About Our Team

Arthur “AJ” McGinn, PhD, PE

President and CEO

Syracuse, NY

AJ is our hands-on President and CEO. He is known for his enthusiasm for mentoring others in underground construction, both at Brierley Associates and elsewhere, by speaking at conferences or serving as a guest lecturer at Cornell University in the areas of excavation support design, rock mechanics, and advanced soil behavior.

AJ has a unique ability to develop innovative, cost-effective, and constructable designs for tunnels, support excavation systems, and provide real-time solutions that manage challenging ground conditions, contractor logistics, and construction phasing issues. He completed his undergraduate studies at Purdue University and earned his PhD in civil engineering with a concentration in geotechnical engineering from Cornell University.

Nancy Nuttbrock, PE, DBIA®

Chief Operations Officer

Houston, TX

Nancy is our Chief Operations Officer and keeps our ship running smoothly while managing our Southwest Region operations and leading Brierley’s Design-Build practice. She has developed a well-rounded career spanning over 20 years in tunneling and underground development; engineering and regulatory expertise relative to the mining industry; high-level project management and successful leadership. Nancy brings a unique perspective gained from her tenure with Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) where she served as the Administrator of the Land Quality Division and Deputy Director of Wyoming’s DEQ.

Eric Lindquist, PhD, PE

Director of Engineering

Moraga, CA

Eric is our Director of Engineering and nationally recognized geostructural engineer and designer of complex, yet constructable support of excavations systems in challenging ground conditions and urban settings. Eric completed his Ph.D. dissertation on the strength and deformation properties of mélange (complex rock bodies made up of stronger blocks embedded in a weaker matrix material). His dissertation was nominated for the Rocha Medal, the annual award presented to the top dissertation in the field of rock mechanics in the world. Dr. Lindquist received the 1991 Harry Bolton Seed Award as the top graduate student in the U.C. Berkeley Geotechnical Engineering Department. In 1990 he was one of only six U.C. Berkeley undergraduates awarded a Certificate of Distinction for his academic work.

Vickie Watkins

Chief Financial Officer

Tampa, FL

Vickie wears several hats at Brierley Associates. Her primary responsibilities include finance and accounting, but she is also responsible for Human Resources, and anything else that gets thrown her way. Vickie has been with Brierley since 2007 and has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, operations, and management.

Jon “Ike” Isaacson, GE, CEG, PE, PG

Tunnel Sector Leader

Milwaukee, WI; Chicago, IL

Ike, our Tunnel Sector Leader, is a true renaissance man. He is licensed as a professional engineer and a professional geologist, in addition to being a licensed aircraft pilot. His interdisciplinary knowledge of engineering and geology, experience as a consultant, owner’s representative, and tunnel contractor is truly unique.
Ike’s tunnel experience includes design review, constructability, grouting, ground improvement, ground freezing, geotechnical instrumentation, rehabilitation, construction logistics, hyperbaric interventions, ground loss mapping and remediation. Mr. Isaacson’s broad knowledge, skill sets, experiences, and keen multi-perspective insight provide him with a well-rounded, pragmatic approach that promotes project success.

Charles Luxford, PE, SE, PEng

Construction Design and Contractor Support Sector Leader

Austin, TX

Charles is Brierley’s Construction Design/Contractor Support Sector Leader. Charles’ experience with one of North America’s largest and heavy civil contractors enables him to deliver constructable designs for: earth retention systems, cofferdams, falsework & formwork, erection & demolition sequencing, multiple crane lifts, customized rigging, rebar cage handling, access platforms and marine operations. Our contractor clients rely on Charles to solve a wide array of challenges on high profile projects in urban or constrained work sites.

Nick Strater, PG

Trenchless and HDD Sectors Leader

Bedford, NH

Nick is leader of our Trenchless and HDD Sectors. His specialties include rock and soil tunnels; trenchless designs ranging from horizontal directional drilling to pilot tube auger bore; microtunneling; rock slope evaluation and stability; rock blasting and, forensic geology. Nick serves on American Society of Civil Engineers Trenchless Installation of Pipelines (TIPS) Committee and ASCE committees developing Manuals of Practice for pilot tube, auger boring, and the Direct PipeTM methods. Mr. Strater is a frequent invited lecturer on the topics of trenchless method selection, design and risk management. He has authored more than 25 industry papers and presentations on topics ranging from trenchless technology to rock slope stability assessment and mitigation strategies.

Sean Harvey, PG, CEG

Tunnel Sector Leader, Western Region

Woodland Hills, CA

Sean is a licensed professional engineering geologist with more than 20 years of progressive experience in geotechnical and geologic engineering applications for underground design and construction, trenchless and tunnel design and construction, mining, and commercial construction. He routinely manages projects for underground design and construction, underground feasibility and design evaluation, initial support design and evaluation, rock mechanics, geotechnical investigations, geologic interpretation, and construction observation. He completed a Master of Science degree in Mining and Earth Systems Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and is a Certified Engineering Geologist and registered Professional Geologist.

Bill Zietlow, PE

Denver Office Leader

Denver, CO

Bill has worked in geotechnical engineering for more than 25 years and specializes in design of earth support systems for tunnels, shafts, road cuts, and temporary excavations such as soil nail, tieback, sheet pile, soldier pile, and micropile walls. He has also designed deep foundations and landslide stabilizations. He primarily provides design services for specialty contractors on design-build projects but has also provided geotechnical designs for public and private owners, primarily on transportation and utility works. He has design, construction observation, geotechnical investigation, and project management experience on a wide variety of projects and ground conditions across the Western and Midwestern United States. His responsibilities include engineering design, project management, and claim support services. He completed a Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Jake Koelliker

BIM and Virtual Design & Construction Sector Leader

Kanab, UT

Jake is our BIM/Virtual Design and Construction Leader. He collaborates with clients to efficiently design solutions for complex engineering projects. Jake specializes in developing 2D/3D engineered solutions for complex challenges associated with underground construction in dense urban cores.

Jeremiah Jezerski, PE

Tunnel and Advanced Geotechnical Design Engineer

Washington, DC

Jeremiah’s knowledge and adaptability makes him an indispensable team member on many tunnel, shaft and advanced geotechnical design and construction projects. Jeremiah has served as Design Manager on some of our most challenging projects including Northeast Boundary Tunnel, a $580 million CSO design/build project in our nation’s Capital, and the award winning Twin Box Vehicle Tunnels at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, which featured an innovative “box pulling operation” beneath three Norfolk Southern railway lines. Jeremiah knows how to get things done by building the right team for the job.

Anna Crockford, PEng

Senior Geological Engineer

Denver, CO

Anna has a technical background in rock mechanics, underground design, geotechnical design, and dams and levees design. She has worked on a wide range of projects in the mining and heavy civil industries, including conveyance and water storage projects. Her background in Geological Engineering has enabled her to incorporate regional structural geology, geological features and historical land use in the geotechnical characterization of complex rock masses, including domain delineation and structural analyses for individual project sites. Anna’s design experience includes embankment construction and slope protection, seepage analyses, trenchless installations, underground excavation and support, pillar stability analyses, calibration and interpretation of numerical models, engineered slope design, and slope stability and hazard mitigation.

Brian Dorwart, PE, PG

Trenchless Specialist

Bedford, NH

Brian has nearly 5 decades of experience and has built his career developing efficient trenchless solutions for a variety of applications ranging from new construction to pipe and tunnel rehabilitation. His areas of specialization include interaction of ground to excavation tools and natural environmental processes, and ground modification for construction. He applies this skillset to trenchless technologies including directional drilling and pipe rehabilitation and, construction of small to large tunnels. Using this experience, Brian delivers assessments of existing structures and evidence-based design of situation-appropriate rehabilitation technologies

Tom Pullen, PG

Engineering Geologist

Cottage Grove, MN

Tom leads Brierley’s Upper Mid-West project efforts. He is another of Brierley’s project leaders who bring real-life perspective to design and troubleshooting, as he was a foreman for a utility contractor specializing in trenchless construction prior to his academic education. Tom’s experience includes underground design; geotechnical site characterization; trenchless design and construction; grouting programs and tunnel rehabilitation; and claims analysis and evaluation for both owners and contractors.

Dave Sackett, CPG, PG

Engineering Geologist

Norfolk, VA; Tampa, FL

Dave knows how to interpret geophysical data and geotechnical reports in both English and Spanish. His expertise is within the application of geoscientific data to engineering projects constructed within soft soils to hard, crystalline rock. Dave previously managed the Norfolk, VA office of an international consultancy and served as North/South America ports business sector leader, with a focus on design/build of large infrastructure projects and managed geotechnical and engineering offices in Venezuela, Trinidad, Panama and Chile.

Russell Lutch, PE

Geostructural Engineer

Detroit, MI

Russell’s experience working for one of North America’s largest general contractors has given him hands-on understanding of how contractors implement efficient geo-structural designs. Since joining Brierley Associates, he has brought this knowledge to the delivery of the effective and constructable geotechnical and structural design of deep shafts and tunnels in soil and rock, excavation support systems, cofferdams, shallow and deep foundations, marine construction, and the design of permanent steel and reinforced concrete structures.

Patrick Smith, PhD, PE, GE

Geotechnical and Seismic Engineer

Woodland Hills, CA

Patrick is our seismic specialist. He has extensive experience in the field of seismic analysis, earthquake engineering, fault rupture displacement; analysis and mitigation of liquefaction, lateral spreading, and slope instability hazards. He has been responsible for the design of liquefaction and landslide mitigation projects that utilize a number of ground improvement techniques and other structural features. Dr. Smith adeptly applies his seismic analysis and geotechnical engineering experience and to the design and performance of tunnels and pipelines subjected to permanent ground deformation.

Phil Burgmeier, PE

Geostructural Engineer and Finite Element Modeler

Syracuse, NY

Phil is one of Brierley Associates’ 3D Finite Element Modeling specialists and geostructural engineers who effectively deploys 3D finite modeling to support efficient design and constructability of tunnels, shafts, support of excavation systems, deep foundations, and soil modification. He has expertise in seismic ground motion analysis, ground settlement prediction, structural underpinning and dewatering analysis. During the course of his career, Phil has built a successful track record developing conventional and unconventional approaches to assess and solve challenging construction issues.

Kevin Mandeville, PG

Engineering Geologist

Austin, TX

Kevin has more than 20 years of geotechnical investigation, geologic interpretations, tunnel construction experience through the hard and soft ground as well as through complex geologic environments with mixed-face conditions and faulted terrain. Kevin’s knowledge of the land and marine subsurface exploration, in-situ and laboratory testing methodologies, geotechnical instrumentation installation and interpretation and preparation of Geotechnical Baseline Reports (GBRs) is applied to a wide array of the tunnel, shaft, and pipeline projects. Mr. Mandeville is one of Brierley’s FAA licensed Drone Pilots and has a great eye for well-composed project photos.

Dave Hibbard, PG

Subsidence Mitigation Sector Leader

Laramie, WY

Dave is leader of our Subsidence Mitigation Team. Dave specializes in geologic hazards assessment, subsidence risk evaluation, subsidence mitigation strategies, ground improvement, remote and geospatial analysis, hydrogeologic characterization, slope stability analysis, and geographic information sciences. He has worked on an assortment of civil and geologic projects relating to historic underground mine mitigation, trenchless tunnels, earthwork, dam assessment, road improvement and design, bridge improvement and design, engineered foundation materials, oil and gas exploration, geologic site characterization, geotechnical drilling and sampling, and lab testing/analysis.

Neal Wedding, PE

Shaft and Tunnel Engineer

Independence, OH

Neal brings a wealth of design and construction knowledge through his position as Chief Engineer for one of the premier design-build shaft sinking and tunneling contractors in North America. He has a proven track record in the design of equipment for drill and blast shafts and tunnels, and equipment for record-setting shafts excavated by both blind bore and raise bore methods. He has served as a consultant and as a designer to contractors, owners, and engineers on tunnels and shafts for mining, transportation, water supply, and sewerage.

Eric Michal, PE, SE

Geostructural Engineer

Moraga, CA

Eric has more than 10 years of experience designing excavation shoring, pile foundations, and various contractor support functions including concrete formwork and structure loading. His experience with excavation shoring includes cantilevered, braced, and tied-back piles, soil nail walls, underpinning, and secant pile walls. Pile foundations include design of augercast piles, soil mixing, and micropiles. He is experienced at monitoring construction practices, analyzing field issues, designing and inspecting concrete formwork, and analyzing surcharge loads on both temporary and permanent structures.

Seth Hoffman, PE, SE

Structural Engineer

Aurora, IL

Seth’s experience includes structural design, detailing, and construction phase engineering and design of: support-of-formwork, falsework, support of excavation systems, cofferdams, shallow and deep foundations, analysis and reinforcement of existing structures for temporary conditions during construction, investigation of deteriorated structures and design of repairs, rigging and lift design, multiple crane lifts, rebar cage bracing and handling, and marine construction. Prior to joining Brierley, he spent 7 years in a design and project management role for one of North America’s largest and heavy civil contractors.

Russell Berends, PE

Geostructural Engineer

Denver, CO

Russell specializes in support of excavations, tunnels, and deep foundations. His geostructural design capabilities encompass foundation engineering, slope stability analysis, shoring, earth dams, and landfills. Russell’s design projects include 7,500-feet of trench shoring for the BART metro line extension in the San Francisco Bay Area and  pre-cast tunnel liner segment design for over 10,000-ft of 10-ft diameter EPB-TBM tunnel in Los Angeles. He has co-authored several papers including: “Tunnel Lining Design: Seven Things You Need to Know,” and “A Measurement of Filtration Effects on the Transmissivity of Geocomposite Drains for Phosphogypsum.”

Danny Maine, PE

Geotechnical Engineer

Austin, TX

Danny specializes in Geotechnical and Civil Engineering. His career encompasses a wide variety of projects ranging from large scale Design-Build and P3 projects to smaller scale on-call contracts with local municipalities. He has designed in a wide range of challenging geologic environments ranging from soft soils in alluvial and marine environments to stiff residual soils and rock. In addition to design, Danny has a solid foundation in geotechnical investigations, planning and executing site work, managing drilling and testing subcontractors, as well as a good working knowledge of heavy civil construction practices.

Melissa Bautz, PG

Subsidence Mitigation Specialist

Laramie, WY

Melissa was formerly Program Principal and Mine Reclamation Project Manager with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Abandoned Mine Lands Program. She enhances our capabilities through her extensive experience managing several multi-million dollar mine reclamation projects in Wyoming. She provides project oversight and assists with project design, groundwater research, and geologic interpretation. Melissa increases the value we provide to our AML clients and expands our role in subsidence mitigation nationwide. Melissa earned her BS in Geology with an emphasis on Hydrogeology from California State Polytechnic University and her MS in Geology with an emphasis on Structural Geology and Tectonics from University of Missouri. She’s a licensed Professional Geologist in Wyoming.

Joel James

Geotechnical Engineer

Laramie, WY

Joel leads our Laramie, WY office and focuses on land subsidence mitigation and geotechnical engineering. He has a wide array of underground and civil works construction and management experience. His constructability analyses relies on more than seven years in the field managing, supervising, and constructing pipelines, structural concrete, roadways, and water treatment facilities prior to receiving a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Joel’s positive attitude ,great work ethic  and construction knowledge make him capable of fulfilling a wide range of roles for almost any project.

Zach Anderson, PE

Geostructural Engineer

Syracuse, NY

Zach is proficient with design and analysis software such as RISA3D, STAAD.Pro, CivilTech Shoring Suite and CivilTech Allpile and utilizes these to develop efficient designs for a variety of heavy civil works. He has performed analysis and design of support of excavation systems, cofferdams, temporary construction works, reinforced concrete, masonry, timber and steel buildings, shallow and deep foundations and permanent earth retaining structures. He has developed technical specifications for atypical construction such as fiber-reinforced plastic grating and structural shape platforms, concrete mix design for tipping floors, shaft lining, diaphragm slurry walls and flowable fills.

Shane Zentner, GISP

Geospatial Professional/UAS Pilot

Denver, CO

Shane helps our clients capture and organize spatial data so that it is useful to their mission. He is an accomplished GIS professional with a solid understanding of mapping fundamentals, principals, and spatial analysis with extensive experience working with Esri technology and other mapping disciplines including photogrammetric mapping and surveying. He is experienced in various mapping projects including utilities, environmental, airports, engineering, federal, state, county, and local governments, land mapping for oil and gas, and mine mitigation GIS. He is a certified GIS professional (GISP) and FAA Part 107 licensed drone pilot.

Cory Ott

GIS Analyist

Laramie, WY

Cory is a results-oriented GIS Analyst with a diverse range of experience using GIS applications for spatial and statistical analyses across multiple disciplines including environmental science, wildfire behavior modelling, planning spatial allocation for recreation and range improvement features, surficial and subsurface geological mapping, specific work associated with land use management, and site-specific work focused on mining and abandoned mine land spatial features.