News & Events

CMA Engineers, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Schmidt as President and Phil Corbett as Chief Operating Officer. These appointments are the culmination of a long-term planned strategic management and ownership transition from the founding members of CMA Engineers, who are staying involved with the firm. These changes will allow a smooth transition for our clients and for the management of the company while maintaining our commitment to excellence.

 

Paul Schmidt, P.E.
President

Paul Schmidt has been appointed President of CMA Engineers. He is a civil and environmental engineer with expertise in solid waste, water, and wastewater engineering. Paul has been a key member of the CMA Engineers’ team for 27 years and is looking forward to taking on this new role for the company.

 

Paul Schmidt succeeds Craig Musselman, PE, BCEE, who will continue as Executive Chair providing continuity and on-going involvement on projects.
Mr. Schmidt was selected New Hampshire Engineer of the Year in 2021. He is the current president of the Northern New England Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, is a past-president of the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers, and a member of ACEC, ASCE, Water Environment Federation, and the American Water Works Association.

 

Mr. Schmidt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst.

 

These appointments are the culmination of a long term planned strategic management and ownership transition from the founding members of CMA Engineers.

 

Philip Corbett, P.E.
Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer

Philip Corbett will serve as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President of CMA Engineers. Current Senior Vice-President Bill Straub, PE will continue with his current project and client service roles, while the day-to-day operational management of the firm will transition to Mr. Corbett. Phil is an experienced civil engineer with 21 years experience on both municipal and industrial projects.

 

Mr. Corbett is a Board Member of the American Council of Engineering Companies of NH and Vice-President of the Institute of Transportation Engineers-NH Chapter.

 

Mr. Corbett has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington.

Paul Schmidt, PE, President and Principal of CMA Engineers, Inc. was selected by a jury of his peers from New Hampshire’s engineering societies as the 2021 New Hampshire Engineer of the Year. The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NH) nominated Paul based on his record of professional accomplishments, service to his profession, record of contributions to his community, and dedication to his family. Paul is an environmental engineer, managing water, wastewater and solid waste projects. Paul was presented with his Award at the 71st Annual Engineer week Awards Banquet on Tuesday February 22, 2022 at the Grappone Center in Concord.

 

 

 

In 2013 the Town of Colebrook found it was experiencing 70% water loss in their water distribution system,  making it the highest water loss rate in the state.  To help the Town reduce their water loss, CMA Engineers was retained to assess the issues and develop a strategy to resolve them.  We determined that Colebrook’s Downtown District had 1890’s to 1910 vintage cast iron water main with lead joints, and it became the highest priority project to address the Town’s significant water loss.  CMA Engineers, with the help of the Town, put together a grant/loan package to fund the proposed sewer and water replacement project. Over a multi-year, multi-project effort, the project replaced more than 6,000 linear feet of both sewer and water main and their associated service lines with a combined construction value of $5.3M.  As a result of this utility project, the Town’s water loss was reduced by 100,000 gallons per day.

 

In the fall of 2020, the City of Manchester further expanded its extensive trail system by completing the Rockingham Rail Trail Expansion Project.  This project improved and revitalized a 2-mile section of the former Portsmouth Branch Railroad within the City between Mammoth Road and Lake Shore Road.  With the work completed on this section, residents can more easily and safely use the trail, year-round, to access Lake Massabesic and points as far east as Great Bay.

 

The project began in early 2018 when the City selected CMA Engineers, Inc. for design services.  The design and construction of the project were funded through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which provides 80% of the funding with a 20% match by the City. Through a collaborative effort between the City and CMA Engineers, early project efforts focused on public outreach, environmental/historical coordination, and the development of a feasible conceptual design. Priorities were then focused on the development of the trail design, permitting, and construction documents. The project was put out to bid in June of 2020 and awarded to Weaver Brothers Construction Company, Inc., which commenced construction in August 2020 and substantially completed the trail in December 2020.The trail now provides a 10-foot granular surface from Mammoth Road to Lake Shore Road.

 

There were several significant design challenges including the section of trail between I-93 and Candia Road, which was under water in existing conditions. In this section, the design established a stable trail that will remain dry and usable year-round, while minimizing wetland impacts, by installing 4 “natural bottom” equalization pipes that will allow water to flow under the trail from the southern side to the northern side, instead of over the trail as it previously did. The natural bottoms were installed in the pipes to encourage wildlife passage between the two wetlands.

 

The project also constructed formal bicycle/pedestrian crossings at Mammoth Road, Page Street, I-93 Southbound and Northbound connector ramps, Candia Road, and Lake Shore Road. Each crossing included treatments to enhance safety, some locations including actuated rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) and refuge islands. Neighborhood connections were also created along the trail to allow convenient trail access.

 

Given the current environment we are living in, this project could not have come at a better time for City residents.  “Parks & Rec is very excited about this latest addition to Manchester’s growing network of walking and biking trails,” says Mark Gomez, Chief of Parks and Recreation.  “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy this new gem.”  This project is another outstanding example of the City of Manchester’s commitment to providing safe, accessible, and inviting recreation opportunities for all its citizens to enjoy.

 

https://www.unionleader.com/manchester-completes-rockingham-rail-trail-expansion/article_c121bfef-202a-5f6e-a480-c674d56b6288.html

 

Trailblazing: 2-mile stretch of Rockingham Rail Trail officially realized

 

Paul Schmidt Vice-President and Principal of CMA Engineers, Inc. of Portsmouth has been selected by a jury of his peers from New Hampshire’s engineering societies as the 2021 New Hampshire Engineer of the Year. The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NH) nominated Paul based on his record of professional accomplishments, service to his profession, record of contributions to his community, and dedication to his family.  Paul is an environmental engineer, managing water, wastewater and solid waste projects.

 

Paul has been an active member of the New Hampshire engineering community for over 25 years and is a previous NH Young Engineer of the Year Award recipient and Fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He received a BSCE from Clarkson University and an MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.  He is a licensed professional engineer in New Hampshire and Maine.

 

Paul provides project development for CMA Engineers, Inc., managing high-level projects and mentoring younger staff. In addition to significant project work state-wide, Paul managed the implementation of an innovative solid waste/wastewater project in Berlin that was selected as the NH Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award in 2014. The project was described as “the essence of good engineering” by the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, as the project was accorded one of two annual national project awards by ASCE.

 

Paul masterfully balances his drive and passion for engineering while giving back to his profession and community. He has been actively involved in multiple New Hampshire engineering organizations including the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NH) where he has held national and state positions and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) – Northern New England, where he currently serves as Treasurer.

Paul and his wife Cathy reside in Stratham, NH with their daughter, Andrea and son, Adam. They are active in their community and volunteer their time to a number of local, state, and national charities.

 

COVID-19 concerns have delayed the award presentation.  Paul will be officially honored at the 2022 Engineers Week Awards Banquet & Exhibition.

 

CMA Engineers is providing environmental monitoring for two solar development sites in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. The sites are comprised of approximately 6 acres of solar panels which will generate 1 MW of power each. Construction began in August 2020 and the panels are expected to be on-line by the end of the year.

 

CMA Engineers completed the site design for the Pittsfield projects which included grading, stormwater feature layout, and determination of appropriate erosion controls. These components were part of permitting packages to the Town of Pittsfield Zoning and Planning Boards, and the NHDES Alteration of Terrain Bureau to which CMA Engineers successfully obtained permits for our client, GSSG New Hampshire, LLC.  CMA Engineers also completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for each of the projects, which are being constructed by Precision Solar Renewables, LLC out of New York.