Richard Aldridge, PE, MBA
Branch Manager | Principal Engineer – Prescott
What exciting things are going on in Civiltec’s Prescott office?
Our Prescott office continues to have an amazing year. Our agency clients are expanding our workload based on the performance of our staff and the quality of our designs. In addition to continuing water resources and roadway projects, we are part of an architectural team for the new Chino Valley Police Facility and a 14 acre pickle ball sports center complex including casitas, cottages and an RV park within the Town of Prescott Valley. With a staff of eight, including Civiltec Founder, Rick Shroads and myself, it seems like we are competing way above our weight class!
What are you looking forward to this Fall/Winter?
Some time off. Our staff has been crazy busy this last year (or two) and some downtime around Thanksgiving and Christmas would be a welcome respite from the daily grind. We are looking forward to spending time with our granddaughters and family in Colorado Springs over Christmas. Unfortunately for us, US Citizens are persona non grata in Europe, so we can’t travel to Germany to be with our 1-yr old grandson and family in Munich.
What has been a highlight of your recent project work at Civiltec?
Seeing our 2.0 MG Stoneridge steel tank and our 3.0 MG Summit 2 prestressed concrete water tanks be constructed. These were significant projects for the Town of Prescott Valley providing 5.0 MG of new potable water storage to their system due to the population growth in the area. The 2.0 MG tank was completed early this year and the 3.0 MG concrete tank is currently under construction. We also designed and brought on-line five new municipal wells for the Town of Prescott Valley.
Our Integrated Water Master Plan for the Town of Chino Valley is also slated for completion by the end of the year. We’re providing the infrastructure planning and capital improvements plan for developing the Town of Chino Valley’s 842 acre Business Park/Public Lands complex in the northeast area of the community.
How have you been spending your free time lately?
What free time?! My wife and I were able to take a couple of weekend get-a-ways in Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona this summer. Setting up my retirement garage workshop also provides a nice distraction.
What is your favorite place to grab a beer in Prescott?
I am a German Dunkles Bier snob, so if we get out for dinner I will try the local craft brews. I have yet to find a silky smooth dark beer that can compare to the Hofbrauhaus drafts in Munich, or for that matter, any of the German dark beers! The closest I have found is the Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter, which is close, but no cigar! A rare stop at BevMo in Phoenix allows for bringing home a few of the German imports.