Our Team

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I love infrastructure. I equate infrastructure in our society to the bones in our body. It’s rarely seen, yet provides the physical foundation for just about anything we do in a developed world.

So many of our opportunities as a society and an economy are based upon the quantity and quality of the underlying infrastructure, most of which has been put in place by previous generations. I enjoy educating and advocating for the importance of continued assessment, investment and expansion of our infrastructure.

Expertise

• Municipal infrastructure planning, design & construction
• Multi-family property design
• Commercial/industrial development design

WHAT MOVES ME

• Striking a balance of land development wants and needs
• Working on both sides of developer/municipal table
• Protecting the character & environment of communities

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I have a strong desire to see a project through to completion. Working with other disciplines; communication and forging new relationships as the project evolves from the conceptual level into construction.

I love being able to take experiences from the past to help make future projects better and finding solutions to unique challenges that the team may face working in the urban environment. I strive to make a positive difference and look to inspire others to help make a difference no matter how small it may be.

EXPERTISE

• Urban design
• Stormwater management

WHAT MOVES ME

• A nice outing with my family
• Marveling at our completed projects
• Early morning fishing trips
• Encouragement from others

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I take pride in being part of our team, working collaboratively to solve complex problems with simple, effective solutions. Our work directly impacts the quality of life, health and safety of the public and we can implement design that connects people to their surroundings, known as “place making,” to create spaces where people want to work, play and live.

Making meaningful contributions to Detroit-based projects and to playing a small role in the city’s amazing transformation is very rewarding.

EXPERTISE

• Urban engineering
• Green infrastructure
• Stormwater management
• Sustainable design
• Public works
• Parking facilities

WHAT MOVES ME

• Biking with my colleagues
• Seeing people explore the city
• My wife & three kids

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

Civil engineering runs in my family. I remember my dad taking me to a project site when I was about 8 years old and the road was flooded. He pulled some newspaper off a catch basin and all the water on the road drained away. This experience stuck with me and made me realize that the field of civil engineering really does have an impact on the community.

I like being able to have a “behind the scenes” impact on everyday life. While people might not always see what civil engineers do, the designs we implement are extremely important to everyday life.

EXPERTISE

• Municipal engineering
• Sanitary sewer systems
• Water main systems
• Contract administration
• Hydraulic modeling

WHAT MOVES ME

• Spending time with my wife, son & dog
• Camping adventures with my son
• Skiing
• Working around the house
• Golfing

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I enjoy working at a company that is not only concerned about the needs of the clients but those of the team members as well. At Giffels Webster we are not happy to settle for “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Instead, we are always looking for ways to offer team members the best we possibly can.

We firmly believe in helping our staff achieve a harmonious work/life balance and are continuously reviewing benefits to ensure that we are offering our staff the best benefits possible. Working for an organization that has this level of commitment to its staff motivates me.

EXPERTISE

• Billing
• Insurance benefits
• FMLA
• Short term disability
• Benefits

WHAT MOVES ME

• My granddaughters who give new meaning to the term perpetual motion
• A good song on the radio
• A sunrise
• Selfless acts of humanity

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I enjoy being a part of the re-visioning and revitalization of our urban core – seeing the city come to life is invigorating and I have lent over 30 years of experience and knowledge to this task.

In my role, I have the opportunity to connect with communities, influence decisions that provide “new” transportation options that help protect our environment for future generations and making the future more sustainable. I take pride in providing “new” options for transportation that make a community and surrounding communities flow better.

EXPERTISE

• Complete streets
• Non-motorized transportation
• Public infrastructure – roads, bridges & sewers
• Green infrastructure

WHAT MOVES ME

• Different views of the city while biking or running
• The city coming back to life
• Coffee

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I love the history of surveying. Almost every surveying project we work on starts with a thorough review of records, some dating back to the early 1800s.  Seeing what was and to be a part of what is to come is fascinating to me.

I find pride in being a part of Detroit’s renaissance.  Working on urban renewal projects and seeing the changes happing in Detroit is something I am beyond thrilled about.

EXPERTISE

• High definition 3D scanning
• Land title surveys
• Control surveys
• Topographic surveys
• Urban surveys

WHAT MOVES ME

• Spending time with my family
• Hiking with my dog
• Trips to the U.P.
• Exploring history

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I enjoy telling a story with a map and the process of doing it. All the way from the data collection in the field, retracing another surveyor’s footsteps, to putting ink on paper to make a map.

Each project is different and has its own challenges. Each project I work on is usually a sign of progress, improvement, rebuilding and making a positive impact on communities. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that?

EXPERTISE

• ALTA/NSPS surveys
• Topographic surveys
• GPS surveying
• Remonumentation

WHAT MOVES ME

• My family
• Building things out of wood
• Home DIY projects
• BBQ/grilling
• Golf

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

Maps are my passion, specifically those created by skilled cartographers being essential for the study and measurement of various land forms. Maps identify the territory, revealing what exists and can be considered one of the most effective forms of communication.

Maps have special properties which make them the ideal format to transfer information that can be applied in the real world. I truly enjoy taking an old deed and creating a map which can help others understand their property rights.

EXPERTISE

• Topographical maps
• Boundary calculations
• Right-of-way alignment for design & construction
• Interpreting legal descriptions
• Preparing plat & condominium documents

WHAT MOVES ME

• My children & family
• Beautiful gardens
• Historical sites
• Nature walks, lakes & ocean
• Astronomy

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I have always enjoyed using plants to render a landscape like a painting. Every plant is considered a weed until it finds its true purpose. I strive tirelessly to achieve this purpose and in that a unique design.

Though landscaping is the last element of design in the planning processes it is also the most visible and can set the tone for the entire project. My goal is to maximize the dramatic effect of a good landscape design with great graphics and solid concept planning.

EXPERTISE

• Native & formal landscape design
• Park design
• Community landscape planning
• Tree identification & surveying
• 3D modeling graphic design
• Color planning concepts

WHAT MOVES ME

• Family first
• Backpacking with friends
• Long bike rides with the family
• Visiting gardens or hikes in the woods

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

Having the ability to create spaces that ultimately lend to someone’s enjoyment brings me happiness. It’s like waiting for your favorite tree to bloom, the anticipation and build up makes the sign of the first flower so exciting that you fill your phone with multiple photos of the same shot.

The journey of drawing a line and watching it become reality is something I embrace and look forward to. Each project has its own idiosyncrasies and highlights, finding the flow makes for a smooth, yet eventful ride – every time!

EXPERTISE

• Site entitlements
• Architecture
• Landscape design
• Perennial plant material

WHAT MOVES ME

• Being loud with my family
• Baby giggles
• Unique veggie gardens
• Higgins Lake

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

Civil engineers have been given the opportunity to be an integral part of progress in action – which is something that has stuck with me throughout my career.

Having the ability to visualize something, put it down on paper and to see it through construction is very rewarding. The projects may change from client to client, but the result is still a well-designed project that I had a hand in developing – one of the many reasons why I enjoy coming to work every day.

EXPERTISE

• Municipal infrastructure
• Federally funded transportation design & contract administration

WHAT MOVES ME

• My family
• Enjoying the outdoors
• Games of strategy

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I love the intricacies of a true, life size puzzle and the ability to dictate how those pieces come together to develop the best design for my customer and their users. I enjoy continually learning the business aspects of and the behind the scenes operations that often guide a well thought out project.

The visioning process is something I enjoy and I cannot wait to hammer out the details to make that vision become a reality.

EXPERTISE

• Hospitality
• Commercial
• Sports Facilities

WHAT MOVES ME

• Nature
• Taking my dog for a walk
• Using my hands to build projects
• Cooking – I enjoy providing creative meals for my family
• Nature and long bike rides

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

We all play a part in making the world a better place to live in, and I’m doing my part by working at a firm that conceives, designs, builds, supervises, constructs, and maintains infrastructure projects in our community. Each construction site/building presents unique challenges, strategies & problems that enable us to tackle and tailor our services to our client’s needs.

Watching our boundary and construction calculations close on paper and then close in the field is very satisfying. I enjoy being a small part of enhancing and rebuilding the skyline of Detroit.

EXPERTISE

• Construction Layout Calculations
• Building Layout Calculations
• Machine/Site Control Surveys
• ALTA/NSPS Surveys
• Topographic Surveys

WHAT MOVES ME

• My family
• Golfing with my sons & dad
• Enjoying a good game on TV or in-person
• Working around the house
• Saturday mornings
• Relaxing on the boat

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I want to help communities make the best decisions for people. I would like to think our laws and policies we shape right now can have a positive effect on the future of our communities. I hope that I can help residents of communities, as well as aspiring future residents, live healthy and sustainably.

No two cities, neighborhoods, streets, or sites are the same. Each situation brings their own unique challenges, but I love the challenge. I am constantly learning about how the built and natural environment shapes peoples’ lives.

EXPERTISE

• Zoning
• Land use planning
• Development review

WHAT MOVES ME

• Traveling
• Relaxing with a Good Book
• Exercising & Sports
• The Changing Seasons