We are pleased to announce Marcus Storvick, PE of Thurston County has been named the 2025 Project Manager of the Year.
Since 2013, the agency has presented a Project/Program Manager of the Year Award to recognize outstanding performance, public service, and contributions toward the programs and projects that make a difference in our communities across the state.
Mr. Storvick was nominated by Thurston County Engineer Matt Unzelman, PE for Thurston County's Green Cove Culvert Replacement, a significant and complex emergency project completed earlier this year to build a 150' single-span bridge to replace a failed culvert that could have also resulted in the road failing.
A 2021 inspection of a 60-inch culvert beneath Country Club Road revealed the culvert's roof was collapsing and, if left unresolved, would effectively dam Cove Creek behind 40 feet of road fill. The risk was significant, potentially leading to a complete failure of the road, a total blockage of migrating fish species between Puget Sound and Eld Inlet, and millions of dollars in damage.
In partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Thurston County Public Works entered into an agreement to install a temporary 36-inch culvert in November 2021 to prevent the failure of the culvert and roadway until a permanent repair could be completed in 2024. Mr. Storvick led the project from the beginning, determined the interim repair solution, coordinated with permitting authorities, hired contractors, and managed communication with key stakeholders. Most notably, he successfully secured two federal grants worth $5.6 million and coordinated with eight different funding sources necessary for the $9.6 million project.
"Marcus's leadership and skills were instrumental in the success of the Green Cove Culvert Replacement project...[and] his ability to navigate complex tasks was key to the project's success," shared Mr. Unzelman. "His proactive approach, strategic thinking, and ability to coordinate across multiple fronts ensured the project remained on track to meet tight deadlines and WDFW requirements."
In 2024, spawning chum salmon migrated up Green Cove Creek without encountering a barrier at Country Club Rd NW for the first time since 1969. The final project successfully restored access and ensures the long-term viability of upstream spawning habitat, supporting fish populations for years to come.
"[The County Road Administration Board] wholeheartedly agrees with his nomination. We are very pleased, and I am personally very proud, to award CRAB's 2025 Project Manager of the Year Award to Marcus Storvick," shared Grant Programs Manager Steve Johnson while presenting the award.
The award was presented during the Thurston County Commissioners Meeting in Olympia, WA. Nominations for the award were accepted across the state from county commissioners, councilmembers, public works directors and county engineers for projects significantly underway or completed in 2024 and, at the discretion of the review committee each year, may be divided into Project and Program categories.
Please join me in congratulating Marcus!
