Mentorship and integrity: Mark Halm retires

Senior Project Manager Mark Halm is a self-professed "dirty water guy" – a fitting title for someone who has built a prolific career in water and wastewater management. As Halm retires May 30 after more than two decades at Fehr Graham and nearly 40 in the field, his expertise, dedication and mentorship will be greatly missed.

Halm has designed many high-profile wastewater systems since his interest in wastewater began at Marquette University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering. While in school, he was a cooperative education student at HNTB and after graduation worked at Consoer Townsend and Associates (now AECOM).

Wastewater engineering might not be glamorous work, but Halm knows its importance. As a Professional Engineer and a board certified Environmental Engineer, it's apparent how much he appreciates the field's complexities.

"It's not only chemical and physical treatment, but it's biological treatment too," he said.

Halm considers himself an environmentalist whose work improves communities and the planet. His efforts champion public health and clean water, and he takes pride in his contributions to the profession and the societal advances made possible by preventing waterborne diseases. Halm's leadership in the Water Environment Federation and the Illinois Water Environment Association illustrates his passion for water quality and dedication to supporting its professionals.

Halm began building his reputation in the 1990s. He became an Associate at Consoer Townsend shortly before he and his wife, Jean, welcomed their two children, Mary, now 28, and Danny, 26. Frequent travel to Chicago and Pennsylvania inspired him to seek more time with family. Despite warnings that leaving a major firm might stall his career, he leaped and joined a small startup closer to home in St. Charles.

After a few years in St. Charles, he joined Deuchler Engineering in Aurora, Illinois, in 2001. He became a co-owner in 2006 and helped lead the firm until he and business partner John Frerich sold it to Fehr Graham in 2021. The acquisition strengthened Fehr Graham's water and wastewater engineering and structural engineering services while adding environmental expertise.

Halm is a big believer that wastewater work isn't solitary.

"If someone had to describe what I do, I would say it's systems engineering," Halm said. "Someone comes to you with a problem, and you're putting together a team of architects, structural engineers, equipment vendors, mechanical and electrical engineers and instrumentation and control specialists. You bring all these people together to accomplish a goal."

He has excelled at leading these teams. One of his most notable accomplishments is the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District Wastewater Treatment Improvements Program in Oswego, Illinois. The project took 15 years from concept to completion, spanning two phases and six contracts, with a total construction value of more than $150 million.

Phase I included temperature-phased anaerobic digestion, chemically enhanced primary treatment and hydraulic upgrades. Phase II delivered a new 6-million-gallon-per-day South Facility, a Fox River sewer crossing and upgrades to the 36-million-gallon-per-day North Facility. For Halm, watching this massive project evolve from a concept into a tangible, functional system was especially meaningful. "We have done some really good work," he said. He's grateful for every project and the dedicated people he has worked with along the way.

One of those people is Chief Operating Officer Chris DeSilva, who joined Fehr Graham in 2019 as an Engineer and considers Halm a mentor. 

I came to Fehr Graham to work and learn from Mark. He’s a technical and professional mentor. He’s trained and guided not just me, but all our new wastewater engineers. When we don’t know what to do, we ask Mark. We’ve had this great three-dimensional relationship as work mentors, partners and friends.”

Chris DeSilva, Chief Operating Officer

DeSilva has spent the last few years capturing Halm's deep expertise to train the next generation of engineers. Halm remains humble about his knowledge, saying each day on the job brought new challenges and lessons.

"That's what's great about this profession – I still feel like an apprentice," Halm said. "I'll always be a student of some kind because I like to learn new things."

After earning his engineering degrees, Halm became a student again to earn an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. The finance and investment coursework came in handy when he co-led Deuchler.

As he prepares to retire at the end of May, more than any accolades or recognition, Halm wants to be known as the guy who got stuff done.

"I've always been a person of integrity," he said. "I have high standards for quality of work and how to conduct business professionally."

He hasn't settled on how retirement looks, other than wanting to keep his mind active. He's interested in teaching again, thinking fondly of his time as a teaching assistant in drafting and Fortran classes at Marquette and as an instructor for Illinois Society of Professional Engineers review courses. In the meantime, he hopes to take a little breather, tending to his garden in Campton Hills, playing a few rounds of golf and spending time with family.

"I've enjoyed my career," he said. "I don't think this is the end of it, but the beginning of a new chapter."