Collaboration, Fun, and Team Pride: A Closer Look at GTA’s Pittsburgh and Raleigh Teams

Every GTA office has its own rhythm, but across the company, there’s a shared energy that runs through every team: people who work hard, have fun together, and take real pride in what they do. We see it in the collaboration that happens day-to-day and in the friendships that form outside of work.

At the GTA Raleigh and Pittsburgh offices, that same spirit shows up in different settings. 

Raleigh has grown over nearly a decade into a trusted office in North Carolina for geotechnical, environmental, and natural resource work. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is one of GTA’s newest teams, located in Pennsylvania. Small, tight-knit, but already building growth with challenging projects.

For the people here, whether they’ve been part of GTA for years or just a few months, the culture is the same: supportive, hands-on, and full of people who genuinely enjoy what they do and connect with one another.

We spent some time chatting with a few people from the Raleigh and Pittsburgh teams to share their stories — what they’re working on, what they’re learning, and what keeps them coming back every day.

GTA Pittsburgh Team

Tyler Furr
Pittsburgh Branch Manager and Senior Geologist

What are some favorite team-building activities?
Topgolf is always a hit for us.

Can you tell us about recent projects the office is proud of?
The Conneaut Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was a very challenging project in Glacial Geology. The glacial outwash consisted of extremely soft (single-digit blow count) soils extending to depths of 50-60 feet below the ground surface. This area also had an extremely shallow groundwater table, nearly at the existing surface. It was really fun to work alongside some of our talented engineers to figure out how to feasibly design and construct the foundations and excavation support for these large tanks within this challenging geology.

On the COT side, the PA Army National Guard Facility was a huge project consisting of mass earthwork, foundations, concrete, asphalt paving, and stormwater facilities. One of our engineering technicians, Michael Pitoniak, has been full-time on this project for months now and has been doing an awesome job. It’s been fun to be a part of and watch the project progress.

What makes the Pittsburgh office unique?
Our office just opened about 1.5 years ago, so that is pretty unique. For that reason, we all have to stay flexible and nimble, and be able to help out or fill in wherever we are needed. It certainly keeps things interesting, and I believe it has helped make all of our staff more well-rounded as a result.

Lewis Tupper
Lab Supervisor

How long have you been with GTA?
I joined in July 2025, though I’ve been in the industry for about 10 years. I am super excited to be a part of this growing company.

What are your favorite team-building activities?
In the short time I’ve been here, we’ve joined a fantasy football league with people from different GTA offices. It’s been a fun way to connect, chat each week, and get to know others across the company.

Can you share a recent project the office is proud of?
Lately, we’ve been working on several solar farm projects in the Ohio area. It’s a side of the industry I haven’t been very familiar with before, so it’s been awesome to explore something new and see how it all comes together.

What makes the Pittsburgh office unique and different:
In my previous job, we had close to 30 employees, but here there are just five of us in the office. We’re all around the same age and hungry to grow this branch. That energy makes it an exciting team to be part of.

GTA Raleigh Team

Samuel Bytnar
Environmental Staff Scientist

What’s your favorite team-building activity?
We’ve done go-kart racing, we’ve done brewery events at a place just five minutes from the office. We’ve done all sorts of stuff, but one of my favorites, and something that really captures our culture here at GTA, is going to the North Carolina Museum of Art.

They host an after-hours event a few times a year, and a big group of us go together. We go and we pretend we’re crazy high-dollar people looking at art and acting fancy. It’s so silly, but it really makes us come together as a group, and it’s a lot of fun. It really reflects who we are. A group that likes to have fun, grow together, and enjoy each other’s company outside of work.

What’s a project you’re proud of?
I’ve worked on some really cool COT projects. One was a 280-acre site in Durham where we had daily blasting and even found dinosaur bones. More recently, I shifted into environmental work, which has been a whole new adventure. I also had a specific project at an auto facility in the western part of North Carolina where we ran into some unexpected contamination, but we got the remediation system up and running and resolved it successfully.

What makes the Raleigh office unique?
That’s a fun question to answer! We have an open culture where everyone has the opportunity to be themselves. No one’s judged for it. You can be quirky and still be comfortable with your people. It’s cool having a job where you actually look forward to coming in each day, and it feels like you’re coming home. It’s the people, the energy, the projects. Everything just clicks.

Sydney Conboy
Field Technician

What’s your favorite team-building activity?
One of my favorite things is that every day we like to throw foam objects, like a football.

Any projects you’re proud of?
One of my favorites was a new transmission line on a lake, and there was an island. We had to take a barge to an island for drilling and installing shafts. It was a cool, one-of-a-kind experience.

What makes your office unique?
The camaraderie we have with everyone around us! We have a good time and we’re always laughing. We have fun, we’re productive, and we genuinely enjoy coming in every day.

Jessica Herzog
Lab Technician

What are your favorite team-building activities?
I would say my favorite team-building activity would be going to the brewery after work and going out to lunch.

Any projects or moments you’re proud of?
We recently got a new direct shear machine in April. Sydney [Conboy] and I had no idea how to use it, but we both worked together to figure out how to use it out. I’m really proud of us for learning how to do that.

What makes the Raleigh office unique?
All the people and the energy! We have a pretty young office, and that’s a good energy and environment to be in.

Two Offices, One GTA Spirit

From Raleigh’s established community to Pittsburgh’s growing team, both offices capture the strong dynamics of what makes GTA special.

Whether it’s tackling complex geology or just laughing over a game of Topgolf, these teams remind us that great work starts with great people.

If you’re looking to grow your career in a place that values balance, teamwork, and learning by doing, GTA might just be the place for you.

Explore career opportunities at gtaeng.com/careers