GHH Celebrates 100 Years of Quality & Accuracy!

Building on Trust, Delivering Results:
Godfrey Hoffman Hodge Celebrates 100 Years!

We’re pleased to share the news of this milestone and look forward to continuing to do what we’ve been doing for a century: providing our clients with fast, accurate and quality services. Here’s a brief history of how we got here:

1924: The story begins when two young engineers, recent Yale graduate Lewis Stein and Constantine “Gus” Giordano meet while working for the City of New Haven Engineering Department. Together, they set out on their own and forge a partnership in New Haven, laying the foundation for a legacy in land surveying.

Bernard Godfrey enters the scene. While still in high school, he learns the ropes under Stein & Giordano’s guidance, igniting a lifelong passion for the field. His journey takes him through forestry, entrepreneurship, and back to surveying, eventually marrying Stein’s niece and taking over the firm in 1960.

Enter the next generation: Adam Hoffman, Godfrey’s nephew, joins the firm in 1977, inheriting the family’s dedication to precision and service. He expands his expertise with a forestry degree and land surveying minor, rising through the ranks before becoming a partner in 1988. The firm rebrands as Godfrey-Hoffman Associates.

The 2000s usher in expansion. Godfrey retires in 2000, and Hoffman restructures, solidifying the company’s future as a Limited Liability Company. The firm ventures into engineering with the addition of Victor Benni in 2001, further diversifying its offerings.

2010 marks a pivotal moment. Hoffman acquires Hodge Surveying, a Farmington Valley mainstay since 1925. This strategic move broadens the company’s reach and expertise.

Finally, in 2019, the two entities merge to become Godfrey Hoffman Hodge, LLC. This marks a culmination of nearly a century of dedication, bringing together 100 years of combined experience in land surveying and engineering.

Today, Godfrey Hoffman Hodge stands as a full-service powerhouse. We tackle projects across Connecticut, serving public, private, commercial, residential, and industrial clients. Our commitment to quality, accuracy, and cutting-edge technology ensures every project receives the attention it deserves.

Why GHH? Ask Surveyor Calvin Weingart…

Meet Surveyor Calvin Weingart, P.L.S.

A Q & A with a 25 year veteran surveyor, Calvin finds passion and inspiration in his work and brings that to GHH’s clients on every project. 

How long have you worked at GHH?
I have worked here since June 15, 1998, so a little over 25 years.

What do you do and why do you do it?
I am a Professional Licensed Land Surveyor.  I do it because it is a good mix of outdoor physical activity and indoor intellectual activity.   I’ve been the Survey Manager at Godfrey Hoffman Hodge since 2015. I enjoy every aspect of the position from initial client contact to mission planning and execution to training and mentoring of survey technicians.

Why should someone seeking a survey contact GHH over your competitors?
I manage each job as I would want it managed if I was the client: consistent communication, performance to utmost ability, professionalism, patience. My goal is to minimize the chance the client will ask for an update.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I get in the office a little before 8 most days and review the plan of the day for our department.  I start mission briefs promptly at 8:00 and get the crew(s) ready to head out to the field.  If I am part of the field crew I gather files, gear and people and try to be out by 8:20 or so.  Between travel time and company hours there is only about 5 hours of onsite time so every minute counts in the morning.

If I am working in the office, I get the crew(s) launched out the door and start working on whatever task I have for myself that day.  This can range from survey computations, autocad drafting, land records research and quality review of completed surveys.  I have a dual mission in the form of staff and client support, so I am often switching from one function to another.

By about 2:30 or so I start thinking about the next day’s tasking to try and stay ahead of everyone so there is minimal down time and maximum efficiency.  By 3:30 the crew is usually back in, if they aren’t in already. They download the day’s data files and process all the info.  We attend to a few administrative chores such as time keeping and we wrap up at 4:30 with, hopefully, the next day planned out and all gear and files set to go.

What has changed during your career?
Technological advances in data collection, the availability of very accurate open-source data and municipal GIS.  All for the better or worse depending on your point of view.

What hasn’t changed?
The need for a professional surveyor’s expertise to verify measurements, the need to apply the rules of evidence and interpret boundary law and chopping line through dense brush on very hot days.

What’s the most interesting property you ever surveyed?
I  can’t name the exact property but I did get a chance to work in a very interesting location in the very heart of New Haven . Lets just say that we worked in spaces where some globally powerful people once socially  gathered in private.

What’s the hardest property you ever surveyed?
That is a subjective question! Some small parcels are very challenging with respect to forming a boundary opinion so the hard part is intellectual. On the other hand, some large parcels are physically demanding, such the 100 plus acres we surveyed in North Stonington.  I had two back to back days of walking 8 plus miles during one phase of the job. And there was the job this summer where we located and identified 612 trees.

What keeps you going back?
My job checks all the boxes for me: Physical work, intellectual work, technical expertise, mission planning, leadership, doing something that is a little offbeat that most people know a little about but not too much.  And finally, I am truly fortunate that I found a career in which you can start at the very bottom and work your way up to professional licensing through (I know this sounds quaint) hard work and dedication.

How Land Surveyors Set The Stage For A New Building

This Is How We Do It…

This sequential photo montage highlights all the phases involved in preparing a site for the construction of a new building.

  1.  The undeveloped, overgrown site in Hamden, CT at commencement of survey work.
  2.  Site conditions during field work with survey gear.  As we often do, our crew contends with towering, tangling vegetation.
  3.  A year later, after site design and the permitting process, the finished plan set is delivered to the town permitting agency.
  4.  The site is cleared and prepared for construction.
  5.  The crew and survey instrument are in position to locate and mark 384 points for Helical Pile installation.  (These piles, or piers, are used to stabilize soil to support the building foundation).
  6.  The pier stakeout is complete and the site is ready for the pile driving crew to commence work. Each location is identified by the  pink whisker flag and orange numerical identifier.

Once the piers are installed the foundation will be marked out for construction.

Stay tuned for updates as we follow this project to completion!

GHH Celebrates Calvin Weingart’s 25th Year!

Congratulations to Calvin Weingart, P.L.S.

At Godrey Hoffman Hodge, we believe in recognizing and celebrating our employees’ milestones and achievements. Recently, we had the pleasure of honoring Calvin’s 25th year of outstanding service within our organization. This remarkable milestone not only signifies his unwavering dedication but also showcases the opportunities for growth and success at GHH.

Calvin’s impressive tenure at Godfrey Hoffman Hodge began 25 years ago when he was hired by none other than our esteemed founder, Bernard E. Godfrey. Recognizing Calvin’s strong work ethic and his experience growing up on a farm, he showed early on the tenacity and resilience required to excel in our industry. Today, he is a licensed land surveyor and Survey Manager, contributing to our success.

To celebrate, we organized a memorable get together at the 12% Brewery (a valued client of GHH), featuring delectable cuisine from Mikro. The event showcased our strong client relationships and sense of community. Calvin’s journey inspires us, emphasizing perseverance, growth, and excellence. As we honor this occasion, we anticipate a bright future and remarkable opportunities for our employees and organization. Together, we will create more memorable milestones in the future.

Side note: When asked for some words of wisdom on the occasion, Calvin (pictured third from right) had this to say: “I am grateful for all the opportunities presented to me and for the encouragement to pursue them. Beyond that, I am just happy to work here and drink some beers on the boss.

Tales From The Front Desk

How GHH Helps When You Call…

A short interview with GHH Office Manager Maria Latella lets you know how we can help you with your needs and goals. A GHH inquiry intake story:

What does a typical request look like?

Depends on the caller’s specific survey or engineering needs but most of the calls are for services related to residential property, commercial property, elevation certificates, additions, subdivisions or construction layout.

What kind of information do you need or are listening for during these conversations?

It starts with contact information, who a proposal should be sent to (it does vary depending on the situation), who will be responsible for financials, and finally, what is the purpose of the survey or engineering services.

What happens after gathering the basic information?   Does the conversation end or continue?

It might end with a brief description of what the client can expect for next steps or it might continue depending on input from the client.  For example, if a client is unsure of what specific type of survey is needed we can ask some questions about what they are trying to accomplish.  If they want to see where their boundaries are marked on the ground that is one type of survey.  If they are planning on improvements to the site, that is another kind of survey.  In addition to helping determine the type of survey needed, it’s a good chance to describe the value of each.

Is it difficult to get to that point in the conversation?  Do you listen for key words or specific scenarios the potential client is referring to?

We listen for key words such as “flood insurance” or “I live on the shore” which most likely relates to completing a flood certificate.  Or, phrases such as “ I want to do an addition” and“ We have land we want to subdivide” can help drive what type of service is needed and how we can help.   Most clients are not aware of the various types of surveys so we try to lead the conversation to narrow down the list in order to provide the most appropriate proposal we can from the start.

How do you leave off with a client?

I will always explain next steps, specify who will accomplish them (e.g. , a Licensed Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer) and when to expect communication.

What is your overall goal when speaking with a potential client?

The goal is to convey a sense of confidence, that we are patient, that we care about their request and care about their end goal.

What is one thing you want clients to know when they call Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC?

There are lots of way we can help with your needs/goals.  The more we communicate, the better, and faster we can help

Tales From The Field: Summer 2022

Catch Up with the GHH Team

GHH has been busier than ever this summer!

Calvin Weingart shares the behind-the-scenes of laying out test pits to determine soil suitability for septic systems in North Stonington, CT.

Zach Weingart and Jeff Plourde precisely check the positioning and data input of the S6 total station and targets in Branford, CT. A quality construction project begins with a quality survey control network. 

Adam Hoffman drives a steel rod into its respective location to create a permanent reference point for a client. While modern technology and technological advances have been made, manual labor will always be present. 

Stay up to date with the GHH team and connect with us on our social media accounts! 

Tales From The Field

Recent Work Had Us Surveying Wetlands and Coastline

Cows, Drones and Projects in the News…

Calvin Weingart surveyed wetlands in North Stonington – he was greeted by a few wandering cows on this assignment.

Zach Weingart provided a drone survey for the Sachem’s Head Yacht Club where a grounded barge had to be removed from the breakwater. An article in the New Haven Register provides the backstory in further detail – link here to read about it.

GHH Acquires Woman Owned Winterbourne Land Services

Winterbourne Land Services: A pioneering surveying firm for women land surveyors

GHH Acquired Winterbourne Land Services, a cutting edge woman owned firm, on November 15th, 2021

The Woman Behind Winterbourne Land Services 

Winterbourne Land Services is a Connecticut historic Land Surveying and Civil Engineering company, established in 1993 by Rosalind C. Page. The firm was one of the first woman owned land surveying companies in the state. Rosalind was one of the few professionally licensed female land surveyors at the time. The Winterbourne team has worked on an abundance of private, commercial, and municipal projects of all shapes and sizes. The firm has performed work within New Haven, Middlesex, and Hartford counties.

Avon Village Center Opening 🎉

Avon Village Center welcomes you! GHH’s newest development with the Carpionato Group

GHH helped develop the newest retail development in Avon, the Avon Village Center with its partner, Carpionato Group, furthering its stake in the commercial development industry, on September 1st, 2021

Developing the Center 

Avon Village Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge and the Carpionato Group have been working hard on creating the newest commercial development in Avon, CT, Avon Village Center. This modern commercial and residential hybrid development is sure to stay with opportunities abound for locals.

The first retailer to open in the center was the Whole Foods Market, guaranteed to draw large crowds. GHH is proud to announce that we were a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Whole Foods,  formally announcing the opening of the center.

To learn more about the complex’s beginning stages, check out these articles: https://patch.com/connecticut/avon/avon-village-center-phase-1-complete

https://www.avonct.gov/planning-community-development/pages/avon-village-center-project

https://www.carpionatogroup.com/property/486/avon-village-center-avon

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