Joe Ales.
Regular? This Joe is anything but.
 
Senior Principal, Managing Director   /   Orlando Structural Engineering
IN SIX: Measure, measure, cut. Measure, measure, cut.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Wisconsin / University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of Texas
FORTE: The Orlando Managing Director, Joe is passionate about all things technical — complex structures, steel design, post-tensioned concrete, 3D modeling, interoperability, parametric measuring, and design. A 20-year veteran of the AEC industry, he’s recently been utilizing VR and gaming engines to advance visualization and simulation for his projects.
Inspiration for becoming an engineer: Joe comes from a long line of engineers. His dad was a structural engineer and his grandfather was a general engineer during the 30s and 40s.
Extracurricular Joe: Metalhead who loves listening to Metallica and Five Finger Death Punch, avid reader of science fiction novels, self-taught manager of home computers, dabbler in programming and golf.
Joseph M. Ales, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., S.E.   /   407.418.2245   /   jales@walterpmoore.com
 
Muhammad Cheema.
The ultimate healthcare engineer.
 
Senior Principal, Senior Project Manager   /   Houston Structural Engineering
In Six: Not satisfied until my clients are.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Pakistan originally, but now calls Sugar Land home / Ohio State University
FORTE: 35 years in the biz, all at Walter P Moore. Muhammad is one of the firm’s most experienced healthcare structural engineers, with over 15,000 hours of project work on major healthcare and medical research projects. He is also a key member of the firm’s Healthcare Community of Practice, a national organization of Walter P Moore’s top healthcare specialists.
Inspiration for becoming an engineer: “I had two choices in high school in Pakistan — engineer or doctor. I chose engineering, but healthcare is still a very important part of my work.”
Most memorable moment at Walter P Moore: “When the first PC came and we used Lotus 123.”
Little-known tidbit: He doesn’t stop working when he’s on vacation, travelling, or back home in Pakistan.
Muhammad Cheema, P.E.   /   713.630.7321   /   mcheema@walterpmoore.com
 
Jennifer Peek.
There’s really nothing she can’t do.
 
Senior Principal, Director of Traffic Engineering   /   Houston Traffic Engineering
In Six (ish): “I can do all things...” Philippians 4:13
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Naples, Florida / Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia (but her only allegiance is to Vanderbilt…go, Commodores!)
FORTE: In the biz for 18 years, all at Walter P Moore. Jennifer wears many hats — in addition to directing traffic firm-wide, she manages operations for the infrastructure group, was the first female member of the Board of Directors, started the Transportation Planning Group within the firm, and has served on numerous corporate committees, often as chair, including the Knowledge Management Steering Committee. While doing all of this, she has been working toward her PhD, which she should earn within the next year or two (fingers crossed!). Jennifer is also recognized outside the firm, having been asked to serve on the Houston Super Bowl Committee to help ensure that traffic during the events is manageable.
On engineering: “I specialize in traffic engineering and transportation planning, with substantial experience on healthcare projects and large campuses, both corporate and educational. I work to develop transportation connections that are intuitive and safe for all users.”
Little-known tidbit #1: Jennifer’s favorite vacation is anything Disney. She’s been to Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and has taken a Disney cruise. She’s travelled to a Disney park at least once a year for the past ten years (we didn’t confirm with her calendar, but it’s close)! Next month will be her 5th trip in 2016.
Little-known tidbit #2: To celebrate their turning 40, Jennifer and her best friend completed 40 races all across the U.S., finishing their 40th near Area 51 at the Little A’le’Inn.
Jennifer Peek, P.E., PTOE, PTP   /   713.630.7451   /   jpeek@walterpmoore.com
 
Kurt Young.
The go-to guy for all things healthcare. And Disney.
 
Senior Principal, Healthcare Market Leader   /   Houston Structural Engineering
In Six: Hang on and enjoy the ride.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Iowa State University (x2 — Aerospace and Civil Engineering)
FORTE: 20 years in the biz, all with Walter P Moore. As the firm’s national Healthcare Market Leader since 2008, Kurt has been active in a number of national healthcare organizations, authoring several papers and presentations for the Lean Construction Institute, Healthcare Design, the Rice Building Institute, and others. Kurt develops and nurtures relationships with key healthcare owners, developers, architects, and other project partners that are critical to the ongoing success of Walter P Moore’s efforts in the national healthcare market.
Proudest professional accomplishment: “Banding together with our Houston team to overcome the loss of Javier Horvilleur, and thrive.” Javier F. Horvilleur, P.E. (1954-2002) was an inspirational leader-engineer at Walter P Moore for over two decades.
2nd career choice, if not an engineer: A sportswriter or novelist
Little-known tidbit: “I am a student of Walt Disney and his creations and know more about Walt and his theme parks than most people consider normal.”
Kurt Young, P.E., LEED AP   /   713.630.7328   /   kyoung@walterpmoore.com
 
Steven Bentz.
Steelers fan and outdoors man with more accreditations than we can count.
 
Principal, Managing Director   /   Washington, D.C. Diagnostics
In Six: No more excuses. Get it done!
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Pittsburgh, PA / Pennsylvania State University
Forte: As the Managing Director for our D.C. Diagnostics group, Steve is also an experienced building enclosure consultant, having focused his 17-year career on the repair and restoration of existing facilities. His primary areas of expertise are in roofing, waterproofing, and building exterior wall systems, along with structural repairs and design. He has practiced primarily in the Northeast Corridor, with extensive project and client bases in D.C., New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.
On Making a Difference: “I fix buildings, and in doing so I am fulfilling the most important part of our obligations as engineers, which is to protect public health and safety.”
Extracurricular Steve: “Skiing in the winter, boating and camping in the summer. Running and cycling (but it has to be outside, I can’t stand treadmills — I am not a gerbil!). I am a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan so my “spare” time from late August till January (or February) is spent on keeping up with the team (my wife refers to herself as a football widow).”
Steven P. Bentz, P.E., RRC, RWC, REWC, RBEC, AWS-CW   /   202.481.8730   /   sbentz@walterpmoore.com
 
Bryan Frank.
Ask him about Kale Friday.
 
Principal, Senior Project Manager   /   San Francisco Structural Engineering
In Six: : I’m not speaking because I’m listening.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Auburn, California / California Polytechnic State University, University of California Berkeley
Forte: With 17+ years in the biz, Bryan is experienced in new building construction and seismic strengthening projects, most extensively in healthcare, educational, and government facilities. He specializes in designing seismic force resisting systems and utilizing performance-based engineering methodologies in the seismic retrofit of existing buildings. Bryan enjoys the inherent challenges of structural design, especially devising the structural systems that work best both functionally and architecturally.
Most memorable experience at Walter P Moore: It’s safe to say he’s still recovering from Kale Fridays.
Best advice he’s been given: “Go to bed. It’s not as easy to live by as it sounds.”
Little-known Tidbit: He’s admittedly the worst video game player in the world, but he’s good at Tetris.
Bryan Frank, P.E., S.E., LEED AP   /   415.963.6306   /   bfrank@walterpmoore.com
 
Diego Giraldo.
Stability is his middle name.
 
Principal, Project Manager   /   Kansas City Structural Engineering
In Six: Blessed to be where I am.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Kansas City...but misses Vegas / Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia), Washington University (St. Louis)
Forte: 10+ years in the biz, all at Walter P Moore. Diego is experienced in the design of steel, concrete, and masonry buildings, specializing in stability and vibration control. His PhD work at Washington University in St. Louis investigated structural vibration, which prepared him well for the design of structures with rhythmic human interaction, such as sports venues and performance arenas. Before relocating to the Kansas City office, Diego led the efforts in several hospitality, education, and retail projects in our Las Vegas office.
On how engineering makes a difference: “It is because of what we do that people can live and work on the 30th floor of a building without noticing they are 300 feet from the ground. We make that possible.”
2nd career choice, if not an engineer: Singer in a rock band.
Diego Giraldo, P.E., S.E., Ph.D.   /   816.701.2121   /   dgiraldo@walterpmoore.com
 
Brent Hungerford.
Storm-chaser, Hill Country-hiker. Still confused on what day it is.
 
Principal, Project Manager   /   Austin Construction Engineering
In Six: Is it Tuesday or Friday today?
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: West Des Moines, Iowa / Purdue University, University of Texas
Forte: This native Iowan-turned-Texan is part of our Construction Engineering practice in Austin. Brent is well-versed in structural and software engineering, applying automation and interoperability to structural engineering projects. His experience in building design, software development, transportation engineering, and forensics gives him a unique professional perspective.
Most memorable experience at Walter P Moore: When he and a co-worker gave an elaborate structural engineering problem to a potential employee to solve by hand during his interview. That candidate is now an employee and is still plotting his revenge...
Extracurricular Brent: Hiking in the Hill Country, computer programming, amateur study of tornadoes, and mowing the lawn... though not all at the same time.
Brent E. Hungerford, P.E.   /   512.651.9608   /   bhungerford@walterpmoore.com
 
Chris Kammerer.
Background in satire. Foreground in structure.
 
Principal, Office Design Manager   /   Dallas Structural Engineering
In Six: Approach broadly, filter noise, solve simply.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Born near Chicago, grew up in Dallas / University of Michigan
Forte: As a design manager, Chris's focus is on the technical challenges of structural design. As teams work toward executing architects’ intent, his priority is shepherding consistent, technically-sound, efficient designs by establishing design approaches, training younger staff, sharing best practices, and pitching in on difficult problems.
Most memorable experience at Walter P Moore: “While AT&T Stadium was under construction (maybe four years into my career), I helped show some architects around the site. One of the architects stood there with me, marveling at the scale of the building, and said, ‘these are once-in-a-career projects.’ As I’ve continued to have opportunities to work on amazing buildings, I think about that and try to keep perspective. We do really cool stuff, and we get to do it all the time.”
Little-known tidbit: “Throughout college, I wrote humor articles for a campus satire newspaper. It was kind of like The Onion. (It was exactly like The Onion.)”
Chris Kammerer, P.E.   /   214.740.6223   /   ckammerer@walterpmoore.com
 
Steve Lewis.
British expat trying his hand (feet, actually) at surfing.
 
Principal, Senior Engineer   /   Los Angeles Structural Engineering
In Six: Push the limits or become irrelevant.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Swansea City in Wales, UK / University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Forte: Steve specializes in the design and engineering of lightweight, free-form structures and structural envelopes. He has worked on highly complex, geometrically non-linear structures all over the world and is an expert in developing technology that improves the engineering process. In addition to the design and engineering of specialty structures and façades, Steve works closely with R&D to develop digital parametric tools and interoperability scripts to enhance workflow and process.
2nd career choice, if not an engineer: A professional rugby player for Wales.
Extracurricular Steve: Running, live music, and trying to pick up surfing.
Trevor Stephen Lewis, Ph.D., P.E., FRSA   /   310.254.1916   /   slewis@walterpmoore.com
 
Sunil Puri.
Writer and filmmaker turned engineer.
 
Principal, Senior Project Manager   /   Atlanta Diagnostics
In Six (ish): Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Jalandhar, India / National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar; Purdue University
Forte: With 15+ years of experience in structural evaluation and forensic engineering, Sunil specializes in assessing and designing repairs for distressed and deteriorated buildings and parking structures. He has designed and developed multiple asset management programs and routinely uses nondestructive testing techniques during structural condition assessments to proactively manage risk and extend the useful service life of assets.
Best advice he’s been given: Volunteer for challenges no one else wants to tackle.
Little-known tidbit: Sunil used to write short stories and make independent movies.
Sunil Puri, P.E.   /   404.898.2307   /   spuri@walterpmoore.com
 
Kelly Roberts.
Floridian by birth. Georgian by choice.
 
Principal, Senior Engineer   /   Atlanta Structural Engineering
In Six: Sustainably engineering our city’s “urban forests.”
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Tampa, Florida / Auburn University
Forte: 11 years in the biz, all at Walter P Moore. A structural engineer in our Atlanta office, Kelly leads the firm’s Sustainable Design Community of Practice and specializes in life cycle assessment, embodied carbon studies, and the use of sustainable and salvaged materials. She is a founding board member of the Lifecycle Building Center of Greater Atlanta, a non-profit material reuse center, and is a member of the Structural Engineering Institute Sustainability Committee.
On becoming an engineer: It’s in the family. Her architect grandfather started a metal building manufacturing business that her father (also a structural engineer) eventually took over, so she spent all of her high school summers there learning drafting and preliminary engineering. “So the only thing I have ever known is buildings. Ever since I can remember, I’ve walked into a building and immediately look up and around.”
Little-known tidbits: Kelly loves coffee (especially espresso), smoked salmon, guava pastries, Nirvana (the band), the ocean, and is inspired by trees.
Kelly L. Roberts, P.E., LEED AP BD+C   /   404.898.2314   /   kroberts@walterpmoore.com
 
Kevin Vogel.
Channeling his inner ZZ Top in preparation for grandparenthood.
(Not that you’d be able to tell from his headshot, though.)
 
Principal, Senior Project Manager   /   Houston Water Resources Engineering
In Six: Love. Laugh. Fish. Often. Give thanks!
ROOTS / ALMA MATERS: Born in Dallas, Texas but grew up in Houston, Texas / University of Houston
Forte: 21 years in the biz, all at the same firm.* Kevin specializes in complex hydrologic and hydraulic projects and has conducted many of the firm’s drainage impact analysis and mitigation projects. His experience includes a wide range of projects using both steady and unsteady flow analyses, including floodplain studies, Letter of Map Change (LOMC) submittals, bridge scour analyses, and impact analyses for development and transportation projects.
2nd career choice, if not an engineer: A fishing angler or professional golfer.
Little-known tidbit: Kevin can’t wait to have grandchildren. Given that he and his wife are both twins, the chances that at least one of his four daughters will have twins is very high, so he may get his wish in spades. In anticipation, he’s begun growing out his beard. Dallas Keuchel has nothing on this guy!
*In 2012, Walter P Moore acquired Dodson & Associates, Inc., where Kevin spent his career until that point.
Kevin T. Vogel, P.E., CFM    /   713.394.5882   /   kvogel@walterpmoore.com