Page 34 - 2020 February E-issue

Written by Pietro V. Giovenco, P.E., President and CEO, Bergmann

On December 25, 2019 we lost a gifted engineer, an Being the consummate visionary, he was always ahead of
incredible entrepreneur, and, above all, an inspirational leader the competition with new ideas. The Hoosick River Bridge,
that many of us had the great fortune to know: the Corning By-Pass, the Stutson Street Lift Bridge (known
Donald J. Bergmann, P.E. today as the ORorke Bridge) were major early projects that
To know Don was to know a drive and vision that few often put Bergmann Associates on the map as a world-class civil
embodied, from developing one of the first full-service firms engineering firm.
in Upstate New York, to being a front-runner in virtual reality He also foresaw the impact technology would have on the
simulations, to expansion into Philadelphia, Buffalo, Toledo engineering profession and eagerly embraced innovation,
and Jacksonville markets. being one of the first A/E companies in the U.S. to offer virtual
Its clear that his drive was a result of inspiration he drew reality simulations. Under Dons direction, Bergmann invested
from powerful leaders throughout his life. This started early in significantly in a Silicon Graphics Onyx Supercomputer, which
Don’s days serving as an officer in the US Naval Engineering provided the computing power to render digital images to
Corps and later the Naval Reserves, and during his time at create a virtual simulation. We had no idea what we could do
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), were he majored in with such a powerful piece of equipment, Gary Olin recalled,
civil engineering and played lacrosse under the legendary “but we soon realized that it would help differentiate us and
coach Ned Harkness. I remember Don sharing stories of the get us many engineering and architectural projects.
power of teamwork and shared purpose that Coach Harkness Ken Avery, an early employee, said it well: “For most
inspired in all of them. people, ‘seeing is believing’. For Don, and those he inspired,
Don put those leadership learnings to work right away in believing is seeing. He constantly put us in those places
his career in consulting engineering. Following 18 years at that are typically uncomfortable for engineers, but he instilled
Erdman, Anthony & Associates here in Rochester, Don saw confidence in us through his inspiration and enthusiasm.”
the opportunity to expand out on his own. He had a vision for Don helped shape a generation of engineering and
a new approach in consulting tailored to client relationships architectural professionals who are making an incredible
and fullservice solutions. With his great eye for talent, he impact on our world today. He created an environment
tapped four up-and-coming professionals (Brian Dougherty, where we could believe in ourselves, and understand that by
Gary Olin, John Murray and John Flint) to help him start applying ourselves creatively, pushing our boundaries and
Donald J. Bergmann and Associates. making good decisions, we could succeed in whatever client
Don was always the visionary and never doubted their future or project we committed ourselves to.
success. When the firm quickly reached 25 people, they Today, as the 3rd President and CEO in the company’s 40-
outgrew the Terminal Building in downtown Rochester. Don year history, I humbly and gratefully reflect on the time when
had his eyes on a 5-story office building a block away, with Don and the Associates started the company. John Murray
his only concern being that “the building could only hold 300 defined Don with the words “Optimistic, Confident, Fearless,
people! As Don predicted, they bought the nearby Jonathan Hardworking, Inspiring and Visionary. I have learned that
Child House soon after to accommodate expansion, with these characteristics are still vital today as we grow the
growth in Philadelphia, Buffalo and beyond following closely company and fulfill the dream that Don had. Don was very
behind. inspiring to me personally and instilled in me the confidence to
Don was also the ultimate entrepreneur, never letting a reach beyond my wildest dreams in growing as a person and
potential opportunity pass by. While the firm started out as as a leader.
a civil and transportation design company, he was quick to On behalf of myself and the hundreds of professionals at
expand capabilities to serve Kodaks mechanical engineering Bergmann and beyond who you inspired throughout your life,
needs. Shortly after he added architecture, which has since thank you, Don. We are forever grateful for your vision and
grown to become a major part of the business today. The full- leadership
service firm was well into its formation.
34 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2020