The History of MRB Group

Nearly 100 Years of Excellence

As one of the longest-established professional engineering, architecture, and municipal services firms, MRB Group has earned an outstanding reputation for excellence.

We are a trusted partner to the communities and clients we serve.

1927 – Meloy Smith, P.E., L.S., establishes consulting, engineering, and surveying firm in the City of Rochester.

1930-1960 – The firm grows and develops specialized expertise in civil, water and wastewater
engineering.

1960-1970 – Kenneth Hershey, PE, renames the firm Smith Denluck Hershey.

Anthony Malone, P.E. and Richard Norton, P.E. become partners, forming Smith Hershey Malone and Norton. The firm relocates to Penfield, NY.

1970s – After the passing of Meloy Smith, the firm is renamed Hershey, Malone & Associates; architectural services are expanded.

1980s – Following the retirement of Ken Hershey, the firm acquires Harnish & Lookup of Newark, increasing the number of employees to 50. MRB Group Engineering, Architecture, and Surveying, P.C. is formed.

1990s – MRB Group’s client base expands across the state of New York.

Anthony Malone retires, naming Gregory Barbour, P.E., President and CEO.

2000s – Following Gregory Barbour’s passing, Thomas Pavone, P.E., is named acting President and CEO of MRB Group.

In 2007, James Gresens, P.E., becomes CEO and President, expanding MRB Group’s service area to PA, GA, NC, FL, and TX.

2010 – Gresens directs the firm’s relocation back to the City of Rochester, forming a new Corporate Headquarters within an adaptive reuse of the historic Culver Road Armory.

2011 – Ryan Colvin, P.E., is named President & CEO of MRB Group; James Oberst, P.E., is named Executive Vice President & COO.

2012 to 2019 – Firm expands water, wastewater divisions with licensed operators.

SmarterLocalGov, the municipal services division of MRB Group, is formed to provide strategic planning services to strengthen local governments.

Additional MRB Group offices open in Syracuse, NY, and in Temple, TX.

MRB Group acquires Architectural Edge and Chatfield Engineers expanding teams and professional services.

SmarterLocalGov is expanded to include economic development services and strategic plan implementation.

MRB Group opens a Finger Lakes Office in Geneva, and a Capitol District Office in Saratoga Springs, NY.

In 2019, MRB Group acquires BSP Engineers, adding several team members, broadening the services available to clients, and establishing a new office in Waco, TX.

2020 – MRB Group combines two Temple, TX, offices into one newly renovated, expanded location in downtown Temple.

Awards

Our team is proud to have been recognized by industry peers and professional organizations:

2021 — Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce – 2021 Top 100 Companies

2020 — NY ACEC 2021 Engineering Excellence Award – Silver – Brighton Volunteer Ambulance Building Addition

2020 — Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce – 2020 Top 100 Companies

2019 — Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce – 2019 Top 100 Companies

2019 — Genesee Valley Chapter, APWA, Harry S. Swearingen Chapter Service Award – Paul Chatfield, PE

2019 — Genesee Valley Chapter, APWA, Public Works Project of the Year, Environmental – Monroe County DES East Side Trunk Sewer Improvement Project

2019 — NY ACEC Engineering Excellence Award – Silver – Four Town Economic Development / Water Project

2019 — NY ACEC Engineering Excellence Award – Gold – Monroe County Trunk Sewer Project

2018 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Award – Silver – Town of Canandaigua Highway Facility

2017 — APWA Small Cities/Rural Community – Structures – Farmington Town Hall Improvement Project

2017 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Awards (Recipient of 2 Awards):
Silver – Trumansburg Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
Silver – Trumansburg Well and Water System Improvements

2016 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Awards – Gold – Newark Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements

2016 — Small Cities / Rural Communities Project of the Year Award (With Hogan Structural Systems Inc, and the Village of Dansville)

2015 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Awards (Recipient of 2 Awards):
Platinum – Dansville Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project
Silver – Town of Farmington Justice Court Building

2015 — APWA Small Cities / Rural Communities Project of the Year for Environmental Projects – Dansville Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project

2014 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Awards (Recipient of 2 Awards):
Platinum – Scottsville Regional Pump Station/Forcemain
Silver – Village of Lyons Dissolution Plan & Analysis

2013 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Awards (Recipient of 3 Awards):
Gold – Belmont Wastewater Treatment Plant
Gold – Strategic Municipal Initiatives – an MRB Group Project
Silver – Farmington Highway Garage

2012 — Rochester Engineering Society, Kate Gleason Young Engineer of the Year Award – Recipient Clement Chung, P.E.

2011 — Genesee Valley Chapter and New York State Chapter, APWA Distinguished Service to Public Works Award – Recipient Tony Malone, P.E.

2011 — Genesee Valley Chapter and New York State Chapter, APWA Douglas C. Stone Excellence in Education Award – Recipient David Lukas

2010 — NYACEC Engineering Excellence Award – Caneadea Water Treatment Facility

Our Services Include:

Engineering

Structural & Civil Engineering to Strengthen Communities

Architecture

Master Planning, Facility Design, Construction Administration

SmarterLocalGov

Municipal, Economic Development and Strategic Planning Services

Grant Services

Finding, Securing, and Managing Critical Funding Opportunities

Tim Carpenter, P.E.

Syracuse Operations Manager

Bio Coming Soon!

DIANA M. SMITH

Business Development Director

As Former Mayor of the Village of Seneca Falls, and Past-President of New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), Diana Smith has years of direct experience in state and local government, municipal strategic planning, budgeting, service delivery, and operations. Her focus on municipal efficiency resulted in the creation of Strategic Municipal Initiatives, an award-winning project that led to the development of SmarterLocalGov, the Municipal Services Division of MRB Group.

THOMAS J. FROMBERGER, P.E.

Team Leader

Tom Fromberger is an experienced engineer and innovative design professional, recognized for successful, cost-effective solutions that resolve issues in challenging environments. He possesses a wealth of industrial, commercial, residential, municipal, and recreational design experience, with a unique ability to expedite regulatory permitting and approvals.

SCOTT BOVA, A.I.A., NCARB

Architecture Team Leader

Scott Bova is a creative, solution-oriented professional architect with hands-on project management experience. His team leadership involves coordinating the talent of several creative architects, who each compliment the team’s unique ability to transform abstract visions into a tangible, functional, aesthetically pleasing—and affordable—end product.

BILL DAVIS

Senior Project Manager/Team Leader (Ex Officio & Management Team)

With years of direct experience, Bill Davis is often sought out by peers as a leader in civil and environmental engineering. He is a leading wastewater expert. His focus includes evaluation of wastewater operations, system design, construction-phase services, and troubleshooting process challenges in water and wastewater treatment facilities and system components.

PATRICK A. NICOLETTA, P.E.

Senior Project Manager/Team Leader (BOD & Management Team)

Pat Nicoletta’s leadership involves hands-on engineering, field expertise, and operational experience. His diverse background in water and wastewater includes analysis, planning, funding, system design, and construction phase services. Pat’s strength is in finding innovative ways to solve utility issues in a manner that’s cost-effective and affordable for rural communities—and he is driven to far exceed client expectations.

JAMES J. OBERST, P.E.

Executive VP & COO

Jim Oberst’s leadership focuses on streamlined and efficient operations, for both MRB Group’s internal functions and external client support processes. His extensive expertise in engineering, project and team management, LEED/environmental principles, and strategic planning benefits communities and private sector clients who rely on his trusted counsel.

RYAN T. COLVIN, P.E.

President/CEO (BOD & Management Team)

Ryan Colvin is a dynamic and driven engineer and organizational leader, with a long history of serving as trusted advisor to municipal officials across the State of New York. His practical and realistic focus on helping local governments achieve long-term fiscal and environmental sustainability has earned MRB Group the reputation of serving as a partner to client communities. Many have worked with Ryan and MRB Group for decades.

DAVID M. DOYLE, P.E.

Vice President (BOD & Management Team)

Dave Doyle is a respected civil engineer, project team leader, and operations expert. His extensive involvement in the study, planning, and design of municipal infrastructure projects includes both water supply and sanitary sewer improvements. He has assisted many rural communities with developing, funding, and implementing critical projects which have resolved significant environmental challenges and infrastructure needs.

Thomas Caponi, P.E.

Senior Project Manager/Team Leader (Management Team)

Thomas E. Caponi has more than 30 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, specializing in the planning, design, and construction oversight of water/wastewater treatment facilities, water distribution systems, and wastewater collection systems. He is an innovator in both design and treatment processes, recognized for utilizing emerging technologies to help municipal clients achieve operational efficiency.