western michigan pmi professional development day
Whitney Pizzala and Spencer attended WMPMI’s Professional Development Day at The Gilmore in Comstock Park. This year’s theme, “PM Powered: Driving Change & Delivering Impact,” emphasized purpose-driven leadership and the positive impact of project management. The event featured expert sessions, networking, and a community-focused activity where we built solar-powered kits benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids.
MICareerquest 2025
AR Engineering had the opportunity to participate in the MiCareerQuest Southwest event which took place on October 28-29, 2025 at the Kalamazoo Expo Center. This event is organized annually by the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) and provides the opportunity for 4,500+ 8th grade students from across Southwest Michigan to experience a variety of careers hands-on! This year the AR team prepared two activities to help engage students, First, a scaled topographic relief map of the city of Kalamazoo as visual aid in a discussion about elevation and flood risk, and second, a 3D laser scanner to show off our capabilities in high tech lidar surveying. This was our second time participating in the MiCareerQuest Southwest, it a great event and our team is looking forward to next year!
annual pumpkin carving and chili lunch
AR Engineering recently held our annual Fall celebration, featuring a chili cook-off and pumpkin carving contest! We all enjoyed a delicious lunch while informally judging a great selection of chilis (including a tasty vegetarian lentil soup). While every dish was a winner in its own right, the afternoon's main event was the pumpkin carving competition. Teams formed to create some truly unique designs. The office neighbors next door had the tough job of voting for the best, and the winning pumpkin was the one eating a smaller pumpkin! A fun fact: all the pumpkins were grown right in the AR Garden.
AIA Southwest michigan design Awards
AR Engineering was honored to be a sponsor and attend the 2025 AIA Southwest Michigan Design Awards, held at The Desenberg in downtown Kalamazoo. The evening celebrated the creativity, innovation, and impact of architectural design across our region. It was inspiring to connect with peers, celebrate outstanding projects, and support AIA Southwest Michigan Chapter. Congratulations to all the award recipients!
