Project Manager at UMA Innovations in Geotechnical Contracting (2025-11 – Present)
- Lead delivery of UMA's largest project ($13M), improving operational efficiency and maintaining profitability targets while coordinating cross-functional teams (Field Engineers, Superintendents, and leadership).
- Oversee project/contract execution from kickoff through closeout, managing RFIs, deliverables, schedules, safety, and leveraging geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis and project tracking, while assisting with submittals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure contract compliance, operational efficiency, and on-time delivery.
- Negotiate subcontractor scopes, change orders, and project issues while tracking performance metrics and reporting data used for forecasting, estimating, and continuous improvement across company operations.
Transportation Engineer (Program Manager) at Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): North Carolina Division (2022-08 – 2025-10)
Federal Aid Program
- Directed delivery of a $3B Federal Aid transportation portfolio, ensuring full lifecycle execution (design through closeout) while maintaining federal compliance and improving program performance across Western North Carolina.
- Led cross-functional coordination across agencies, consultants, and contractors to drive schedule, budget, safety, GIS, quality control and risk alignment across multiple infrastructure projects, accelerating project delivery and reducing execution delays.
- Managed recovery planning for ~1,880 disaster-damaged sites (~$3.5B), streamlining funding approvals with state and USDOT leadership to expedite emergency response and accelerate project initiation timelines.
- Supported delivery of infrastructure projects interfacing with electrical transmission lines, substations, and fiber optic networks, coordinating with utility providers to address relocations, right-of-way constraints, and regulatory compliance while maintaining schedule and budget performance.
Construction Operations Engineer (COE) at Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (2023-07 – 2023-12)
Professional Development Program (PDP) with FHWA
- Managed field operations for the $25M China Beach Improvements project, maintaining on-schedule delivery and full compliance with federal standards.
- Strengthened project performance by enforcing safety regulations and optimizing tracking of schedule, budget, and resource allocation, improving overall execution efficiency.
- Led value engineering effort to redesign a soil nail wall into an MSE wall, delivering ~$200K in cost savings while maintaining structural performance and project requirements.
Highway Design Engineer at Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (2023-02 – 2023-06)
- Developed transportation infrastructure designs and models using OpenRoads Designer to support Hurricane Maria restoration projects in Puerto Rico, producing engineering plans, maps, and technical documentation for reconstruction efforts.
- Performed engineering analyses and coordinated construction bid packages, ensuring design accuracy, constructability, and compliance with project specifications and technical standards.
Civil Engineer I at City of Jackson Public Works: Engineering Division (2020-06 – 2022-04)
- Managed daily construction activities for municipal infrastructure projects ($200K–$1M), directing contractors and ensuring work complied with plans, specifications, and project schedules.
- Coordinated with city officials, contractors, and stakeholders while enforcing safety and quality standards to maintain project progress and regulatory compliance.
Assistant Professor at Jackson State University (2021-08 – 2022-04)
- Led laboratory operations for the Introduction to Environmental Engineering course, managing experimental programs, ensuring safety compliance, and facilitating hands-on technical learning for undergraduate engineering students.
- Designed and delivered applied laboratory modules covering water treatment, waste management, air quality, recycling, and environmental remediation, translating complex engineering concepts into practical field applications.
- Mentored and coached engineering students, providing structured feedback and career guidance while strengthening analytical thinking, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
Research Assistant at Jackson State University (2020-08 – 2021-05)
Performance Monitoring of Highway Slopes
- Conducted soil and rock characterization, groundwater detection, and landslide/sinkhole prevention studies on Mississippi highways, providing critical data for slope stability analysis.
- Utilized Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERT) and drone surveying/mapping with LIDARUSA Fagerman Technologies Inc. to support advanced geotechnical research.
