Dir. of Leadership Comm. @ UD. Unreluctant refugee of newspapers after 25 years. Love to fish, hike, write, read. Hate to create profiles.
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Articles by Mike Chalmers
The new power equation Original
A GL08 engine from Reliable Horsepower, staged in production Increasingly, that equation is changing. Fuel costs and availability, duty cycles, emissions requirements, serviceability, maintenance, local support, and long-term operating costs are all playing a larger role in the decision.
Ideas in action: Data centers, tariffs and AI top agenda at SC&RA Workshop
Committee meetings gave SC&RA members a forum to exchange experience, address emerging challenges and help shape industry priorities. Tariffs dominated last year’s workshop, but the conversations in Omaha ranged more widely. Productivity, the continued data center boom, diesel prices and tariffs all came up in discussions throughout the week. Attendance reached 753, including 158 first-time attendees and 39 international participants from 10 countries.
Why Adaptability is the New Measure of Building Performance
Story at a glance: As expectations for buildings evolve, adaptability is becoming a key measure of how effectively spaces perform over time. Flexible design strategies are helping owners maximize existing square footage while improving utilization, functionality, and long-term value. Vertically operable walls can support changing space needs while addressing acoustics, structural demands, and the need for future renovations or expansion.
Building operational resilience in industrial engine applications Original
EPA Certified Reliable Horsepower engines in the production cell For years, reliability was largely measured by a straightforward question: Will the engine run? Today, the conversation is considerably broader.
Rethinking How Buildings Breathe with High-Performance Ventilation
Story at a glance: As buildings become tighter and more energy-efficient, ventilation systems are playing a larger role in occupant health, comfort, and long-term building performance. Growing concerns around energy costs, increased pollutants, and indoor air quality are driving demand for smarter, more balanced ventilation strategies.
Powering through uncertainty: How engine choices can improve reliability Original
EPA Certified Reliable Horsepower engines in the production cell With rising equipment costs, fuel price spikes and growing demands for uptime, industries from agriculture and oil & gas to power generation are being forced to take another look at their assumptions around engine strategy and operational reliability. That’s driving a broader conversation around fuel diversification and a growing willingness to reconsider the traditional diesel-only approach.
Redefining Healthy, Efficient Housing for All with Proper Airflow
Story at a glance: Hidden air leakage can quietly drive up energy costs and degrade indoor air quality—especially in multifamily housing. Programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit increasingly tie funding to measurable building performance, pushing developers toward tighter envelopes and better ventilation. Technologies that seal building envelopes and duct systems help developers verify airtightness, improve indoor air quality, and reduce long-term operating costs.
How National Gypsum is Evolving Sustainable Building Materials
Story at a glance: The latest product line provided by National Gypsum responds directly to shifting environmental demands—combining lighter weight, reduced emissions, and enhanced jobsite performance in one sustainable solution. With EVOLVE smarter design begins at the source—where streamlined manufacturing and transportation efficiency help reduce carbon impact before the board even reaches the wall.
One West Virginia native is working to change the state's narrative, one act of kindness at a time • West Virginia Watch Original
Parkersburg, West Virginia native, Reed Byers, believes that a small gesture, offered at the right moment, can cut through the kind of loneliness many people carry but often struggle to name. In West Virginia, where isolation is common and connection frequently feels like something one must earn, he learned early what it meant to grow up without the safety nets other places take for granted.
Constructing for Carbon-Negative with Future-Proof Materials
Story at a glance: The LP Structural Solutions portfolio is now almost entirely carbon negative, proving sustainable building products can actively reverse climate impact. Architects like Perkins Eastman are using high-performance materials and strategies to drive resilience, durability, and smarter energy outcomes. Experts are debunking the myth that green building costs more by showing how durable, low-carbon materials can lower operating costs and meet evolving codes.
Shepherdstown’s civic spirit marches on
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is about to add a new tradition to its long history. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the town will host its first-ever Constitution Day parade — the “We the People” parade — which begins at 10 a.m. along its main thoroughfare, German Street, culminating downtown in front of Town Hall, where attendees and participants will gather in a community-wide celebration of the nation’s founding document.
Shepherdstown’s civic spirit marches on Original
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is about to add a new tradition to its long history. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the town will host its first-ever Constitution Day parade — the “We the People” parade — which begins at 10 a.m. along its main thoroughfare, German Street, culminating downtown in front of Town Hall, where attendees and participants will gather in a community-wide celebration of the nation’s founding document.
Leadership in motion: SC&RA’s 4 Under 40 class of 2025
As the crane, rigging and specialized transportation sectors continue to evolve under the weight of global demand and technological innovation, so too does the need for forward-thinking leaders who can rise to meet the moment. Across SC&RA’s diverse membership, a new generation is doing exactly that – bringing fresh ideas, deep work ethic and a strong sense of purpose to the job every day.
In a state plagued by poor health outcomes, one W.Va. educator is transforming his classroom
MARTINSBURG —Derek Gallagher, a teacher at Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, West Virginia, isn’t one to sugarcoat hard truths. He just wrapped up his 15th year at MHS — covering psychology, AP psych, sociology, contemporary studies and leadership. And within minutes of meeting him, you realize he is anything but a traditional educator. Which is exactly how he prefers it. kAm~C:8:?2==J 7C@> !:EED3FC89[ v2==2896C 2CC:G65 :? E96 t2DE6C?
The Future of Turf is Circular with Innovative Synthetic Grass
Story at a glance: TenCate’s ONE-DNA turf system uses a single polymer, making recycling easier, reducing waste, and transforming turf from a disposal cost into a valuable asset. Pivot turf from TenCate mimics real grass using three polyethylene yarn types, eliminating performance infill and enhancing player experience through biomimicry, comfort, and performance across all sports.
Cultivating a career in agriculture
In UD’s agriculture and natural resources major, Kaitlyn Bradley combined her skill of connecting with farmers with pursuits in the livestock industry.
Honorary degrees to be awarded
The University of Delaware will recognize six individuals with the awarding of honorary degrees at the University’s Commencement ceremony on May 24. The honorary degree, the University’s highest accolade, is reserved for individuals who reflect, in their personal and professional achievements, the University’s mission and who serve as exemplars for UD’s students, alumni, the University community and the world.
Finding opportunity
University of Delaware senior Ben Levine knew he wanted to enroll at the University after his first visit to campus. Levine grew up in Massachusetts and still loves his home state, but he was ready to explore. UD allowed him that opportunity and had programs that piqued his interest. Thinking back to his self-guided tour in 2020, he remembered the beauty of the campus, the fun social life and two engineering professors in particular who left a lasting impression.
Apartment complex coming to STAR
A rendering of the Buccini Pollin Group residential project at the south entrance of the STAR Campus. Once complete, the 235,000-square-foot residential complex will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 600 to 1,100 square feet. The two buildings will be connected by a glass skybridge, providing space for a plaza and a residential courtyard.
Rethinking food systems
Many students seeking careers in agriculture grew up on or near a farm, but for Evyn Appel, a senior honors sustainable food systems major and the 2025 convocation speaker for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, an interest in food systems grew while living in Center City Philadelphia. “Growing up, I was surrounded by fantastic restaurants and a lot of international flavors and all the great things that come with that,” said Appel, a Eugene du Pont Scholar.
Jim Sever: Balancing passion and commitment
Each year, the SC&RA Annual Conference marks the beginning of a new term for the Association’s incoming president. In 2025, Jim Sever will step into that role, officially taking the gavel from outgoing president J Rozum at the Closing Night Awards & Recognition Dinner, set for April 25, at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, AZ. President & CEO at PSC Crane & Rigging, Sever heads a company with deep roots in Piqua, OH, and a legacy that spans nearly a century.
‘We’re Drowning’: Teacher Pay vs. Cost of Living Approaches Crisis Level in WV’s Eastern Panhandle Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The phrase “say the hard part out loud” has had a moment in the national spotlight recently. And within West Virginia, you’ll hear it repeatedly when you talk to education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle about teacher pay.
"We’re drowning": Teacher pay vs. cost of living approaches crisis level in WV’s Eastern Panhandle
Teacher salaries in the region aren’t keeping up with the rising cost of living in the Eastern Pandhandle, prompting more educators to seek work elsewhere and shortchanging the kids. The phrase “say the hard part out loud” has had a moment in the national spotlight recently. And within West Virginia, you’ll hear it repeatedly when you talk to education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle about teacher pay.
‘We’re drowning’: Teacher pay vs. cost of living approaches crisis level in WV’s Eastern Panhandle
The phrase “say the hard part out loud” has had a moment in the national spotlight recently. And within West Virginia, you’ll hear it repeatedly when you talk to education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle about teacher pay. Something else you’ll hear with regularity is the word “crisis.” Michelle Barnhart, a social studies teacher at Martinsburg’s South Middle School in Berkeley County, has seen the teacher shortage turn from a growing problem into something much more serious.
‘We’re drowning’: Teacher pay vs. cost of living approaches crisis level in WV’s Eastern Panhandle
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‘We’re drowning’: Teacher pay vs. cost of living approaches crisis level in WV’s Eastern Panhandle
Jana Woofter is a chemistry and physical science teacher at Spring Mills High School in Berkeley County, as well as president of the Berkeley County Education Association. (Mike Chalmers for West Virginia Watch) The phrase “say the hard part out loud” has had a moment in the national spotlight recently. And within West Virginia, you’ll hear it repeatedly when you talk to education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle about teacher pay.
Beyond the Block: A Conversation with Ropeblock’s Joost Eertman on Extending the Life of Wire Rope and Improving Crane Efficiency.
BY: Mike Chalmers [This article originally appeared in the September/October 2024 Issue of Wire Rope Exchange. Read the entire issue online at this link.] Ropeblock B.V. has carved out a significant place in the crane and rigging industry by focusing on one simple, yet crucial, element—wire rope.
Behind the research
There is a deep connection between a scholar and their research subject or materials. This association can be a result of childhood influences, individual culture or even serendipitous happenstance.
Coming Together at the Table
The Food Bank of Delaware was founded in 1981 with the goal of feeding the hungry. Since then, its core mission has remained the same, but the need and the vision have grown. Through the years, the University of Delaware has collaborated with the Food Bank in many ways, from Parking Services’ annual canned food drive, to food rescue from University dining halls, to more established projects with academic and UD Cooperative Extension partners.
UD continues to rank among nation's best
The University of Delaware and its undergraduate academic programs continue to be recognized among the top 100 in the nation in the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Especially impressive was UD’s nursing program, which jumped 38 spots to rank #74 out of 686 in the U.S. News 2025 Best Colleges ranking edition. UD’s chemical engineering program continues to be recognized for its academic excellence, remaining among the top 10 nationally and ranking #4 out of 26.
Studying systemic racism
The University of Delaware Anti-Racism Initiative — a grassroots effort that emerged during the 2020 nationwide conversation about race and social justice — is taking on several projects this year as it continues to become a more established presence on campus and in the community. Three new UDARI faculty fellows have been named to help raise awareness of diversity, inclusivity and anti-racism through their scholarship, resource gathering and community outreach efforts.
On the RISE | UDaily
The first year of college is often difficult—an unfamiliar campus, new people and academic demands can make for a tough transition. That can be especially true for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly when entering a discipline like engineering.
In Memoriam: Thanya Shemi
Kainat Azhar, UD junior chemical engineering major: “Thanya was not just one of my closest friends; she was a mentor, a loving daughter and sister, and above all, someone with the most beautiful heart. She cherished her loved ones deeply and always spoke with such warmth about them. She was someone who truly never gave up and inspired others to do the same. Her presence brought you the comfort and strength needed to keep going.
Encouraging civic engagement at UD | UDaily
The “DEvote to Vote” National Voter Registration Day event — an annual nonpartisan effort to encourage voting and civic engagement — is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 17, on The Green. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., several registered student organizations from diverse perspectives and University departments will be available to provide students with information and opportunities to register to vote and get involved in a variety of civic and community-based programs.
Innovation in motion - a Floridian case study
Even two years later, many parts of the city of Ft. Myers and the surrounding areas continue to recover—especially those structures facing the mostly picturesque, but occasionally hazardous, Gulf of Mexico. As to be expected, condominium (condo) buildings dot the landscape in a place as favorably located as the southwest coast of Florida. And when a storm comes through, especially one as destructive as Ian, those in need of a makeover need it done as efficiently and affordably as possible.
Get to know UD's top cop
Patrick Ogden is the son of a police officer. Two of his five brothers made careers in law enforcement, too. Was there ever any doubt that Ogden would spend his career in policing? No, not quite. “I always knew that I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my dad and older brothers but I never dreamed that my career would have been so rewarding,” Ogden said. “I’ve been blessed with amazing opportunities to serve in various operational and leadership roles over the past three-and-a-half decades.
For the Record, Friday, July 19, 2024
For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Homelessness in Delaware: New Ideas and Directions
Homelessness recently took on crisis proportions in Delaware when the population doubled from 2020 to 2022. Federal COVID-related assistance, such as emergency housing in otherwise unused hotels and motels, brought out people who had previously lived invisibly in encampments, cars, abusive situations, doubled up with others and otherwise precarious living arrangements. Even after the COVID assistance waned, over 1,350 people are still homeless in Delaware on a given night.
Interim dean named for CEHD
Rena A. Hallam, a professor of human development and family sciences, will serve as interim dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development, President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced today. Hallam, a UD alumna and director of the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, will step into this role effective Aug. 16, as Dean Gary Henry completes his term and returns to the School of Education faculty.
Hands-on veterinary experience
At HAP, medical manager and UD alumna Yesenia Valle oversees the interns. Valle graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s in pre-veterinary medicine. Valle was once a HAP intern herself when the organization was known as the Delaware Humane Association. “Interning was a lot of fun, and I learned a ton,” said Valle, who also interned at Plumpton Park Zoo in Maryland. “It was a different experience from what I was getting in the classroom.” As a HAP employee, Valle reinvigorated the internship program.
In Memoriam: Roland Roth
Many of Dr. Roth’s former students have shared reminiscences with his family: Rob Pizalla, Class of 1975: “He had such a huge influence on me during my four years at UD when he was my adviser. It was … my freshman year (the fall of 1971). And Ent 201 was my very class that freshman year, with him as my professor. I loved that class and chose Entomology and Ecology as my major, with [Dr. Roth’s] guidance.
Honoring a rock icon
Also at the event, Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton issued a resolution on behalf of the city, and Delaware Rep. Paul Baumbach presented a tribute to Thorogood from the state’s General Assembly. “For a whole generation of Delawareans, George Thorogood represented a pinnacle of success that most of us could only dream about,” Delaware Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola said. “New Jersey had Springsteen. Indiana had Mellencamp.
Interim dean named for College of Engineering
Jamie Phillips, chair of the University of Delaware's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 2020, has been named the interim dean of the College of Engineering, President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced today. Effective Aug. 1, Phillips will serve as interim dean while the national search continues for the next leader of the college. Levi Thompson, the current dean and Elizabeth Inez Kelly Professor of Chemical Engineering, is stepping down at the end of July.
UD Faculty Senate holds April meeting
The University of Delaware’s Faculty Senate held its regular meeting on April 1, with President Dennis Assanis updating senators on UD’s fiscal challenges, but at the same time sharing his continued optimism about the future of the institution. “I continue to be inspired about the future of our great University,” Assanis said.
Raising the bar
Based out of Deer Park, Texas, the company serves the petrochemical, refining, offshore, manufacturing and power-generation industries, as well as the commercial, marine and staging markets. Boasting more than 17 million pieces of scaffold inventory alongside a large and growing inventory of shoring equipment, ScaffSource has the capacity to deliver a material rental program specific to any customer’s unique contractual requirements.
Raising the bar
Based out of Deer Park, Texas, the company serves the petrochemical, refining, offshore, manufacturing and power-generation industries, as well as the commercial, marine and staging markets. Boasting more than 17 million pieces of scaffold inventory alongside a large and growing inventory of shoring equipment, ScaffSource has the capacity to deliver a material rental program specific to any customer’s unique contractual requirements.
2025 Best Graduate Schools
In the 2025 edition of Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Delaware's graduate programs among the best in the nation. “As we continue to enhance and expand our excellent graduate programs to meet the needs of our students and society, it is gratifying to see the expertise and hard work of our faculty and staff nationally recognized,” said UD President Dennis Assanis.
Summer Session registration is open
While the weather still feels like spring, it’s time to start thinking about summer. The University of Delaware’s Summer Session registration is now open. Courses are offered at an accelerated pace in five-, seven-and-a-half- and 10-week sessions, in-person or online. “Summer courses give students the chance to get ahead in their studies or catch up on their major or general education requirements,” said George Irvine, associate provost for online learning and innovation.
UD Board of Trustees holds special meeting
At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 19, President Dennis Assanis, Provost Laura Carlson, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mary Remmler updated the University of Delaware community about the financial challenges facing the Board, as well as members of the UD community about the financial challenges facing the University.
LNG Export: Gulf Coast Projects Make U.S. a Major Player
Shifts in U.S. capabilities and the global market picture profoundly expand LNG export demand. BY: Mike Chalmers (photo above: Construction progress continues at the Golden Pass LNG export project site and is on track to start up Train 1 in 2024.
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