The women across our organizations play a vital role in advancing our industry, contributing diverse perspectives, technical expertise, and leadership that strengthen both our teams and the projects we deliver.

For Jenn Hocevar, PMP, leadership is rooted in collaboration and accountability.

“Leadership in engineering requires aligning multidisciplinary teams, establishing clear direction, and helping projects move forward successfully. Leveraging my PMP background, I take a structured approach to coordination and problem-solving, especially on complex efforts like Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure projects. As a woman in engineering, I value the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative and inclusive environment. At the end of the day, strong teamwork and shared accountability are what make all the difference in delivering successful outcomes.”

Jenn’s work reflects the growing importance of cross-functional leadership as the engineering industry adapts to emerging technologies and evolving client needs.

The impact of mentorship is another theme shared by many women throughout the profession. For Kaitlin Spomer, Senior Project Engineer, EIT, strong female role models have helped shape her career journey.

“I have had amazing female mentors so far in my career and they have taught me to be confident in the work I do and have challenged me to be the best I can be.”

Recently, Kaitlin had the opportunity to celebrate a significant milestone with the Chicago Transit Authority Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program. After years of planning, coordination, and construction, she attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project and witnessed firsthand the successful opening of the new stations.

Reflecting on the accomplishment, Kaitlin credits the dedication of the entire project team for helping the effort reach major milestones and deliver lasting improvements for the communities it serves.

For Allison Graves, Director of Buildings and Places, engineering is about much more than technical expertise alone.

“The true measurement of your engineering experience is not about how perfect your calculations are but how well you worked with the entire team to build something amazing. Being a woman in engineering, especially in construction, is special to me. Having the opportunity to not only showcase my technical and leadership skills in an office environment but also in the field provides endless challenges to learn and grow.”

Her experience reflects the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning—qualities that are essential to delivering successful projects in both office and field environments.

For Tammy Lynn Downey, BA, MA, FMA, RPA, Vice President of Facilities Management, engineering and facilities management are ultimately about helping people solve problems.

“For me, it’s always been about helping our customers succeed. Turning complex challenges into real solutions is what makes this field so exciting as it continues to evolve and advance.”

Her focus on customer success demonstrates how engineering and facilities management can create meaningful solutions that improve operations, enhance facilities, and support long-term organizational goals.

As we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, we recognize the many women across Arora Engineers and JWI who continue to advance our industry through leadership, innovation, technical excellence, and collaboration. Their contributions strengthen our teams, support our clients, and inspire the next generation of engineers and industry professionals.

Together, we remain committed to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, opportunities are accessible, and every team member can contribute to building a stronger future.

Interested in joining our team? Explore open roles!

The post Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day at Arora and JWI appeared first on Arora Engineers.

At the center of this effort is the Office of Transformation, a cross-functional team focused on strengthening alignment, improving collaboration, and ensuring that Arora’s operations evolve alongside its expanding footprint.

As OOT continues to evolve, Gauruv Arora and Despina Kotanidis continue to lead and coordinate work across the function, supporting follow-through, documentation, department engagement, and alignment across key initiatives. Their involvement helps ensure transformation efforts remain connected across people, process, technology, data, and AI.

Over the past several months, the Office of Transformation has focused on building a deeper understanding of how the organization operates and how it can best support its teams.

This includes clarifying roles and responsibilities, identifying opportunities for stronger coordination, and improving how teams connect across various departments. These efforts have helped create greater alignment across the firm while reinforcing a more consistent approach to how work is executed.

In parallel, Arora has continued to modernize how work gets done. The use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, has expanded alongside efforts to make processes more efficient and accessible. At the same time, there has been a focus on planning for the future, ensuring that the tools and systems in place today will continue to support the organization as it grows.

Together, these efforts reflect a broader shift toward building a stronger, more scalable operational foundation.

This work is guided by a clear framework built around three core pillars: People, Process, and Professionalism.

Each pillar represents a key part of how the firm is scaling.

People fosters a strong, connected culture and supporting the overall employee experience. This includes partnering on key internal programs and initiatives that help shape the culture of the organization as it grows. With the involvement of Karen Hierman, Senior Vice President of Administration and Communications, alongside Marianne Scully, Gauruv Arora, and Despina Kotanidis, there is a continued focus on building an environment that remains aligned, engaging, and reflective of Arora’s core values.

Process centers on improving how work happens across teams to enable efficiency and scalability. In addition to expanding the firm’s use of modern tools, there is an active, ongoing effort to identify and refine key processes across the organization. By maintaining a clear view of operational pain points, the firm is able to prioritize the areas that will have the greatest impact, ensuring that improvements are both targeted and aligned with long-term goals.

Professionalism emphasizes consistency, communication, and the overall quality of how the firm presents itself internally and externally. As part of this, Arora has continued to enhance how employees experience the organization from day one. By building a more structured and scalable onboarding experience, the firm is reinforcing a clear and consistent standard for how teams operate and communicate.

Together, these pillars provide a structured and practical approach to growth.

This forward-looking approach extends beyond internal efforts.

Arora continues to engage with broader industry conversations around innovation and artificial intelligence. Recently, Balamurali Rengasami, CEO of Monyx and a key leader within Arora’s global organization, joined the Airports AI Alliance, participating in executive roundtables alongside senior airport leaders and technology executives. Rick Forwood, Director of Information Technology has played a key role in integrating these ideas into the company’s IT roadmap.

As OOT continues to expand its coordination across the firm, Will Wang also brings additional perspective across AI, finance, and data-related initiatives.

This level of engagement reflects a commitment to staying connected to where the industry is heading while continuing to build the internal capabilities needed to support that future.

As the Office of Transformation continues to evolve, its focus remains clear: to support the firm’s growth through structure, alignment, and a consistent approach to how work is done.

This effort is strongly supported by executive leadership, including CEO Manik Arora, COO Vincent Ricevuto, and Mike Messina who continue to invest in and champion the growth of the Office of Transformation as part of the firm’s broader evolution.

By investing in people, strengthening processes, and elevating professionalism, Arora is building a foundation that allows it to scale with clarity and confidence while staying true to the values that have defined it from the beginning.

The post Building What’s Next: Inside Arora’s Office of Transformation appeared first on Arora Engineers.

Seeing the system live brought the scale of the upgrade into focus. From the 79-foot digital ribbon in the Broad Street Atrium to immersive vertical and curved displays throughout the facility, the technology is transforming how visitors navigate and experience the space.

Part of a broader multi-year capital improvement program, this upgrade reflects the Convention Center’s ongoing investment in technology, operations, and the overall attendee experience.

Behind the scenes, Arora provided electrical and special systems engineering services to support the power and communications infrastructure that makes the system possible, helping integrate a large-scale digital display network seamlessly within the 2.3 million-square-foot facility.

“Working alongside Uber Displays, our team helped deliver the electrical and communications infrastructure needed to support this transformative technology upgrade. Strong collaboration throughout design and construction contributed to a successful outcome for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and it was rewarding to see the final system in operation.” – Andruw Szczawinski, Sr. Electrical Designer.

Explore the full project details and learn more about Arora’s role.

Photos Courtesy of Anthony James Partners

The post Pennsylvania Convention Center, Digital Display Site Visit appeared first on Arora Engineers.

The BBQ gave us the opportunity to officially welcome Holly Marrone, our new Senior Vice President of Human Resources, to the Arora team.

A special thank you to Earl Carter for firing up the grill and helping make the event a success!

From catching up with coworkers to meeting new faces across the company, it was a great way to kick off the summer season together.

Interested in joining our team? Check out our open roles here!

The post BBQ Season is Back at Arora Engineers appeared first on Arora Engineers.

In celebration of our 40th anniversary year, we sat down with Manohar (Mike) L. Arora, MS, PE, founder of Arora Engineers (Arora), to reflect on the firm’s origins. From humble beginnings to a globally recognized infrastructure solutions powerhouse, Mike shares the principles and decisions that built the foundation for four decades of exponential growth.

The Power of One Decision

In January 1971, after working on his immigration plan and paperwork for over a year, Mike Arora arrived in America with eight dollars in his pocket, which was all the exchange money he was permitted to bring.

He left behind a middle-class life in Moga, Punjab, one of six children raised in a family where education was prized and opportunity required sacrifice. He had earned his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Surathkal (now the National Institute of Technology), married his wife Adarsh, and welcomed his first son, Manik. But he knew his future would be limited if he stayed.

How $8, a Dream, and Relentless Persistence Built Arora

“I was self-motivated to get ahead in America, the land of opportunity — a land of immigrants,” Mike says. “With an engineering degree in hand, I was determined to make my dreams come true.”

That steady, unshakable determination would become the foundation of Arora. This year, the firm celebrates 40 years in business. But its origin story began long before 1986.

The Power of Engineering

“In those times, there were only two professions that looked rewarding: engineering or medical doctor,” Mike recalls. His father encouraged the engineering path, and it quickly became more than obligation.

“Engineering was my passion. I always felt engineering can make a difference for the progress of humanity,” said Mike.

After arriving in the United States, Mike worked wherever he could, first in a fast-food restaurant, then at the DuPont company. He earned admission to Penn State’s graduate engineering program and completed his master’s degree while working full time.

He later joined a consulting engineering firm and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), including four transformative years in Saudi Arabia helping build a new military city in the desert. “It made me realize that anything is possible,” he says.

That experience stayed with him: the understanding that with hard work, persistence, and good engineering, even the most challenging projects can be accomplished, and this mindset would shape the foundation of the company he would later build.

The Power to Build Something of Your Own

“I believe taking risk is essential to maximize reward,” he says. In 1986, Mike made the daring decision to form his own engineering firm. Arora began modestly, first in the basement of his home, then in a 600-square-foot office in Media, Pennsylvania. Six or seven people, one computer, and a few drafting boards.

In those early years, Mike did everything: “I wore many hats: marketing, preparing proposals, working on projects, surveying, invoicing, client contact, even delivering contract documents personally.”

Mike’s wife, Adarsh Arora, joined the company in the late 80’s also wearing many hats supporting accounting, HR, and many other tasks. She subsequently helped grow those departments with additional staff and resources to ensure the company’s continued success.

Many firms, he was told, do not survive more than a few years. There were long hours and some uncertainty, but Mike stayed focused on his formula for success:

“Love what you do + Take risks + Work hard + Give back.”

Throughout his career, Mike remained deeply involved in professional societies, including the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and the National Fire Protection Association.

He attended seminars, conferences, and industry events, committed to learning, improving, and contributing to the engineering profession. That dedication strengthened both his technical perspective and the firm he was building. Growth came steadily, not through shortcuts, but through quality work and strong relationships.

“When clients discovered that our product and services were top level, they built more and more confidence in Arora,” Mike explained.”

Reputation grew one project at a time. Trust became the foundation. And over time, that foundation proved strong enough to last.

The Power of People

If smart risks built the firm, people sustained it. “Employees are our greatest assets,” Mike says repeatedly. Much of that philosophy traces back to his father, who ran a retail store in India.

He taught me how important customers are: professional services, good quality product, and customer care.”

Mike applied those same principles internally: “We treat employees with respect and consider them part of the Arora family. Job satisfaction is key.”

As the company grew from Media, PA to our current 26,000 SF Chadds Ford, PA headquarters, then to offices across the U.S. and overseas, this commitment to quality and respect remained constant.

Arora’s reputation was not built on a single project. It was built on consistency.

The Power of Transition

In 1993, Mike’s eldest son, Manik K. Arora, joined the firm after graduating from Drexel University with a degree in electrical engineering. He began in the field at Philadelphia International Airport, learning firsthand how infrastructure performs in real-world conditions.

Mike empowered him early. “I was giving him more opportunity to run the business,” Mike says. “He took that challenge.”

In 2003, Mike’s younger son, Raj, also joined the company. Like his brother, Raj started in the field, working at the airport before helping open Arora’s Newark office. He later relocated to New York City, supporting the firm’s continued expansion. After nearly a decade with Arora, Raj chose to pursue opportunities outside the firm, taking on executive leadership roles at Jensen Hughes where he currently serves as CEO.

In 2006, Manik Arora was named President & CEO of Arora Engineers, the same year Mike was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and stepped into the Chairman role.

The transition marked more than generational change. It coincided with a dramatic evolution in technology.

“When I started in 1986, word processing was a big thing,” Mike laughs. “Now technology, computers, AI, everything is progressing so fast.”

 While the tools may have changed, our mission has not. Engineering remains about solving complex problems, serving our clients, and delivering infrastructure that performs long term.

The Power of 40

Forty years in business is no small milestone, especially in professional services.

“When I started, people told me companies don’t last more than two or three years,” Mike says. “To stay in business, to handle difficult situations, it’s not easy.”

From a basement office to 600 square feet in Media. From a condo in Chadds Ford to a global footprint. From typewriters to AI.

From one engineer wearing every hat to a 400-person multidisciplinary infrastructure solutions powerhouse with offices across the globe.

“Forty years… it seems like yesterday,” Mike reflects. “It has been a fun ride. I’m so proud.”

What makes him proud is not just the growth, but the people: the employees who built their careers here, the clients who placed their trust in the firm, and the next generation now leading it forward.

From eight dollars and a dream to a nationally ranked ENR Top Engineering Firm Rethinking Infrastructure® for the next generation.

“It has been a pleasure to see the company going where it is going,” he says. 

The Power of 40 is not simply about longevity. It reflects a company built by people who love what they do, work hard, take responsibility, and believe in giving back to the communities we serve.

Join our growing team, explore careers here!

The post The First 40 Years: The Origins of Arora Engineers appeared first on Arora Engineers.

As Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Holly will play a key role in shaping Arora’s culture and supporting the growth of our teams. She will partner closely with leadership to strengthen how we attract, develop, and retain talent, while fostering a workplace where collaboration, trust, and performance go hand in hand.

Holly’s approach is rooted in connection and impact. She will help leaders build stronger teams, foster a culture of accountability and support, and align people strategies with business goals. Her leadership will help ensure that Arora continues to grow not just as a company, but as a place where people want to build their careers—and where the future of our workforce continues to take shape.

The post Arora Welcomes Holly Marrone, Senior Vice President, Human Resources appeared first on Arora Engineers.

During the tour, we observed key elements of the station’s ongoing transformation, including the restoration of its original lighting and historic ceiling features throughout the grand concourse, updated office spaces, and modernized restroom facilities. We also saw enhancements to outdoor areas and new café and vendor spaces designed to improve the passenger experience and help position the station as a more vibrant community destination. Together, these updates strike a thoughtful balance between preserving the station’s iconic architecture and introducing modern improvements.

Arora was honored to help lead this tour, showcasing the work our team is doing for Amtrak at 30th Street Station and highlighting the progress of this important project. Our team is delivering Electrical, Fire/Life Safety, Mechanical and Plumbing, and Special Systems/Technology services to support this major effort. Projects like this are made possible by the people behind them, including team members like Anastacia Michigan, Mechanical Discipline Lead, and Emma Downey, Mechanical Designer, who are helping bring these systems to life.

Major transportation hubs must continuously evolve, balancing historic preservation with the demands of modern systems and passenger expectations. Experiences like this strengthen our ability to deliver innovative, resilient infrastructure solutions and continue shaping the future of transportation.

Want to work on impactful projects like this? Join our team and help shape the future of transportation.

The post Arora Co-Leads Tour of Historic 30th Street Station Redevelopment appeared first on Arora Engineers.

More than a relocation, this project reimagined how space within the Terminal D–E Connector could better serve traveling military personnel and their families. The 2,830-square-foot lounge was designed to create a calm, supportive environment within one of the busiest areas of the airport.

Serving as prime design-builder, Arora Engineers (Arora) led the project from early planning through final delivery. Working within an active terminal, the team balanced design intent, operational constraints, and user experience to deliver a space that is both highly functional and meaningful.

“This project reflects what Arora delivers as a prime: bringing together engineering, project delivery, and design to create spaces that not only function well but truly support the people they’re built for. In this case, we established a design-led, design-build approach, ensuring the design process received the emphasis and attention it deserves for such a unique space.” – Sikander Jain, PE, CM, SVP Global Construction Services & NY Market Lead, Arora.

Learn more about the USO Lounge project at PHL here!

Photo Courtesy of D&R Construction

The post PHL USO Lounge Named 2026 Project of the Year by Airport Business appeared first on Arora Engineers.

As part of our 40 Acts for 40 Years initiative, Arora Engineers (Arora) launched 40 Acts for Pets and the Planet during Earth Month, encouraging our team to take simple actions that support both animal welfare and the environment.

From small, individual efforts like walking dogs and picking up litter to sharing ways to give back, the initiative focused on making impact accessible and achievable.

Through small, individual actions completed by our team, we reached our initial goal of 40 acts, unlocking a $1,000 donation from Arora.

That contribution was distributed as:
$500 to the ASPCA, supporting efforts to protect and care for animals in need.
$500 to The Nature Conservancy, helping protect lands and waters around the world

These organizations play an important role in protecting animals and preserving natural resources, aligning with our broader commitment to sustainability and community impact.

Learn more about Arora’s philanthropy and community initiatives here Philanthropy!

The post Supporting Pets and the Planet: 40 Acts for 40 Years appeared first on Arora Engineers.

Arora, supporting KSS Architects, led the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design for this 87,000+ SF, state-of-the-art middle school. Designed to meet LEED v4 BD+C: Schools Gold standards, the project transforms an aging facility into a high-performance, student-centered learning environment focused on efficiency, wellness, and long-term impact.

Through innovative engineering and integrated design, the project delivers measurable environmental benefits:

• 18.3% reduction in energy use compared to baseline standards
• 5 million gallons of annual water savings through efficient systems
• 58% daylight autonomy in learning spaces, enhancing the student experience
• 100% LED lighting for energy-efficient illumination
• 78% construction waste diverted through recycling and reuse

From energy modeling to high-performance building systems, Arora’s MEP design supports healthier indoor environments while reducing long-term operational costs.

Projects like AMY at James Martin demonstrate how thoughtful engineering can help build greener schools, benefiting students, communities, and the planet for years to come.

Explore the full project details and impact here!

The post Celebrating LEED Gold at James Martin Middle School appeared first on Arora Engineers.