Our People

Service Areas

  • Water and Environmental Services

    Practice Lead

    Brent Farr, PE

    Water and Environmental Services Practice Area Leader

    775.851.4788

    DOWL’s Water Practice Area Leader Brent Farr says while he doesn’t idolize Mike Tyson, he just likes something he once said: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” He says this sentiment applies to business, managing projects, and even one’s personal life – being nimble and willing to adjust is key! Brent has focused his career on supporting local governments and public works departments with projects that help better their community. As a leader in the firm, he is known for his caring for employees’ lives outside of DOWL, while also providing an atmosphere of excellence for client deliverables and service. He walks the walk by giving 100% of himself whether in or out of the office. His free time is spent with his wife, Jenny (his professed hero), and their large, tight-knit family. He’s known to take to the rivers and seas as a lifelong fisherman (having grown up in Alaska it’s easy to see where he first caught the bug), and also enjoys hiking and his more recent passion of Pickleball. Brent joined DOWL through a merger with Farr West Engineering out of Nevada but has deep DOWL roots. In 1992, he was an intern at DOWL and tested concrete and soils on the Aleutian Islands. DOWL’s first president, Mel Nichols, was a friend and was influential in Brent’s decision to become a civil engineer. In Brent’s three decades in the industry, he is proud of the great work he and others helped build in Northern Nevada, but admits he’s had a few proverbial mouth-punches over the years. Brent, we’re in your corner and hoping for only kisses from Jenny from now on!

    Team Leads

    Kristen Hansen

    Environmental Services Market Sector Leader

    907.562.2000

    Kristen loves all things outdoors. On the water, on the trails, or in the mountains, she's at one with nature. She found her way to Alaska via a VW Vanagon camper in 1995, and has since made the biggest state her home. Her love of nature translates well to her role at DOWL, where she is the Environmental Services Market Sector Leader. She has been with DOWL for nearly 20 years, has a master's degree in environmental science, and earned a graduate-level National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) certification. She regularly leads large, complex NEPA projects for transportation or North Slope projects, and enjoys collaborating with clients and agencies to work through challenging permitting issues. While clacking away at her laptop late into the evening, she's more likely to gravitate to salty snacks than sweet ones, but her kids say she makes the best monkey bread anywhere. We're not sure she's shared her monkey-bread talents with her DOWL family, but we're prepared to wait another few decades, if that's what it takes.
    Brad Melocik, PE, PH

    Surface Water Market Sector Leader

    907.865.1223

    Brad is someone who can show up to a meeting with meticulous hair and a fitted, fashionable suit one day and, the next day, might roll up in his truck to single-handedly haul away the company picnic trash. If the Wikipedia folks need an image for a titan of industriousness, we recommend Brad as their poster boy. As DOWL’s Surface Water Market Sector Leader, he and his group of impressive water resource engineers span a wide range of services, including dams, irrigation, floodplains, stormwater management, bridge modeling, fish passage, stream gauges, and more. This team of experts shares a technical aptitude and a love for the outdoors. For Brad, this translates into lots of active recreation with his family in the mountains or on the water, all while making time to laugh and share stories with friends and colleagues. And if being an all-around great guy wasn’t enough, he also holds the impressive record as DOWL’s hula-hoop champion. Yes, we have pictures.
    Luke Tipton, PE, WRS

    Water and Wastewater Market Sector Leader

    775.853.7253

    Luke: The kind of guy you want to stand next to at the company picnic. Not just because he shares a name with the iconic Luke Skywalker, but because he’s quick with a laugh and a man of his word. Luke’s diverse interests make him an easy conversationalist. As DOWL’s Water and Wastewater (W&WW) Market Sector leader, he’s the glass-half-full type (we’re assuming it’s full of water). His favorite quote? “There’s a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear-view mirror.” It’s this positive, forward-thinking outlook, combined with his expertise, that drives success for Luke and the entire W&WW team. They specialize in end-to-end utility projects, covering design, planning studies, rate analysis, connection fees, and master plans. When Luke isn’t immersed in all things watery, he focuses on family, fitness, and outdoor adventures. And if you’re lucky enough to sit next to him at the next BBQ, ask about his hidden talent: hand walking. Luke Handwalker—maybe a bit much? But hey, this joke was dad-approved!
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  • Transportation and Structures

    Practice Lead

    Bob Goodrich, PE

    Transportation and Structures Practice Area Leader

    503.400.3273

    Bob’s dream of becoming an engineer came true when his childhood dream of being an NBA player didn’t quite pan out. Sad for the NBA, good for DOWL. Bob is our Transportation & Structures Practice Area Leader and a senior project manager for bridge and roadway projects. He is a practical guy who uses a spreadsheet and cooking diary when Traegering meat such as brisket or pulled pork. As a former Oregon Department of Transportation bridge engineer, he knows what’s it’s like to be the client and works with his team to meet project goals. When not managing projects such as iconic pedestrian bridges, roadway widenings, historic bridge rehabilitations, accelerated bridge construction, and seismic retrofits and assessments, Bob is probably busy with a kid activity or lacing up his Nikes.

    Team Leads

    Nick Robertson, PE, SE

    Bridges & Structures Market Sector Leader, Office Manager

    It’s not surprising that the guy who can name all of the U.S. presidents, in order, lists a quote from (a fictional) Abe Lincoln as his favorite: “Be excellent to each other.” It’s a simple quote that gives you an idea of who our Bridges & Structures Market Sector Leader is. Nick, an accomplished structural engineer by trade, has focused his career on solving problems and finding solutions, and he puts people above professional accomplishments. He says the best thing about his job is when he is able to help a client put a piece of resilient infrastructure into the world. Before he started managing our Structural Sub-Practice Area, Nick cut his teeth by managing the office softball team, bowling league, fantasy football league, and March Madness pools. These days, when he isn’t hard at work on his next deadline, you can often find him at home “destroying” his two boys at videogames.
    Cody Salo, PE

    Transportation Planning and Design Market Sector Leader, Office Manager

    Cody is leftie, as in he’s left handed. This in and of itself isn’t that interesting because so is 8% of the rest of the world, but half of Cody’s family is also left handed. And the family similarities don’t stop there: Cody is a third-generation civil engineer and we presume he got his love of smooth 1970s and 80s soft rock from a relative, too, because he’s too young to be a traditional yacht rock fan. However, as DOWL’s Transportation Planning and Design market sector leader, Cody is blazing his own path from our Helena, Montana office with transportation design, planning studies, and alternative delivery projects that better the communities he serves, while also helping to grow DOWL’s transportation presence around the West. This role is perfect for Cody since he likes new challenges and enjoys keeping busy. As a self-proclaimed DIYer, he can often be found on home-improvement projects, vehicle rebuilds, bike maintenance, tuning skis, and much more. He spends the rest of his time with his family skiing, biking, hiking, or boating. Cody, if we were you, we’d need our left, right, and someone else’s hand to get done all that you do in a day. #impressed.
    Melissa Osborn, AAE, ACE

    Aviation Market Sector Leader

    907.974.0275

    When Melissa became DOWL’s Aviation Market Sector Leader, there was a debate as to her marketing title. Some shortlist options included Aviation Guru, Chief Airport Ninja, Bravo Alpha Delta Alpha Sierra Sierra…you get the gist. We settled on Alaska Aviation Manager, and as the leader of DOWL’s aviation design and planning group, no day is the same because if you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport. The saying is mocked in Melissa’s world, but likely has merit since every airport comes with its own challenges and acronyms. As a Fairbanks resident, member of the board of directors for the northwest chapter of AAAE, and newly minted IR pilot, she is well-versed in airport speak. She and her team of aviation experts include former airport managers, planners, and consultants who have worked on hundreds of airports combined, ranging in size from massive, metropolitan hub airports to small, rural General Aviation or private facilities. Impressive, Melissa! And if pilot, mom, fat tire biker, Marvel Crosson-lover, and traveler isn’t enough, she also speaks Portuguese. One of her favorite Portuguese sayings is applicable to her work on airports: É melhor prevenir do que remediar (translation: it is better to prevent than to mend).
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  • Civil and Land Development

    Practice Lead

    Tim Leavitt, PE

    Civil & Land Development Practice Area Leader

    971.280.8641

    Tim’s experience is diverse and impressive, including early career experience in construction management/owner’s representation; guiding large, multi-disciplinary project teams; successfully establishing a new architectural/engineering office from the ground up; and providing practice area and business unit leadership. In other words, he’s got team leadership and engineering street cred. As DOWL’s Civil & Land Development Practice Area Leader, he brings all of that experience to bear and says his greatest joy is working with clients and team members on projects that make a difference in our communities: like mixed-use master plans, public plazas, trails and parks, and waterfront development. In his spare time, you can find Tim getting outdoors biking, golfing, or playing softball or pickup football. In fact, Tim has the bragging rights of shooting a hole in one on hole #8 at the Oregon Golf Club!  We can’t say whether it was luck or talent that made it happen, but we do know he’s leading the DOWL golf team (if we ever start one).

    Team Leads

    Justin Mason, PE, CWRE

    Site Design Market Sector Leader, Office Manager

    541.385.4772

    Justin’s favorite quote is by Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” As DOWL’s Site Design Market Sector Leader, it’s these words that guide him to work hard, while also taking time to get out and enjoy the Bend, Oregon, life—skiing, boating, and enjoying nature with his wife and kids. At work, Justin is passionate about developing a livable, vibrant environment for Central Oregon’s rapidly growing population, and he has experience on a wide range of projects including the design and contract management of a mix of public and private improvements. Like so many of DOWL’s leaders, he’s an early bird who prefers to be in the action as opposed to on the sidelines. But unlike the rest of us, he has a hidden talent for furniture making. Next time you see Justin, ask him to show you a picture of the gorgeous farmhouse kitchen table he made.
    Read Stapleton, AICP

    Land Use Planning Market Sector Leader

    971.280.8641

    As DOWL’s Land Use Planning Market Sector Leader, Read has spent many late nights presenting to planning commissions and city councils, advocating for client projects and for new land use policies. It was at one of these meetings, many years ago in a rural farming community, where Read heard one of the council members say someone should “bite off more than they can chew, and chew it anyway.” This is a quote that has always stuck with Read and fits his busy life. As an active father of two boys, amateur guitarist, cyclist, remodeler of a 110-year-old house, frequent traveler, and DOWL sub-practice area leader, Read loves to stay active and push the boundaries of his own personal and professional limits—as well as those of the land use planning team he leads. One area where he has learned to respect his limits is on the company softball field, where after two season-ending hamstring injuries, he has officially signed on a pinch runner. His less painful exploits are in the kitchen where he loves to fix his hometown meal of Memphis-style pulled pork, which would have even our company safety gurus recommending biting off more than you can chew.
    Willie Stoll, PLS, CFedS

    Survey & Geomatics Market Sector Leader

    907.562.2000

    Willie is a flexible guy–he can stay up late and also get up early, because that’s what surveyors and dads with small children sometimes need to do. As DOWL's Survey & Geomatics Market Sector Leader, Willie oversees all of the management, staffing, training, and equipment purchases for the group, while also leading many Alaska survey projects. While he wanted to be a pilot when he was young (color blindness kept him out of the Navy), and an engineer as a young adult (he has a degree in civil engineering), it seems as though a career in survey chose him. When Willie was a boy, his father, who was also a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, would sometimes take him on survey projects to be the rod-man, clear brush, or do whatever else was needed. Young Willie went along with little to no complaints. In fact, if we took a vote, Willie would probably win the least likely to complain award. His positive attitude may be attributed to the countless hours he spends in the mountains running with his wife, who he says is his hero because “she makes all this possible.”
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  • Construction-Related Services

    Practice Lead

    Jason Kelly, PE

    Construction Related Services Practice Area Leader

    503.620.6103

    Jason is DOWL’s Construction Related Services Practice Area Leader who prefers his snacks sweet and, being a child of the 1980s, prefers his movies snarky and fun (think Ferris Bueller, The Goonies, and lots of Harrison Ford films). At work he’s all things inspection and specializes in complex, multidisciplinary transportation projects such as bridge, heavy civil, and roadways. He loves bridges and doesn’t mind wading through a river to find the scour damage, and he isn’t afraid to get a couple hundred feet in the air to inspect a suspension bridge (with all of the proper safety gear, of course). He and his group also provide constructability reviews during design alternatives, which can save contractors and owners from wasting time and money in the field, where minutes of downtime can cost thousands of dollars. For Jason, construction doesn’t end at work—he likes fixing things and finds his weekends filled with remodeling, landscaping, or carpentry projects. His family gives him energy, which probably explains his interest in genealogy and why his vacations often involve traveling with his wife to visit his aunt in Georgia, taking his nephews to Disneyland, or going with the in-laws to Hawaii. He usually has a few dogs around the house, typically of the Bullmastiff variety. At work, he is a bit of an email hoarder, but is quick to point out his email box is very organized. He likes a light-hearted verbal joust now and again, but always keeps the quote from Karl Weick in mind: “Fight like you are right, listen like you are wrong.”

    Team Leads

    Keri Nutter, CPG

    Geosciences Market Sector Leader

    907.562.2000​

    It’s not every day you meet someone who will probably answer yes to the question, “Is that a rock in your pocket?”  Keri Nutter – we see you! We don’t know all geologists, so maybe she’s just one of many with a hunk of diorite or a slab of schist in her backpack? We’re still digging up the research. We know one thing: geology rocks! Our very own rock star Keri is a highly skilled geologist with a specialty in geotechnical engineering including desktop research, exploration planning, field data collection, and design collaboration. She leads a team of geotechnical engineering and geology experts in their field who value science, research, and taking no foundation option for granite… granted. Keri is most proud of being elected president of two national geoscience organizations by the age of 40, all while being the mother of two young children, proving that age, gender, and family status are not barriers to service or leadership. We lava you, Keri!
    Jim Albin, PE, DBIA

    Construction Engineering and Inspection Market Sector Leader

    458.206.7993

    If you want to get his attention and be amazed, toss something Jim’s way when he doesn’t expect it. He claims to have a hidden talent for catching things that are randomly thrown at him. While we’ve not seen his cat-like reflexes in practice, it’s not hard to believe since he is DOWL’s Construction Engineering & Inspection Market Sector Leader. This is the area of our business where the paperwork part of the job (design drawings) gets realized into buildings, roads, waterlines, bridges, and more. Since construction is where the big dollars are spent, this is the no-kidding part of our business. Jim’s entire team is quick-thinking and responsive because construction delays can equal some serious do-re-mi. As a leader and project manager, Jim is very down to earth and doesn’t fluster or rile easily. Perhaps a skill he gained from looking up to his brother John, a fire captain who Jim says perseveres through challenges with a great attitude. We can’t deny hero-status for Jim’s brother (he is saving lives for a living), but Jim is pretty awesome in our eyes. And even though he’s all but dared us to, we won’t throw a Pringles can at his head just to see what happens.
    Steve Noble, PE, PTOE

    Innovative Delivery & Strategic Initiatives Market Sector Leader

    907.562.2000

    As DOWL’s Innovative Delivery & Strategic Initiatives Market Sector Leader, Steve manages the largest group of professionals in the firm—and some of DOWL’s largest transportation projects. From Alaska’s first diverging diamond interchange to fast-paced design/build, Steve understands local, state, and federal transportation planning and design projects. He is a go-to guy at DOWL, often with a line outside his door. But once you get your turn, you may find yourself in a chat about his next race, your last ski, or perhaps discussing upcoming vacations. Steve’s priority for work and family doesn’t leave much time for recreation (unless he and his wife get the chance to run together), so he is known to hit the ski trails at 10 p.m. some nights. Because he learned to ski only six years ago, it’s impressive that Steve has competed in the 40K Tour of Anchorage race three out of the last four years—and set personal records each time.
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