News
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
Shappell’s hiring is part of the firm’s national expansion strategy while establishing itself as an industry innovator.
Denver, Colo.— WSB, a rapidly-growing design and consulting firm, today announced the addition of Ed Shappell as vice president of strategy-technology.
Shappell joins WSB with over two decades of experience in engineering, technology development and strategic innovation. His role will focus on identifying emerging technologies, driving innovative partnerships, and integrating cutting-edge solutions that enhance client services and position WSB as a leader in the industry.
In his previous position at Trimble, Ed served as Director overseeing owner and public sector workflows, where he championed construction technology-based systems for global projects. His extensive background includes a decade of experience in tech strategy and project management, coupled with remarkable success in cultivating client relationships and delivering transformative solutions.
“Ed’s visionary approach to technology and deep expertise in the industry make him the ideal leader to propel WSB’s technology strategy forward,” said Jon Chiglo, chief operating officer of WSB. “His dedication to leveraging innovation to benefit both our clients and our team aligns perfectly with our mission.”
“I am thrilled to join WSB and contribute to the firm’s outstanding legacy of client-focused innovation,” said Shappell. “Technology has the power to transform industries, and I’m excited to help WSB drive measurable growth and deliver even greater value to our clients.”
Ed’s leadership will play a crucial role in ensuring WSB’s technology investments remain ahead of industry trends, positioning the firm for future growth and success as it continues to establish a national brand. The firm now supports clients and communities from coast to coast with offices in various regions.
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
As the firm continues to expand, WSB promotes several staff to director positions.
Austin, Texas. – Fast-growing design and consulting firm WSB today announced the expansion of leadership in various regions. The architecture, engineering and construction firm is building a national brand that supports critical infrastructure across the United States.
WSB is focused on cultivating its staff’s growth to better address the unique needs of the communities it serves. By elevating current staff to director positions, the firm is strengthening leadership from within, resulting in a more collaborative environment.
Promotions in the Texas region:
Christie Saenz, CFM, SR/WA, R/W-RAC, has been promoted to director, right of way. Saenz has significantly expanded the firm’s right-of-way service area. In her new role, she will oversee right-of-way services for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas while continuing to pursue work in other surrounding states.
Hongwei Cai is now director, structures. Cai will lead the Texas Structure teams with a strong emphasis on quality, innovation and efficiency, while also supporting strategic pursuits, scope development and fee estimates. Additionally, he will provide program leadership by overseeing talent acquisition and staff development, monitoring project pipeline and financial performance, and identifying future growth opportunities. Cai has played a key role as Task Lead or Engineer of Record (EOR) on major infrastructure projects, including the Dallas Southern Gateway, DFW International Airport Southwest End-Around Taxiway, and the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, etc.
Promotion in the Southeast:
Roger Beck has been promoted to director, digital construction management. In this role, Beck will lead WSB’s team of Digital Construction Management estimators and schedulers to develop construction cost estimates and contract time determination schedules for WSB’s internal and external infrastructure, heavy civil, land development, rail, transit and transportation clients.
“We are elevating the selected staff to director positions to harness their unique talents and expertise,” said Bret Weiss, president and CEO.
“This decision is crucial for our firm as it allows us to leverage their specialized knowledge and connections with their teams. It will enable WSB to better support our clients and communities, ensuring we deliver exceptional services and innovative solutions. By promoting these leaders, we are reinforcing our commitment to growth, collaboration, and excellence across our divisions.”
This strategy supports WSB’s growth during its national expansion. With offices in 10 states, WSB supports communities from coast to coast. Now offering more services, WSB is better equipped than ever before.
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
May 29, 2025
We are proud to announce that WSB has been named a 2025 Hot Firm by the Zweig Group – marking our twelfth consecutive year on the list and our highest ranking to date. This year we’ve climbed to #6, breaking into the top 10.
The Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List honors the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the U.S. and Canada. Rankings are based on three-year growth in revenue, both in dollar and percentage terms. Firms recognized have outpaced the economy and their peers to become industry leaders.
The Zweig Group is a leading provider of research, publishing, and advisory services for the AEC industry. The Zweig Group’s awards programs recognize and celebrate top AEC industry firms in several categories. Award winners will be recognized at the 2025 Elevate AEC Conference in September.
We are incredibly honored to share this milestone and grateful to our team for driving our continued growth and success.
View the complete list of Hot Firm winners. Zweig Group announces the 2025 Hot Firm List
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
The firm strategically hires Akakin to support the growth of Midwest materials engineering operations.
Minneapolis, Minn.— Forward-thinking design and consulting firm WSB today announced the appointment of Tumer Akakin as director of materials engineering. Based in Burnsville, Minnesota, Akakin brings over two decades of experience in the construction materials industry.
Akakin holds a doctorate in construction materials and a master’s degree in structural engineering from Turkey. His career began at the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association and later moved to Minnesota in 2016, where he held leadership positions at Aggregate Ready Mix of Minnesota and worked and Intertek.
In his new role at WSB, Akakin will oversee the materials lab in Burnsville and lead vertical building projects. He will support WSB’s initiative of expanding materials testing capabilities, particularly in the area of vertical building projects. Akakin will also explore additional testing and inspection opportunities to diversify WSB’s offerings and strengthen its competitive edge.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tumer Akakin to WSB,” said Mike Rief, senior vice president of construction. “His expertise and extensive knowledge will be instrumental in enhancing the firm’s resume and building credibility with clients. I look forward to the future of the division with Tumer’s leadership.”
“I am excited to contribute to this dynamic firm,” said Akakin. “The expansive services offered at WSB provide incredible opportunities for our clients. I look forward to leveraging my expertise in materials engineering to enhance our testing capabilities and explore new avenues for growth.”
Akakin’s appointment will support the firm’s mission to drive innovation and quality in the materials engineering sector. His leadership will help WSB expand its services and continue to build strong client relationships as the firm continues its national expansion. WSB serves communities from nearly 50 offices across the country.
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
We are thrilled to announce that Shawn Poe, Director of Municipal Services for the Colorado region, has been appointed to two prestigious positions. Shawn has earned a spot on the South Adams County Fire Department (SACFD) Board of Directors. This board is composed of five residents who are committed to advancing the district’s mission and efforts in providing exceptional fire and emergency services. The Board oversees policies, guidelines, and the annual budget to ensure efficient administration and operations.
Moreover, Shawn Poe has been appointed by the City Council of Commerce City to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This board plays a crucial role in addressing appeals from refusals of building permits, permitting exceptions or variations from the zoning ordinance, issuing special use permits, and making conditional grants for property use.
We are incredibly proud of Shawn’s achievements and his unwavering commitment to serving his community. Join us in celebrating Shawn Poe’s incredible appointments and his ongoing contributions to the community!
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
The firm continues to establish roots in Oklahoma, joining several offices and staff throughout Tulsa into an improved and centralized office space.
May 13, 2025
Tulsa, Okla — WSB is thrilled to announce the opening of its new office at 416 South Utica Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74120. This strategic move reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to growth and investment in the Tulsa region.
The firm acquired several offices throughout the city in recent years. By consolidating these existing locations into a modern, state-of-the-art facility, WSB aims to foster enhanced collaboration among staff and deliver superior service to clients. The new office will serve as a central hub, allowing the firm to streamline operations and improve efficiencies across various projects and service lines.
“We are excited about the new, updated space and the progress it signifies for WSB in the region,” said Rick Johnson, vice president of operations. “This office is a testament to our dedication to providing exceptional service and fostering a collaborative work environment. The upgraded facilities will enable us to better support our clients’ needs and pursue innovative solutions to complex challenges.”
The new office space is equipped with advanced technology and amenities, ensuring a high-quality environment conducive to successful project execution. The design facilitates communication and teamwork, promoting a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.
The new office officially opened its doors on December 2. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for WSB in Tulsa, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to excellence and community engagement.
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
May 13, 2025
We are thrilled to announce that three of our outstanding staff members have been recognized by the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) for their exemplary contributions to the profession.
- April Randall has been named the IRWA Oklahoma Young Professional of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of IRWA.
- Audrey Fincannon has been honored as the Oklahoma IRWA Professional of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of IRWA.
- Christie Saenz has been awarded the title of Texas IRWA Professional of the Year by the Texas Chapter of IRWA.
These awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to the Right of Way profession. We are immensely proud of their achievements and their dedication to advancing the field.
Congratulations to April, Audrey, and Christie on these well-deserved honors!
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
May 5, 2025
WSB is delighted to announce the promotion of our exceptional staff members. Each year, we honor those who demonstrate leadership, determination, and expertise in their field. These individuals consistently embody our values, deliver outstanding results, and exhibit strong leadership in their work.
Our success and growth rely on the continuous development of new talent and leadership. We are fortunate to have such dedicated and committed leaders at WSB who have chosen to invest their careers with us. The staff members listed below have shown unwavering commitment to the company, our clients, and their colleagues by leading by example and striving for improvement every day.
We are thrilled to introduce the staff who have been recognized and promoted to Associate, Senior Associate, and Principal. Their dedication and expertise have significantly contributed to our company’s success and growth.
Congratulations to our new members.
Principals
- Ben Fletcher | Manager Design
- Brad Oswald | Director, Survey
- Brandon Claborn | Vice President, Environmental
- Carl Osberg | Director, Structures
- Chris Duncan | Manager, H&H
- Janele Taveggia | Senior Project Manager
- Jignesh Thakkar | Director, Traffic
- Jupe Hale | Senior Director, Municipal Services
- Michael Couch | Manager, GIS
- Mykol Woodruff | Vice President, Contract Administration
- Sarah Rohne | Director, Human Resources
- Waymon Votaw | Vice President, Energy Utilities Operations
Senior Associates
- Allison Whitsitt | Manager, Planning – OK
- Angellia Points | Senior Project Manager
- Behnaz Beladi | Director, Renewables
- Christy Dulaney | Controller
- Paul Kyle | Project Manager
- John Bradford | Senior Project Manager
- Jon Christensen | Project Manager
- Jose Sandoval | Senior Design Manager
- Marc Drouin | Design Teams Manager
- Michael Royce | Area Manager
- Ryan Stempski | Senior Project Manager
- Shannon McGrath | Director, Asset Management Planning
- Taylor Olson | Professional Engineer
- Tina Brown | Senior Project Manager
Associates
- Ameer Kian | Senior Project Manager
- Andy Gatlin | Project Manager
- Ann Leake | Accounts Payable & Payroll Supervisor
- Antony Atencio | Assistant Project Manager / Designer
- Brandon Movall | Design Manager
- Brian Frank | Senior Project Manager
- Brian Glaser | Director, Design Technology
- Caitlin Austin | Learning & Development Manager
- David Blevins | Construction Inspector IV
- Don Nash | Senior Professional Engineer I
- George Mallett | Project Manager
- George Prien | Director, Data Integration – Energy Utilities
- Grant Moore | H&H Project Manager
- Hongwei Cai | Director, Structures
- Janna Rosenthal | Senior Transportation Planner
- Jeff Frahm | Project Manager
- Jeff Rice | Senior Project Manager
- Jimmy Rogers | Senior Record Keeper
- Johnny Martinez | Engineering Specialist
- Justin Sepanski | Discipline Application Specialist
- Lori Johnson | Senior Professional Community Planner I
- Nicole Muske | Senior Engineering Specialist
- Paul Reinhart | Proposal Manager
- Robert Doty | Director, Transportation Design
We’ve got our eyes on the horizon
May 1, 2025
WSB is honored to be featured on the Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) nationally ranked list for the thirteenth consecutive year, climbing 25 spots from last year’s position. Through ENR’s annual survey, companies throughout the United States are ranked according to revenue for design services performed. ENR’s mission is to connect diverse sectors of the industry with coverage of issues that include business management, design, construction methods, technology, safety, law, legislation, environment and labor.
Since WSB was founded nearly 30 years ago, we have been committed to growth and excellence. For many years, we have worked hand-in-hand with our communities to build the future of infrastructure. Through strong partnerships, we have collaborated to solve some of our communities’ biggest challenges. Our growth would not be possible without the trust and support of our dedicated clients. Thank you for entrusting us with your infrastructure needs.
It is an honor to be recognized amongst our peers. We extend gratitude to our incredible staff who play a significant role in driving our growth and shaping our company. At WSB, we foster innovation at every level and across all service areas. We look forward to continuing to advance project delivery with our clients.
Review the full ranking list: ENR 2025 Top 500 Design Firms Preview | Engineering News-Record
Our Chief Operating Officer, Jon Chiglo, is featured in the 2025 Top 500 Design Firms: Design Market Shifts Overnight article by Engineering News-Record (ENR). Jon discusses the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the design market, emphasizing the critical need for STEAM education. Jon highlights that while technology is helping to bridge gaps, the industry still requires key subject matter experts to drive progress.
“Without key subject matter experts driving progress, projects cannot be evaluated or designed, and without field workers, projects cannot be built. We need more planners, earth scientists, engineers, and field staff. Technology will be a tool to assist our staff, not replace them.”Jon Chiglo
This recognition underscores WSB’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the design industry. We are proud to have Jon’s insights featured in such a prestigious publication.
Read the full article to learn more about the shifts in the design market and how Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) companies are navigating these changes.
