchange stories about our day on site. We always find something to talk about and have bonded a lot throughout the summer. We already know each other so well personally, which makes communication in the professional setting much smoother.

Catherine: So far, it’s been a huge benefit to have my sister working with me. Since this is her second year interning at G2, she has been a huge help to my learning and improvement. It’s comforting to have a familiar face that I can ask questions to and discuss work topics with. I also find it more enjoyable to see her as often as I can while we are in the office or making deliveries. I call her more often than I do anyone else, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. While I am grateful to have been able to make new connections with the company these past few months, I think that having my sister in the same job has been overall a net positive.

Q: What is one thing that you have learned from each other working at G2?

Elizabeth: One thing I’ve learned from Catherine while working with her is that it is always beneficial to ask for help when you need it. She is very good at asking clarifying questions and making sure she is doing her job correctly. She’s taught me that it’s good to accept help from your team instead of trying to figure out everything on your own.

Catherine: The main thing I’ve learned from working with my sister is that a lot of things in life are easier when you have connections. My relationship with Elizabeth has taught me so much about networking and what it can get you. By knowing her and asking for help, she led me to opportunities like this. She encouraged me to apply, and I was welcomed in as a familiar face. As we continued to work together, I got to know the people she knew, and others by myself. By working with Elizabeth, I’ve come to understand what people mean when they stress the importance of networking.

Q: Have you hit any challenges that you have been able to work together on?

Elizabeth: A challenge we’ve faced while working together is giving and receiving help professionally. Because Catherine is my sister, I find that I expect more of her than is realistic and tend to be less patient with her. I’ve learned how to treat her as a coworker rather than my sister when she asks questions. We’ve been able to build a respectable dynamic where we can give each other advice without letting our personal relationship get in the way.

Catherine: The main challenges that we’ve worked on together are the ones that I face on my project sites. Whether that is a question about testing, writing a report, communicating with the contractors, working with equipment, or whatever else I am having trouble with, I always work it out with Elizabeth. I am very adjusted to her way of explaining things and have found that she often has time on her sites to help me with whatever problem I am experiencing. It is also helpful because I don’t have to worry about asking too many questions to our already busy field coordinators, whom I still reach out to often. There is also sometimes the minor challenge of our names being mixed up and our dispatches confused, but that is always an easy and amusing fix.

Q: What’s your proudest shared moment at work?

Elizabeth: My proudest shared moment with Catherine was when we worked together on a busy Friday, covering multiple jobs when things were not going as planned. I had to take over Catherine’s concrete job so that she could make it to a high-security site to which she wasn’t originally assigned. After finishing my job, I arrived at Catherine’s site right as the concrete truck started pouring, and she had her equipment set up and ready to test. I immediately collected the concrete sample with her wagon while she got ready to go to her next site. She took my wagon, gave me her nuke, talked to the client, and quickly left while I was testing. She made it to her next site on time, and I was proud of our efficiency and quick thinking.

Catherine: One of my proudest shared moments with my sister happened during a particularly unexpected and memorable workday. There were some last-minute schedule changes, so Elizabeth was sent to cover a concrete job for me, and we were on a tight schedule. I was hoping she would arrive before the concrete truck did, but she did not make it until about five minutes after. From there, it was hard to decide who would do the test, since all my equipment was already set out, but I had not started yet, besides getting the water buckets and my wagon wet. In a split moment, we decided that Elizabeth would perform the test, but we had to hurry. I gave her my water buckets and wagon, sent her to get a concrete sample, and ran to get my gauge, since I could not take it to my next site. I packed up my truck and headed to my next site, where I thankfully made it on time. This day demonstrated our ability to work together under stress and a time crunch. The day ended successfully, and I am still proud of how well we managed it.

Q: What is one word you would use to describe your sibling as a coworker?

Elizabeth: Reliable

Catherine: Enthusiastic

On Monday, July 14, the Fenton City Council approved a geotechnical services contract with G2 Consulting Group for the 2025 Riverwalk and Millpond Park Improvement Project to not exceed $34,500.

The scope of the Riverwalk and Millpond Park Improvement Project includes a new pedestrian bridge, replacing the playground equipment, a new retaining wall, two kayak launches and new concrete sidewalks at Millpond Park… READ MORE. 

Bolstered by continued investment in public infrastructure, Michigan’s construction industry will continue strong in 2025. Construction related companies have successfully navigated high interest rates, inflation and increased materials costs over the past several years on their way to banner years. 2025 will see some of those headwinds begin to ebb, but other challenges could emerge.

“We see 2024 as the final year of the pandemic’s most significant impacts,” said Mark Smolinski P.E. and Principal at Troy-based G2 Consulting Group. “Inflation and interest rates appear to be coming down while material and labor costs are stabilizing. So, the challenges that have dominated the industry in recent years are starting to normalize. However new challenges could arise.”

“Although we’re cautiously optimistic on the national and state economy, recessionary risks remain. President Trump’s agenda will be more fully revealed as we move deeper into 2025. Our industry needs to be ready to respond,” Smolinski said.

In the 2025-2029 Five-Year Transportation Program, MDOT Director Brad Wieferich outlined an approximate $15.5 billion investment in the state’s multimodal transportation infrastructure in the next five years while also addressing future funding uncertainty.

“MDOT is in the beginning stages of implementing a new approach to program development … to be better prepared for funding uncertainty and to mitigate risk in program development and delivery,” he said. “On the path to a more collaborative, inclusive and resilient future, a primary challenge that MDOT continues to face is future-proofing funding, project scopes and budgets. Inflation continues to increase project costs, and at current funding levels, MDOT will not be able to maintain the road and bridge conditions that are essential to providing an accessible and reliable transportation system.”

In 2025 alone, MDOT will invest $2 .9 billion to the preservation, maintenance, safety, and operation of Michigan’s state trunkline roads and bridges, plus a combined $993 million for the Aeronautics and Public Transportation programs, providing capital and operating assistance, technical support and safety oversight for passenger rail, rail freight, aeronautics, marine and port, and local and intercity bus sectors of Michigan’s transportation system. One of the most anticipated projects, the Gordie Howe Bridge, connecting Detroit and Windsor, is expected to see its first crossings in Sept. 2025.

Ken Swartz, Vice President at F.H. Paschen, sees the investment in infrastructure, particularly highways, bridges and roads, continuing in 2025. “Backed by federal and state funding, roads continue to be a focus. The sector probably peaked two years ago, but there is continuing strong demand now although that demand, and the funding to support it, may slowly decrease in the coming several years.”

“Waste and clean water are a hallmark of F.H Paschen’s business in Michigan. Aging infrastructure and changing system demands are a challenge for the Great Lakes Water Authority and its state and municipal counterparts. The good news is that these organizations are meeting the challenges head-on with many innovative and transformative investments in the pipeline. We’re also excited to be involved with several Detroit projects that will help continue and advance the city’s resurgence.”

Specific areas that G2 and its partners are monitoring in their 2025 outlook include:

• The Engineering and Design Services industry contributed $656B to U.S. GDP in 2023. Michigan was the #3 contributor behind only California and Texas. This investment supports thousands of high paying jobs and is expected to continue in 2025.
• Continued strong investment in public infrastructure.
• Michigan’s manufacturing industry is a mixed bag. Some sectors are expanding, however, the slower-than-expected demand for EV vehicles is a major stress for the automotive industry and could impact planned construction and expansion projects.
• Alternative energy, which has been strong, may be impacted by the Trump administration’s interest in oil and gas.
• Education spending will be the highest in more than a decade. Universities have housing shortages (demand exceeds pre-pandemic levels). Continued enrollment growth is expected through 2026 followed by an expected enrollment decline lasting a dozen years or longer (based on anticipated student population).
• Michigan’s agribusiness sector is poised for growth from food manufacturing, processing and delivery.
• Logistics and eCommerce facility demand remains strong. Communications, including telecom and data centers also poised for continued growth.
• Lower interest rates are enabling smaller projects, including residential, to make a modest return. Major projects continue to drive the industry, causing challenges for smaller projects, however the sector is again viable.
• 2025 will be an important year for AI in the construction industry. Certainly, companies that use AI effectively will uncover new efficiencies and new business practices to propel them forward.

“The Trump Administration appears focused on changing the way America does business at home and abroad. The impact of new policies is not yet fully understood in the construction sector,” Smolinski said. “Still, 2025 looks to be another good year for Michigan’s industry. We’re cautiously optimistic that 2026 and beyond will continue on similar trends. 2025 will be a consequential year, one that we hope will ultimately put the national economy and the Michigan construction industry on solid footing.”

G2 Consulting Group (G2) was featured on the Crain’s Detroit Business list of “Largest Engineering Firms in Metro Detroit.”

G2 was ranked #21 based on its number of local engineers, which now stands at 61. The company was cited for having the second-largest increase in its number of engineers in 2024 with an increase of 12 versus the prior year. Crain’s also mentioned G2’s 2,500 projects completed in 2023 as one of the most significant year-over-year increases of any company on the list.

“G2 celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year, and I assure you, when the other founding partners, Noel Hargraves-Thomas and Bruce Wilberding, and I started in a basement, we never dreamed of becoming one of the largest and most respected engineering firms in the region,” said Mark Smolinski P.E., G2 principal. “But, after years of hard work and dedicated client service, we’re incredibly proud of the growth we achieved and appreciate this important recognition from Crain’s.”

G2’s work has steadily grown across its service areas of geotechnical, environmental and construction services. The company’s projects cross a variety of industries including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecom and healthcare to name a few. The company has completed projects in more than 35 states.

“Our philosophy has never changed,” Smolinski said. “We provide practical, value engineering solutions to complex engineering challenges. That’s what our clients expect and demand. While simply being ‘big’ has never been the goal, we believe this recognition is an important validation of G2’s ability to consistently deliver on our promise of Smart. Results. Fast.”

Crain’s subscribers can review the complete “Largest Engineering Firms in Metro Detroit” list here.

The spirit of the Woodward Dream Cruise never ends at Michigan Legacy Credit Union’s new prototype branch in Flat Rock. The modest building has all the neon sizzle and glow of a ’50s-­style diner but is very much part of today’s digital banking revolution, often called “fintech,” or financial technology. Thompson Phelan Group’s (TPG) design celebrates 1950s nostalgia but provides a functional space, boasting the best in customer service and offering the most contemporary banking tools available to credit unions… READ MORE

Most refer to Detroit as the Motor City. We call it this because of our long and storied history with automotive innovation, love for cars, and the driven attitude of all who call Detroit home. This same innovation, passion, and drive go into everything Detroit creates, and its buildings are no exception – especially when the building itself aids in the production of cars. When it was announced that Stellantis would bring fourth the first new assembly plant to Detroit in 30 years, the engines started… READ MORE.

Troy, Michigan-based G2 Consulting Group, a national company specializing in geotechnical, environmental and construction engineering services, has added 20 employees across its footprint.

G2’s new employees include recent full time hires, plus a dozen summer interns who will be divided primarily between the firm’s Troy headquarters and its Ann Arbor, Michigan, office… READ MORE.

2020, the anticipated “year of perfect vision,” was anything but for most of the world. Will 2021 be any better?

While his crystal ball can’t specifically answer that question as it relates to the pandemic, Mark Smolinski, P.E., a principal at G2 Consulting Group in Troy, believes that 2021 holds promise for Michigan’s construction industry, especially for long overdue infrastructure repairs… READ MORE.

G2 Consulting Group, a 5G network solutions firm in Troy, is expanding its services to meet the deployment of 5G networks across the country. The geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and construction engineering services firm founded in Livonia, and with offices in Ann Arbor and suburban Chicago, stated it has seen an increase in the environmental investigation of the telecommunications towers business since the Federal Communications Commission’s summer enactment of its 5G FAST plan….. READ MORE.