New Hire

WSB hires Amy Fredregill to lead the firm’s sustainability efforts

The new position will focus on renewable energy and firm-wide resiliency initiatives.

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Amy Fredregill has joined the organization as their senior director of sustainability. Fredregill joins the firm’s Golden Valley office where she will lead WSB’s renewables and resiliency strategy.

Fredregill was most recently the managing director of the Sustainable Growth Coalition at the Environmental Initiative, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Throughout her career Fredregill has supported the Minnesota Association of Cooperatives, Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System Inc. and Xcel Energy.

“Amy brings a wealth of knowledge to this position with both her public and private sector experience,” said Andi Moffatt, vice president of environmental services at WSB. “Many of our clients and their communities are prioritizing resiliency and we will continue to see a demand for sustainable approaches and initiatives in the future.”

This new role will strengthen and expand the firm’s sustainability services and solutions. For years, WSB has been delivering sustainable solutions, such as stormwater and flood management, water reuse, municipal resiliency planning, materials, smart cities and renewable energy. Fredregill will help form the foundation for WSB’s sustainability strategy across markets and divisions.

“WSB’s clients face complex infrastructure challenges and we must find innovative and sustainable solutions to service our client’s needs now and into the future,” said Fredregill. “I’m thrilled to join a fast-growing firm that is committed to resiliency and innovation.”

Sustainability is a long-term goal for WSB as communities throughout the nation continue to prioritize resiliency. As part of WSB’s environmental team, Fredregill will work with many service areas and support the team in terms of knowledge, expertise, business development and execution of the firm’s sustainability strategy.

WSB hires Christie Saenz to growing right-of-way team

Saenz will lead the firm’s right-of-way efforts in Texas

Austin, Texas – Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Christie Saenz is joining the organization as a senior right-of-way specialist. Saenz joins the firm’s Austin office where she will lead WSB’s right-of-way efforts throughout Texas.

“I am thrilled to welcome Christie to WSB,” said Jay Kennedy, WSB’s vice president of Texas operations. “In the last year, we’ve been working to expand our expertise in the Texas market and the addition of Christie will continue to drive momentum.”

Saenz joins WSB with over 25 years of experience in the right-of-way industry. Throughout her career, she’s managed the acquisition of over 1,000 parcels for the Texas Department of Transportation and central counties and cities. Most notably, Saenz worked on the SH 99 Grand Parkway, Segments F-2, G-1 & G-2 for Texas Department of Transportation in Harris and Montgomery Counties, SH 36 for Texas Department of Transportation in Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties, the Bell Boulevard Realignment for the city of Cedar Park and Dacy Lane Phase II for Hays County in Kyle, Texas.

“I am really looking forward to joining WSB’s fast-growing Texas team and expanding the firm’s right-of-way services,” said Saenz. “Investment in infrastructure and development is strong throughout the state and I see many opportunities to support our client’s right-of-way needs.”

As part of WSB’s right-of-way team, Saenz will support clients with their right-of-way projects by providing project management, acquisition and relocation services. As a consulting engineering firm, WSB provides transportation planning and design, water/wastewater utility work and community planning services throughout the state of Texas.

WSB hires structural engineering expert Paul Kivisto

May 22, 2020

Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Paul Kivisto is joining the organization as a senior structural engineer. As the former metro region bridge engineer and St. Croix Crossing Bridge construction engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Kivisto joins the firm with nearly 37 years of experience working on high profile structural infrastructure projects throughout Minnesota.

“I am thrilled to welcome Paul to our firm. His engineering and bridge management experience will be an invaluable addition to our structures team,” said Jody Martinson, WSB’s vice president of transportation. “I’ve worked closely with Paul for many years and his technical abilities and his big-picture thinking will be an asset for our clients’ structural needs.”

Kivisto has played a significant role in some of the most high-profile bridge projects in the state, most notably serving as the St. Croix Crossing Bridge construction engineer. The $646 million project was completed in 2017 and involved two state DOTs, multiple communities and an innovative extradosed design – only the second of its kind in the United States. Additionally, Kivisto offered his expertise on bridges across the state including the reconstruction of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge and the construction of the 10-lane Wakota River Bridge.

“I am really looking forward to joining the growing structures team at WSB,” said Kivisto. “In many ways, I am just changing hats and am excited to approach projects from the consulting side of bridge management and design.”

As part of WSB’s team, Kivisto will support clients with their bridge management plans, safety inspection reports, design plans and constructability reviews. As a consulting engineering firm, WSB’s structures services include bridge design, rehabilitation, inspection and management and construction for public and private partners.

WSB welcomes accomplished engineering leaders

Industry experts Shelly Hanson and Klay Eckles bring their combined experience to the firm’s growing municipal team

Minneapolis, Minn. – Fast-growing Minneapolis design and consulting firm WSB has hired local engineering experts Shelly Hanson and Klayton (Klay) Eckles to join its municipal services team. Eckles and Hanson bring a wealth of knowledge to WSB after long-term careers as city engineers at the City of Woodbury and the City of Bloomington, respectively.

“Both Shelly and Klay have made significant impacts in the engineering industry and are well-known for their dedication to engineering excellence,” said WSB Vice President of Municipal Services Lee Gustafson. “I’m confident their expertise will elevate the service we provide to the communities we support and continue to help us build internal momentum throughout WSB.”

Hanson retired from the City of Bloomington in 2018 as the city engineer. She worked on countless projects that shaped the landscape of the city for 24 years. Her most notable projects include the restoration of the Old Cedar Avenue bridge, the Lindau Lane corridor in the South Loop district and securing funding for phase one of the I-494 and I-35W interchange improvement. Hanson was the first woman to be named the City Engineer’s Association of Minnesota (CEAM) Engineer of the Year in 2014. Hanson has paid special attention to helping women advance in the fields of public works and engineering throughout her career.

“I’m excited to join a firm that works together to discover thoughtful and creative solutions to infrastructure challenges,” said Hanson. “The diversity of projects is what I most loved about my job in Bloomington and I’m thrilled I can continue to focus on new challenges with WSB.”

Eckles has worked in the public sector for over 30 years in four different communities throughout the Twin Cities. He was the engineering and public works director for both the City of Woodbury and the City of Stillwater. Eckles is well-known for his environmental consciousness and received the Charles Walter Nichols Award from the American Public Works Association for outstanding and meritorious achievement in the environmental field. He brings significant experience in infrastructure and comprehensive planning, site master planning, facility expansion projects, interagency partnerships agreements and long-term capital planning.

“The firm’s commitment to sustainability and innovation is something that fits with my own vision,” said Eckles. “A big-picture approach to shaping communities is something I embrace and I am looking forward to helping drive that forward.”

Hanson and Eckles will assist WSB’s municipal services team in high-level strategy, business development and special projects related to water reuse and small cell infrastructure readiness.