Recently, Anastacia Michigan, PE, LEED Green Associate, Mechanical Discipline Lead, attended the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference, one of the industry’s leading technical gatherings for HVAC and building systems professionals. Her participation reflects Arora’s commitment to staying at the forefront of mechanical engineering innovation and best practices.

Continuous Learning in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

Mechanical engineering is advancing quickly. From building decarbonization and energy resiliency to evolving ventilation standards and high-performance system design, today’s projects demand deeper technical integration and forward-thinking solutions.

Industry conferences like ASHRAE provide engineers the opportunity to:

• Stay aligned with evolving codes, standards, and technical guidance
• Evaluate emerging HVAC technologies and system strategies
• Strengthen expertise in sustainable and resilient design
• Engage with peers to exchange ideas and practical lessons learned

For licensed professionals, ongoing education is not optional — it is essential to maintaining technical excellence and delivering high-performing systems for complex infrastructure environments.

Bringing Insight Back to Our Projects

At Arora, we believe continuous professional development directly strengthens the value we deliver to clients. The insights gained through industry engagement support smarter system design, improved energy performance, and long-term operational reliability across aviation and critical infrastructure facilities.

As we celebrate Engineering Week, we recognize engineers like Anastacia who embody curiosity, rigor, and a commitment to growth. Their dedication ensures that Arora continues to deliver mechanical solutions that are efficient, resilient, and built for the future.

Interested in growing your engineering career with a team committed to continuous learning? Explore opportunities at Arora Engineers: View Open Positions

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Arora Engineers (Arora) is proud to announce the addition of Mike Messina, Chief Financial Officer. Mike brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience supporting engineering and professional services organizations through periods of growth, transformation, and increasing complexity.

As Chief Financial Officer at Arora, he will play a key role in shaping the firm’s financial strategy, strengthening operational performance, and partnering with executive leadership to advance Arora’s long-term vision.

Known for his collaborative leadership style and forward-thinking approach, Mike focuses on translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight that supports informed decision-making across the organization. He completed the Succeeding as a Strategic CFO program at Harvard Business School and is a member of FENG as well as the Philadelphia Chapter of the CFO Leadership Council. Passionate about developing strong teams and leveraging technology, Mike is committed to helping engineering organizations scale responsibly while fostering a culture of transparency and trust.

Mike’s addition to the leadership team strengthens Arora’s ability to deliver thoughtful financial stewardship while supporting continued growth across the firm!

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When asked what motivates him to go the extra mile, Andruw shared that his drive comes from seeing projects evolve from early concepts to fully realized spaces that the public can experience and enjoy.

“Whenever I’m at an airport where I’ve worked, I can look at the final product and say, ‘I helped design that.’ It reminds me of all the hard work and behind-the-scenes effort that went into bringing it to life.”

This pride in craftsmanship, coupled with his thoughtful approach to design, has earned Andruw the trust of colleagues and clients alike.

Gary LaMonica, Electrical Practice Lead, stated, “ Andruw is a great communicator. You can count on him to complete his tasks, and his enthusiasm is contagious.”

Andruw’s long-standing commitment to quality, collaboration, and dependable project delivery continues to strengthen our Planning and Design team. We are grateful for his contributions and proud to highlight his well-deserved recognition.

Interested in joining our team, click to explore open positions!

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Arora Engineers (Arora) is proud to announce that Vincent E. Ricevuto, PE, CHMM, REM, CSP, PMP, has been named Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP) for 2026.

This appointment recognizes Vince’s sustained leadership within the organization and his ongoing influence on advancing professional standards in hazardous materials management. As Vice Chair, he will support executive decision-making, help guide organizational priorities, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen AHMP’s role as a leading voice in the industry.

At Arora, Vince oversees teams addressing complex environmental and hazardous materials challenges, with a focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. His ability to align technical expertise with strategic vision has made him a trusted leader both within the firm and across the broader professional community.

Reflecting on his new role, Vince stated:

“AHMP plays a critical role in shaping how our profession responds to evolving risks and responsibilities. I’m honored to step into this position and look forward to supporting thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and long-term growth for our members and the industry.”

In his role on the Executive Committee, Vince will help translate organizational objectives into action, strengthen leadership continuity, and foster partnerships that expand AHMP’s reach and resources. His experience in governance, strategic planning, and organizational leadership will be key as AHMP continues to adapt to emerging industry needs.

Throughout his career, Vince has been actively engaged with AHMP and other professional organizations throughout his career, contributing to efforts that advance safety, education, and innovation. He is also committed to promoting inclusive leadership, recognizing that diverse perspectives are essential to effective governance and informed decision-making.

Vince’s selection as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee reflects his professionalism, dedication, and respected standing within the hazardous materials management community. Arora congratulates him on this achievement and looks forward to the continued impact of his leadership.

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The Airport Business Top 40 Under 40 recognizes exceptional talents and forward-thinking individuals within the aviation industry, spotlighting those who are shaping success today while paving the way for innovation in the future. Candidates were rigorously evaluated based on their innovation, outstanding qualities, and dedicated involvement in the industry.

With over 15 years of experience, Masha has helped deliver some of the world’s most complex and high-profile airport programs, including JFK New Terminal One, Newark Liberty Terminal A, and Bangalore Terminal 2. As Arora’s Director of Design for Major Programs, she is known for her ability to guide multidisciplinary teams, align technical and regulatory requirements, and ensure that large-scale terminal projects meet their operational, budgetary, and passenger-experience goals.

Masha’s influence extends well beyond project execution. She is an educator at NJIT, a mentor through ACE and Professional Women in Construction, and an advocate for developing inclusive pathways into the design and construction fields. Her research at Columbia University on “Immigrowth,” exploring how immigration shapes rapid urban expansion, reflects her broader interest in the social, cultural, and economic forces that shape modern infrastructure.

Across every role, Masha brings curiosity, creativity, and a talent for connecting big-picture strategy with detailed technical delivery. Her recognition as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree celebrates not only her accomplishments to date but also her growing impact on the future of aviation design.

Congratulations, Masha, on this remarkable achievement! To read the original announcement, click here.

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At Arora Engineers (Arora) our Building Information Modeling (BIM) team plays a vital role in transforming complex data into clarity and confidence for both our teams and clients. This month, we’re proud to spotlight Suresh Srinivasan, BIM Manager, whose leadership and technical expertise continue to elevate Arora’s BIM and Scan-to-BIM operations.

“I hope my work in BIM provides clarity and confidence for both my team and clients,” says Suresh Srinivasan. “By delivering accurate, data-rich models, I aim to streamline design and construction processes, reduce errors, and save costs. For my team, I strive to create reliable models that foster seamless collaboration across disciplines. For clients, I want my work to translate into buildings that are efficient, sustainable, and exceed their vision.”

Suresh’s philosophy reflects the core of Arora’s BIM practice – precision, collaboration, and innovation. His leadership helps bridge the gap between design intent and construction execution, empowering teams to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

“Suresh takes initiative in delivering as accurate a final product as humanly possible,” shares Earl Carter, BIM Manager. “He proactively identifies potential stumbling blocks that could hinder the timely delivery of a project, communicates with partners to resolve issues, and ensures production stays on track.”

Suresh also leads the Philadelphia Scan-to-BIM team with strong guidance, helping them work more efficiently while serving as a valuable resource for newer staff.

Under Suresh’s direction, the BIM team continues to enhance quality, collaboration, and efficiency across disciplines, helping clients achieve data-rich, reliable models that inform better design and construction decisions. His dedication to accuracy and mentorship has not only strengthened internal workflows but also built lasting trust with both colleagues and clients.

At Arora, leaders like Suresh embody our commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable infrastructure through innovation and collaboration.

Interested in joining a team that’s redefining how infrastructure is designed and delivered? Explore career opportunities with Arora Engineers.

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At Arora Engineers (Arora), Rethinking Infrastructure® isn’t just about the built environment, it begins with how we work. As the company continues to grow, so does the need for intentional systems that connect people, data, and strategy.

Since joining Arora in early 2023, Despina Kotanidis has helped drive that evolution by streamlining processes, strengthening data integrity, and leading transformation efforts that enable smarter, more connected ways of working. Despina has focused on a central challenge: how the company collects, organizes, and uses its data.

What began as a solo effort to untangle Arora’s data landscape evolved into a broader initiative, built on hours of cleaning datasets, previewing system behavior, and listening to teams describe what wasn’t working. Through that process, she began laying the foundation for many of the transformation efforts now housed within the Office of Transformation.

Today, Despina’s role centers on how systems, data, and workflows connect across the organization. While her early contributions included dashboards and reporting, her focus quickly expanded to the structural work that enables smarter decision-making and a better user experience.

“It wasn’t about fixing one system,” she says. “It was about connecting the dots between them, and understanding where people were getting stuck, and why.”

Leading Foundational Change

Within the Office of Transformation, Despina now leads several of the group’s most critical initiatives. Her efforts include process mapping, measuring efficiency gains, integrating AI use cases, and proposing long-term improvements to how information flows across the business.

Her work often begins with translation, connecting operational needs to optimized processes, and helping leadership see where small, intentional shifts can lead to broader improvement.

“Sometimes I’m deep in the data on the back end,” she says. “Other times I’m in a meeting listening to where things feel broken or difficult. Both are part of the same process.”

Bridging People, Systems, and Strategy

Despina approaches her work with a strong technical foundation and a people-first mindset. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer and information technology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she focuses on software engineering, systems design, and machine learning. That learning informs not just what she builds, but how she helps others adopt and adapt to new ways of working.

“My background has always involved analysis — whether in research or operations,” she explains. “But what I care most about is how people experience their work. I aim to lead with equal warmth and competence, because transformation is only successful when it works for the people experiencing it.”

Her efforts span everything from SOP creation and internal communications to strategic advisory and AI enablement. Through it all, her focus remains the same: building systems that bring clarity, reduce friction, and enable people to perform at their best.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues, both within the Office of Transformation and across the company, who have been open to rethinking processes, sharing their time, and helping shape better ways of working. Their willingness to explore alternatives is what makes real transformation possible!”

Through her leadership, Despina continues to shape how Arora approaches transformation, not as a one-time initiative, but as an ongoing practice of learning, collaboration, and improvement. Her work embodies the spirit of Rethinking Infrastructure® by ensuring that progress at Arora starts from within, empowering teams to work smarter, connect better, and innovate with purpose.

Learn more about the Office of Transformation and how Arora is aligning people, process and culture.

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Tammy brings more than 25 years of experience leading large-scale infrastructure, operations, and compliance programs across the federal and commercial sectors. Known for her leadership in facilities management and secure government operations, she has successfully directed multimillion-dollar contracts and developed performance-driven systems that enhance efficiency and reliability.

Tammy holds a BA, MA, FMA, and RPA and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Her strategic mindset and commitment to excellence will further strengthen Arora’s mission to deliver innovative and dependable facility solutions.

Welcome to the team, Tammy!

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When asked how her role at Arora has shaped who she is today, Christyn reflects on growth that’s both professional and deeply personal.

“Leading Arora’s marketing and proposal efforts has made me more resilient, adaptable, and intentional in how I work,” she shares.

“Managing over a thousand proposals a year alongside digital campaigns, award submissions, prequalification’s, and the continuous improvement of our content library has taught me how to pivot quickly, stay strategic under pressure, and guide a team through high-stakes deadlines without losing sight of the bigger picture.”

Her journey at Arora has been one of transformation. What began as a role focused on proposals and marketing coordination has evolved into a platform for leadership, innovation, and mentorship.

“This role has pushed me to grow not just as a marketer in the AEC and tech space, but as a communicator, collaborator, and teammate. I’ve come to thrive in the work of modernizing outdated processes, supporting others in their growth, and finding smarter, more sustainable ways to move us all forward.”

Adam Oliver, Chief Marketing Officer had the privilege of witnessing Christyn’s evolution firsthand, shared his perspective on her impact and professional development over the years:

“Since Christyn’s first interview and day at Arora, I knew she was something special and had immense potential. Over those six-plus years, she has accepted and excelled at every new challenge put in front of her with unwavering commitment to excellence and attention to detail, putting her all into every assignment big or small.

Her evolution from marketing coordinator doing small sub proposals and quals, to leading complex prime proposals, in-depth technical content pieces, and most recently managing an international marketing team, never ceases to impress me. Watching her grow and succeed has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional leadership career.”

Christyn’s journey is a testament to how dedication, curiosity, and leadership can shape not just a career, but a mindset, one that continually seeks to raise the bar, inspire others, and move forward with purpose.

Interested in joining our team, click to explore open positions!

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A Leadership Role Beyond Administration

Within Arora, Karen oversees vital administrative and communications functions, ensuring that the firm operates cohesively and efficiently across all offices. Her leadership strengthens alignment, helps scale the company’s culture of excellence, and empowers teams to deliver high-quality work.

But Karen’s influence extends further: she leads Arora’s philanthropic and community efforts, especially the firm’s partnership with the USO. She manages our USO initiatives, including the annual USO Golf Outing, and organizes outreach events that express Arora’s commitment to giving back. Through careful planning and coordination, she brings our values of service, partnership, and innovation to life in the communities we serve.

“Karen’s leadership, dedication, and compassion have made a lasting impact on Arora’s culture and success. For 15 years, she has been instrumental in shaping who we are as a company, balancing operational excellence with a genuine commitment to our employees and the communities we serve. Her professionalism, care for others, and unwavering support of our USO and community programs truly reflect the values that define Arora.”
— Manik Arora, President & CEO, Arora Engineers

Anchoring Community Commitment

Karen plays a central role in aligning Arora’s community initiatives with the company’s broader mission, ensuring that corporate giving remains meaningful, sustained, and reflective of the communities where we live and work. Under her leadership, Arora proudly supports:

• Managing our annual USO golf outings, to support the USO and its mission
• Supporting the American Cancer Society, Brandywine SPCA, Hunger and Health Coalition, March of Dimes, and more
• Contributing to STEM and literacy causes like regional book drives
• Partnering with the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighters’ Fund (WODFF) to honor and assist the families of first responders who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty
• Organizing donations for One Tree Planted to promote environmental sustainability and help restore forests through tree planting initiatives around the world

In Her Own Words: Q&A with Karen Hierman

Can you take us back to your first days at Arora? What was your role, and what do you remember most about that time?

“After recently relocating back to Pennsylvania, I was eager to find an opportunity that aligned with both my professional goals and personal values. Arora stood out as an organization where I could grow and contribute meaningfully. I joined the team as an Engineering Administrative Assistant in a temporary-to-permanent capacity. What I remember most from those early days was the welcoming environment and the sense of possibility. I was excited to immerse myself in a new role, support the engineering team, and begin learning the ins and outs of the company. There was a strong culture of collaboration and professionalism that immediately made me feel like part of something bigger.”

If you could go back and talk to your younger self on your first day at Arora, what would you say?

“I would tell myself that it’s perfectly okay not to have all the answers on day one. Growth takes time, and confidence is built through experience. Trust in your ability to learn, adapt, and evolve. Your existing skills are just the foundation, what matters most is your willingness to grow, stay curious, and embrace every challenge as a learning opportunity. In time, your potential will guide you exactly where you need to be.”

What’s a lesson or mindset that’s carried you through the inevitable ups and downs of a 15-year career?

“One mindset that has consistently grounded me throughout my career is the understanding that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. True growth comes from learning to thrive where you are, embracing your current environment, investing in your role, and finding purpose in the opportunities at hand.”

Not every day will be a success, and that’s okay. It’s during the difficult moments, when things don’t go as planned or when progress feels slow, that you develop resilience, strengthen your character, and acquire the tools you need to navigate future challenges. These times, though uncomfortable, are often the most formative. And when the victories do come, no matter how big or small, it’s important to pause, celebrate, and acknowledge how far you’ve come. Pride in your personal journey fuels continued growth. Over time, this mindset has helped me stay focused, grateful, and committed even through the inevitable ups and downs of a long-term career.”

How has your role—and the company—evolved over the past 15 years?

“Over the past 15 years, I’ve been fortunate to grow alongside Arora, progressing through multiple roles from starting at the ground level to ultimately becoming part of the executive team. Each stage of that journey brought valuable lessons, shaped by changes in staffing, evolving procedures, and the influence of professional relationships that served as both mentorship and motivation. Every chapter prepared me for the next, both personally and professionally.

Arora has experienced significant transformation during that time. It has expanded in scale, refined its processes, and adapted to meet the needs of an ever-changing industry. Despite all the growth and change, the company has remained grounded in a culture of reliability, and dedication, qualities that continue to make it a place where people can thrive.”

What advice would you give to someone just starting at Arora today?

“Approach your new role with a mindset of curiosity and continuous learning. Be a sponge, absorb knowledge not only from your direct responsibilities and immediate team but also from the broader organization. Take the time to understand how various departments function, observe how decisions are made, and seek out opportunities to learn from colleagues across disciplines. The more context you gather, the more effectively you’ll be able to contribute, collaborate, and grow.”

How do you hope your contributions have shaped the company, the culture, or the people around you?

“Throughout my time at Arora, I’ve made it a priority to lead with authenticity and integrity. I strive to let my words, actions, and leadership style speak for themselves, encouraging others to form their own impressions based on how I engage, support, and collaborate with them. My hope is that the values I’ve brought to my work, whether through the processes I’ve helped implement, the knowledge I’ve shared, or the everyday moments of kindness and patience, have made a meaningful impact. If even one person feels inspired to lead with empathy, approach their work thoughtfully, or believe in their own potential because of something I’ve modeled, then I consider that a lasting and worthwhile contribution to our culture.”

A Legacy of Heart and Purpose

For 15 years, Karen has embodied leadership that balances strategy with empathy. Her stewardship ensures that Arora not only succeeds as a firm but also stands as a force for positive change in our communities. We are deeply grateful for Karen’s vision, dedication, and the lasting impact she continues to make, both within Arora and beyond.

Interested in joining our team, click to explore open positions!

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