Mike McIntosh, PE, Lamp Rynearson. Mike is the Omaha Office Leader for Lamp Rynearson, where he has worked for 25 years. In this role, he has led several of the firm’s most significant and complex projects, including work for the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, the City of Omaha’s Combined Sewer Overflow, the city’s Levee Certification program, and many others.
Mike earned his degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and continues to give back by serving on the College of Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Committee. He is also an active member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), and the Nebraska Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (NeFSMA).
Outside of work, Mike enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, traveling, and fly fishing.
Bob Lapke, PE, Thiele Geotech, Inc. Bob is the President of Thiele Geotech, Inc. Bob graduated from Iowa State University with a BS and MS in civil engineering in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He has worked on projects involving every aspect of Thiele Geotech, Inc.: environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials testing, specialized testing, instrumentation and geophysical engineering. He has designed geotechnical field investigations; assigned and analyzed laboratory testing; performed engineering analysis of foundations and earth structures; prepared proposals and geotechnical reports; oversight of construction materials projects; and tracked project schedules. Bob’s experience covers a variety of projects including commercial structures, highways, bridges, towers, dams and institutional facilities.
Lisa Richardson, PE, HDR | Lisa is a Vice President and Senior Project Manager at HDR. She is a University of Nebraska alum, with a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Community and Regional Planning. Lisa has over 30 years of experience and has worked in the transportation sector her entire career in a variety of roles. Her experience includes project management, roadway design, traffic engineering, transportation planning, as well as NEPA and regulatory compliance. Lisa has been at HDR for over two decades serving in a variety of roles, including North Central Region Environmental Sciences Practice Lead, NE-IA Environmental Section Manager, NE-IA Quality Control Committee Chair and NE-IA Safety Committee Chair. Lisa has been active in ACEC NE for decades. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, she has chaired the Environmental and NDOT committees.
Lisa is married with two grown children. Outside of work, now that her kids’ sports careers are over, Lisa and her husband enjoy home improvement projects and relaxing at the lake.
Russell W. Falconer, PE, R.W. Engineering & Surveying, Inc. Russell is the owner of R.W. Engineering & Surveying, Inc., a corporation that was originally formed as Sides & Associates in 1980. Fresh out of college in 1995, Russell went on to lead and purchase the firm from Roy Sides in 2006.
Russell is a professional civil engineer with over 32 years of experience in the civil engineering and land surveying industry. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a BS degree in civil engineering. As owner of a small civil engineering and land surveying company, Russell wears a lot of hats. He is responsible for strategic planning, project planning, scheduling, research and development, budgeting and financial oversight, client relations, marketing, staff relations and team coordination, and the operation and management of the firm’s goals and activities.
Russell’s dark side consists of being a licensed user of explosives with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He is the managing member of the professional pyrotechnician team, the Martini Brothers, LLC and he holds a license from the State of Nebraska to display professional fireworks.
Russell is married to his beautiful wife Tiffany (23 years) and they have three wonderful children together. Russell is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling.
Justin Petersen, PE, Olsson | Justin is a Senior Vice President and Civil Infrastructure Discipline Leader at Olsson. Justin is responsible for strategy and brand presence through creation of centers of technical excellence to support Olsson’s slate of civil service lines including transportation, planning & engagement, landscape architecture, site design, and telecommunications. Justin also oversees quality, resource allocation, and development of new and existing services lines in civil infrastructure. Justin recently celebrated his 23-year anniversary at Olsson.
Justin graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2003 with a BS in Civil Engineering. He is a Professional Civil Engineer in Nebraska and has been a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer since 2009. Active in both his community and the engineering profession, Justin is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Lincoln (Fellows 28), a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, has served multiple 2-year terms as ACEC NE’s Lincoln Engineering Partnership Committee Chair, and he is a past President of Engineers Club of Lincoln.
A life-long Nebraskan, Justin was raised in a farming family in Ruskin before moving to Lincoln for college. Outside of engineering, Justin and his wife have two children and two dogs at home that keep them busy. In his free time, Justin enjoys time outdoors with his family and can often be found supporting his kids on the volleyball court, tennis court, and soccer fields.
Tony Dirks, PE, Benesch. As a Senior Vice President, Tony is responsible for managing the Lincoln Division and numerous transportation projects. Tony brings 25+ years of project experience from programming through design and construction for numerous public agencies. He has extensive experience in roadway design, construction management, and public infrastructure projects. Tony has played a key role in major projects like the NDOT’s Lincoln South Beltway and the SDDOT’s Northern Lincoln County Corridors Study, ensuring efficient project delivery and innovative public engagement. Tony is responsible for building and leading multi-disciplinary teams on high profile projects.
Tony has been active with ACEC NE for many years and is now getting involved with the ACEC National committees for workforce and transportation. Tony received a BS in Civil Engineering from UNL in 2000 and is licensed in Nebraska and South Dakota. He is involved in numerous community groups and committees. In his free time, Tony enjoys outdoor activities and traveling whenever possible.
Mark Meisinger, PE, PTOE, Felsburg Holt & Ullevig. As Regional Director, Mark leads Felsburg Holt & Ullevig’s Great Plains offices. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Transportation Engineering. With 25 years of experience, his work takes him to communities across Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas. Mark is passionate about moving people safely and efficiently, while helping state DOTs, cities, counties, and business owners maximize their budgets with innovative designs and new technology. Clients appreciate Mark’s Midwestern values and his can-do approach from conceptual solutions through analysis, design, and implementation.
Michelle Winkelmann, PE, Burns & McDonnell. Michelle is the Transportation Section Manager for Burns & McDonnell’s Omaha office responsible for transportation infrastructure operations in Nebraska and Iowa. She is a University of Nebraska alum, with a BS in Civil Engineering. Michelle has nearly 30 years of experience in the transportation market, working as a consultant for municipalities, counties, and departments of transportation. Her leadership is cooperative in nature, developing innovative and implementable solutions to complex transportation issues. With her extensive experience managing a wide range of transportation projects, Michelle brings logical problem-solving with a focus on practical solutions.
Shane Swope, PE, Schemmer. Shane Swope is a seasoned transportation and civil engineering professional with over 30 years of experience with the Schemmer Associates. As Schemmer’s Manager of Transportation, he has led major projects such as the Fremont Southeast Beltway and has been responsible for more than one hundred miles of expressway across Nebraska and Iowa. Shane excels in project management, design, and mentoring, with expertise in both urban and rural roadway standards. He is adept in all project phases, from surveying to final design, and is knowledgeable about local, federal and state design criteria. Shane holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska Omaha and is a registered Professional Engineer in multiple states. Shane served on the Nebraska Engineering User Group Committee from 2004 to 2017 and was elected to the Schemmer Associates board of directors in 2018.
Outside of work Shane enjoys being active with biking, running, and a general appreciation for the natural environment.
Eric Obert, PE, JEO Consulting Group, Inc. As a Director of Operations, Senior Vice President, and board member at JEO Consulting Group, Inc., Eric Obert has been a driving force behind the company’s growth.
A licensed professional engineer in multiple states, Eric’s expertise lies in water and wastewater infrastructure, project delivery, and operational strategy. Over the course of his 31-year career, he’s helped numerous municipalities and agencies find practical, cost-effective solutions to their most pressing challenges. In fact, nothing excites him more than working hand-in-hand with a client to make a real difference to the people in a community.
Outside of his technical work, Eric is passionate about advancing the next generation of engineers. He is an active partner and mentor at the University of Nebraska’s College of Engineering, and he serves on the University of Nebraska Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board. He is the chairman of the Nebraska ACEC Workforce Committee, and he serves on both the National ACEC Workforce Committee and the American Council of Engineering Companies Workforce Development Council.
Eric earned his BS in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska.
With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofits, Anita has built a career leading special projects, communications, and event development with a focus on strategic growth, community/stakeholder engagement, and both short- and long-term impact. Her work has included launching new initiatives, revitalizing existing programs, and managing a diverse portfolio of events.
In addition to delivering event leadership, Anita specializes in program development, using qualitative and qualitative information to assess what’s effective and how to guide improvements. She brings a strategic lens to designing programs that align with an organization’s priorities. From concept to execution, she brings creativity, strategy, and a collaborative spirit to every project. One of Anita’s special ACEC NE projects is Good Life Bingo.
At heart, Anita is a miner for stories. Anita’s background includes many years of managing awards and recognition programs and writing best practices. One of her current (and favorite) ACEC NE projects is managing the awards program. She loves sharing stories of our exceptional engineering projects and our engineers.
Anita has a BA in Literature, Art, and a minor in Economics; MA in Literature; and an MFA in Writing. Anita enjoys running, cycling, podcasts (science!), and finding any excuse to bring people together and host a community event.