Passionate people committed to building and revitalizing our world

PRESIDENT & CEO

Mark Kramer, PE

Mark Kramer, PE has led SME’s growing team of professional and technical staff for more than 20 years. Since joining SME in 1995, Mark has held positions of increasing responsibility, and in 2001, he succeeded his father, SME’s founder Ken Kramer, as CEO. He is responsible for corporate development, profitability, staff retention and development, client satisfaction, and risk management. Mark also provides project management for large, multi-disciplined redevelopment projects, including environmental and geotechnical evaluations, design, and construction monitoring in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and across the country. Mark is sought out by owners and developers for his ability to translate project information, especially the engineering and risks, into language they can understand when developing or redeveloping sites, allowing them to make good decisions to save time and money while controlling risk.

Chief Financial Officer

Andy Emmert, CPA

Andy Emmert, CPA has more than 30 years of accounting experience. As Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Andy is responsible for all corporate and project financial accounting and finance functions, budgeting, project financial training, business insurance, corporate banking relationships, corporate insurance, and all accounting and tax functions. He also serves as a strategic partner with SME’s leadership team and as Group Leader of our Information Systems Team. Andy establishes corporate banking relationships to negotiate lines of credit and loan covenants, as well as prepares and presents documentation to lending institutions to support increased line of credit availability and improved terms and conditions. Andy’s responsibilities also include evaluating the viability of major corporate purchases (including mergers and acquisitions) and their impact on operations and economic payback period. Andy is well known in the industry as a reliable and hard-working financial professional, which has paved the way for advancements in his career. While Andy is proud of receiving the SME President’s Award for Excellence in 2012, he is proudest of being selected to the SME Board of Directors in 2011. Andy Emmert has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from University of Detroit Mercy.

Chief Operating Officer

Chuck Gemayel, PE

Chuck Gemayel, PE has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining SME in 1987, and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President. In this role, he works closely with all of our Group Leaders to continuously improve service delivery and develop strong client relationships. He also serves as the Program Manager for SME’s contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide pavement research, field-testing, and technical support for the FHWA Pavement Surface Characteristics (PSC) Program.

Chuck Gemayel, PE has extensive experience in pavement design, management and evaluation, knowledgeable in state-of-the-art analysis and evaluation of highway and airfield pavements, and proficient in materials testing procedures, including conventional and state-of-the-art methods. He has provided project management/review for numerous MDOT projects for the Metro Region as well as sub-consultant services for MDOT through others. Chuck has been active in many professional organizations, serving as President of the Southeast Oakland County Municipal Engineers (SOCME), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), ASCE Airfield Pavement Committee of the Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), Transportation Research Board (served on several technical committees), ASTM Member of D-4 Committee on Road and Paving Materials, and the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) Users Group.

DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL OPERATIONS

Lou Northouse, PE

Lou Northouse, PE is a Regional Vice President who manages SME’s Greater Michigan Region along with Indiana and Kentucky. He  coordinates a diverse team of engineers and technicians to oversee consulting services related to geotechnical engineering, building materials, and construction materials testing services. Lou began his career with SME more than 20 years ago as a field engineer. Since then, he has progressed in responsibility and began managing projects. His technical, administrative, and budgetary management expertise has been utilized on more than 1,500 projects in West Michigan. He is knowledgeable of Special Inspections and Michigan Building Code requirements, is skilled at estimating project scopes and budgets, and is well-known for communicating with clients throughout the course of their projects. Lou strives to efficiently provide answers to questions and project related issues, utilizing the knowledge of other SME professionals when needed to keep projects on schedule and within budget. Lou Northouse is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Chief Human Resources Officer

Jami Sentz

Jami Sentz leads SME’s human resources group and is responsible for recruiting, benefits administration, compliance, talent development, engagement and retention, and employee relations. With 14 years of experience, she works closely with the leadership team to ensure SME’s policies and practices are aligned with our core values and strategic vision. She serves on the strategic planning committee, and is involved in the planning and execution of SME’s HR related strategic initiatives. Jami also serves as a member of SME’s safety committee, which champions our team members safely returning home to their families each day. Jami’s passion is helping to develop SME’s most important asset – our people. By helping team members reach their fullest potential professionally, their personal lives are in turn enriched. All too often, our personal and professional lives intertwine, even when we might not see it, and helping people work through that is what she enjoys the most about human resources.

Jami Sentz holds a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University and was awarded the SME President’s Award for Excellence in 2017. She has a knack for coming up with creative solutions and has the ability to make tough conversations easy. Outside of work, Jami enjoys spending time with her family – attending her daughters sporting events, going to the lake, and taking vacations with them as often as possible before they grow up! Her husband is her best friend and their favorite thing to do is to work out at the gym together.

Chief Development Officer

Mike Meddock, PE, CPSM

Mike Meddock, PE, CPSM is SME’s Chief Development Officer responsible for overseeing and coordinating SME’s services in Indiana and Ohio. These services include project management, technical report review, project planning, and business development. With 30+ years of experience in redevelopment and environmental consulting, Mike manages all aspects of redevelopment projects, from acquisition through design and construction, including environmental, geotechnical, and construction materials services to bring a project to successful completion. He revels in building lasting professional and personal relationships while finding opportunities to help clients meet their goals. This passion culminated in Mike’s research in the Fundamentals of Professional Practice (FOPP) program, where he implemented and championed SME’s internal Build-a-Practice program. Mike Meddock earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He is also an SMPS Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM).

Vice President Corporate Development

Brad Ewart II, PE

Brad Ewart II, PE is SME’s Vice President of Corporate Development and a Senior Consultant responsible for leadership within the Northern Indiana and Mid-Michigan regions. With 15+ years of experience, he leads geotechnical and pavement evaluations including formulating project scope and conducting technical analyses. Brad Ewart is experienced in geotechnical engineering services, performing geotechnical engineering evaluations, deep foundation design, instrumented auger cast pile load testing, settlement design/investigations, and vibration monitoring studies for healthcare applications. He also has experience with construction materials services, providing field verification of soil conditions for auger cast piles, intermediate foundation systems, rammed aggregate piers, and shallow foundation systems. Brad has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in both Michigan and Indiana.

Brad is driven by knowing that each day may bring the opportunity to lend a helping hand. He has a special knack for looking at the big picture and providing value engineering to solve soils issues. Along with providing excellent customer service, Brad enjoys building long-lasting relationships with clients through honesty, integrity and participating in activities outside of the workplace.

In his free time, Brad enjoys playing baseball, basketball and sand volleyball, along with coaching baseball. During the summer he tries not to miss an opportunity to spend time with family visiting Grand Haven, St. Joseph, Muskegon and Traverse City, Michigan. Brad really enjoys driving his 1994 Pontiac Trans Am, and as he says, “C’mon, who wouldn’t?” Brad and his wife also enjoy volunteering through their church.

Director of Project Management

Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP

Tiffany Vorhies, NACE, CIP-2, PMP is a Vice President and the Director of Project Management. She leads the charge in developing and training all of SME’s Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers to elevate their skills and capabilities and ensure SME continues to provide best in class service to our clients.

Tiffany Vorhies holds a BS degree in Construction Management from Eastern Michigan University, and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She has been with SME for 18 years and spent much of that time building our Steel, Coatings, and Nondestructive Testing (SCN) service group from the ground up. Before this, she worked in design and quality control for a truss manufacturer for nearly eight years.

She has served in several leadership positions for NACE Detroit and is known as a local expert in coatings. Tiffany is also active in the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) and is Chair of their Multimedia Delivery Committee.

In her free time, Tiffany enjoys woodworking and podcasting. Check out the GBA Podcast for some industry-related episodes, where she hosts and shares lessons learned with others.

Director of Safety

Holly Woonton, CSP

Holly Woonton, CSP serves as SME’s Director of Safety. With over a decade of experience in operations and environmental health and safety management, she brings the expertise to lead initiatives that not only enhance safety protocols but also drive operational excellence.

Her certifications, including the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), underscore her commitment to maintaining high safety standards. Holly has sharpened her leadership and facilities management skills, ensuring that our teams operate efficiently while fostering a culture of safety.

Holly holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science from Lawrence Technological University.

In her free time, Holly and her husband are proud members of the Alpaca Owners Association and enjoy caring for their herd of 13 suri alpacas. They also raise honeybees!

Director of Information Technology

Alicia Nicholes

Alicia Nicholes currently leads SME’s Information Technology group as the Director of Information Technology. She is responsible for ensuring the effective management of IT operations, maintaining IT Systems and Infrastructure, cybersecurity, end-user hardware, software applications, licensing, new hire training, and technical support.

With 18 years of experience in the IT field and over 25 years of experience in the consulting engineering field, she works closely with the leadership team to ensure SME’s IT policies and practices align with its core values and strategic vision.

She serves on the strategic planning committee and is involved in the planning and execution of SME’s IT-related strategic initiatives.

Alicia is deeply committed to helping people overcome their fears and embrace new technology tools with confidence. She believes that by guiding team members to understand and utilize technology, they can unlock untapped potential and excel in their areas of expertise. Her compassionate approach ensures that everyone feels supported and empowered throughout their technological journey.

Throughout her career, Alicia has become a leader in various IT domains such as customer service, technical support, hardware setup for both users and networks, BIM management, security analysis, app development, and internal ISO auditing.

Alicia was awarded the SME President’s Award for Excellence in 2018 and the One|SME Award in 2015. She is an active member of the ACEC IT Forum and the new ACEC Technology Committee formed in 2024. She is also an active member of WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity) Organization.

Outside of work, Alicia enjoys spending time camping, kayaking, and hiking with her family. She also enjoys traveling to new places to experience different landscapes and cultures.

Director of Communications

Katie Hatfield Edstrom, PhD

Katie Hatfield Edstrom, PhD, serves as SME’s Director of Communications. Having previously served as a professor of Communication Studies at Creighton University, Katie’s area of expertise lay in the realm of public communications. This encompassed a wide spectrum, including visual messaging, campaign strategies, social movements, and media communications. Transitioning from academia to the corporate sphere, Katie ventured into the AEC sectors as a strategic communication consultant and stakeholder facilitator for a global Engineering and Architecture firm. 

Over an extensive span of more than ten years, Katie took on the role of facilitating community dialogues and public involvement in some of the most contentious, yet vital public infrastructure projects across the Midwest. Her dedication lies in her ability to guide individuals and organizations in tackling communication hurdles through careful reasoning and well-informed decision-making. Each challenge met is approached with a blend of communication theory and practical experience. 

Now, in her capacity as the Director of Communications (DoC) at SME, Katie is committed to bolstering the engagement between all members of the SME team, as well as supporting our client relationships. In doing so, Katie not only supports the SME team and clients but also positively impacts the communities they serve. 

When not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her family. She’s recently moved back to her hometown in western Michigan and is quickly becoming an avid birder as her husband, Jason, and she grow in their enthusiasm for the birds of Michigan! Katie is a graduate of Central Michigan University (BAA and MA) and of Ohio University (PhD). She is an avid MSU Spartans fan and is hoping to convince her long-time Nebraska Husker fan husband to see the errors of his ways.  

Building Materials

Hayder Al-Hilal, PE

Hayder Al-Hilal, PE, SMSI, CIP-1, CCI-2 Level I Thermographer is a Senior Consultant and the Group Leader for SME’s Materials Services, which includes our Building Enclosure and Structural Materials teams. During his nearly 20-year career, Hayder has developed unique expertise in the assessment and maintenance of existing facilities and infrastructure, including commercial and historic buildings; parking structures; pedestrian, highway, and railroad bridges; and underground structures, including vaults and tunnels, to maximize their useful life.

Hayder is a specialist in providing nondestructive assessment of concrete structures using sonic, ultrasonic, and impulse radar testing equipment. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan. He earned MS degrees in Structural Engineering and Construction Engineering Management from Lawrence Technological University, complemented by a BS degree in Civil Engineering.

Environmental

Sara Bals, EIT

Sara Bals, EIT is the Chief Consultant for the Environmental Services group.  Sara has over 18 years’ experience providing consulting series for brownfields redevelopment projects, environmental due diligence services related to property acquisitions, safe use planning and implementation of engineering controls, and liable party site investigations. Sara leads SME’s Site Investigation and Remediation Discipline and helps manage SME’s U.S. EPA brownfields grant program.

Sara is responsible for writing over 25 successful U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment/Cleanup applications totaling over $15 million dollars for Michigan and Indiana communities from 2007 through 2024. She heads SME’s Environmental Group’s quality assurance and quality control practices, which includes managing and maintaining the group’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) and associated training. She is an Environmental Professional (EP) as defined by U.S. EPA 40 CFR Part 213, Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries.  

Sara earned her B.S. from Northern Arizona University and her M.S. from the University of Notre Dame. In her free time, she spends as much time as she can with her husband and son searching for the perfect hiking trail, the best nighttime city skyline, and any reason to visit the mountains in the western U.S.  

Vice President Geotechnical

Tim Bedenis, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE

Tim Bedenis, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE is a Vice President at SME and possesses more than 35 years of experience. He specializes in the evaluation of slopes, embankments, and retaining walls for highway embankments, containment areas, and retention basins, including recommendations for various types of erosion protection. As the Business Unit Leader of our Geotechnical Engineering and Drilling Services, he leads a team of geotechnical engineers and drillers and provides technical review for many projects involving special soil testing; deep foundations (driven piles and drilled shafts); underpinning; various types of earth retention systems; cofferdams; mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls; reinforced slopes and berms; and part-width construction of bridges. He has also been involved in many instrumentation projects to measure and monitor displacements, pressures, and vibration levels during construction and as part of forensic evaluations. Tim’s expertise also includes forensic evaluation and analysis of existing soil and foundation conditions.

Tim Bedenis is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. He was also elected a Fellow of ASCE and has earned his Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE) certification from the Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Vice President Survey

Jeff Evans, PS

Jeff Evans, PS is a Vice President and the dynamic leader of SME’s Surveying Group. With more than 25 years of building client relationships based on trust and hard work, Jeff has relentless passion and drive to make those around him better every day. Jeff takes great pride in being the ultimate client advocate to help them achieve their goals. He has served as a project manager and group leader for survey in infrastructure improvement projects across the Midwest. In 2009, he started his own consulting company providing land surveying, civil engineering, GIS, land management, and ecological services to energy clients. Jeff joined SME in 2019 and is working with our civil engineering and land surveying teams to develop strong client relationships.

Jeff earned his BBA in Business Administration from Cleary University. Jeff Evans is a Professional Surveyor licensed in 12 states, including Michigan, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

In his free time, Jeff can be found enjoying the outdoors with his family by boating, hunting, snowmobiling, ATVing, or spending time up north.

Construction Engineering Inspection

Kevin Glupker, PE

Kevin Glupker, PE is a Senior Consultant and the Group Leader of Construction Engineering Inspection (CEI) for SME, which provides construction phase engineering, observation, and materials testing services for MDOT and local government projects. Kevin has more than 18 years of experience in pavement evaluation, design, and construction on both public and private sector projects. He possesses extensive experience in field engineering and construction materials testing services, providing support for earthwork, asphalt and concrete pavements, shallow and deep foundations, and materials projects. Kevin has been a board member of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Southwest Michigan Branch since 2015 and served as Branch President from 2018 to 2019. He is passionate about mentoring staff to help them achieve their project and career goals, and he excels in assembling the most suitable team for each specific project and client. Kevin Glupker earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering from Western Michigan University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan.

Civil Design

Jayson Graves, PE

Jayson Graves, PE is a Senior Consultant and Group Leader for SME’s Civil Design Group. Jayson has 19 years of experience at SME and over 28 years in the construction industry. In his role as Group Leader, Jayson works with our team of engineers and CADD professionals to design rehabilitation and new construction land development plans and specifications. Jayson is passionate about helping our clients navigate municipal, state, and federal agencies review and permitting processes and approvals related to stormwater management, wetlands, soil erosion and sediment control, and rights of way. He leverages SME’s multiservice approach to provide clients with practical solutions on their complex civil projects and manages pavement network evaluation and rehabilitation feasibility surveys to develop and manage multi-year construction and rehabilitation programs for various sized facilities. His expertise includes evaluation of existing utility infrastructure, construction engineering services and pavement design and evaluations for new and existing pavement structures. Jayson earned his BS in Civil Engineering at Lawrence Technological University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan. In his free time, Jayson enjoys time with his family, working on projects around the house, volunteering at his parish, and serving his community on several city boards and committees.

Vice President Construction Materials

Dave Hurlburt, PE

Dave Hurlburt, PE is a Vice President and Principal at SME with 33 years of civil engineering experience. He serves as the Business Unit Leader for SME’s Construction Materials Services (CMS) and Lab groups. Dave delivers expertise in the areas of construction materials services and geotechnical field engineering. He provides business development, project management, consulting, and engineering evaluations on a wide range of projects. Dave is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and has a BS degree in Civil Engineering from MTU.

Dave Hurlburt has been project manager for more than 2,800 geotechnical evaluation and CMS projects. He strives for the CMS group to provide great service and efficient, practical solutions for our clients every day, which is one of the reasons our clients hire SME – because we have qualified staff who respond to situations with quick and competent recommendations.

Dave is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He attends AGC events and volunteers with the Williamston School Foundation.

Dave likes to play basketball, mountain bike, landscape, and do remodeling projects around the house and cabin. Activities with his family include snowmobiling, fly fishing, hunting, hiking, playing cards, playing Catan, watching movies together, and, most recently, babysitting a grandchild.

Steel, Coatings, Nondestructive Testing

Nick Jablonski, PE

Nick Jablonski, PE is a Senior Consultant and Group Leader for SME’s Steel, Coatings, and Nondestructive Testing (SCN) Group, which includes Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs), nondestructive testing (NDT) specialists, coatings consultants, and concrete fabrication specialists.

Nick Jablonski earned his BS in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan. His 13 years of experience with SME include providing field reviews, consulting services, project management, and team leadership related to engineered materials and construction. He has managed several large commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and transportation multi-service projects for numerous private and public sector clients.

He focuses his efforts on materials consulting services and project management related to structural steel systems assessments, fabrication audits, and field erection quality assurance (QA) performed by certified staff in accordance with the project specifications, applicable codes, and governing standards. Nick is also experienced in providing in-field construction observation and materials consulting services for coating applications, concrete castings, subgrade soil conditions, shallow and deep foundations, reinforcing steel, masonry, pavements, fireproofing, waterproofing, and other various building enclosure systems.

Nick is passionate about using his technical knowledge to help clients avoid or correct problems on projects, so that their goals are achieved. However, he would say that his greatest motivation is sharing his experiences and knowledge with his team members to help them achieve their best potential, so that they succeed in helping clients that they serve.

In his free time, Nick enjoys outdoor activities with family and friends. Living in northern Michigan, he spends as much of his free time as he can relaxing on the water, exploring the woods, or adventuring in snow.

Geotechnical

Jeff Krusinga, PE, GE

Jeff Krusinga PE, GE serves as the Regional Leader for SME’s Kalamazoo office and the Group Leader for our Geotechnical Services group. He has more than 30 years of extensive analytical experience associated with the evaluation of stability for both existing and proposed slopes and embankments. Jeff’s interest in geotechnical engineering began while in graduate school and broadened during his early professional career in San Diego, California, where he gained extensive experience performing slope stability evaluations by working on coastal protection projects and conducting groundwater resource evaluations. He has been involved with the evaluation of numerous dams, including performing safety inspections, quantifying factors-of-safety when assessing various failure modes, and preparing plans for repair. Jeff Krusinga is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and a registered civil engineer (RCE) and geotechnical engineer (GE) in California. Jeff holds BSE and MSE degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan, and completed postgraduate studies at San Diego State University.

Administrative Services

Kim Looman

Vice President Building Materials

Eric Murrell, RA

Eric Murrell, RA, CCS, BECxP, CxA+BE, CSI is SME’s Chief Architect as well as a Vice President and Principal Consultant in our Building Materials Group. He provides project team support and expertise for building condition surveys and evaluations of cladding, weather control, thermal control, and vapor control issues in new and existing building enclosures. He is an expert in evaluation, consulting, and design services for building enclosures, including, weatherproofing, atypical flashing conditions, and multiple material interface detailing. He specializes in high-durability construction, including healthcare and higher education architecture, emphasizing high-performance enclosure design and quality assurance, including document review.

With 35 years of experience, Eric Murrell is a licensed architect in Michigan. He holds a BS degree in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan. Eric is a Certified Construction Specifier and holds both Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider and Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure certificates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Eric is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute and the former Planning Commissioner for the City of Berkley, Michigan. He is also the Treasurer and founding Member of The Building Enclosure Council of Greater Detroit.

Eric’s outside interests include a unique affinity for antique toasters which has led him to a membership in the Toaster Collectors Association. He also enjoys the sport of curling and country-western dancing, mainly two-step waltz and swing. Eric is a supporter of the New Beginnings Animal Rescue in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Vice President Geotechnical

Joel Rinkel, PE

Joel Rinkel, PE is the Chief Engineer for the Geotechnical business unit at SME. He is primarily responsible for the development, operations, and visibility of the geotechnical group. He is a registered professional engineer with 28 years experience providing geotechnical engineering services, construction materials services, pavement engineering, geo-civil design services, dewatering design services, shoring and underpinning design services, building monitoring and condition assessment services, forensics evaluations for below-grade structures, and expert witness testimony. Joel Rinkel also serves as Owner’s representative for assessing subsurface conditions and their impact on the design and performance of subgrade-supported structures. Joel has BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering. He has been a project manager for more than 2,500 geo-civil and shoring design, geotechnical, pavement, and construction materials services projects.

Joel relishes the fact that every day is an opportunity to accomplish something good by helping those in need both in and out of the office. Joel is known as the go-to problem solver pertaining to soils and subsurface materials. He finds opportunity and, more specifically, a method, technique, and approach to provide high quality, cost-effective construction consulting services.

Vice President Construction Materials

Paul Schmeisl, PE

Paul Schmeisl, PE is a Vice President and Group Leader for SME’s Construction Materials Services (CMS) Group. Beginning his career at SME as a field technician, he has over 20 years of experience with foundation systems, concrete, and pavements. As CMS Project Manager and Geotechnical Engineer of Record for commercial developments, education facilities, hospital campuses, power generation and transmission clients, and transportation projects, Paul anticipates our client’s needs, offers guidance at critical decision points, and keeps the team informed of risks that would affect the long-term success of their projects.

He also serves as project manager on geotechnical, civil, and pavement related services, ranging from conventional geotechnical evaluations to complex engineering designs and construction consulting services. Paul is skilled at providing engaged project management and coordination for complicated, large-scale projects. He has the expertise needed to usher in positive, timely, and cost-effective results on every project.

Paul Schmeisl is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and Ohio. He has a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University. In his free time, Paul enjoys the outdoors including backpacking, snowboarding, off-roading in his Jeep, fishing, and camping with his friends and family.

Vice President Infrastructure

Jason Schwartzenberger, PE

Jason Schwartzenberger, PE provides project management expertise in the area of pavement design, management, and evaluation. He is Group Leader for SME’s Pavement Services Group. His 20 years of experience with SME includes pavement condition assessments, implementing pavement management systems, destructive and nondestructive testing, developing feasible pavement rehabilitation options utilizing latest construction techniques, preparing plans and specifications, and providing construction administration and testing services. Jason is experienced in design, construction, and inspection of shallow and deep foundations and earthwork operations, and earth retention systems. He also reviews asphalt mix designs and test data from our Plymouth asphalt laboratory. Jason is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and has a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Jason Schwartzenberger has served as Project Consultant for numerous MDOT pavement geotechnical evaluations on state, county, and municipal roadway projects. He has also served as project manager or engineer for multiple county and municipal roadway projects. For Jason, each project is exciting: first, to see it begin to take shape, and then draft designs, and finally, through many revisions of drawings, come to fruition in the field.

Jason has a knack for creating and maintaining long-term professional relationships with his clients who are impressed by his level of detail and commitment. His ability to analyze potential obstacles in a project design and develop several different solutions for the client keeps those clients coming back to SME with future projects.

He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Michigan Section. Jason is an avid outdoorsman and in his free time can often be found enjoying nature via hiking, hunting, vacationing, or catching up with family and friends.

Environmental

Casey Smith, CPG

Casey Smith, CPG is a Senior Consultant and Group Leader for SME’s Environmental Services Group. His principal roles are coordinating and executing the overall operations of our Environmental Services Group in the regions we serve, business development, and project management in West Michigan. He also provides a multitude of environmental consulting services, including brownfield redevelopment incentives, environmental due diligence, site assessment and monitoring, vapor mitigation design and oversight, underground storage tank (UST) management, storm water services, and other environmental services.

Casey earned his MS in Earth Science from Western Michigan University and his BS in Natural Resource Biology and Environmental Science from Central Michigan University. He is a Certified Professional Geologist with more than 20 years of experience working with regulators, communities, property owners, industrial clients, developers, construction companies, real estate agents, attorneys, and lenders to address environmental challenges associated with acquiring and developing/redeveloping property, repurposing brownfield sites, fulfilling liable party obligations, and navigating complex state and federal regulatory requirements.

Casey Smith, CPG is also experienced in brownfield grant writing, community economic development, and acquisition and redevelopment projects involving Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Baseline Environmental Assessments (BEAs), Due Care documentation, vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation, and financial incentive programs. His familiarity with tax increment financing (TIF); the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s brownfield grant and loan program; and the U.S. EPA’s brownfields assessment and cleanup program have helped our clients with challenging project funding situations. Casey has significant field and project management experience with soil, groundwater, surface water, soil gas, indoor air, and storm water sampling; environmental drilling and monitoring well installation methods; asbestos, lead-based paint and other hazardous materials inspections; and contractor oversight.

Outside his work life, Casey Smith enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter at their summer camping spot or their favorite sushi restaurant. He also enjoys deer hunting, golf, and fishing.

Drilling

Kevin Wilk, PE

Kevin Wilk, PE is a Senior Consultant and Group Leader for SME’s Drilling and Soil Probe Services. With 28 years of experience, he leads a team of seven drill crews and one soil probe crew, managing operations across offices throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. He promotes an active safety culture within the group, aligns business planning with SME’s strategic plans, leads the quality assurance strategy, and facilitates communication across all levels and groups within SME pertaining to drilling operations. Kevin specializes in complex drilling projects with challenging access requirements. He provides senior technical project leadership, manages risk for drilling operations, develops scopes and budgets for geotechnical evaluations, and manages the design and construction of shallow and deep foundations, along with other geotechnical concerns. Kevin is a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. He earned his MS degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and his BS degree in Civil Engineering from Wayne State University.

Fort Wayne

Jamie Bates, PE

Jamie Bates, PE is the Regional Leader for SME’s Fort Wayne, Indiana office. She has extensive geotechnical engineering experience across Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Southern Michigan. She specializes in ground improvement techniques, pavement evaluation, and design. She is knowledgeable in shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls, pavements, engineered fill, settlement, slope stability, and seismic design. Jamie is also experienced with soil and rock classifications and performing ASTM geotechnical laboratory testing procedures. Jamie assists clients by preparing competitive proposals specific to their needs and providing value engineering focused reports in a timely manner. She earned her BS degree in Civil Engineering from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Indiana.

Bay Region

Brian Berger, PE

Brian Berger, PE is a Senior Consultant and serves as Regional Leader responsible for overseeing and coordinating SME’s services in the Bay Region. With more than 20 years of engineering experience, he also manages a variety of environmental projects across Michigan. Brian prides himself on his ability to navigate the challenges of complex projects and has a knack for viewing those projects from a practical perspective. His daily focus is on educating his clients and providing them with good service and practical solutions. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan.

Grand Rapids

Andy Bolton, PE

Andy Bolton, PE is the Regional Leader for SME’s Grand Rapids office and is the Assistant Group Leader for SME’s Geotechnical Group. With more than 18 years of experience providing geotechnical engineering services, he is skilled in developing geotechnical exploration scopes of services and managing and performing geotechnical evaluations for projects in Michigan and Indiana. These varied projects include technical expertise in shallow and deep foundations, ground improvement methods, earth retention systems (ERS), slope stability, surcharge programs, in-situ infiltration testing, pressuremeter testing, and other related geotechnical engineering concerns. Andy Bolton earned his MS degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and his BS degree in Civil Engineering from Calvin College. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan and Indiana.

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | RVP

Dan Cassidy, CPG

Dan Cassidy, CPG is a Regional Vice President who manages SME’s Southeast Michigan offices. A principal of SME, his responsibilities include working with leaders to coordinate business development and visibility in the Metro Region, setting and implementing the Environmental Group’s business strategy, setting and executing the Group’s operational plan, providing senior technical leadership, and managing liability issues. He also advises owners, developers and the design and construction community in the areas of urban and brownfield redevelopment strategies and financing, environmental assessment of contaminated sites, remedial investigations, and environmental regulatory compliance.

Dan holds a BS degree in Environmental Geoscience from Michigan State University and an MBA from Wayne State University in Detroit, where he was also a Candidate for Juris Doctor of Law. Dan’s redevelopment experience and scientific and business finance background make him uniquely positioned to leverage the financial incentives available for redevelopment projects to the maximum benefit of our clients, public and private. Dan has successfully written applications for over $30 million in federal/state grant funding and assisted in acquiring incentives and managed projects involving over $150 million in state and federal incentives. He also manages remedial investigations and development of remediation alternatives for commercial and industrial properties.

Dan Cassidy is known for leading and facilitating brownfield redevelopment projects from the initial strategy, to building the financial stack by maximizing financial incentives available for projects, to solving the technical challenges. He thrives on seeing a project through from inception to completion and realizing the positive impact each and every project has on the community and surrounding environment. Dan feels very fortunate that he has spent a large part of his career focusing on brownfield redevelopment which he feels is the best example of reuse, recycling, and recovery of urban areas that literally revitalizes communities. These projects are also great examples of his unique ability to facilitate public-private partnerships.

Outside the office, Dan spends most of his time enjoying quality time with his family which includes his wife and two beautiful daughters. He is an avid Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and MSU Spartans fan.

Indianapolis

Jason Cheney, CHMM

Jason Cheney, CHMM is a Senior Project Consultant and Regional Leader for SME’s Indianapolis office. Jason has over 22 years of experience providing due diligence services. As a member of our Environmental Services group, he manages a variety of projects including environmental due diligence, site assessments for brownfield redevelopment support, underground storage tank (UST) closures and assessments, hazardous building materials assessment, and abatement projects. He is a licensed Asbestos Inspector through the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) program. He is currently the Due Diligence practice lead for SME and is responsible for review of all Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. Jason Cheney earned his B.S. degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from Purdue University and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.

Jason Cheney hosted a Build+Revitalize podcast series with David Guevara (Taft Law), Arthur Siegal (Taft Law), and Bret Stuntz (SME). They covered the importance of environmental due diligence prior to property transactions, and the value that experienced environmental and legal consultants bring to the process. Listen to the three-episode series on our website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Columbus

Colin Flaherty, CP, CPG, PG

Colin Flaherty, CP, CPG, PG is a Senior Consultant and serves as Regional Leader for SME’s Columbus office. With nearly 20 years of environmental and geosciences experience, Colin manages a variety of projects, including Phase I/II environmental site assessments (ESAs), brownfield redevelopments, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Voluntary Action Program (VAP) projects, USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grants, UST projects, hydrogeological site investigations, and numerous forms of environmental monitoring and reporting. He works diligently to help clients navigate their complex revitalization projects in the area. Colin Flaherty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He is an Ohio VAP Certified Professional (CP), a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG), and a Professional Geoscientist (PG).

Louisville Metro

Wes Hemp, PE, PG, LEED AP

Wes Hemp, PE, PG, LEED AP serves as a Senior Project Engineer and Regional Leader for SME’s Louisville Metro office. With more than 18 years of geotechnical experience in the Louisville and Southern Indiana areas, he is skilled in developing geotechnical scope of services and managing and performing geotechnical evaluations. His expertise on publicly funded transportation projects includes bridge foundations, earthen embankments, and pavement design. Wes is knowledgeable of ground improvement procedures and specialty foundation systems. He can develop soil parameters and provide general design considerations for underpinning systems, such as helical piers, micro-piles, and pin-piles. Wes Hemp earned a Masters of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering, a Certificate in Environmental Engineering, and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Louisville. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. He is a Registered Professional Geoscientist in Louisiana and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Lansing

Megan Jacobs, PE

Megan Jacobs, PE is a Senior Project Engineer with more than 15 years of experience, and serves as Regional Leader of SME’s Lansing office. She is experienced in preparing proposals, providing project set-up for geotechnical and pavement evaluations, and providing project management for construction materials (CMS) projects. Megan performs visual engineering soil classification for both geotechnical and pavement evaluations for proposed projects. She also provides field engineering and construction materials testing services, including deep foundation installation, shallow foundation subgrade verification, pavement subgrade evaluations, vibration monitoring, compaction testing of backfill, and concrete field testing. Megan Jacobs earned her BS degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan.

Cleveland

Brendan Lieske, PE

Brendan Lieske, PE is the Regional Leader for SME’s Cleveland office and is the team leader for geotechnical services in Ohio. With more than 12 years of experience, he works with clients to understand their needs and develops scopes for geotechnical evaluations tailored specifically to each project. Brendan Lieske, PE manages and performs geotechnical evaluations, providing recommendations for shallow and deep foundations, ground improvement, retaining walls, pavements, floor slabs, engineered fill, settlement, and slope stability. He also specializes in reading, interpreting, and reporting on geotechnical instrumentation including inclinometers and piezometers.

Brendan Lieske, PE earned his MS in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Akron and his BS in Civil Engineering from Ohio University. He actively serves on the state board of the Ohio American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and serves as the chair on ACEC Ohio’s Workforce Development Committee. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Outside of work, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family (wife, two sons, and two dogs), playing music with his band at local venues, traveling to new places or old favorites (Ireland, Algonquin, and North Captiva), and all things outdoors (rock climbing, hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking).

Ohio | RVP

Wess Mekhael, PE

Wess Mekhael, PE is a Regional Vice President who manages SME’s offices across in Ohio. He coordinates and oversees a diverse team of engineers and technicians that offer consulting services related to geotechnical engineering, building materials, and construction materials services (CMS). He is skilled at estimating project scopes and budgets and is well known for communicating with clients throughout the duration of their projects. His technical, administrative, and budgetary management expertise has been utilized on more than 2,000 projects in northeast Ohio. With more than 10 years of experience, Wess Mekhael is a licensed engineer in Michigan and Ohio. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Wayne State University.

Macomb

Andrew Smith, PE

Andrew Smith, PE  is a Project Engineer with SME’s Construction Materials Services (CMS) Group and Regional Leader for our Macomb office. With more than 15 years of experience, Andy is knowledgeable in shallow and deep foundations, earth retention systems, engineered fill and backfill, soil infiltration, concrete and reinforcing steel, concrete relative humidity, masonry, pavements, and laboratory testing of soils and concrete. He has provided resident engineering services related to daily construction activities including scheduling and reviewing submittals and change orders for CMS projects. Andy also has several years of experience with geotechnical engineering and vibration monitoring. Andrew Smith earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri.