Nelson P. Smith, Jr.
Hagerstown
Summary
Dynamic professional seeking opportunities to consult and teach utility coordination, emphasizing the management and expansion of utility coordination programs. Proven expertise in fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance project efficiency and minimize disruptions. Committed to leveraging industry knowledge to drive innovative solutions and best practices in utility management. Eager to contribute to organizational success through strategic program development and effective training initiatives.
Utility engineering professional prepared to contribute to success of utility management projects. Background includes managing utility coordination and optimizing resource utilization. Reliable team player with strong focus on collaboration and achieving results. Proficient in technical analysis and troubleshooting.
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
Work History
Statewide Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
Baltimore, MD
07.1979 - Current
- Administers training to SHA construction, district, highway design, and other SHA personnel in utility coordination
- Administers the Utilities Program for the SHA to plan, organize, implement, and supervise the interpretation and application of SHA utility policies, directives and procedures.
- Administers SHA’s Resource Sharing Program for the management and implementation of large department wide information technology (IT) and telecommunications contracts and task orders.
- Administers SHA’s Miss Utility Program as required by the recently passed legislation.
- Manages the Utilities Team of the Office of Construction and as such supervise staff activities in coordinating utility facilities placed, removed, adjusted, and/or relocated in SHA right-of-way and/or SHA construction projects.
- Effectively resolved utility cost responsibility disputes recovering or preventing the loss of over 1 million dollars.
- Provided statewide utility coordination report to Governor's Task Force used to encourage local government emulation.
- Supervisor comments: "Nelson does an amazing job overseeing utilities for SHA statewide. He performs his duties expertly with his tiny team, keeping utility issues to a minimum. He is the consummate professional and a great resource to SHA."
Areawide Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1995 - 03.2005
- Provided training to district utility staff in utility coordination.
- Coordinate, review, and approve utility relocations on state highway projects to ensure adherence to policies and procedure
- Provide direction, assistance, and technical engineering expertise to state highway and utility company personnel concerning policies, procedures, agreements, and permits.
- Resolve billing disputes between utility companies and state highway personnel/auditors involving engineering issues.
- Effectively resolved utility cost responsibility disputes recovering or preventing the loss of over 1 million dollars.
- Provided statewide utility coordination report to Governor's Task Force used to encourage local government emulation.
- Supervisor comments: "Nelson is always willing to accept special projects and plays a large part in our success."
Assistant District Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1993 - 03.1995
- Supervised inspection staff for all permits issued in Frederick, Carroll, and Howard counties.
- Coordinated relocation of all utilities involved on state highway construction, maintenance, and traffic projects.
- Resolved numerous utility conflicts on state highway construction, maintenance, and traffic projects.
District Permit Inspector
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1987 - 03.1993
- Issued and inspected permits for municipalities, utility companies, residential, commercial, and industrial establishments working within state highway right-of-way.
- Supervised inspections of multiple governmental agencies and completed the Motor Vehicle Administration Project in Frederick two months ahead of schedule.
Engineering Technician III - Special Projects
State Highway Administration (SHA)
02.1984 - 03.1987
- Prepared plans, cost estimates, and special provisions for complex projects in the Special Projects Program.
- Completed the most number of jobs in one year ahead of schedule increasing productivity 65%.
Engineering Associate
Maryland State Highway Administration
07.1979 - 02.1984
- Monitored roadway construction activities and verified alignment with approved plans for infrastructure enhancements.
- Conducted thorough sampling and testing of materials to confirm compliance with SHA standards.
- Systematically documented daily tasks while applying best practices in design methodologies and complying with relevant regulations.
Education
Engineering
Hagerstown Community College
Skills
- Renewable energy integration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking and organization
- Critical thinking
- Team leadership
- Staff management
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Construction materials
Accomplishments
- Administers the Utilities Coordination Training for the Maryland State Highway Administration.
- Conducts Utility Coordination Training for SHA’s Office of Highway Developments OHD University.
- Conducts the Utility Coordination Course for the SHA’s Graduate Engineers Training Program.
- Provides utility coordination sessions at AASHTO’s Right-of-Way, Utilities, and Outdoor Advertising Control Conferences
Affiliations
- Vice Chair – Utilities; AASHTO Subcommittee for Right-of-way, Utilities and Outdoor Advertising Control
- Chair – Utilities Subcommittee; Maryland Quality Initiative Conference
- Member - Utilities Subcommittee; Transportation Research Board
Problem Solving
- Develops and implements statewide utility programs and processes to meet or resolve state and federal requirements.
- Title 12, “Miss Utility Law” enacted in April 2012 required the State Highway Administration to participate in the One Call System by October 2012. Organized, developed and implemented the State Highway Administrations’ One Call process. This included organizing the review and locating staff and process; developing the computer tracking and response system, Miss Utility Ticket Tracking System (MUTTS); developing the automated billing system; and negotiating the agreement with One Call Concepts, Inc.
- Resolves numerous utility relocation issues with community organizations, project engineers, contractors, municipal and utility representatives.
- Resolved cost issue with placing aerial utility facilities underground with Garrett Park residents. Recommended less costly alternatives resulting in a $900,000.00 savings on the project and achieved the community’s desired scenic enhancement.
Customer Service
- Continually working with various internal and external customers to improve the utility relocation coordination process and communication between the various utility industries and the State Highway Administration.
- Developed design guidelines manual for utility coordination on streetscape, urban revitalization and other context sensitive type projects.
Communication
- Negotiates, reviews, and prepares utility third party relocations agreements for SHA projects.
- Awarded Federal Highway Administrations Utility Outstanding Achievement Award for innovative incentives enabling agreements to include electric and telecommunication work to be performed by the State Highway Administrations contractor on the Inter-County Connector (ICC).
- Negotiates, reviews, and prepares agreements for the State Highway Administrations’ Resource Sharing.
- Successfully negotiated numerous Resource Sharing agreements with various telecommunications companies. Resulted in current annual revenue of over 1.2 million dollars for the State of Maryland.
Teamwork
- Assemble teams to comply with requirements for utility work on Maryland federal-aid projects.
- Received the Federal Highway Administrations Partners in Quality Award for professional knowledge, leadership and initiative in Implemented Buy America and Certification Buy America requirements on Federal-aid projects in Maryland.
- Involved with numerous other Quality Initiative and Performance Excellence teams.
- Participated in a Quality Initiative team to resolve third party cost responsibility issues on change orders. Resulted in more efficient, accurate and timely billings to utility companies for additional work in state highway projects.
Leadership Roles
- Served as Chair for Utilities of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee for Right-of-Way, Utilities and Outdoor Advertising Control (CRUO) for over 10 years.
- Former Chair for the Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI) Utilities Committee.
- Active member of the Transportation Research Board Utilities Committee.
Timeline
Areawide Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1995 - 03.2005
Assistant District Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1993 - 03.1995
District Permit Inspector
State Highway Administration (SHA)
03.1987 - 03.1993
Engineering Technician III - Special Projects
State Highway Administration (SHA)
02.1984 - 03.1987
Engineering Associate
Maryland State Highway Administration
07.1979 - 02.1984
Statewide Utility Engineer
State Highway Administration (SHA)
07.1979 - Current
Engineering
Hagerstown Community College