“Alone, we can do so little; Together, we can do so much.” -Helen Keller
In 2017, Aldridge partnered with Bridges to Prosperity to provide isolated communities with access to essential health care, education, and economic opportunities by building footbridges over impassable rivers. Unfortunately, our 2020 build was postponed due to COVID-19, but we are pleased to announce that we will send a team of ten employees to Rwanda in February of 2022!
Team Aldridge will build a 57-Meter bridge in Muhanga, Rwanda. This bridge will directly serve 2,764 individuals, allowing access to markets, a medical center, schools, and other sources of employment that are otherwise nearly inaccessible to the community for over 90 days a year.
To help support our team as they embark on their journey to change the lives of a Rwandan community. Any donation makes a difference!
Help Support Team Aldridge:
Lynn Meersman
Construction Lead
Lynn is the Vice President of Estimating, with over 30 years of experience. Her credentials in electrical construction include commercial estimating, procurement management, senior project management, and design/build expertise. Lynn is active in professional and community organizations as a member of IBEW Local 134 and the Women’s Energy Network, as well as coaching girls fastpitch softball. Outside of work, Lynn enjoys triathlons, traveling, and real estate but spends most of her time with her husband and their four children. Lynn was part of Aldridge’s inaugural 2017 bridge build in Nicaragua and is looking forward to helping another community.
Roman Moroz
Project Lead
Roman is a Project Manager with Aldridge’s Power division and has been with Aldridge for five years. As a Project Manager, Roman manages all aspects of his projects from planning through execution – ensuring safety, technical quality, and community engagement. Outside the office, when he is not jumping out of airplanes, he enjoys working on his car and other construction jobs around his house. Roman is excited for the opportunity to grow his project management abilities on this build and is excited to see how his skillset can impact a different part of the world.
Amber Travis
Logistics Lead
Amber is a Midwest Transportation Safety Engineer and has been with Aldridge for three years. Her primary responsibility is to ensure that every crew is completing their work in the safest way possible. Outside of work, Amber volunteers with One Tail at a Time, a sizable foster-based animal rescue in the Chicagoland area. She works with their larger, more complex dogs to give them the best fit for their forever homes. Amber is looking forward to using her organizational skills and positivity to lead the team in this build.
Eric Netzel
Communications Lead
Eric is the Logistics Manager for Aldridge, with 20 years of experience in transportation, from LTL to heavy-haul/specialized transportation. In this role, he is responsible for setting up outside transportation, ordering permits and escorts to comply with state and local regulations, and coordinating all rental equipment to meet tight deadlines for Aldridge’s Power group nationwide. Outside of the office, when his Buffalo sports teams are not breaking his heart, you can find him on the ice as an amateur ice hockey official, at home with his family, or playing with his 5-month old puppy, Craig, a Husky/Cattle Dog mix. Eric is excited to experience a different part of this world and plans to entertain the group with an endless supply of “dad jokes” and terrible dancing.
Jeff Hachmeister
Safety Lead
Jeff is a laborer for Aldridge and works on various drilling projects across the country. He is a veteran of the US Army, having spent one tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Jeff was in the Delta 5/52 11th Brigade as a Patriot missile launcher. After leaving the Army, he worked as a union laborer for multiple drilling companies before joining Aldridge. When home, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Jeff is most excited about helping the people of Rwanda safely gain access to much-needed necessities.
Sean Dettloff
Support Team Member
Sean is a General Foreman with the Drilling division for Aldridge, a member for IBEW, and a vested member in the Laborers. Sean is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he spent time in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia. When not working, you can find him boating, fishing, or cheering on his Detroit sports teams. He calls home suburban Detroit, MI, where he lives with his wife and two sons. Sean lives the mindset that if you are in a position to help people, you have a responsibility to do so, and he is excited to put that into action in Rwanda.
Buddy Snead
Support Team Member
Buddy completed the apprenticeship program with IBEW 26, where he is still a current member and is an Electrical Foreman with 27 years of experience. Currently, he works with Aldridge’s Transportation division on the East Coast. In 2021, Buddy was selected as a trainer for Aldridge’s new safety initiative, Making Safe Decisions™. In his personal time, Buddy spends most of his time at his home in Maryland with his wife, three children, and the two family dogs. He enjoys outdoor sports and ice hockey (Go Caps!) and watches his son’s hockey games and his daughter’s college cheerleading performances weekly. Buddy is excited to offer his skills to make a difference for all in Rwanda who will use this bridge in the future.
Michael Waldren
Support Team Member
Mike is a Construction Manager with Aldridge’s Drilling division. He has been with Aldridge for four years and has managed several large projects, most notably the C-70 project in Denver, CO, an extensive retrofit to I-70, which runs through the center of Denver. Mike has nearly 30 years of experience in Drilling with expertise ranging from project management to senior management. He and his wife raise Scottish Highland Cattle and a variety of other animals on their hobby farm just east of Denver, CO. They also love traveling with their gaited horses to different parts of the United States to trail ride with friends. When it comes to family, Mike loves spending time with his three children and seven grandchildren. Mike has sought ways to support others throughout his life and is excited to bring this life-changing bridge to the Rwandan community.
Juan Banuelas
Support Team Member
Juan is a Project Manager for Aldridge on the East Coast. He has many years of experience across multiple civil engineering, education, and financial disciplines and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Juan grew up in a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico, with limited resources, which has led him to become an active member of various volunteering and outreach programs. In his spare time, he enjoys watching crime thrillers, exploring park trails, traveling, attending comedy shows, and hanging out with his friends. Juan believes making a meaningful impact on the lives of others is crucial to personal growth, which is a significant reason he is excited about this build.
Tom Knutson
Support Team Member
Tom is a General Superintendent with Aldridge, working in the Atlanta, GA area on the MARTA Transit project. He has been a member of IBEW Local 9 for 45 years and comes from a family of electrical linemen. Tom is the third generation to construct and maintain electric power transmission, telecommunications, and distribution lines. He and his wife have three children and four grandchildren. While not at work, he enjoys improving his golf game, fishing, and perfecting his woodworking skills. Tom is looking forward to putting his construction knowledge and manufacturing expertise to good use on this bridge build and meeting this Rwandan community’s people.
Nick Turner
Alternate Support Team Member
Nick has been a Project Manager for Aldridge’s Drilling division for the last four years. He has managed projects on the East Coast, mainly in Virginia and West Virginia. Nick was part of the Bolivian bridge build in 2019 and so is no stranger to B2P. He loves hiking, hunting, backpacking, fishing, camping, and riding dirt bikes, all with his dog, Steele. Nick is excited to be part of the B2P team once again and continue to support and connect with communities around the world.
Kent Fogelberg
Alternate Support Team Member
Kent is a Safety Manager for Aldridge. He came to Aldridge in 2008 as a Project Engineer and transitioned into the Safety department in 2013. These jobs have allowed him to travel the country and participate in projects from Maine to California. Kent is another B2P veteran, as he traveled with our Aldridge team in 2017 to Nicaragua. Kent describes the experience as unforgettable and one of the most rewarding experiences he has ever had. Outside of work, Kent enjoys rehabbing homes and working on construction projects. He is excited to participate in another bridge build with Aldridge and Bridges to Prosperity!