Before the technology, before decades at BAI, there was just a kid growing up between Altoona and State College, watching how things worked and figuring them out piece by piece. Steven Harshbarger’s story begins in Altoona. His family moved to State College when he was young, then back to Altoona for high school when his father’s job relocated.
The instinct to understand how things come together showed up early. He began his career in mechanical drafting at Lee Industries in Philipsburg, where the work was practical and hands-on. Steve learned by doing, by paying attention, and by getting it right.
At the same time, something new was beginning to take hold in the background. AutoCAD was just starting to enter the workplace. For many, it was uncharted territory. For Steve, it was an opportunity. He embraced it, helping develop CAD standards and teaching himself the software as it evolved. Not because anyone asked him to, but because he wanted to understand where the work was heading next.
Learning, Adapting, and Growing with BAI
That curiosity eventually led him to his next opportunity. He applied to Blazosky Associates (now BAI Group) for a civil drafting position, even though he had no formal background in civil or environmental engineering. What gave him confidence was a simple but important belief: the fundamentals of drafting do not change. Lines are lines, arcs are arcs, and good work carries across disciplines. What started as a stretch into unfamiliar territory has gradually become a long-term career spanning 35 years.
As the years went on, Steve’s role expanded alongside the company. He spent time working in State College and Pittsburgh before returning to Central PA, each move adding depth to his experience. Different offices brought different projects, teams, and challenges, and over time, those experiences began to stack into something more substantial.
When he reflects on what shaped him most, he does not point to a single defining moment. Instead, he talks about the people he worked with. Colleagues who pushed the work forward, and leaders like Jim Echard, who brought both technical expertise and perspective. The steady mix of projects across solid waste, environmental systems, and renewable energy kept the work engaging and constantly evolving.
What stands out most is that he never stopped learning. Even now, after decades of working with Autodesk tools, he continues to explore each new release with genuine interest. It is not something he does out of obligation, but because he enjoys understanding how things can be done better.
Many Roles, One Constant
Today, Steve’s role reflects his broad range of experience. As Director of IT and CAD Manager, he switches between design tasks, project support, and field-based insight, often within the same week. He might be developing plans, helping with permitting processes, or drawing on his extensive experience in liner and gas system inspections. Throughout it all, he remains closely connected to project managers and clients, ensuring the work stays on track and continues in the right direction.
At the same time, much of what he does occurs behind the scenes. He manages the systems that keep the company running, including servers, cybersecurity, backups, phones, and VPN infrastructure. When everything functions properly, it often goes unnoticed, but that reliability results from consistent attention and care. It’s a different kind of responsibility, but just as critical to the success of the work.
Over his career, he has navigated every major industry shift, from early CAD systems to fully digital design environments. Now, as BAI advances into applied AI, that same approach remains important. The tools may be more sophisticated, but the objectives stay the same: use them wisely, improve the work, and keep people at the center.
In this way, Steve’s story not only reflects where the company has been, but also directly connects to where it is headed next.