MSA Rises to No. 288 on ENR Top 500 Design Firms List
MSA Rises to No. 288 on ENR Top 500 Design Firms List BARABOO, Wis. (May 6, 2025) – TheEngineering News-Record (ENR) recently released its Top 500 Engineering Design Firms list for 2025, in which MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) claims position No. 288. This marks the 27th year the company has earned a spot in the ranks, a recognition of the top one-half of one percent of over 100,000 design firms in the United States. ENR is widely regarded as the industry authority on providing news,
Jess Kuchera Earns Dakota Skipper Recovery Permit
Jess Kuchera Earns Dakota Skipper Recovery Permit Bismarck, ND –April 29, 2025– KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to announce that Jess Kuchera, Environmental Specialist, has earned her Dakota Skipper Recovery Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Dakota skipper, federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is a small butterfly native to north-central United States and southern Canada prairie regions. The permit authorizes work that aids the recovery of the
KLJ Welcomes Scott Marlin to their Survey Team in Minnesota
KLJ Welcomes Scott Marlin to their Survey Team in Minnesota Bismarck, ND – April 25, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to welcome Scott Marlin to the team. Marlin joins KLJ as a team leader of the Survey team as Community Land Solutions joins KLJ’s survey practice in Minn. Marlin brings more than 25 years of experience across the public, private, and entrepreneurial sectors to KLJ. Throughout his career, Marlin has led complex surveying projects and held key leadership roles, including serving
KLJ Welcomes Craig Johnson to their Survey Team in Minnesota
Bismarck, ND – April 17, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to welcome Craig Johnson, PLS, CFedS, to the team as Community Land Solutions team joins KLJ’s survey practice. Johnson is a Professional Land Surveyor registered in Minnesota and a Certified Federal Surveyor with more than 47 years of experience in the surveying industry bringing a wealth of knowledge to KLJ. Most recently, Johnson was part of the Community Land Solutions team that joined KLJ to expand survey capacity and
I-35W Stormwater Storage Facility Recognized in National Engineering Competition
I-35W STORMWATER STORAGE FACILITY RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL ENGINEERING COMPETITION Milestone Infrastructure Safeguards Travelers During Major Storms WASHINGTON (April 11, 2025) – Barr Engineering Co. of Minneapolis has earned an Honor Award for exemplary engineering achievement. They will be celebrated at the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 58th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for the I-35W Underground Stormwater Storage Facility project in Minneapolis. To address the safety
KLJ Promotes Todd Ullom to Environmental Team Leader in Minnesota
KLJ Promotes Todd Ullom to Environmental Team Leader in Minnesota Bismarck, ND – April 16, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to announce that Todd Ullom has been promoted to Environmental Team Leader in Minnesota based out of St. Louis Park. With more than 32 years of experience in the environmental field, specializing in natural resource studies, wetlands, biological assessments, and surface water evaluations as well as with Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), environmental
Two Firms Join KLJ Engineering
Two Firms Join KLJ EngineeringApril 10, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to announce the acquisition of D.R Griffin & Associates, Inc (DRG) and United Field Services, Inc (UFS). Both DRG and UFS, led by their President, Brian Forbes, specialize in survey, drafting, and engineering services, with a particular emphasis on energy-related projects for private, public, and Tribal clients. Joined with KLJ, the combined firms will bring expanded land surveying capacity and capability to several
Edina Neighborhood Flood Control Project Recognized in National Engineering Competition
EDINA NEIGHBORHOOD FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL ENGINEERING COMPETITIONInnovative Design Incorporates Existing Ponds to Reduce Risks WASHINGTON (February 28, 2025) – Barr Engineering Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 58th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA). The award comes for the Morningside Neighborhood Flood Risk Reduction project in Edina,
Sambatek Welcomes Joe Maurer as Practice Leader for the Minnesota Land Group.
Minnetonka, MN – Sambatek is pleased to announce that Joe Maurer, PE, PLS, PMP, has joined the company as Practice Leader for the Minnesota Land Group. Joe brings an impressive 20 years of experience in civil engineering, energy, and construction industries, with a strong background in utility infrastructure and commercial and residential land development projects. His expertise spans the planning, design, management, and execution of all project phases, making him a valuable addition to the Sambatek
Sambatek Welcomes Five New Shareholders
Sambatek Welcomes Five New ShareholdersMinnetonka, MN — February 18, 2025 — Sambatek is excited to announce the addition of five new shareholders to our leadership team. This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to growth, innovation, and developing leaders who drive our mission forward. Please welcome our new shareholders: Brian Burchett, PE; Ben Lodin, PE; Dan Mattison, PE; Jeff Ostrom; and Brian Soltz, AICP. The new shareholders join Mark Anderson, PE; Michael Conlee; Erik Miller, PE; and Sirish
Engineering Foundation Honors Scholarship Recipients
Engineering Foundation Honors Scholarship RecipientsThe Engineering Education Foundation of America honored 23 scholarship recipients to further their engineering studies The Engineering Education Foundation of America, a program of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN), honored 23 scholarship recipients at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards at A'BULAE in St. Paul on Feb. 21. Many of the 2024 scholarship students attended the gala, with awardees overall from Minnesota,
Isthmus Engineering Welcomes John Doan to Lead Transportation Planning Practice
SAINT PAUL, MN (February 11, 2025) – Isthmus Engineering, Inc. (Isthmus) is excited to announce the hiring of John Doan, PE (MN) as a Senior Transportation Planner and Lead of the Isthmus Transportation Planning practice area. In addition to providing project management and expertise on planning projects, he will oversee the development and activities of the growing Isthmus team of planners, engineers, data scientists, and specialists. Over his 25-year career, John has worked in both the public and
KLJ Helps Secure $25 Million RAISE Grant for Robert Street Complete Streets and Viaduct Replacement
Bismark, ND January 30, 2025– KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to announce that our team recently helped secure a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant for the reconstruction and modernization of approximately 1.5 miles of Robert Street in St. Paul, Minn. This crucial project, funded as part of the Department of Transportation's $1.32 billion RAISE grant awards, will deliver significant safety, mobility, and sustainability improvements to the
KLJ Welcomes Two Employees in Minnesota
KLJ Welcomes Two Employees in Minnesota Bismark, ND, February 3, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) welcomes two employees to their Minnesota team. Jacob Schuster and Ryan Stirewalt are the latest new hires. Schuster joins KLJ’s Survey Group as senior survey crew chief based out of Eagan, Minn. Jacob is a skilled survey technician with more than eight years of experience in land surveying, including drafting, field data collection, and boundary analysis. He has expertise in conducting
Melissa Oelke Promoted to KLJ’s Vice President of Strategic Sales
Melissa Oelke Promoted to KLJ’s Vice President of Strategic SalesBismarck, ND – January 9, 2025 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is proud to announce Melissa Oelke has been promoted to Vice President (VP) of Strategic Sales. In this role, Oelke will be responsible for the strategic development, leadership, and oversight of KLJ’s project pursuits and sales initiatives. She will play a pivotal role in driving growth strategy and expanding the Company’s market presence in current and new geographies. Oelke joined
MSA Welcomes Nick Wagner as new CEO
MSA announced today the transition of Nick Wagner, PE, to the role of chief executive officer effective January 1, 2025. Nick succeeds former CEO Gil Hantzsch, PE, who will serve in a strategic advisory capacity until his retirement in late 2025. This planned transition maintains MSA’s success in delivering top-tier client service and quality projects to communities across the country. Nick first joined MSA as a co-op student in 2004 and as a summer intern in 2005. He was hired full time in 2006,
Nelson-Rudie Announces Matthew Elhadad as the Engineering Firm’s President
NELSON-RUDIE ANNOUNCES MATTHEW ELHADAD AS THE ENGINEERING FIRM’S PRESIDENT MINNEAPOLIS, MN (December 2, 2024) – Nelson-Rudie & Associates, Inc. (Nelson-Rudie) recently named Matt Elhadad as the new president and board chair of the 48-year-old consulting engineering firm specializing in structural, mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration solutions for projects nationwide and in Canada. Matthew Elhadad In his role as controller and as the Board of Directors secretary, Elhadad had previously led
KLJ Vice President Ben Dzioba Earns DBIA’s 2024 College Fellowship
Bismarck, ND – November 13, 2024 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is proud to announce that Ben Dzioba, PE (CO, MN, MT, TX, WI), Vice President of Construction Management Services, has been selected for the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) prestigious 2024 College of Fellows. This honor is reserved for the most distinguished professionals in the design-build industry, recognizing outstanding leadership, advocacy, and contributions to the field. Less than 2% of DBIA’s Designated Design-Build
Meshek & Associates Joins WSB
Natick, MA (November 12, 2024) – WSB, an infrastructure engineering and consulting firm, acquired Meshek & Associates (“Meshek”), a specialized civil engineering firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The strategic addition of Meshek will strengthen WSB’s service offerings and presence in Oklahoma. “WSB is evolving into a national brand,” announced Bret Weiss, WSB’s president and CEO. “Oklahoma is making significant investments in its infrastructure, boasts a growing economy, and ranks among the top states for job
KLJ’s Cristian Encalada Earns PMP Certification
Bismarck, ND –October 29, 2024 KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is proud to announce that Cristian Encalada, PE (MN, MT, CO, UT, ID, WY, KS, NE, ND,SD, WI , OR, NV, TX, AZ, NM, OK, IA, KY) recently earned his Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Encalada is an accomplished Electrical Engineer with KLJ’s Telecommunications team based out of Minnesota. He holds a master's degree in telecommunication systems from the University of Buenos Aires,
KLJ Welcomes Eight New Employees in Minnesota
Bismarck, ND – October 10, 2024 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is proud to announce the addition of eight new employees in Minnesota. Angie Bolstad, Rick Devorak, Andrew Helmers, Andrew Kayfes, Greg Olberding, Evelyn Ostrowski, Cedric Ramos, and Lucy Theile are the latest additions to the team. Bolstad joins KLJ’s Transportation Group as a client relationship leader based out of Eagan, Minn. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota and North Dakota with more than 13 years of experience in
LHB Names New Chief Operating Officer
Minnesota & Wisconsin — Stacee Demmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, has been named chief operating officer of LHB, an engineering, architecture, and planning firm with offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Demmer will oversee LHB’s operations and drive strategic initiatives to support the firm’s commitment to addressing today’s challenges by creating enduring, attractive, functional, and sustainable design solutions for buildings, sites, and infrastructure. A licensed architect since 2005 with over two
Information session planned on contracting opportunities for the Blatnik Bridge project
Information session planned on contracting opportunities for the Blatnik Bridge project$1.8 billion replacement project planned for aging bridge. SUPERIOR, WI, 2024—The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and its partners will hold an information session on potential business opportunities associated with the Blatnik Bridge replacement project and provide updates on its status and timeline. The information session will be held Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Superior
MSA Names Nick Wagner as Next CEO
MSA Names Nick Wagner as Next CEOMSA CEO Gil Hantzsch, PE with CEO elect, Nick Wagner, PE MADISON, Wisc. (August 14, 2024) – MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) announced today the appointment of Nick Wagner, PE, to the role of chief executive officer effective January 1, 2025. Nick will succeed current CEO Gil Hantzsch, PE, who has announced plans to retire. This planned transition will maintain MSA’s success in delivering top-tier client service and quality projects to communities across the
TKDA Names Next Chief Executive Officer
We are excited to announce Jeff Lipovetz as our next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 25, 2024. Tom Stoneburner, who has worked for TKDA for more than 35 years and has served as CEO since 2018, will remain chairman of TKDA’s Board of Directors until his retirement in early 2025. Jeff is our current Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has worked for TKDA since 2013. His career demonstrates a 30-year progression of increasing responsibility through the mining industry and engineering
KLJ Welcomes Veronica Richfield as Client Relationship Leader in Minnesota
KLJ Welcomes Veronica Richfield as Client Relationship Leader in Minnesota Eagan, MN – July 15, 2024KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is pleased to welcome Veronica Richfield to the Transportation team as a client relationship leader in Minnesota. Richfield is a licensed professional engineer in Minnesota and Illinois, Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE), and Road Safety Professional 2 (RSP2) with more than 12 years of experience in the transportation industry. Specializing in traffic engineering and
KLJ Names New CEO
KLJ Names New CEO Bismarck, ND – July 19, 2024 – KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ) is pleased to announce that Kurt Zmich, PE, current COO and Acting CEO, has formally accepted the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of KLJ. Zmich joined KLJ in 2022, with multiple years of executive leadership experience in the AEC industry. He is looking forward to leading and supporting KLJ’s growth. As KLJ’s COO, Kurt led the Operations Team through a restructure and series of operational improvements which created
KLJ Welcomes Five Team Members in Minnesota
Bismarck, ND – July 03, 2024– KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), welcomes new employees Joshua Clark, Mustafa Dahir, Eli Powell, Sophie Seligman and Irene Viveros. Clark joins KLJ as a senior transportation engineer. He is a seasoned civil engineer with extensive experience in project design and management. His experience includes 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling, project coordination, corridor alternatives, and coordinating proposals. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from the
St. Paul Nonprofit Bolsters Engineering Ranks With North Dakota Agreement
St. Paul Nonprofit Bolsters Engineering Ranks With North Dakota AgreementEngineering Education Foundation of America inks agreement with the American Council of Engineering Companies North Dakota to facilitate engineering education and workforce development. By Todd R. Berger As engineers across the country retire, there are not enough engineering students in universities to make up for the departures. Under the stipulations in just one federal law—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
ACEC Celebrates Accomplishments and the Future of Engineering
ACEC Celebrates Accomplishments and the Future of Engineering By Todd R. Berger The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota held its 2024 Annual Meeting at the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium at Como Zoo in St. Paul on May 9, with more than 100 in attendance from 30 firms. There was a lot to celebrate, as in addition to highlighting the many accomplishments of the organization over the last year, ACEC Minnesota bestowed the Tom Roche Lifetime Achievement Award, the Firm of the Year
Cari Hoverson Promoted to Roadway Team Leader
Cari Hoverson Promoted to Roadway Team Leader Eagan, MN –May 9, 2024– KLJ Engineering (KLJ) is proud to announce that Cari Hoverson, PE has been promoted to Roadway Team Leader. Hoverson, who is based in Eagan, Minnesota, began working for KLJ in 2015.She has more than nine years of experience in roadway design and construction. Her expertise includes collaborating with local agencies and handling projects with diverse funding sources. She has worked extensively with numerous state and