President | Principal Engineer

Christopher Farmer, PE

Biography:

Chris has extensive experience in the field of engineering and is a founding Principal of BFW. Mr. Farmer’s responsibilities include all aspects of proposal development, project management, client relations, and design/analysis of various geotechnical, general civil engineering and environmental projects. In addition, Mr. Farmer supervises and manages each facet of Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc.’s soil and material testing laboratory.

A sample of Mr. Farmer’s engineering design experience includes foundation and retaining wall design, slope stability analysis, and stormwater impoundments. Mr. Farmer’s environmental experience includes environmental soil and groundwater investigations, site assessments, landfill groundwater studies, air monitoring, and design/implementation of corrective action plans for the remediation of soil and groundwater.

Education & Experience:

University of Louisville – MEng., Civil Engineering, 1992
University of Louisville – B.S., Civil Engineering, 1991

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama

Executive Vice President

Mark Workman

Biography:

As a founding member of BFW Engineering & Testing, Inc., Mark Workman has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s culture, vision, and long-term growth strategy. With a people-first leadership style, Mark believes that strong relationships – both within the company and with clients—are the foundation of exceptional work and lasting impact.

In his role as Executive Vice President and CEO, Mark leads with a commitment to integrity, innovation, and employee empowerment. He oversees all proposal development, marketing, project management, and client relations, while also championing recruitment, retention, and employee engagement across BFW’s 11 locations. Under his leadership, BFW has built a reputation not only for technical excellence, but for fostering a collaborative, values-driven workplace.

Mark began his career in municipal government, where he gained early insights into the importance of public service, accountability, and interdisciplinary coordination – perspectives that continue to guide his leadership today. He brings over three decades of experience in managing complex engineering environments, always with a focus on building strong teams and serving communities.

Education & Experience:

B.S. Murray State University, 1992

Leadership & Community Engagement

Chairman, Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance (KEMI) Board

Chairman, Paducah Power Board

Board Member-Kentucky Nuclear Development Authority

Board Member-Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Board Member, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce

Former Board Member, Greater Paducah Economic Development Corporation

Former Board Member, United Way of Paducah-McCracken County

Former Member, Luther F. Carson Center for the Performing Arts

Principal | Mechanical Engineer

Baccus Oliver, PE, CxA, LEED AP

Biography:

Baccus L. Oliver is a seasoned Principal with over 33 years of experience in vertical building design and construction. A graduate of the University of Kentucky’s Pigman College of Engineering, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and has earned a reputation for technical excellence and strategic leadership.

In his current role, Baccus leads the operations of the mechanical and electrical departments, delivering high-performance design solutions tailored to the complex demands of modern building systems. His deep expertise in building science—particularly in water intrusion—makes him a recognized authority in the field.

Baccus is an active member of several professional organizations, including ASHRAE, ASPE, the Code Administrators Association of Kentucky, IGSHPA, NFPA, and NSPE. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and a certified Commissioning Authority.

Driven by a strong commitment to professional integrity and continuous improvement, Baccus brings both depth and innovation to every project.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky
The Pigman College of Engineering
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1992

Professional Affiliation:

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
Code Administrators Association of Kentucky
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional
National Fire Protection Association
National Society of Professional Engineers

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky

Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Joshua Alstat, PE,SE

Biography:

Josh is a registered Illinois Professional Structural Engineer working out of our Marion, Illinois, location.  He joined BFW in 2010 working in structural engineering project design and eventually transitioned to structural project management.  He has experience in structural design and analysis, inspection, seismic and wind hazard assessment, project management, and construction administration.  Josh specializes in the design, construction, and inspection of low-rise commercial and municipal buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, hotels, industrial structures, and ICC 500/FEMA P-361/320 storm shelters and safe rooms.  He has experience with new construction as well as renovation projects of varying materials including structural steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed metal. Josh’s variety of experience has allowed him to work on projects in high seismic zones and high wind zones.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale – Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 2015

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois
Licensed Structural Engineer in the State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Kentucky

Mechanical Engineer | Project Manager

Bryan Atkins, PE

Biography:

Bryan joined Marcum Engineering in 2008 and has extensive experience in mechanical engineering design and serves as project manager/mechanical engineer. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Bryan began his career while pursuing his degree, here with us at Marcum Engineering. Bryan provides mechanical engineering design and oversight on numerous types of projects including educational, judicial, corporate, renovation, and medical projects.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 2008

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky

Senior Geotechnical Engineer

David Barker, PE

Biography:

Mr. Barker joined BFW in 2023 to be part of the new geotechnical engineering team located in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Mr. Barker has over 43 years of experience in geotechnical engineering with 45 years of service for the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, David began with TDOT as an entry level geotechnical engineer in the Knoxville, Tennessee, office and advanced to supervisory and managerial positions. In 2009, Mr. Barker became the manager of the Knoxville Geotechnical Engineering Office and served in that position before retiring from state service in 2019. In addition to his work on general highway-related projects such as conventional retaining walls and bridge foundations, David has been involved with numerous geotechnical engineering challenges such as acid producing material, sinkhole repair, rockfall hazard analysis, and mitigation including rock bolts, dowels, draped and anchored wire mesh, and landslide analysis and mitigation including active anchored blocks and passive anchored shotcrete beams. Since retiring from TDOT, Mr. Barker has worked as a senior geotechnical engineer for private engineering consultant firms.

Education & Experience:

University of Tennessee
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Certifications:

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Tennessee

Chief Financial Officer

David Belt

Biography:

David joined BFW/Marcum as Chief financial Officer in 2015 after 14 years as CFO with a large construction and construction materials company operating multiple entities in over 15 states.  There he served in the senior most financial position as a member of the leadership team providing financial and non-financial data and knowledge to facilitate, support, and impact management decision making and planning. David began his career in public accounting where he spent 13 years, including 8 years as a partner, providing traditional as well as non-traditional accounting and financial consulting services.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University, B.S. Accounting

Certifications:

Certified Public Accountant
Certified Construction Industrial Financial Professional

Tennessee Regional Manager | Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Matt Bullard, PE

Biography:

Matt joined BFW in 2022 to start a new BFW office in Nashville, TN. He has amassed over 17 years of engineering experience in Tennessee and Kentucky. Matt has won and managed numerous TDOT contracts and been fortunate enough to work on some of TDOT’s most notable projects such as the Fast Fix 8 and the I-24/I-75 Interchange, and the Blue Oval City (SR-222).  He has alternative contracting experience in both Design-Build and CM/GC projects. Matt also has significant aviation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential project experience.

Education & Experience:

Auburn University, Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee and Kentucky

Environmental Manager

Susannah Campbell, PMP®

Biography:

Susannah joined the BFW team in 2019 as an Environmental Manager in our Paducah, Kentucky, office. She handles numerous environmental projects involving NEPA Compliance, Wetland Permitting, KPDES Permits/Stormwater Sampling, Remedial Investigations, Mold Sampling, Asbestos Consulting, Lead Base Paint Risk Assessments, Groundwater Protection Plans, Best Management Practices, Stormwater Pollution Protection Plans, etc. She possesses a strong background in leadership over a variety of projects with strong communication skills and proven client relationships. With Susannah’s wealth of experience, she is a great asset to our team!

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science, University of Kentucky, Mechanical Engineering/Mathematics
Bachelor of Science, Murray State University, Finance/Mathematics

Professional Registration:

Project Management Professional (PMP®)

Business Development

Steve Carter

Biography:

Steve Carter joined BFW/Marcum in August of 2023. He retired as Superintendent from McCracken County Schools after 27 years in public education with 21 of those serving in building and district-level leadership overseeing numerous programs and departments including facilities, maintenance, and transportation. Steve has been an active member of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators having served as President for 2018-2019.

Education & Experience:

Western Kentucky University
Bachelor of Arts

Murray State University
Master of Arts in Education

Business Development

James Codell, III

Biography:

James C. Codell, III joined BFW in March, 2023 with over 60 years of experience in the transportation and related industries.   He worked for Codell Construction Company from 1964 through 1995 serving as Executive Vice President for the last 24 years.  His experience there included directing the Company operations for numerous projects including the Trans Alaska Pipeline Project (TAPS), Norfolk Southern Railway System, CSX Transportation System, Penn Central Transportation System, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Indiana Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, US Army Corps of Engineers Dam Projects, East Kentucky Power Cooperative Projects, Guatemala Highway System, and the Guatemala City Airport known as La Aurora International Airport.

Jim served as Cabinet Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet from 1996 to 2004, as he was responsible for all transportation operations for the State of Kentucky.  He served as AASHTO President in 2003, MAASTO President in 2001, and SASHTO President in 1998.

Jim joined URS/AECOM in 2004, as he has served as Principal in Charge on various transportation projects in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and Mississippi.  He left AECOM to join BFW in March, 2023.

Education & Experience:

Morehead State University
B.S. Business Administration

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Tim Craven, PE

Biography:

Tim brings over 33 years of expertise in bridge planning, design, and structural evaluation, joining Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. after a dedicated 31-year career with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). As the former Bridge Project Planning Unit Chief in the Bureau of Bridges and Structures, Tim led the development and oversight of critical project documents, including Bridge Condition Reports (BCRs), Type, Size, and Location (TSL) plans, structural work estimates, and engineering consultant services.

With nearly three decades dedicated to bridge planning, Tim has played a pivotal role in the structural, geometric, and economic analysis of transportation infrastructure. His experience extends beyond traditional planning, encompassing innovative contracting methods such as Public-Private Partnerships (P3) and Design-Build, as well as participation in research initiatives and cross-agency collaborations.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Iowa State University

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Arkansas
IDOT Bridge Inspector – Bridge Program Manager

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Kevin Crider, PE, PTOE

Biography:

Kevin Crider has been a key member of the BFW transportation team since 2001 and has extensive experience in managing projects for a wide variety of clients including state and local government agencies.

Kevin has experience in rural and urban roadway design, specializing in hydrology issues relating to transportation projects, and has been involved in numerous projects in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Indiana.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University
B.S., Civil Engineering, 1995

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Missouri
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Tennessee
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Indiana
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Arkansas
Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)

Civil Designer

David Curtsinger, PLS

Biography:

David joined the BFW team in 2013 in the Civil-Site Department as a Civil Designer. He has over 35 years of experience in the Construction, Civil Engineering, and Transportation fields. He has been involved in the design and development of engineering plans for numerous site development, water and wastewater, and highway projects in his career. Being a registered professional surveyor in the state of Kentucky, he has also experienced in the development of property boundary survey plats.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University – Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering Technology, 1985

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Kentucky

Wetland Scientist / Ecologist

Laura Darnell, PWS

Biography:

Laura joined BFW in 2023 with extensive experience in the wetland and ecological consulting fields, including 18 years at Resource Environmental Solutions and Redwing Ecological Services in Louisville, Kentucky. She has expertise in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation methodologies as well as vegetation surveys and threatened / endangered species habitat assessments and surveys. Laura has managed projects for a variety of public and private sector clients that have included Section 401 and Section 404 permit applications, endangered species consultation, environmental assessments and other NEPA compliance, mitigation plans, mitigation monitoring reports, and Wildlife Habitat Council certification.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Kentucky
Master of Science in Environmental Science, Washington State University

Professional Registration:

Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Society of Wetland Scientists

Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Theresa Davies, PE

Biography:

Theresa is a registered Professional Engineer and office manager of our Evansville, Indiana, location. She joined BFW in 2022 after 15 years working in an engineering consulting firm which focused on the design of commercial projects including: schools, hospitals, municipal buildings, churches, and industrial structures. She has experience with both new construction and renovation projects.

Theresa earned a B.S. in Engineering degree from Purdue University. She has concentrated her professional abilities in the area of structural engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Education & Experience:

Purdue University
B.S., Civil Engineering, 2001

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky

Land Surveyor | Project Manager

Marshall Davis, PLS

Biography:

Marshall joined BFW in 2022. His experience includes over 10 years of surveying.  His projects have included ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, subdivisions, large and small boundary surveys, topographic surveys, elevation certificates, and construction staking.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, IL
Bachelor of Science, Technical Resource Management

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of Missouri
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of South Carolina
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot License

Civil Engineer | Project Manager

Robert Deitz, PE

Biography:

Bobby joined our firm in 2000 and has experience as a project manager for various design projects for a wide variety of clients. Mr. Deitz’s responsibilities include all aspects of proposal development, project management, and client relations with extensive engineering experience in Site Development including roadway, stormwater, water, and wastewater.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University
B.S., Civil Engineering Technology, 1988

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Arizona
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of North Carolina

Assistant Director of Marketing

Samantha Dennee

Biography:

Samantha has been an instrumental part of the Bacon Farmer Workman and Marcum Engineering team since joining the firm in 2000. Samantha currently serves as Marketing Director and is directly responsible for proposal development, website and social media management, and development of all marketing and advertising materials for the firm. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Samantha is a native of Carterville, Illinois, but now calls Western Kentucky home.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University – Bachelor of Science-1999

Testing & Inspections | Project Manager

Danny Dowell

Biography:

Danny has over eighteen years of experience in the fields of engineering, project management, and construction inspections. Danny’s extensive experience in the field of project management includes site visits, inspections, and verification of all phases of the project form site work to completion, progress meetings, and certified monthly invoicing.

As lead construction administrator, Danny helps to ensure a smooth running process on each project from beginning to end, as well as provide well qualified technical personnel to ensure the required specifications of the project have been met.

Education & Experience:

University of Missouri-Rolla – Bachelor of Science-1996
Bachelor of Science – Mechanical Engineering 1996

Certifications:

American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector – AWS CWI 03080731
Kentucky Society of Healthcare Engineers – Certified Healthcare Contractor

Resident Engineer | Project Manager

Stacy Earnhart, PE

Biography:

Stacy has over 20 years of experience in multiple aspects of engineering. She worked in highway design at MODOT for 6 years and spent 8 years as a County Engineer in Pulaski County, IL, including supervising and directing all design, maintenance, and operations of the county highway department. Most recently Stacy has worked as an independent contractor acting in the roles of resident engineer and construction inspector on numerous projects throughout District Nine as well as working with local governments to see projects completed.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
IDOT Documentation of Contract Quantities

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Blake Emery, PE, PTOE

Biography:

Blake is a registered Illinois Professional Engineer working out of our Marion location as a transportation engineer. Blake holds his engineering degree from the University of Evansville and has been working for BFW since 2008. Blake is involved in all types of projects for BFW, including transportation, structural, and civil/site design projects. In addition, Blake is a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, having gained that credential in 2011.

Education & Experience:

University of Evansville
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 2006

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee
Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)

Senior Geophysicist

Boston Fodor, RG, PMP®

Biography:

Boston joined BFW in 2022 as a Senior Geophysicist.  He has amassed over 18 years of professional experience in the consulting industry.  This experience includes more than 15 years performing subsurface utility engineering and a variety of geophysical explorations for municipal, commercial, industrial, and military projects.  Additionally, Boston has managed multiple large Federal AE design and study projects.

Education & Experience:

Saint Louis University
Bachelor of Science, Geophysics

Professional Registration:

Registered Geologist in the state of Missouri
Registered Geologist in the state of Illinois
Registered Geologist in the state of Kentucky
Registered Geologist in the state of Tennessee
Registered Geologist in the state of Indiana
Certified Project Management Professional
Utility Coordinator Certified by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Senior Project Accountant

Sandy Givens

Biography:

Sandy joined BFW in May 2023. Sandy came here from the Housing Authority of Paducah, a non-profit entity that provides affordable housing to low-income individuals and families in Paducah, where she was Director of Finance for 8 years. There she was a member of senior management providing financial data, knowledge, and experience to assist in the decision-making process. Sandy began her career in accounting with the Kentucky Department of Revenue where she worked as a Tax Auditor for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. From there, she transitioned to public accounting where she spent almost 16 years providing accounting services to many businesses and individuals in our community.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University,
Bachelor of Science, 1990

Professional Affiliation:

Certified Public Accountant

Civil Engineer | Project Manager

Brad Gough, PE

Biography:

Brad joined the BFW Civil Department in 2017 as a project engineer in the Civil Department. He has extensive experience in civil engineering, performing environmental assessments for federal clients, as well as land development design, permitting, and consulting. Brad has previous land development experience in Tampa FL, Dallas TX, and Paducah KY including various single-family, multi-family, commercial, retail, municipal, and medical projects. He is currently a registered professional in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Missouri.

Education & Experience:

Ohio University, BS Civil Engineering, 2005

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of West Virginia
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri

Business Development

Craig Guess

Biography:

Craig was CEO of a construction company that he grew from $2 million to $100 million over his 30 tenure. The company operated in 26 states and clients included NASA, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife.

He served as chairman of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Chamber of Commerce boards and twice as chairman of the WKCA-AGC Board of Directors.  He also served on the AGC of America Board of Governors. He is a graduate of Leadership Kentucky and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Paducah and YPO/World Presidents Organization.

Mechanical Engineer | Project Manager

Jeff Halverson, PE, LEED AP

Biography:

Jeff hails from the Madison Wisconsin area and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jeff began his career with Marcum Engineering during the Fall of 2013, and currently serves as a project manager for mechanical engineering projects. The majority of his work focuses on higher education, K-12, municipal, commercial, and renovation projects. Jeff is a Registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky and Wisconsin and is also a LEED Accredited Professional.

Education & Experience:

University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2003

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Kentucky and Wisconsin
LEED Accredited Professional

Transportation Project Engineer

Douglas Hawes, PE

Biography:

Doug joined BFW in July 2021 and has over 25 years of experience in transportation and civil engineering. He has worked with a variety of clients including state and local government agencies. Doug has design and management experience on projects throughout Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. His experience includes rural and urban roadway design, site development, utility relocations, and construction administration.

Education & Experience:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1998
KYTC Project Manager’s Boot Camp Xpress

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee

Civil Engineer | Project Manager

Shannon Hayes, PE

Biography:

Shannon joined the BFW team shortly after obtaining his bachelor’s degree at Western Kentucky University. Shannon is a registered professional engineer in both Kentucky and Illinois and serves as a project engineer for our civil engineering division.

Education & Experience:

Western Kentucky University – Bachelor of Science-2005

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Kentucky and Illinois

Resident Engineer

Brian Holt, PE

Biography:

Brian joined BFW Engineering & Testing, Inc. in 2021 after 29 years of with the Missouri Department of Transportation in the construction engineering field.  During this time, he received extensive experience with contract inspection and administration.  Brian served as Resident Engineer from 1999 to 2021 in 3 different project office locations within the Southeast District.  As resident engineer he led construction inspection staff overseeing all aspects of administration, inspection, material testing, project documentation, contractor payments, design changes, managing work zones, and resolving contractor disputes.  His experience also includes major upgrades to US 412 and Missouri Route 34, major interchange projects, and numerous bridge replacements.

Education & Experience:

Missouri S&T
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Missouri

Structural Project Manager / Engineer

Justin Holt, PE

Biography:

Justin is a licensed Professional Engineer who has worked out of the Paducah, KY office since joining BFW in 2019. He has experience in structural design, analysis, and inspection, as well as project management, seismic hazard assessment, and construction administration. Justin specializes in the design of commercial & municipal buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and ICC 500/FEMA P-361 storm shelters & safe rooms.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky
B.S., Civil Engineering, 2018
M.S., Civil Engineering, 2019

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed in the state of Tennessee

Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Phillip Holthaus, PE, SE

Biography:

Phillip is a registered Professional Structural Engineer and office manager of our Champaign, Illinois, location.  He joined BFW in 2008 working in structural engineering project design and eventually transitioned to structural project management.  Phillip specializes in the design and inspection of commercial/municipal buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and industrial structures.  He has experience with new construction, renovation projects, and forensic investigations.  Phillip’s variety of experience has allowed him to work on projects in high seismic zones, high wind zones, and where blast loading design is required.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
B.S., Civil Engineering, 2007
M.S., Civil Engineering, 2009

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Illinois and Kentucky
Licensed Professional Structural Engineer in the state of Illinois

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Barry Horst, PE

Biography:

Barry comes to us with 32 years experience in the transportation engineering field. During his time with the Missouri Department of Transportation, he received experience in construction inspection and contract administration. He served as design team leader, District Chief Designer and ultimately Southeast District Design department manager. In his department manager position, he led the efforts of design, survey, and utility staff, as well as preparing the district right of way and construction program. Barry’s experience makes him a perfect fit to lead our new Cape Girardeau, Missouri office.

Education & Experience:

Executive Director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission Bachelor of Science – Civil Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri

Structural Engineer/Project Manager

Anna Marie Ignacio, PE

Biography:

Anna Marie is a registered Professional Engineer and structural project engineer in our Champaign, Illinois location. She joined BFW in 2018 after 2 years working in railway construction.  Anna Marie has experience in structural design, construction, and inspection of low-rise commercial, municipal buildings, schools, churches, and hotels. She has experience with new construction and renovation projects of varying materials including structural steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed metal.

Education & Experience:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2016 

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky

Senior Traffic Engineer

David Johnson, P.E., PTOE

Biography:

David has over 10 years of engineering experience with State, Federal, and Private sectors. David worked in MoDOT’s Traffic Department and in their alternative project delivery division. David is experienced in transportation design, traffic simulation, signals, signing, striping, roadway safety analysis, and roadway capacity analysis. David is also experienced in Design-Build project delivery, construction inspection, and contract development. David enjoys professional collaboration and problem-solving with an emphasis on improving traffic flow and safety for roadway users.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in Arkansas
Licensed Professional Engineer in Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in Tennessee
Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois
Licensed Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)

Geologist | Project Manager

Matt Kaufman, RG

Biography:

Matt joined BFW in March 2022. His experience includes over 9 years in the in the fields of environmental and engineering geology. Matt specializes in overseeing drilling for geotechnical investigations.

Education & Experience:

Illinois State University – Normal, IL
Bachelor of Science, Geology

Professional Registration:

Registered Geologist in the State of Missouri
Professional Geologist in the State of Illinois and the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Project Manager

Eric Krapf, PE

Biography:

Eric brings 30 years of experience with MoDOT to the BFW team. As District Design Engineer (2018 to 2024), he balanced program delivery methods, internal, and external resources to deliver the program on time and on budget and facilitated a statewide group of DDE’s to address key issues. As a Transportation Project Manager (2001–2018), he worked on major projects like the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and various improvements to I-55, I-57, and I-155 corridors. His experience also includes roles as a Roadway Designer (1995–2001) and Interstate Corridor Engineer (2010–2012), overseeing flood control efforts along I-55 in New Madrid County. Eric’s extensive background makes him a valuable asset to BFW.

Education & Experience:

Arkansas State University, Bachelor of Science, Engineering

Professional Registration:

Registered Professional Engineer – Missouri
Registered Professional Engineer – Arkansas

Environmental Project Manager

Leigh Ann Liddell, PWS

Biography:

Leigh Ann joins Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. as an Environmental Project Manager working remotely in Charleston, South Carolina. Her background includes over 26 years of diverse experience in environmental consulting/project management, managing environmental programs in industrial settings, and ownership of a small environmental consulting business. Her expertise includes NEPA compliance, Section 404/401 and NPDES permitting, preparing technical documents such as SWPPPs and SPCC Plans, environmental auditing, hazardous waste management, and natural resource surveys. Throughout Leigh Ann’s career, she has developed strong organizational and communication skills and enjoys maintaining client relationships. Leigh Ann’s hobbies include native flora identification/ecology, outdoor activities, scientific research, and spending time with family and friends.

Education & Experience:

Auburn University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Professional Registration:

Registered Environmental Manager
Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Society of Wetland Scientists

Project Engineer

Joe Matesevac, PE

Biography:

Joe joins BFW after 20 years of experience in consulting engineering and 10 years of being a County Engineer in Southern Illinois. His experience includes a wide spectrum of civil engineering including site development, stormwater, wastewater, water, roadways, and bridges. Primary focus has been on engineering design, project management, and departmental management.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Colorado

Civil Engineer | Project Manager

Maegan Mansfield, PE

Biography:

Maegan joined BFW after her tenure at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Her experience includes 5 years in the private sector as a geotechnical engineer, where she specialized in seismic foundation designs in ports, waterway crossings, and other transportation projects located near the Eastern coastline and across the United States. Additionally, Maegan has managed capital projects for the City of Paducah, and most recently gained experience as a senior civil engineer with Veolia Federal Solutions-Nuclear Services.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

University of Kentucky
Master of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

State of Kentucky Registered
Professional Engineer

State of Arkansas Registered
Professional Engineer

State of Ohio Registered
Professional Engineer

State of South Carolina Registered
Professional Engineer

State of Virginia Registered
Professional Engineer

Accounting Manager

Dawn Mason

Biography:

Dawn joined BFW/Marcum in December 2020, coming from Harper Construction, a specialty concrete construction contractor, where she had been the financial controller for 5 years. Dawn began her career in public accounting where she spent 5 years providing audit and tax services to businesses of Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois, specializing in construction contracting and governmental/non-profit entities.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University
Bachelor of Science, 2009
Masters of Business Administration, 2010

Professional Registration:

Certified Public Accountant

Belleville, IL Office Manager | Project Manager

Chris Mathews, PE

Biography:

Chris is a highly experienced geotechnical engineer with 15 years of experience in solving complex geotechnical challenges in the Midwest and Midsouth regions. His expertise includes mine mitigation design, seismic analysis, in-situ and non-destructive testing, and the design of pile and drilled shaft foundations. He has a proven track record of managing geotechnical services for a wide range of public and private projects, demonstrating extensive experience in karst evaluation, liquefaction analysis, and settlement predictions. Chris has worked with multiple DOTs and government agencies and possesses a deep understanding of the unique geotechnical challenges associated with construction projects and excels at developing practical solutions.

Education & Experience:

Missouri S&T
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

Missouri S&T
Master of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee

Civil Engineer | Project Manager

Kenneth McDaniel, PE, LEED AP

Biography:

Kenny is a Licensed Professional Engineer and has extensive experience as a project manager for various design projects. His extensive engineering experience includes: estimating, field observation, feasibility studies, specification generation, engineering reports, progress reports, utility location, and the design of various water and sewer projects.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University B.S., Civil Engineering, 1993 LEED Accredited Professional

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Mike McGregor, PE

Biography:

Mr. McGregor has extensive experience in the transportation/civil engineering field.  Mike joined Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. after retiring from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.  His experience includes 5 years as Chief District Engineer for KYTC in Paducah.  Mike was responsible for administration, coordination, and direction of all programs and employees in Highway District 1. Additionally, Mr. McGregor served as Project Development, Project Delivery & System Preservation, and Construction Branch Manager throughout his career with KYTC. These positions carried responsibility for all aspects of the Design, Environmental Assessment, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Utility Relocation and Contract Administration for the 12 westernmost counties in Kentucky.

Since arriving to BFW, Mike has been fortunate to manage several transformational transportation projects including:

• Design-Build to improve SR-222 in Haywood County, Tennessee in support of Ford’s Blue Oval City
• Statewide Bridge Delivery contract to replace 30 bridges in West Kentucky
• Final Design contract to reconstruct US-641 from Eddyville to the Caldwell County line in Lyon County, Kentucky

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky-BS – Civil Engineering, 1996
Murray State University – MBA, 2003

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana

Engineer I  | Project Manager

Frederick Mensah, PE

Biography:

Fred is a Civil Engineer with over 17 years of experience as a Structural/Bridge Engineer. He is a licensed professional engineer. Fred has served as a project engineer for numerous construction projects including 15 bridges, 18 buildings and hundreds of miles of roadway prior to joining BFW in 2019. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering with structures emphasis from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Fred is proficient in analysis, design and plans preparation of transportation structures using precast-pressed concrete, reinforced concrete, and structural steel.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Oregon

Project Manager

Andy Meyer, P.E.

Biography:

Andy joined Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. in 2023 after 30 years of experience with the Missouri Department of Transportation in the Southeast District in various administrative and program delivery roles, culminating in Assistant District Engineer for Program Delivery.  As Assistant DE, his responsibilities included supervising technical and engineering staff in planning, right-of-way acquisition, design, materials, construction, and local municipality project administration.  Andy enjoys sharing his experiences working with multi-disciplinary core teams, developing alternate delivery strategies, and implementing innovative project solutions that deliver quality projects on schedule and within budget.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University in Carbondale
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Arkansas

Professional Affiliations & Public Service:

Missouri Society of Professional Engineers: State Board of Directors Representative for Southeast Chapter

Riverside Regional Library Board of Trustees: Board member for Cape Girardeau County

Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center: Project Lead the Way Professional Advisory Committee

Southeast Missouri State University: Engineering Physics External Advisory Committee

SEMA: Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation Coalition, Inspector II

Resident Engineer | Project Manager

Greg Mishler, PE

Biography:

Greg began his Civil Engineering career with the Illinois Department of Transportation where he rose through the ranks of Construction Inspector, Resident Engineer, Senior Resident Engineer and Supervising Field Engineer. Greg ensured that all work on assigned projects was inspected, documented and built according to plans and specifications. During these years he was responsible for over $150 million worth of work and managed staffs varying from 2 to 40 people. After retiring from IDOT, Greg served as the local government field representative for construction projects involving federal funds.

Education & Experience:

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
IDOT Documentation of Contract Quantities

Electrical Engineer | Project Manager

Matt Morgan, PE

Biography:

Matt joined Marcum Engineering in April 2018 and has extensive knowledge in Electrical Engineering design and serves as an Electrical Engineer.  Prior to attending college at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he worked in the electrical field for over 15 years in which he was a licensed Master Electrician.  Matt provides Electrical Engineering design on numerous types of projects including educational, corporate, renovation, and medical projects.

Education & Experience:

University of Tennessee at Martin – Martin, Tennessee
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, 2018

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee

Inland Waterways Technical Advisor

Christina Neutz Murphy

Biography:

Christina joined Bacon Farmer Workman in 2023 after working 38 years with the US Army Corps of Engineers – Louisville District Office. She graduated with a master’s degree in civil engineering and worked predominately her entire USACE career related to levee systems from design and construction to rehabilitation, inspection, flood fighting during high water events and review and processing of Section 408 requests.

She served as the Chief, Levee Safety Section and was the Louisville Districts levee safety subject matter expert. She was also the Project Delivery Team Lead and an author that contributed extensively to the updates of the Engineer Manual 1110-2-2902 Conduits, Pipes, & Culverts Associated with Dams & Levee Systems published in December of 2020. Her team consisted of approximately 10 USACE engineers and 13 Pipe associations and other contractors on the updates to this EM.

She has extensive experience working on inland waterways regarding bank erosion, floodplain management and since being with BFW has been assisting with several Riverport projects.

Education & Experience:

University of Louisville Speed Scientific School
Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering,

University of Louisville Speed Scientific School
Bachelor of Science in Applied Science

Professional Registration:

Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky

Affiliations:

SAME

Senior Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

John Negangard, PE

Biography:

Mr. Negangard has extensive experience in the transportation/civil engineering field, especially in roadway planning and design. John joined the BFW team in 2019 as a Senior Transportation Engineer/Project Manager, after working with the Illinois Department of Transportation for 32 years. He is currently operating out of our Springfield, Illinois, office. During his time with IDOT he held the positions of Operations Engineer/Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Operations, Studies and Plans Engineer, Studies and Plans Senior Squad Leader, Design Squad Leader, and Project Studies Engineer. During his career with IDOT he received recognition as District Six “Engineer of the Year,” AASHTO Quality Award, and District Six “Employee of the Year,” and various other awards throughout his career. During John’s time with IDOT District Six, he worked on over 600 projects with total cost over $4.0 billion. With so much experience and accolades, we had to have him in our BFW family.

Since 2019, John has been in charge and completed numerous planning and design projects for IDOT, Districts 2 through 9, and other local departments of highways.  John’s experience ranges from major interstate improvement projects including rehabilitations and reconstructions to bike trails. A few of BFW’s specific major projects that John has designed and managed include:

• I-70 Reconstruction Project in Effingham County, Illinois from east of I-57 to the Cumberland/Effingham County Line, east of Montrose, Illinois which involved completing plans, specifications, and estimates for over 7 miles of interstate involving pavement rubblization, pavement reconstruction, interchange rehabilitation, and bridge rehabilitations.
• I-57 Interchange Reconstruction Project at the south edge of Kankakee, Illinois in Kankakee County which involved completing a PE 1 Combined Design Report for this project involved an interchange type study and an access justification report.
• I-270 Rehabilitation Project from east of IL 111 to east of I-55, near Glen Carbon, Illinois in Madison County which involved completing a PE 1 Combined Design Report for this interstate rehabilitation project which involved major rehabilitation of mainline pavements, interchange ramps, interchange ramp modifications, traffic signal installations and modifications, special maintenance of traffic plans, bridge rehabilitations and repairs for approximately 10 miles of interstate which included four major interchanges.
• I-55 Rehabilitation Project in Logan County, Illinois near Elkhart which involved completing a PE 1 Combined Design Report along with plans, specifications, and estimates for over 3 miles of interstate involving pavement rehabilitation of an I-55 6-lane section and the interchange County Highway 10 which included a superstructure replacement on a two-span bridge County Highway 10 over I-55. The project report, and contract plans and specifications were completed for the project in less than a 6-month period.
• IL 96 Rehabilitation Project in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois which involved completing a PE 1 Combined Design Report for the rehabilitation of IL 96 from 0.25 miles southeast of I-172, southeast of Quincy, to just south of State Street in Quincy, Adams County Illinois. This 4.3-mile rural and urban highway rehabilitation project includes widening the existing roadway with wider shoulders in the rural and urban areas for safety and bicycle accommodations.  The urban portion included adding sidewalks and converting the north portion of the project from a two-lane open ditch section to a three-lane curb and gutter section.  The project additionally includes the repairs and rehabilitation of 2 bridges and replacement of 12 across road culverts. A project report and drainage plans were completed for the project with extensive public involvement.
• IL 37 Rehabilitation Project in Jefferson & Franklin Counties, Illinois which involved completing a PE 1 Combined Design Report along with plans, specifications, and estimates for the rehabilitation of  over 13 miles of IL 37 from S of Campground Road in Bonnie to N of IL 154 (east) in Benton which was an urban and rural reconstruction / widening and resurfacing project of an existing two-lane with wider shoulders, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, intersection improvements, structure replacements, and drainage improvements.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois
Professional Advancement of Career Engineers Program (PACE), IDOT
Certificate of Completion for the Executive Leadership Development Series (ELDS), IDOT

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois

Geotechnical Engineer

Leonard Oliver, PE

Biography:

Mr. Oliver joined BFW in 2022 to be part of the new geotechnical engineering team to be located in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Mr. Oliver has over 40 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering with 32 years of service for the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation. Mr. Oliver began with TDOT as an entry level geotechnical engineer in the Nashville, TN office and advanced to supervisory and managerial positions.  Mr. Oliver became the statewide manager for the Geotechnical Engineering Section and served in the position for 10 years before retiring from state service.  As manager of the statewide Geotechnical Engineering Section, Mr. Oliver oversaw the development and implementation of numerous geotechnical engineering programs such as sinkhole mitigation, rockfall hazard analysis and mitigation, landslide analysis and mitigation, Acid Producing Rock (APR) analysis and mitigation, Retaining Wall design, analysis and plans development along with general transportation geotechnical related areas such as spread footings, piles, drilled shafts, and pavement subgrade analysis. Since retiring from TDOT, Mr. Oliver has worked as a senior geotechnical engineer for private engineering consultant firms.

Education & Experience:

Georgia Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Tennessee, since 1984

Mechanical Engineer | Project Manager

Logan Overturf, PE

Biography:

Logan is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana with extensive experience in mechanical engineering design. A graduate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering as well as his Masters in Science in Mechanical Engineering; he currently serves as project manager/mechanical engineer at Marcum Engineering. Logan is involved in all types of projects, including new construction and renovation of higher education and K-12 schools, community tornado shelters, hospitals, housing authority and governmental buildings.

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2009
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2011
CDB Project Manager Certified

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana

Landscape Architect

Jonathan Perkins, PLA, ALSA, LEED AP, CLARB

Biography:

Jonathan Perkins is a Professional Landscape Architect with extensive experience in providing design services for both public and private applications. Jonathan’s wealth of work experience ranges from new building site design including; parking layout, sidewalks, plaza spaces, and landscape planting design to multi-use trail design and tree inventories and assessments.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky – B.S., Landscape Architecture, 2004

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Landscape Architect in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Landscape Architect in the state of Tennessee
Licensed Professional Landscape Architect in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Landscape Architect in the state of Missouri
Licensed Professional Landscape Architect in the state of Ohio
CLARB Certified
ISA Certified Arborist
LEED Accredited Professional
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Diana Radcliffe, PE

Biography:

Diana has extensive experience in Civil Engineering with emphasis on Transportation. Diana has nine years’ experience at BFW where she had various roles regarding transportation design projects. Diana retired from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2015 with 28 years’ experience where she was most recently the Director of Construction Procurement. She managed the Statewide Construction Bid Letting Program which totaled a billion dollars each year.  Prior to that position, Diana spent several years as Branch Manager for the Roadway Preservation branch of the Division of Maintenance. She managed several statewide maintenance contract programs including the asphalt resurfacing program, and the statewide guardrail program. She also managed other maintenance projects involving slide repair, Concrete (JPC) pavement, traffic striping, traffic signs, ADA ramps, thermoplastic markings and emergency projects funded by FEMA and ER. Prior to her management position, she was a project engineer for contract maintenance projects, Highway Safety Improvement projects (HSIP) and Pavement Rehabilitation projects. Diana has extensive knowledge of KYTC policies, Construction Specifications, Contract procedures and Processes.  She assists in many roles including but not limited to utility coordination, maintenance of traffic plans, constructability review and QA/QC to ensure quality contracts.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky; B.S., Civil Engineering, 1984

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky

Professional Land Surveyor

Clay Robinson, PLS

Biography:

Clay has been involved in the transportation, civil site plan, water and wastewater industry since 1983, for the most part, in the survey of utility corridors utilizing the latest technology available. Our firm now utilizes Static GPS units to set permanent control monuments, Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS units to gather key topographic features and Aerial Photography to set images in the background of the plans to further help the Contractor and the Utility Owner to better understand the scope of the project. Mr. Robinson uses MicroStation, GeoPak and Topcon Surveying equipment to develop an accurate survey of the project.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky, 1976-1978

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Tennessee
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Arkansas
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Alabama
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Mississippi
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Colorado

Experience in Surveying:

Right of way calculations and deed descriptions
Deed research and establish properties
Preparing final deed descriptions
Field survey coordination
Subdivision Layout and Design
Cost Estimates and Quantities Calculations
Topography and hydrographic surveys
Field surveys
Closure computations and final alignment staking
Construction Staking

Senior Bridge Engineer | Project Manager

Brad Rotherham, PE, SE, MASCE

Biography:

Brad has 32 years of experience, is a registered Professional Structural Engineer and office manager of our Springfield, Illinois location. Brad holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on structures from the University of Illinois. He is proficient in the design and detailing of bridge and transportation structures utilizing structural steel, reinforced concrete, precast-prestressed concrete, and timber.

Education & Experience:

Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Iowa
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Structural Engineer in the state of Illinois

Project Engineer | Roadways

Greg Smothers, PE

Biography:

Greg has over 40 years of engineering experience working for almost 25 years at IDOT District 9.  Greg reached the Bureau Chief positions of Operations Engineer as well as Implementation Engineer while working in IDOT District 9.  He also held positions as Geometrics Engineer, Mixtures Control Engineer, and Design and Planning Engineer.  He has experience working in the Planning, Design, Maintenance, Materials and Construction portions of IDOT projects.  Following his career at IDOT, Greg worked over 10 years as the Williamson County Engineer in Southern Illinois overseeing the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of over 650 miles of roadway.  Greg’s last five years of experience has been working at BFW Engineers and Consulting working on a multitude of IDOT and Local Agency projects.

Education & Experience:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
+40 Years Professional Experience

Professional Registration:

Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana

Director of Marketing and Community Engagement

Ben Stinnett

Biography:

Ben Stinnett leads the marketing team at BFW/Marcum where he transforms our technical expertise into compelling narratives that resonate with clients and partners. He brings valuable experience from his previous role at the University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering – Paducah Campus, where he led recruitment and career development initiatives. As an accomplished leader, he specializes in team building and leadership development, focusing on helping professionals enhance their influence while maintaining high character.

When not crafting our brand story, Ben is committed to our local community. His commitment to public service is demonstrated through his position as Chair of the Department of Energy’s Citizen’s Advisory Board for the Paducah site. He is a graduate of Leadership Paducah (Class #36, best class ever!) where he was named Outstanding Class Member (2024). Ben has been a Top 10 Finalist Young Leader of West Kentucky (twice), a recipient of UK College of Engineering’s Staff Excellence Award (2023) and is a current member of the Leadership Paducah Alumni Board.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University
Masters of Science in Human Development and Leadership

Murray State University
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health

Certifications:

Working Genius Facilitator

Transportation Engineer | Project Manager

Pete Szak, SE, PE

Biography:

Pete has joined the BFW team as a Senior Structural Engineer in our Lexington, KY office. He is licensed as a PE and SE in 13 states and comes to us with nearly three decades of experience. Having managed structural projects with millions of dollars in design fees, we are fortunate to have him and his vast experience on our team!

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois
Master of Science, University of Kentucky

Business Development

Mark Thompson

Biography:

Mark is an associate in the Business Development wing of BFW, Mark enjoys sharing his 42 years of parks, recreation and local government experience and insight to assist government entities complete the finest projects possible. His recent field work includes Carlisle County Park Playground, Franklin County Lakeview Park Facility Plan, Paducah Sports Park Disc Golf and Union County Park Pickleball.

Experience:

Paducah, Kentucky:
Interim Manager of the Convention & Visitors Bureau
Director of Parks and Recreation
Interim City Manager

Vestavia Hills, Alabama:
Director of Parks and Recreation

Homewood, Alabama:
Director of Parks and Recreation

Boynton Beach, Florida:
Superintendent of Recreation

Georgetown/Scott County Kentucky:
Director of Parks and Recreation

Education:

University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Arts, Recreation and Park Administration

Safety Director

Eric Watts, CSP

Biography:

Eric joined BFW in August 2022. His experience includes over 25 years in the occupational safety and health field.

Education & Experience:

Murray State University – Murray, KY
Master of Science, Occupational Safety & Health

Professional Registration:

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Mechanical Engineer | Project Manager

Jwain White, PE, LEED AP, CEM

Biography:

Jwain brings to Marcum Engineering, LLC’s Lexington office 30 years’ experience in mechanical systems design, commissioning, controls, project management, and energy retrofits for education, health care, and government facilities. His specialized strengths are renovations in continuously occupied institutions, central plants, building automation, and optimizing solutions. He is passionate about client satisfaction, integrated design, and sustainability.

Education & Experience:

Georgia Institute of Technology, M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1994
Murray State University, B.A., Engineering Physics, 1993

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Kentucky
Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana

Professional Certifications & Affiliations:

Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Accredited Professional
Certified Energy Manager (CEM) with Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) – Member
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) – Member
Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) Mentor – Volunteer

Senior Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Chris Whiting, PE, SE, LEED AP, SECB

Biography:

Chris has extensive experience in project management and specializes in the design and construction of low-rise and mid-rise commercial/municipal buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, bridges and industrial structures.

Chris is highly educated in the area of professional engineering, having earned both a B.S. degree and Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Chris has concentrated his professional abilities in the area of structural engineering and is a registered professional structural engineer in the state of Illinois.

Chris began his career with the Illinois Department of Transportation and has worked for other structural engineers and architects as well as Whiting Structural Engineers before joining the Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc. team

Education & Experience:

Southern Illinois University:
B.S., Civil Engineering, 1999
M.S., Civil Engineering, 2001

Professional Registration:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Indiana, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Florida
Licensed Professional Structural Engineer in the state of Illinois

Grants Coordinator | Historic Preservation Specialist

Melinda Winchester

Biography:

As Grants Coordinator and Historic Preservation Specialist at BFW Engineering, Melinda brings over 28 years of expertise in historic preservation, providing guidance on compliance and preservation-related issues. With extensive experience in Section 106 reviews, she has successfully conducted cultural resource assessments to identify and assess the potential effects of client projects on historic properties, ensuring that these projects are planned in ways that avoid or minimize adverse effects to heritage resources.  In addition, she helps clients navigate the complicated consultation process by facilitating coordination with relevant parties, including federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), and other interested parties.  A 36 CFR 61 Qualified Historic Architectural Consultant in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, she is also ACHP Section 106 Certified.

Education & Experience:

Southeast Missouri State University
Bachelor of Science, Historic Preservation

University of Phoenix
Master of Business Administration

Professional Registration:

Certified Community Development Block Grant Administrator
St. Louis University
Professional Grant Proposal Writing

Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Matt Williams, PE, LSIT

Biography:

Matt is a Licensed Professional Engineer with a variety of experience in the consulting industry. He has served as project engineer and project manager on many utility, mining site development, and transportation projects prior to joining BFW in our Lexington, KY office. His primary responsibilities include structural design of bridges and culverts and bridge inspections. Matt is a certified NBIS bridge inspector.

Education & Experience:

University of Kentucky
Master of Science in Civil Engineering

University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee
Land Surveyor in Training – Kentucky

Land Surveyor/Project Manager

Jett Wood, PLS

Biography:

Jett has extensive training and experience in the field of civil engineering and survey. With over 37 years of experience, Jett has performed all aspects of surveying including Mobil LiDAR for a multitude and variety of clients. In addition, Mr. Wood has training and skill in AutoCad Civil 3D, Trimble Business Software, Digital Terrain Modeling, HAZWOPER Certification, OSHA Certification, Erail Certified, and FRA Certified.

Education & Experience:

West Kentucky Technical College, Associates of Drafting, 1989
KAPS Chapter Chairman 2003-2004, KAPS member 1998 – 2004
Continuing education for land surveyors

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Kentucky

General Counsel | Human Resources Manager

Melissa Yates

Biography:

Melissa serves as General Counsel/Human Resources Manager BFW Engineering & Testing, Inc/Marcum Engineering, LLC. Melissa will work in our Paducah office where she will develop and implement HR strategies and policies as well as provide strategic legal advice throughout our offices located in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri.

Education:

Southern Illinois University, B.A. Psychology
Southern Illinois University School of Law, Juris Doctor

Structural Engineer | Project Manager

Joe Young, PE

Biography:

Joe is an Illinois Professional Engineer with specialized experience in Structural Engineering, specifically as it relates to bridges and transportation structures. Joe has extensive experience in the design of PPC deck beam bridges, culverts and culvert extensions, slab bridges, and steel repair design and details. Joe’s previous employment includes time spent at IDOT assisting in the design of various repair and replacement projects.

Education & Experience:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science, Structural Engineering

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering

Professional Registrations:

Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Indiana