Andrew Clusserath, EIT

Andrew Clusserath, EIT

Andrew is a part of the Structural Engineering team in the Bend office. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University. Prior to working at Ashley & Vance, he gained experience within the construction industry helping estimators understand how local material prices were changing over time. Additionally, he gained experience by assisting project managers in a mixed use development project aimed at becoming the next tallest building in Spokane, WA. In his free time, Andrew enjoys riding bikes, trail running, skiing, and cooking. 

Andrew Fuller, PE

Andrew Fuller, PE

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Andrew has called the Santa Barbara area home since 2010. Since graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Civil Engineering he has worked in site development design, as well as providing construction inspections. Andrew brings a diverse background of experience in both the public and private sectors having worked on a variety of projects including residential subdivisions, public roadways, commercial business parks, higher education developments, and ADA rehab projects.

Andrew Martin, PE

Andrew Martin, PE

Andrew is a project engineer in the San Luis Obispo office. He has completed structural designs for a wide range of projects for clients all over California including the City and County of Los Angeles, Napa and Sonoma counties, and a variety of public- and private-sector clients on the Central Coast. His project experience encompasses single- and multi-family residential, wineries, and designs requiring probable maximum loss analysis and reporting.

Prior to his employment with Ashley & Vance, Andrew was employed as a framer with a construction company based in San Luis Obispo. This hands-on experience, coupled with a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, enables him to provide efficient, cost-effective, and readily-buildable structural designs to meet both the architectural requirements and cost needs of our clients.

Aron McCulloch

Aron McCulloch

Aron is a structural project engineer in our Reno, NV, Office. He grew up in Lake Almanor, CA, where he first experienced custom home building and built homes through college. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Before college and prior to working with Ashley & Vance Engineering, Aron spent seven years in the United States Air Force and Nevada Air National as an EC-130H & C-130H Mechanic. He brings a wealth of technical and practical building knowledge to Ashley & Vance Engineering. He also spent some time in college as an undergraduate research assistant researching ultra-high-performance concrete for FIU's accelerated bridge construction program. 

In his free time, Aron loves to work on cars, small engine equipment, friends' and family's homes, and fix up anything he can get his hands on. While living in Reno, he likes to travel to the mountains, ski double black diamonds at Kirkwood, and find outdoor activities near the secret mountain lakes, such as hiking, fishing, and swimming. 

August Messano

August Messano

August is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Architectural Engineering. His time with Ashley & Vance Engineering is in structural engineering working out of the Oakland office location. Early on in his career, he saw firsthand how miscommunication between engineers and contractors can lead to inadequate structures and expensive mistakes. Learning from that experience, his perspective shifted to prioritize cooperative dialogue with design teams with focus on providing sound, yet efficient solutions. He enjoys challenges provided by structural engineering problems requiring unique, innovative ideas which land on his desk often. Outside of work, August enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with family, and keeping up with Bay Area sports.

Austin Davis, PE

Austin Davis

Austin Davis is the Principal Engineer for the Palm Springs area and surrounding cities. He has worked on everything from high-end residential houses and multi-story commercial buildings all the way to retrofits and remodels spanning from Southern California to Northern Washington. Austin enjoys bringing efficient structural design to complex architectural issues, especially in high-wind or seismic areas. Austin earned his Civil Engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 2013.

Bree Smead

Bree Smead

Bree’s attitude and energy are unparalleled, allowing her to excel at a wide variety of tasks that include public outreach, marketing, and accounting. Having knowledge of accounts receivable and accounts payable, Bree aids in Ashley & Vance’s daily activities and assists the accounting department. Bree maintains office services by organizing administrative operations and procedures, preparing payroll and invoices, controlling correspondence, assisting with social media, and providing website administration. We are all grateful for Bree’s positive attitude and enjoy the pleasure of working with her.

Brett Voyles, PE

Brett Voyles, PE

Brett is a member of the Denver Office civil engineering team. He graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Since then Brett has been practicing in the State of Colorado preparing construction plans and engineering reports for a variety of projects including, custom residences, multi-family, commercial buildings, urban mixed-use, business parks, assisted living facilities, and residential subdivisions.

Bruce Jones, PE Principal Engineer

Bruce Jones, PE

As a licensed civil engineer in Colorado and California, Bruce has worked on public school improvement projects, as well as public and private sector infrastructure projects. His project experience includes design for multiple resource conservation districts throughout the West, planning and design for wastewater and water treatment projects, financial, and regulatory planning services from a civil engineering capital perspective, and preparation of full construction documents including specifications, plans, and bid documents.

Bruce is highly efficient with civil engineering software such as Autodesk Civil 3D, and has provided Civil 3D training seminars for other design professionals in the industry.

Bryan Laub, BIM

Bryan Laub, BIM

Bryan Laub is an experienced BIM (Building Information Modeling) Manager that brings over 15yrs of experience in the engineering field. Bryan specializes in Structural engineering with having worked on many complex concrete high-rise structures, wood structures and steel structures during his career.
When not working, Bryan enjoys golfing, camping, and spending time with his family.

Chad Pruett, PE Principal Engineer

Chad Pruett, PE

An integral member of our team from the very beginning, Chad serves as a Principal Structural Engineer in our Santa Barbara office.  He has completed numerous structural engineering projects throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, & Los Angeles counties, and has taken great pride in offering creative & cost-conscious design solutions in areas ranging from custom residential & multi-family housing, to commercial buildings & industrial facilities. Chad couples his extensive design experience with strong communication skills to effectively manage projects by actively interfacing with clients, fellow design professionals, governing jurisdictions, and his own team members on a day-in & day-out basis.

Charles R. Ashley Jr., SE Principal Engineer

Charles R. Ashley Jr., SE

With a Structural Engineering license, a degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and construction management experience at Walt Disney Imagineering, Charles allows his construction background to drive his innovative designs. As a lead structural engineer for custom residential and commercial projects, Charles designs and oversees structural projects at Ashley & Vance Engineering.

Charles is a licensed structural engineer in not only California, but also in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, and Florida. His residential structural designs include projects spanning from Brentwood/Beverly Hills over to Malibu/Pacific Palisades up to Santa Barbara/Montecito throughout San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. And he has led numerous commercial projects on the Central Coast such as SLO Brew Retrofit, Chinatown/Monterey St. Retail and Hotel Serra.

 

Chelsie Taylor, PE

Chelsie Taylor, PE

Chelsie earned her BS degree in Architectural Engineering with a minor in Construction Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She began working for Ashley & Vance shortly after graduating, and she continues to be a tremendous contributor to our San Luis Obispo office and our Santa Barbara office. She has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from tract homes to high-end custom residences, commercial buildings, tenant improvements, and various retrofits and remodels. Chelsie enjoys how each project poses its own distinctive difficulties, and in turn, requires a unique and cost-effective solution.

Growing up on a ranch in Wyoming, Chelsie learned the value of hard physical work and the intricacies of the building process. As a young girl and into adulthood, she helped her father build multiple structures on their ranch and at their home. Chelsie’s exposure to the practicalities of construction gives her keen insight into the details and constructability of each of her projects.

Chris Huffman, PE

Chris Huffman, PE

Chris is a project engineer for our structural engineering team in our Santa Barbara office. His experience includes marine structural and civil work, construction coordination, residential and commercial design. Chris received his Bachelor’s degree in Structural engineering from UC San Diego and his Master’s in Civil & Environmental Engineering from San Jose State University. Chris has been integral in taking the structural lead on projects like AutoCamp Yosemite.

Dale Weber, PE

Dale Weber, PE

A Santa Barbara native, Dale worked for his father, a masonry contractor, before pursuing degree in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University.  He worked for the private firm of SB&O, Inc. in San Diego before returning home to work for the County of Santa Barbara Public Works Department. During his 16 years at the County, he worked as a project engineer for the Solid Waste Division and the Water Agency designing & managing various projects on the local landfills & reservoirs before serving as the Development Engineer for the Flood Control District.  While working at Flood Control, Dale served 10 years on the Subdivision Development Review Committee, supervised the Development Review Division, and gained his Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Certification. Dale returned to the private sector, and worked the next 12 years at MAC Design Associates. While here, Dale gained his QSD/QSP Certification, and served as the Principal Engineer on various land development projects.

When not in the office, Dale enjoys traveling, photography, motorcycling, sailing, camping, snowboarding, mountian biking and volunteering his time at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission serving as a Mentor and as Marketing Photographer. 

Dan Bergam, PE

Dan Bergam

Dan is a highly driven engineer with a passion for collaboration, understanding client goals, and finding solutions to project challenges from start to finish. With a Bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara and a Master's in Engineering specializing in Water Resources from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Dan brings a wide range of experience to our San Luis Obispo civil engineering team. His background includes civil and environmental analysis and design for residential, commercial, and agricultural land development projects in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. He also has practical knowledge of land services and mapping requirements on the central coast.

Davis Keeney, EIT

Davis Keeney

Davis is part of the civil engineering team in the Bend office. He graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering where his primary focus was hydraulics and water treatment systems. Along with his collegiate knowledge, Davis also has experience as an onsite project engineer and with hands on experience as a carpenter. He has worked on building custom homes, helping to manage a multi-million dollar concrete structure project and creating concepts and outlines for solving Bozeman’s 2050 water storage crisis.    

Deon Todd

Deon Todd

Located in our San Luis Obispo office, Deon has a diverse background in the construction industry. With a BS degree in Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and 10+ years of architectural design, electrical design, and drafting with a focus in solar power, civil design and drafting, and structural drafting. He has physically worked on many different types of construction projects in the field and behind the desk. He likes to problem-solve and he brings an innovative, forward-thinking perspective to the design table.

Drew King, PE

Drew King, PE

Drew is a structural project engineer in the Santa Barbara office. He joined the A&V team after graduating with his BS degree in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis. He has experience with a variety of projects, ranging from multifamily and hotels to high end residential design. He enjoys challenging projects where attention to detail and coordination with the rest of the design team is paramount. Drew is a Santa Barbara County native and is excited to see and work on projects that positively impact the community where he was raised.

Drew Shehtanian, EIT

Drew Shahtanian, EIT

Drew is a structural project engineer in the Reno office. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Davis with an emphasis in structural and geotechnical engineering. After working in customer service since he was in high school, he is excited to expand his knowledge with challenging projects that may occur while providing excellent and client-focused engineering solutions.

Emilio Rossi, PE

Emilio Rossi, PE

Originally from Monterey County, Emilio works as part of the civil engineering team in the Santa Barbara office. Since graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with his bachelors and masters in Civil Engineering, he has worked on a multitude of projects within Santa Barbara County. Emilio has a diverse background that includes public and private site design, commercial and residential development, and wet utility design. He enjoyed being part of the team that put together the final design plans and provided construction support for the Hotel Californian - an upscale hotel with a large parking structure, restaurants, and food services near the ocean on lower state street. Outside of work, Emilio likes to bake bread and swing dance.

Emily Orlando, Admin

Emily Orlando

Emily is one of our Administrative Assistants in the San Luis Obispo office. She is a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduate with her Bachelor’s in Economics. She has worked in a variety of fields since graduating including Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, and Higher Education. Her attention to detail and can do attitude allows her to excel in supporting our offices with administrative tasks including invoicing, accounts receivable and much more!

In her free time, you can catch her crafting, baking or hanging out with friends and family.

Emily Passey

Emily Passey

Emily is part of the Civil Engineering team in the Bend office. She graduated from Cal Poly with a BS in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering. Before starting with Ashley & Vance Engineering, Emily worked for one of the USDA’s agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). She worked for the NRCS in Bend, OR and Denver, CO, designing a variety of irrigation systems such as culverts with headgates and center pivots for private landowners. She has since moved into the civil industry and looks forward to learning from her peers. In her free time, Emily enjoys mountain biking in the forest and eating burritos.

Eric Varley, SE Principal Engineer

Eric Varley, PE

Eric is a principal engineer who splits his time between our San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara offices. He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Architectural Engineering and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California.

Eric contributes over 10 years of structural design experience covering a wide range of projects throughout California and Hawaii. His projects include Niner Winery’s 57,000 sq. ft. concrete tilt-up wine processing facility in Paso Robles, California; the Waihonua Tower, a 418-foot-tall reinforced concrete high-rise condo in Honolulu, Hawaii; and The Pad a fun passion project climbing gym in Santa Maria, CA. Eric also has construction experience with slab-on-grade foundations and rough carpentry, designed on-site septic systems, and performed special inspections for helical anchors and grouted tiebacks.

Whenever Eric is able to take a break from work, he can usually be found on a sheer granite face, rock climbing throughout the Sierra Nevada range.

Evan Dahl, EIT

Evan Dahl

Evan is a project engineer for our civil engineering team in our Bellingham office. His experience includes doing steel and concrete design for projects ranging from pipe supports, personnel access platforms and has designed stormwater systems within refineries. Evan earned his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. He is also a member of Engineers without Borders and currently working on monitoring and evaluating a Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilet (UDDT) in Axim, Ghana.

Evan Rickards, EIT

Evan Rickards

Evan Rickards can be found in the Bend office as a civil project engineer, with the experience and passion of working on wind farm development and small subdivision projects. As a graduate from George Fox University, he received his bachelors of science in civil engineering and was fortunate to experience work in both the public and private sectors giving him a unique perspective and insight into public projects. Having the opportunity to work on large renewable energy projects, Evan is knowledgeable of the importance of thoughtful design and thinking through problems before they occur. Evan hopes to impact his community with elevated design and development that will positively affect all who call Central Oregon home.

Fernando Magaña, EIT

Fernando Magaña, EIT

Fernando is a structural project engineer in our San Luis Obispo office.He joined Ashley & Vance shortly after completing both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Engineering at Cal Poly.  Fernando takes pride in bringing close attention to detail and efficiency to any project he works on.  In his free time, you can find Fernando playing golf, playing classical/flamenco guitar, and exploring the craft of beer.

Greg Shehtanian, PE Principal Engineer

Greg Shehtanian, PE

Greg oversees the structural engineering operations of our Sacramento office. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of California and received his degree in Civil Engineering from University of California, Berkeley. Apart from working in Sacramento, Greg obtained a diverse engineering background by previously working as a structural engineer in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles. These experiences have led Greg to firmly believe the keys to project success lie in clearly understanding client objectives and tailoring each project to meet the client’s personal needs, while paying careful attention to not only cost, but also to regional-specific construction practices and the uniqueness of each local agency to ensure an efficient and seamless permitting process.

Greg served as a key member of the structural engineering team for a vast spectrum of projects, including countless single-family residential projects and commercial T.I.’s all throughout the West, seismic retrofits of unreinforced masonry and large industrial buildings, and several mid-rise hotels and apartment buildings, including the Fort Sutter Hotel in Midtown Sacramento.

Greg is committed to providing cost-conscious, constructible engineering solutions, and is inspired by the lasting impacts he is able to deliver to his clients and his community with each project.

Ian Shoebridge, SE Principal Engineer

Ian Shoebridge, SE

Ian joined us in this location on the structural design team just after receiving his M.S. in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. With a relentlessly analytical approach, Ian is often tasked with AVE’s most difficult and challenging projects. Over the years, Ian’s designs have incorporated wood, concrete, masonry, and steel framing systems as well as retrofits of unreinforced masonry—and, in some cases, all on the same project.

Ian has worked on a variety of projects including custom residential homes, seismic retrofits, and commercial structures. Ian enjoys the challenges posed by unique projects and skillfully works through them to reach practical and cost-effective solutions. This results-orientated approach has allowed him to work through some of the largest commercial projects in the San Luis Obispo downtown corridor including Garden Street Terraces and the retail portion of Chinatown.

Jack Mitchell, PE

Jack Mitchell, PE

Jack is part of the Civil Engineering team in the Bend office. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Prior to joining Ashley & Vance Engineering, Jack gained experience working on a variety of projects in both the public and private sectors. He has worked on transportation, utility, mixed-use commercial, and residential subdivision design projects and is experienced in construction inspection. Outside of work, Jack enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and fly fishing.

Jack Walsh, EIT

Jack Walsh, EIT

Jack is part of the Civil team in the Santa Barbara office.  He graduated with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Davis.  Before coming to Ashley Vance he worked under a general contractor specializing in residential additions and remodels.  This hands-on experience allows him to approach engineering work with buildability in mind.  In his free time Jack enjoys golfing and fishing. 

Jackson Kelly, PE

Jackson Kelly, PE

Jackson began his career working in the oil and gas industry designing support steel structures and performing pipe stress analysis for high pressure oil field processes. Jackson’s passion for designing complex pressure piping projects in the oil and gas industry has translated excellently with our structural group at Ashley & Vance Engineering. He is currently working as a project engineer and is involved in design and project management for multiple challenging projects within the structural group. He is especially passionate about helping clients achieve beautiful buildings with cost-efficient design.

In addition to his design experience, Jackson has spent some time working in concrete construction and he took part in a large factory site redevelopment project in Indiana. Jackson is a graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Civil Engineering. Jackson is very excited to be working with Ashley & Vance and strives to apply his previous experience and work ethic to the structural engineering projects we offer.

James Teeter, SE

James Teeter, SE

James grew up in North Carolina and studied chemical engineering at Oregon State University. He spent the following years as a professional plumber on the West shore of Lake Tahoe before transitioning into his career in structural engineering. James’s studies and previous experience provide him with a diverse outlook on building systems and enables him to seek multiple solutions to difficult problems. James is also an artistic person and environmentally conscientious--his favorite part of structural engineering is providing multiple design idea’s that consider economics, aesthetics, and smart building materials to achieve an architect’s vision.

Jason Gotsis, PE Principal Engineer

Jason Gotsis

As a long time Santa Barbara local, Jason has been practicing civil engineering for over 20 years. He has worked on various high-profile projects with large multi-national civil engineering firms. For 10 years prior, he worked for Foster Wheeler Corporation in their Clinton, New Jersey office. He prepared civil and site improvement designs and plans for facilities serving the power, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Some of his past projects include grading and drainage design for international clients such as Amerada Hess, Shell Oil, and Merck Pharmaceuticals, both in the United States and overseas.

Jason is intimately familiar with the entitlement and permitting process for large and small projects on the Central Coast and Southern California. Recently he worked on high-profile projects in the education, hospitality and healthcare industries as well as on luxury residential developments. Through these projects, Jason has become very familiar with the expectations of several local agencies within Santa Barbara County. Jason is the principal civil engineer at our Santa Barbara office

Jason Johntony, PE

Jason Johntony, PE

Jason is a structural engineer in the Oakland office. He has experience designing a variety of  residential structures from Sonoma to Gilroy. Jason earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. When not working, Jason enjoys running and all forms of 2-wheeled transportation from push scooters to motorcycles.

Jeremiah Wright

Jeremiah Wright, EIT

Jeremiah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. After working a few years in the Architectural and Planning field, he is excited to follow his passion for engineering as a member of the structural team at the Santa Barbara office. Having been born and raised along the California Central Coast, he is devoted to keeping his community unique. 

When he is not in the office Jeremiah enjoys being outside and enjoying the fresh air. You can find him at the beach or in the mountains. Jeremiah also enjoys watching all types of sports such as surfing, football, and esports.

Jia Zhen, EIT

Jia Zhen, EIT

Completing his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, Pomona, Jia is focusing his strengths as a structural project engineer located in the Pasadena office. He enjoys working in a team to provide cost effective and creative solutions for the client, while developing professional relationships. Jia sees challenges as opportunities to learn valuable knowledge and lengthen his abilities to explore solutions. He believes that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. Aside from engineering, Jia enjoys hiking and physical activities.

Jim Dmohowski

Jim Dmohowski

Jim joined Ashley & Vance Engineering in 2017, after 12 years as an accounting manager for a large contractor in the oil & gas industry.  Working in the San Luis Obispo office, he brings a wide range of accounting knowledge and experience to the AV accounts team.  Jim earned a degree in Business Economics with an Emphasis in Accounting from UC Santa Barbara.

Jim Lord, PE Principal Engineer

Jim Lord, PE

Jim Lord brings 14 years of civil engineering design and project management experience to his role as principal engineer of the Bend, Oregon office. He has been living and working in central Oregon for over a decade and he has a deep understanding of the local standards, regulations, and business climate.

Jim designed and managed the approval and construction of many private development projects including the Simpson Pavilion ice rink project for the Bend Parks and Recreation District. He also has extensive experience working on public improvement projects. Jim was the lead designer and construction manager for the 3rd Street Underpass Stormwater Improvement Project in Bend, Oregon. This project retrofitted an existing 80-year railroad undercrossing that was prone to flooding with a collection and pumping system, conveyance piping, and various bio-swales. He also was a design engineer for the $1.8B San Diego Gas and Electric Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line Project and was responsible for designing over 50 miles of access roads, maintenance pads, and pull-sites.

Jim is a proponent of sustainable design, low-impact development, and green building principals. He also owned and operated an organic farm for several years and has hands-on experience with agricultural and irrigation design.

John Fischer, PE Principal Engineer

John Fischer, PE

John Fischer, principal engineer of the Bend, Oregon office, brings 10 years of structural design and construction experience encompassing projects from San Diego to Seattle. From the conceptual phase to the construction phase, John contributes experience ranging from storage sheds to large custom residences, small tenant improvements to complex commercial buildings, and projects involving rooftop solar and retaining walls. John oversees all the projects that are performed by the Bend, Oregon office and produces a majority of the structural design.

As a former licensed contractor, John has a unique awareness of building economy and constructability. Years of working in the building trades have ingrained his ‘builder’s perspective.’ This contractor-friendly approach is highly valued by architects and builders alike. As a fourth-generation building professional from a family of engineers and developers, John’s passion for building projects runs deep. This inspires him to go beyond the norm in facilitating and coordinating successful projects.

 

John Layous, SE

John Layous, SE

John contributes a wealth of knowledge and experience in custom residential structural design to the AVE team. He has led many multifaceted jobs from design to construction and he exhibits critical attention-to-detail and problem-solving abilities while maintaining builder-friendly plans.

He has also served as the engineering lead on a spectrum of structural projects. Some of these include concrete tilt-up buildings, residences subject to coastal flooding, buildings requiring overpressure ‘blast’ design, structures requiring deepened foundations, beach access stairs, and commercial buildings.

Jon George, MTA

Jon George

Jon manages our Information Technology needs. He is based in San Luis Obispo but provides support for all of our offices. Working in the IT field since 2007, Jon has a Certificate in Computer Hardware and Networking from College of the Siskiyous, he is a Certified Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), CompTIA Network + certified, and continues to study for additional IT industry recognized certifications.

Jon Lopez-Villegas

Jon Lopez-Villegas

Jon is part of the structural engineering team in the Pasadena office and a Los Angeles local. With a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Irvine, Jon is excited as well as highly motivated to create long lasting structures that focus on both the well being of the people as well as the environment. Through the course of his career, Jon is aiming to improve the lives of others while further developing as a learner, leader, and engineer.

In his free time, Jon likes to enjoy the outdoors either skating, running, biking, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Jordan Denio, PE Principal Engineer

Jordan Denio, PE

Jordan is one of the original engineers at Ashley & Vance Engineering, and he is now the principal engineer of the Northern Nevada office. He has designed structural projects of all sizes including remodels, custom homes, commercial buildings, and healthcare facilities. Having spent significant time in the construction industry, he brings a sense of constructability to engineering and enjoys delivering projects that are buildable and cost effective, while ensuring quality client service through completion of every project.  

Born and raised in the Eastern Sierras, Jordan has a particular affinity for the mountains and enjoys the unique challenges that heavy snow and high earthquake loads bring to structural engineering. He has been the lead engineer on many high-end custom residential and commercial projects in Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, and Lake Tahoe in California, and Bend, Oregon as well.

Jorge Alvarez, EIT

Jorge Alvarez, EIT

Jorge is a structural project engineer in our Reno office. Native to Los Angeles, he graduated from Cal Poly Pomona majoring in Civil Engineering. Jorge brings experience in the design of Steel Joists from his previous occupation and has worked on local projects such as the Nugget Event Center in Sparks, Nevada. He has experience in residential construction bringing practicality and innovation to the office.

Jorge is an advocate of Heavy Timber construction and its overall benefits over traditional construction. His goal is to participate in the design of the tallest Timber structure in the United States. During his free time, you will find Jorge either playing sports, researching, solving puzzles, or singing.

Juan Alvarez, EIT

Juan Alvarez

Juan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly SLO. Prior to working at Ashley and Vance, he gained experience preparing grading, drainage, and site utility plans for residential and commercial projects in Orange County. He continues his career working in our civil engineering team in our San Luis Obispo office.

Juan can often be found hiking the local trails, relaxing at the beach, or body boarding in the ocean.

Juan Gonzalez

Juan Gonzalez

Juan is part of our structural engineering team in the San Luis Obispo office. He graduated from Cal Poly with an Architectural Engineering degree and has previous experience performing geotechnical testing both in the lab and in the field. Juan brings a positive attitude and is excited to take on new projects with Ashley & Vance.

In his free time, Juan enjoys playing soccer with friends and family and attending live sporting events.

Julie Christ, EIT

Julie Christ

Julie is a project engineer for the Structural Engineering Team in the Tahoe office. Julie received a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a focus in Structural Engineering. She has a knack for problem solving and noticing flaws and errors in design. She has a wide range of construction design experience with an Electrical Contractor and an MEP design firm in Las Vegas, as well as a wealth of knowledge of the Energy Code and Solar. She has been working on a variety of Residential, Commercial, and Hospital projects.

Kathleen Allwine, PE | LEED AP

Kathleen Allwine, PE

Kathleen is a LEED-certified professional civil engineer with experience preparing grading, drainage, and site utility plans for commercial, residential, and public works projects in the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County areas. Currently, she focuses most of her time on the hydrology and stormwater aspects of projects. She has a passion for low-impact design, which seamlessly complements her skills for innovative stormwater detention and stormwater treatment designs. She has prepared grading permit packages and construction drawings for drainage, grading, and utility plans. These projects have required stormwater management structures to filter, store, infiltrate, and release stormwater.

Katie Staal, EIT

Katie Staal, EIT

Katie is a project engineer in the Santa Barbara office with a BS in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  After spending two years in her native San Francisco Bay Area working on high end residential and large corporate campuses, Katie is happy to be back on the Central Coast and part of the Ashley and Vance team.  Katie’s optimistic attitude helps her tackle difficult engineering problems with creative cost effective solutions. When out of the office Katie enjoys the many activities Santa Barbara has to offer including beach volleyball, surfing, free diving, and sailing.    

Kayla Kim, EIT

Kayla Kim, EIT

Kayla is a part of the Structural team in the Santa Barbara team. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Civil Engineering. After living in southern California and San Luis Obispo, Kayla is happy to find her middle ground in Santa Barbara. She is excited to explore the area through a variety of projects at Ashley and Vance.

Keiko Sanders

Keiko Sanders

Keiko graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. Prior to joining Ashley and Vance Engineering’s Structural team, Keiko spent her summers as a Project Engineer Intern with Swinerton Builders, designing theatrical sets, and working as a barista. Through these experiences, she developed valuable communication skills. She is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and enjoys Ashley and Vance’s teamwork environment. One of Keiko’s favorite parts about living in SLO is how bike-friendly it is.

Kelly Sheeran, PE

Kelly Sheeran

Kelly is located in the Bend office as a structural project engineer. She grew up in Colorado and went to the University of Colorado where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering, a minor in Architectural Design, and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating she moved to Portland, OR where she worked as a structural engineer for a few years before moving to Bend and working at Ashley & Vance. Through her career, Kelly has worked with various materials including timber, steel, concrete, and masonry. In her free time Kelly likes to explore the outdoors. She enjoys skiing in the winter and backpacking in the summer.

Kelsey Balella

Kelsey Balella

Kelsey is a member of the structural engineering team in our Oakland office. With the goal of making the world safer, she started her journey by pursuing an education in fire technology and emergency medical services. Along the way she learned her concern for safety, undying curiosities and love of problem solving made her better suited for engineering and obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering at UC Davis. In her free time she likes to hang out with her dogs, look for rare rocks and minerals, and determine the whereabouts of snakes and other wildlife.

Lilli Roberts, EIT

Lilli Roberts, EIT

Lilli is located in the Denver office with the civil engineering team. She graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Humanitarian Engineering. Prior to joining Ashley and Vance Engineering, Lilli focused on gaining experience of her passion by working on water sanitation and new development in Honduras. She is looking forward to being able to apply her humanitarian knowledge to projects with the team. In her free time you can find Lilli in the mountains, tending her garden, or walking her dog, Indy. 

Lisa Ho, EIT

Lisa Ho

Lisa is a civil project engineer in our Denver office. After earning her degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas, she moved to Colorado to pursue her career and the mountains. Lisa joins Ashley & Vance Engineering after many years of industry experience with a general contractor as well as a full-scope architecture and engineering company. Her background working alongside other disciplines has helped shape her to be a well-rounded engineer that understands the challenges faced by not only civil engineers, but every aspect of the building process. She utilizes that knowledge to make every project as effective, efficient, and economical as possible. In her spare time, Lisa can be found in the beautiful Colorado mountains or playing with her pup, Truffle.

Logan Grijalva, EIT

Logan Grijalva, EIT

Originally from San Jose California, Logan moved out of state to Flagstaff Arizona where he went to school at Northern Arizona University. Here Logan received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering as well as gaining some experience before moving back to California. Logan was welcomed into our San Luis Obispo office as his next move back to California. As a member of the San Luis Obispo Office, Logan finds enjoyment in solving various engineering problems to further help out the community that he lives in.  Outside of the office, Logan likes to play a variety of video games, as well as playing sports, such as soccer and baseball.

Mailyn Occiano, PE

Mailyn Occiano, PE

Mailyn graduated with her bachelors and masters in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is excited to continue learning and developing her structural engineering skills in the Oakland office. In her free time, Mailyn enjoys scrolling through Zillow and exploring the Bay Area through hiking and mountain biking.

Marc Hasenoehrl

Marc Hasenoehrl

Marc is apart of the Civil Engineering team in the Bend office. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Marc has hands on experience as a carpenter building custom homes, as well as experience inspecting infrastructure throughout Oregon with the Oregon Department of Transportation. Outside of work, Marc enjoys mountain biking, camping, and wakeboarding. 

Margaret Wilson

Margaret Wilson

Fall of 2020 was a season of change as Margaret packed her empty San Diego nest, loaded her 4-legged menagerie, and headed North to begin the next chapter near aging family in Bend, Oregon. Equipped with an accounting degree from Penn State, an MBA from CSULB and a lifetime of business experience ranging from one person startups to Fortune 500’s, Margaret decided to turn the page on her consulting business and joined Ashley & Vance Engineering in 2021. Supporting the engineering teams with everything and anything related to Admin and business operations, Margaret is thrilled to be part of the energetic Bend team as AV continues to grow and serve the amazing Central Oregon community. 

Margaret has three daughters scattered across the country – vacations are reserved for connecting with her girls, wherever they may be. On weekends Margaret is usually fully engaged with Mother Nature and immersed in the best of Bend’s activities – hiking, biking, snow shoeing…if it’s outside, she’s game.

Max Genchel, PE

Max Genchel, PE

With a BS in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and prior field and design experience with sewer bypass and irrigation systems, Max serves effectively as a project engineer working on various civil projects in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles requiring grading, drainage, utility, and erosion control plans. Along with general civil design, Max has been concentrating on hydraulic systems and has experience using Civil3D and HydroCAD for hydraulic modeling.

Max has also worked on larger single-family residence projects that require the preparation of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans and has conducted numerous onsite SWPPP inspections since working at Ashley & Vance. With field experience in environmental design, Max recognizes the impact of his projects on surrounding ecosystems and ensures that vegetation and wildlife will be protected during every construction project.

Mika Daniel, PE

Mika Daniel, PE

Mika joined the San Luis Obispo office as a structural project engineer shortly after completing both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly. Prior to joining Ashley & Vance Engineering, Mika managed a local coffee shop and learned about the importance of quality, consistency, and dedication. As a project engineer, she is eager to collaborate with industry professionals to bring a project from inception to completion.

In addition to structural engineering, Mika’s passions include throwing pottery, traveling, and making a mean cup of coffee!

 

Mike Simmons, SE

Mike Simmons, SE

Mike graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Civil Engineering. Since then, the work he has done has taken him to both Haiti and New Zealand for extended periods of time following earthquakes in those locations. He helped educate haitian engineers on rapid structural damage assessment, which led to coordinating 600 engineers to assess over 400,000 buildings. In both Haiti and New Zealand, he performed numerous seismic assessments and repairs to damaged buildings. 

He has experience of a wide range of project types that includes Industrial tilt-ups, Healthcare, Commercial, Seismic Retrofit, and more. His ability to communicate and work with the design team and contractors help to provide a positive and cost effective product upon completion. With his years of wisdom and range of experiences, Mike brings much to the team in his own humble and subtly goofy way. Now based in the Sacramento office, he continues to daily enjoy projects in the greater Sacramento area and being a part of the AVE team/crew!

Mirica Krajewski, PE

Mirica Krajewski, PE

Mirica is a project engineer for our civil engineering team at our Reno/Tahoe office.  As a recent graduate from the University of Reno at Nevada with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, she has previous work experience designing sewer and stormwater lift stations.  Her favorite project was designing a pump station that required creativity with spacing and material constraints. Admittedly bookish, Mirica prefers projects that require a challenging deep dive.

When not working, Mirica enjoys running, reading, and hanging outside with her family and doggo Maddie.

Nicholas Wetzel, SE Principal Engineer

Nicholas Wetzel, S.E.

Nick is based out of our San Luis Obispo office. He specializes in the design of new structures, evaluation and rehabilitation of existing structures, and investigation of structural failures. His diverse experience as a structural engineer includes working with numerous types of structural materials and systems, which can range from traditional structural engineering methods to more innovative systems including base isolation and viscous dampers.

He was a member of the ASCE 7-16 sub-committee tasked with re-writing the Base Isolation and Energy Dissipation code. He applies his knowledge of performance based earthquake engineering in seismic rehabilitation of existing structures and design of new structures. Nick lived in Christchurch, New Zealand for approximately 3 years following the Canterbury Earthquakes, performing numerous seismic assessments and repairs to damaged buildings.

By completing numerous structural engineering projects throughout the US and New Zealand, he takes great pride in offering creative and cost-effective design solutions across multiple industries ranging from rocket launch complexes, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, Nick has five years of experience as a carpenter providing unique insight on constructability and practical issues related to structural behavior and design.

Nick Vincent, EIT

Nick Vincent, EIT

Nick is part of the structural design team in the San Luis Obispo office. He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly. 

During his time in school, Nick took interest in both structural and geotechnical engineering courses. He was also the Welding Lead for Cal Poly’s Steel Bridge Team where he gained valuable design, fabrication, and team-building skills. Outside of school, Nick has had internships with a general contracting firm and a structural engineering firm where he communicated with subcontractors, reviewed drawing sets, and drafted structural plans for various small scale projects. Nick enjoys being challenged and prides himself on his ability to see a problem through to the end no matter how big or small. 

Nick is originally from Santa Cruz and enjoys spending his free time in the mountains either trail running, rock climbing, backpacking, or snowboarding.

Nikki Henningsen

Nikki Henningsen

A graduate of Oregon State University and a native Oregonian, Nikki is a member of the Bend, Oregon office and has called Central Oregon home since 2003. With a background in marketing for the energy industry, Nikki gained experience working with engineering and technical teams to explain complex ideas to broad audiences through website content, blog articles, social media posts, and other channels. In her free time, Nikki enjoys hiking through the Cascades with her family and traveling with friends.

Nina Aliamus

Nina Aliamus

Nina is an engineer in our San Luis Obispo office. She received her Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, with a focus in Water Resources at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Before her time at Ashley & Vance Engineering, Nina worked on-site at a water treatment plant in the construction management industry. She has also spent time in the public sector, working for the county in the Public Works department performing plan checks, visiting active job sites, and reviewing building permits. Nina enjoys civil engineering because of its direct impact on the surrounding community. 

In her off time, Nina enjoys surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and swimming.

Peter Zacarias, EIT

Peter Zacarias

Peter is a recent graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Architectural Engineering.  Peter is excited to begin his Structural Engineering career at Ashley and Vance working out of the Santa Barbara Office.  After a couple summers of construction jobsite experience, he strives to build strong community ties and offer design solutions.  Peter takes pride in working with a team that offers creative, economic services from design to completion.

On his free time, Peter enjoys catching a morning surf and hitting the road for a quick lunch bike ride.

R. Paul Belmont, PE Principal Engineer

R. Paul Belmont, PE

As an alumnus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the California Central Coast has been his region of focus throughout his career. Paul opened our Santa Barbara office in 2012, and remains one of the Principal Engineers overseeing the structural team in that location. He holds great rapport with clients with his positive attitude and energetic approach to all projects. He welcomes challenges and utilizes his extensive background in building construction, dabbling in a wide range of trades including welding, concrete, framing, and carpentry, in his work today. After using those skills and completing a father-son development project of two hillside residences in 2010, that comprehensive building experience now elicits his unique approach to structural solutions. Within the industry, Paul engages with the larger community by serving on the AIA Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara chapter since 2018. His role includes a seat as the Annual ArchitecTours Logistics Chair (since 2016) for the showcase of local accomplishments and contributions in design and engineering to the community at large.

Rafael Gonzalez, EIT

Rafael Gonzalez

Rafael is a graduate in the Architectural Engineering program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has a diverse background in structural, civil, and geotechnical projects. Rafael has completed residential and commercial designs, grading/drainage plans, and he has also performed geotechnical testing in the lab and field. He is well-versed in developing full construction documents and provides a real-world approach to his work.

Rafael currently works from our San Luis Obispo office on structural engineering projects. His enthusiastic attitude shines through his work and personal life. He enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family.

Rian Felando, PE

Rian Felando, PE

Rian is a structural project engineer in the Santa Barbara office who brings a diverse range of talent to the AV team. He has six years of structural engineering experience in light frame wood construction for residential and multi-family projects, and is an expert on engineered wood products. Rian is an innovator and a collaborator and enjoys putting his skills to work for his clients. He earned his BS in Structural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is overjoyed to be back on the central coast.

Ricardo Gabriel III, SE

Ricardo Gabriel

Ricardo is a project engineer in our Los Angeles office. He received his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, with an emphasis in Structural Engineering, from the University of California, Irvine. He then began working at an engineering firm that specialized in seismic vibration isolation where he designed structural supports and anchorage for mechanical equipment. After becoming a licensed civil engineer, Ricardo deciding to pursue structural engineering, which was what led him into the engineering field to begin with. 

Robert Hobson, EIT

Robert Hobson

Robert is a project engineer on our structural team in the San Luis Obispo office. He graduated from Cal Poly with a General Engineering degree but learned to love buildings while employed by a Livermore based contractor. Robert has worked on high end residential, remodels and commercial buildings before and during his time at AV. 

Rollston Frangopoulos, PE

Rollston Frangopoulos

Ashley & Vance Engineering has added Rollston Frangopoulos to their design team in Bend, OR. He has his bachelors degree from the University of Wyoming. Rollston is a PE and will soon start the application process for his SE. He has 9 years experience in structural design working on hospitals, K-12, wineries, residential, and commercial projects. Rollston has experience with concrete, steel, wood, and CMU construction types. He has worked on many seismic renovations and upgrades including multistory unreinforced masonry, concrete, and wood buildings. 

In his time off he enjoys mountain/road biking, skiing, and traveling to Greece to visit family.

Rosa Portugal, EIT

Rosa Portugal

Rosa is a structural project engineer in our Oakland office. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona, where she focused her studies on structural design. After college, she worked in construction management for public works projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She then joined a structural engineering firm that specializes in forensic analysis and preparing repair protocol for damaged structures. With a passion for structural designs for new construction, Rosa welcomes the opportunity to resolve problems as they may arise. Outside of work, Rosa loves chasing her personal records in running/jogging, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. 

Rubin Sangha, EIT

Rubin Sangha, EIT

Rubin is a project engineer for our structural engineering team in our Sacramento office. He received his Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento and is continuing his education by achieving his Master's of Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Engineering. Rubin is actively involved in the Structural Engineer's Association of Central California (SEAOCC) Sustainable Design Committee. In his free time, Rubin has a passion for exploring the outdoors and enjoys playing his guitar. 

Ryan Lass, PE

Located in the San Luis Obispo office, Ryan graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has stayed in the area to take advantage of the good weather and scenery.  He is a hands on person with a knack for fitting things together and helping to solve practical problems. Over the years he has worked on projects from custom residential to mixed use to OSHPD. This variety of projects has given him a well-rounded skillset and the ability to come up with a solution for any problem.  When Ryan is not solving puzzling situations on paper, he is often seen on his bike on the roads of the San Luis Obispo are or on his mountain bike & dirt bike, shredding it in the hills.

 

Ryan Stier

Ryan Stier

Ryan is a structural engineer in our San Luis Obispo office and a Central Coast native. Ryan is a product of Cal Poly with a background in construction and residential design. He designs towards a practical and efficient structural solution that will satisfy the needs of the client and contractor. Ryan is excited to tackle new challenges and unique projects that will make each customer’s dreams come true. He takes pride in being part of a team that is dedicated to seeing a project through from inception to completion.

Sally Camara

Sally Camara

Located in our Santa Barbara office, Sally represents Ashley & Vance when greeting clients on the phone and in person. With a background in the office administration and bookkeeping, she is apart of the admin team with the daily tasks of invoicing, collecting, document filing/organizing, business development, and staff support.

Sara Markham, EA

Sara Markham

Located in our San Luis Obispo office, Sara utilizes her diverse background in design, communications, brand strategy, event planning, hospitality, and administration. She brings insight towards internal organization, provides executive and administrative support, and helps build a cohesive voice across our branch offices for clients, our communities, and industry professionals. Her bachelor’s degree in Art & Design from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo gives her a strong appreciation for functional design in all forms, so she is happy to help our engineers and principals stay focused on their creations and craft (while also sneaking glances at exciting building plans in the works).

Scott Wardwell, PE

Scott Wardwell, PE

Scott is a structural project engineer located in our Reno office.  He graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with his BS in Mathematics and continued his education receiving his MS in Civil Engineering, with a focus in Structural Engineering, from Colorado State University. Scott enjoys problem solving and has worked construction on several small residential projects which has allowed him solve some of the physical hurdles that arise in implementing their design. He brings an open mind to the team and looks forward to creating unique solutions for any project he works on.

Sean Galbreath, SE Principal Engineer

Sean Galbreath, SE, PE

As a licensed structural engineer and principal of the Los Angeles office, Sean is responsible for overseeing the structural design of high-end residential, commercial, hotel, multi-use, and tenant improvement projects in the greater LA area. Sean stands out as a creative and versatile engineer with experience in concrete, steel, masonry, and wood construction for a wide variety of structural systems.

During his career, Sean has been involved as lead design engineer for several notable projects such as a 244-unit mixed-use development with two levels of subterranean parking in Marina del Rey, a 53 unit multi-family residential community in Palm Springs, a multi-story hotel addition with underground parking in Burbank and a major tenant improvement at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. He has a proven track record of delivering cost-effective and inventive designs that meet the goals of the clients, architects, contractors and other professionals. 

Serena Reeves, EIT

Serena Reeves, EIT

After graduating with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering at CalPoly, Serena is ecstatic to begin her structural engineering career at Ashley and Vance. Through her education and internship experiences Serena has had structural design experience with steel, timber, and concrete including PT. Her favorite part of being a structural engineer is that there’s always more to learn and new creative structural solutions to discover. Serena also enjoys skiing and scuba diving whenever she has a chance.

Shellie Davis, PE

Shellie Davis, PE

Shellie is a structural project engineer in the Bend office with design experience in a wide variety of structures including residences, commercial buildings, fire stations, educational facilities, and remodels. She enjoys looking at designs from a contractor's point of view and strives to produce the most constructible, efficient and economical designs possible.

Stacey Fischer

Stacey Fischer

Located in our Bend, Oregon office location, Stacey excels in her role as ​part-time ​office manager for AVE. She keeps the office running smoothly with her reception, administrative, and financial skills. Stacey has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a background as a licensed tax consultant and an enrolled agent​.​​ Wearing many hats, she works for the Ashley & Vance Engineering Bend, Oregon office and also for a local accounting firm. ​Stacey has been a much-appreciated ​part of the Bend team since its inception​ in 2011​​.

Steven Ambers, SE

Steven Ambers

Steven is part of the structural engineering team in our San Luis Obispo office, having received his M.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  His design experience covers a variety of projects ranging from small-scale home remodels to multi-family residential developments. Steven brings thoroughness and close attention to detail to every project he works on, regardless of scale.

When not engineering, Steven enjoys hiking the San Luis Obispo area or reading a good mystery.

Taylor Vaughn

Taylor Vaughn

Taylor Vaughn is a Structural Project Engineer at the San Luis Obispo office. He received his Bachelors of Structural Engineering from UC San Diego. Before completing his degree, he worked in the utility solar industry building some of the largest Solar power plants in the world, namely Topaz Solar Farm and McCoy Solar Project. Taylor enjoys applying his unique experience to complex structural engineering problems and watching projects grow from an idea to a real-world structure. In his free time, Taylor enjoys woodworking, golfing and tending to his 3-tiered wine barrel waterfall goldfish ponds.

Thaddeus Holmes, PE

Thad Holmes

Thaddeus, a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Architectural Engineering program, is a Structural Project Engineer in our Oakland office. Thad brings five years of experience in the structural design of residential, commercial, and mixed-use structures, primarily in the Bay Area. This experience has provided Thad with a  passion for optimizing existing technology to more efficiently design structures, as well as a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities involved in Bay Area construction.

On his free time, Thad spends his time staying active, playing the piano, and enjoying live music whenever he can.

Thomas Brandt, EIT

Thomas Brandt, EIT

Thomas is one of our project engineers on our structural engineering team in the Pasadena office. He joined Ashley and Vance shortly after completing his degree in Civil Engineering at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Thomas strives to find cost-effective and creative structural solutions for a variety of projects. In his free time, you could find Thomas playing basketball, rocking out on the violin, and working on music production.

Thomas Soares, EIT | LEED AP

Thomas Soares

Thomas is a part of the Structural Engineering team in the San Luis Obispo office location. Before joining Ashley & Vance Engineering, Thomas worked in the building performance and renewable energy industries for six years prior to and during time spent earning his Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is a LEED accredited professional and passionate about resilient design which drives his determination to improve the built environment.

When Thomas is not working, you can find him playing tennis, rock climbing, or hiking with his wife around the Central Coast.

Timothy Mick, PE

Timothy Mick, PE

Timothy recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and now works in the Santa Barbara office. With an honors degree in Geological Engineering, he looks forward to bringing his passion for geotechnical projects and hydrology to the Civil team. During college, Timothy interned in a lab performing soil testing as well as in an engineering firm where he worked on geotechnical projects in mines and roads. He has also gained hands on experience in construction while framing buildings and remodels. After graduating, he spent a season wildland firefighting where he gained a larger appreciation for positive communication and teamwork and aims to bring these skills into the professional realm.

When he’s not inside, Timothy is outside... He loves shredding powder on skis, dirt on a mountain bike, and his hands on rocks while climbing. 

Truitt Vance, PE Principal Engineer

Truitt Vance

Truitt, a principal engineer and original founder of the company, approaches each client and project with his vast skill set, BS in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and broad spectrum of experience as a fourth-generation builder, journeyman carpenter, licensed general contractor, construction manager, and multi-family developer.

Truitt specializes in providing practical, buildable designs for all projects. He currently oversees land development projects in the San Luis obispo office, including challenging custom residences like cliffside homes in Shell Beach; luxury cabins tucked into mountainsides in June Lake and Mammoth Lakes; large multi-family housing developments such as Cypress Village in Buellton, Heritage Square in Santa Maria, and SLO Terrace in San Luis Obispo; affordable housing projects and large-scale mixed-use commercial projects throughout California; and wineries including Shale Oak Winery, Le Cuvier, and Adeleida Cellars.

Given his expertise in all stages of developing, designing, and building, Truitt provides a sought-after, knowledgeable perspective internally to our team of talented professionals at Ashley & Vance and also externally to our widely-varied clientele.

Tung Ng, PE

Tung Ng

Tung is a structural engineer in our Reno office. As a long time Reno/Tahoe local, Tung obtained his MS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He spent over 15 years in the seismic base isolation industry designing and managing isolation projects throughout the world. Currently, Tung creates structural designs for custom residential, multi-family and commercial projects.

Tyler Denio, PE

Tyler Denio, PE

With background in both architecture and construction, Tyler knows some of the needs and desires of architectural design and how structural engineering can supplement and enhance those goals. Initially calling Bishop and the Eastern Sierras home, Tyler attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and majored in Architecture and Architectural Engineering. He first started working for Ashley & Vance while attending college and continues to help our clientele with his valuable and unique skill set. He returned to the mountains and to the Tahoe area after college and also spends part of his time in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Vanessa Pineda

Vanessa Pineda, EIT

Vanessa is a Civil/Environmental engineer out of the Denver office. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida and Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has a strong background in land development in the Colorado front range for residential and commercial projects. 

In her free time Vanessa can be found biking, climbing, skiing or traveling around with her husband and dog in their adventure van. 

Victor Ramos, PE

Victor Ramos, PE

An alumnus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Architectural Engineering program, Victor made the leap from his time on the Central Coast where he grew up and attended school to begin a career in the San Francisco Bay Area. Starting in architectural precast concrete work, he soon turned toward a more traditional structural engineer’s role with a firm specializing in podium structures. This drive toward a new area of focus in engineering led him to pursue a Master’s in Civil Engineering at San Jose State University while continuing to work within the industry. Victor joined the Oakland office at its inception in 2016 as part of a small team that has now grown and developed deep local ties over the years. Today, Victor oversees operations for the Oakland structural team as one of our Principals.