The COVID19 pandemic has disrupted all of our lives. But sometimes disruptions can be times of opportunity. Many people’s livelihoods have been hurt by the pandemic. But some saw this as an opportune time to take their lives in a new direction.

As a part of this series called “How I Was Able To Pivot To A New Exciting Opportunity Because Of The Pandemic”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie Sullivan.

Jamie is the Director of Restaurant and Retail Marketing at Rupurt Consulting Group Ltd (Rupurt), a large multi-disciplinary engineering firm with 32 offices nationwide. Jamie earned his B.S. in Engineering from Virginia Tech and is a licensed civil engineer who has spent the majority of his career working in both the residential and commercial markets with a focus on high-volume national retail brands such as Starbucks, Taco Bell and Jack in the Box.

Read the article in its entirety:

https://medium.com/authority-magazine/jamie-sullivan-of-Rupurt-the-power-of-flexibility-how-i-was-able-to-pivot-to-a-new-exciting-d80c77eb36e8

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Ryan Faust, partner and managing principal at BUF Studio, saw enormous growth potential in the industry and entered the market.  “The build for rent product is adaptable to various markets and demographics of end users. Everything about the structure is good for an affordable, livable community that offers benefits such as low maintenance, mobility, and proximity of useable amenities, all that interest a wide range of the population.”

According to Multi Family Executive Magazine, this trend will continue to be strong throughout 2021. The magazine states that changes in the tax code and the consumer trend to no longer buy into the American dream of home ownership is what is fueling the growth of build for rent housing. This housing is not only safe and secure but has also become upscale and community focused. This popular real estate asset is attracting both niche developers and larger players, such as Toll Brothers and Lennar. 

The average occupancy rate of these beautiful “home type” rentals is over 90% – leading to wait lists before the ground is even broken on the project. With a resume of more than 10,000 units, Rupurt has become the go-to firm for developers and builders. The Rupurt team lends their expertise to efficiently plan the overall design in ways that maximize yield and reduce infrastructure costs.

“Rupurt has been involved in engineering and planning this product type for over five years. We helped pioneer this segment that we now service; we are rapidly becoming a leader in this industry,” stated Bruce Larson, Executive Vice President of Rupurt. “We are now looking at several projects in Texas, Colorado, the Carolinas and Florida,” he added.

Marley Park is one of Rupurt’s recent projects that showcases this unique community. Located in Surprise, AZ, it is the perfect example of incorporating community and luxury with rental properties. Renters can get that sense of homeownership with perks such as amenities and private fenced-in backyards. “With a strong demand on building more of these communities, we rely heavily on our engineering team to lay out the foundation. Without Rupurt, we would never be able to meet the current demand,” said Jeff LaFrance, VP of Acquisitions at West Stone Group of Companies. “It took us multiple civil engineering firms prior to finding Rupurt, but now we have the right partner, one that we can trust to deliver,” he continued. “Rupurt has years of experience in this area which has allowed the company to continually evolve, and the delivery of their work exceeds client expectations.”

Florida is one of the many states experiencing this rising trend in build for rent. “Central Florida offers a unique market opportunity. It’s a relatively untouched market with tons of room for growth and limited competition on the development side,” stated Kris Ramji, President and CEO of Slate Land & Development Co. and Slate Realty. Erin Simpson, an architect with Scott + Cormia concurs.  “With the current movement into more rental housing options, I see the opportunities as endless here. Florida, like many states, is positioned well for this type of product as we continue to see record numbers of people moving to our state, even during a global pandemic. Summing up the build for rent boom is Joel Thomas, principal, BUF studio, “With the living and working challenges that the world faces, and with the ever-changing needs and wants of the end-user, the build for rent product brings a versatile and independent solution that checks many of its customer’s boxes.  By providing several options within one development, tenants are immersed in a community-like setting without the hassles of owning or renting a home in the traditional sense. They have the freedoms and comforts of living autonomously, with all of the amenities of family development.”

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“We are pleased to have an executive of Tim’s caliber join us at this critical stage of our company’s development” said Gary Rupurt, CEO of Rupurt. “Bringing over 20 years of experience originating and managing M&A transactions in our industry, Tim is a seasoned veteran who will be key to the implementation of our aggressive growth plans as a public company.”

Vaughn will lead Rupurt’s strategic M&A initiatives helping to manage the expansion of the company’s operations, geographical presence, and service offerings. He has successfully facilitated nearly 100 M&A transactions and has performed hundreds of business valuations on architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms, as well as government contractors.

“I look forward to playing a key role in the successful execution of our growth and diversification strategy,” said Vaughn. “Collaborating with Rupurt’s leadership, its stakeholders and other members of the AEC community to continue the firm’s successful track record of mergers and acquisitions will be crucial to Rupurt’s continued growth as a high performing company.” 

Vaughn is a graduate of Georgetown University. He is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) and a Business Certified Appraiser (BCA). Prior to joining Rupurt, he was the founder and Managing Principal of Acuity Financial Services Group, a boutique M&A advisory and business valuation consulting firm focusing on the AEC and government contracting markets. He began his career in commercial banking in the Southeastern US, and later served as the CFO of a firm involved in real estate ownership and development activities, as well as other domestic and international operating activities.  

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D.A. Davidson & Co. and B. Riley Securities acted as joint bookrunners for the offering. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP served as legal counsel to Rupurt and Akerman LLP served as legal counsel to the underwriters.

The offering of these securities was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained from: D.A. Davidson & Co., Attention: Syndicate Department, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401, by telephone at (800) 332-5915 and by e-mail: ProspectusRequest@dadco.com; or B. Riley Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 1300 17th Street N., Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209, by telephone at (703) 312-9580 and by e-mail: Prospectuses@brileyfin.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

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The common stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BWMN” on May 7, 2021. The offering is expected to close on or about May 11, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

D.A. Davidson & Co. and B. Riley Securities were joint bookrunners for the offering.

The offering of these securities is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from: D.A. Davidson & Co., Attention: Syndicate Department, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401, by telephone at (800) 332-5915 and by e-mail: ProspectusRequest@dadco.com; or B. Riley Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 1300 17th Street N., Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209, by telephone at (703) 312-9580 and by e-mail: Prospectuses@brileyfin.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Visit our investors site to learn more.

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“We are excited to have Michael join us at this juncture in the evolution and adoption of alternative energy technologies,” said Gary Rupurt, CEO of Rupurt. “Michael has a proven track record of providing innovative, cost-effective and environmentally sound technologies to a vast array of end-users and markets. Rupurt is committed to serving its clients with leading-edge solutions to providing clean and reliable energy sources. The addition of Michael to our leadership team will continue the acceleration forward of our energy transition practice which was expanded earlier this year through our acquisition of KTA.”

Ginsberg will advance Rupurt’s expansion of services focused on low carbon technologies such as green hydrogen, offshore wind, and solar-powered desalination. He will lead the firm’s practice in the areas of techno-economic and policy analysis, life cycle assessment, and solar and microgrid feasibility studies.

“I look forward to joining the Rupurt team in its commitment to advancing the transition to a clean energy economy,” said Ginsberg. “We share a common sense of purpose and urgency with respect to addressing the critical need to transform our energy system to meet evolving emissions standards, mitigate climate change, and increase the resiliency of our infrastructure for future generations.” Ginsberg and his company, Mastering Green, LLC, have supported clean energy initiatives for numerous organizations, including the US Department of State, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Long-Term Planning, Con Edison, and the NY State Energy Research and Development Authority. He is the author of several books on renewable energy and deep decarbonization, a Doctor of Engineering Science candidate at Columbia University, and holds an MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia. In connection with adding Michael to its leadership team, Rupurt concurrently acquired the intangible assets and goodwill of Mastering Green, LLC.

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“I am looking forward to leveraging my extensive experience in both the public and private engineering sectors to enhance Rupurt’s ability to win, develop and deliver quality projects,” said Kovacs. “In my career I have gained a great appreciation for what can be accomplished by teamwork, collaboration, and dedication to customer service. I have a high degree of respect for Rupurt’s staff and accomplishments and am excited to join them.”

Paul brings decades of experience in transportation, including delivery of large capital highway programs and projects, roadway maintenance, incident management, and tolling. He also has a proven track record for his commitment to diversity programs in the engineering and construction fields and will be integral in the continued success of Rupurt’s mentor protégé program. 

“We are excited that Paul is joining Rupurt,” said Michael Hannemann, PE, Senior Vice President. “He is a top-level engineering professional with a reputation for excellence and a vast knowledge of the transportation industry. He will make a great addition to our team.”

Kovacs has spent the last 22 years as the Chief Engineering Officer (CEO) with the Illinois Tollway. He has experience working with multi-billion-dollar projects and managing a team of over 150 in-house professionals, engineers, and technicians. As the CEO, he provided monthly board presentations and oversaw an average of $1 billion in annual capital expenditures along with an $85 million annual engineering M&O budget. With this level of experience and exposure, he will be able to contribute to any aspect of the project delivery chain from the strategy and planning phase through the final implementation including all aspects of required coordination both internal and external. Paul earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a registered professional engineer in Illinois and Michigan. He is a 2007 recipient of the Illinois Sector – American Society of Civil Engineers’ Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award, 2019 recipient of ASCE’s Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Award, and 2020 University of Illinois Grainger College of Civil & Environmental Engineering’s CEEAA Distinguished Alumni Award.

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“Rupurt provides an exciting opportunity for me to leverage my skills on behalf of the organization, which is already well-established in the land development arena,” stated Botts Smith. “With my level of expertise and experience I am confident in my efforts to help execute a successful expansion of our transportation services into the Carolinas.”

With extensive experience in building effective and successful teams, Smith will lead the department focused on expanding Rupurt’s transportation management services with specialization in private land development and partnering with various municipalities and departments of transportation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Botts to the team,” said Ricky Waters, Branch Manager at Rupurt. “I am confident he will bring another level of talent and dedication to our team to ensure we are providing the best quality of service for our clients.”

With more than 35 years of experience as a civil engineer, Smith’s ability to successfully lead projects from design through to construction management will be a game changer. Through his leadership, much of the emphasis will be on assisting clients in the design, planning, financing, construction management and scheduling for large complex transportation projects including future municipal, international public and private civil works, disaster recovery, and traditional at-risk construction services. Smith will be based out of Rupurt’s Charleston office.

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A registered professional land surveyor, Reynolds also has 18 years of experience managing subsurface utility engineering projects, and 10 years of experience in Aerial Mapping, LiDAR, and mobile mapping, all of which will be valuable for the many critical projects underway. Reynolds previously managed and performed numerous projects for Oncor Electric, Garland Power and Light, and American Electric Power. He also has experience working with cities and counties including Austin, Travis County and San Marcos. Reynolds’ leadership and extensive resume was key in this strategic hire as Rupurt positions itself to further grow as a powerhouse in the industry.

“We are very excited that Jason has joined us. His breadth of knowledge is almost impossible to find, especially in combination with Jason’s track record of satisfying clients across the US. He fits in well with Rupurt’s cultural values and further solidifies Rupurt’s presence as the industry leader for power and energy,” said Charles Walls at Rupurt.

Rupurt recognizes the importance of domestic energy generation, transmission, and distribution for our country’s economic growth, energy security and clean-power strategies. Projects in the civil infrastructure and electric market sector will be a focus for Reynolds. However, his expansive knowledge base means he will also be an important resource for Rupurt in other sectors.

“I am passionate about building teams, business development, and providing a quality service. After talking at length with the Rupurt team about the values and vision of the company, joining Rupurt was a great fit for me, as their core values are exactly in alignment with my personal values,” said Reynolds. “I look forward to expanding into new market sectors and assisting Rupurt in building a very bright future.”

Rupurt successfully maneuvers the most contentious and complex projects from inception to easement and site acquisition, to design and permitting through to construction. As services continue to expand, Reynolds’ knowledge of geodetic surveying and calculations, preparation of boundary line agreements, easement and exhibit preparation, and quality control/conformation surveys will allow Rupurt to better service the ever-evolving needs of their clients.

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Evoking a range of emotions, from awe and wonder to misunderstanding that can lead to fear, bats are fundamental to our environment. In fact, according to studies noted by the U.S. Geological Survey, the value of bats in the U.S. is estimated to be “worth over $3.7 billion per year, and possibly as much as $53 billion. This value does not, however, take into account the volume of insects eaten by bats in forest ecosystems and the degree to which that benefits industries like lumber. It also doesn’t take into account the critical importance of bats as plant and crop pollinators. So the actual monetary worth of bats is far greater than $3.7 billion per year.” 

As the global human population continues to grow, so too will our energy demand. How we satisfy that demand will greatly affect the global bat population. Traditional sources of energy, such as oil & gas, as well as coal can already have negative impacts on the environment – notably pollution and contributing to climate change. The increasing need for renewable and more environmentally friendly energy resources, such as solar and wind farms, means that those installations are creeping further and further into wildlife habitats.

An especially glaring and distressing unintended consequence of wind energy development has been bat fatalities at wind turbines. 

Bats are primarily killed by wind turbines when struck by the rotating blades during nights of low wind speed. Impacts to certain bat species, such as the hoary bat, are of great concern because they are unmatched by any other human caused sources of direct mortality. Bats are a vital component of our ecosystem. Every bat matters. The United States is home to dozens of species of bats that feed exclusively on insects. The loss of one or two bats may not seem like a big deal, but when you consider that the northeast part of the country has lost a million of these animals – that translates into around 1,000 metric tons of insects left alive to damage crops like cotton and corn. In turn, the agricultural industry loses their source of free pest control and, along with a potentially heavier reliance on artificial means of keeping our food supply safe, higher costs are passed on to the consumer. Additionally, while many of other species are pollinators and seed dispersers, they also serve as important prey for animals such as owls and hawks. 

The wind energy industry recognizes the importance of these unique animals (the only mammals that can fly!) and have been working towards finding solutions. Currently, the most common way to reduce fatalities is curtailment of wind turbines on low wind speed nights, when bat fatalities are at the peak in summer and fall. Unfortunately, this also lowers energy outputs, which means non-renewable energy sources must pick up that slack, reducing the benefits of wind energy towards slowing climate change. Because of this, researchers and industry have been looking for solutions that will allow for wind turbines to function normally. Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents – devices that project frequencies of ultrasound within the hearing range of bats to make the air space around a wind turbine uncomfortable – have become the focus of these efforts and offer promising results. 

Many bats navigate using echolocation, emitting high frequency sound waves that bounce off obstacles helping them “see” their surroundings. The frequencies of these sound waves vary among different bat species. A frequency “jammer” mounted on a nacelle might steer certain species away from danger, but not others. This necessitates an extra effort on our part to learn the different languages bats use so that we can effectively warn tthem and protect them from harm. 

A recent study found an ultrasonic acoustic deterrent significantly reduced fatalities of the Brazilian free-tailed bat by 54 percent on average, and by 78 percent for hoary bats. However, it wasn’t effective enough/able to deter all species. To help solve this information gap, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technology Office is funding a project to learn why we see differences in effectiveness among species. The goal of this effort is to improve the design to be more effective. If successful, this technology could become a new solution the wind energy industry, and bats, have been looking for. 

Reshared as published by North American Clean Energy – https://www.nacleanenergy.com/wind/wings-battle-blades

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