ROOTS: Buffalo, New York

ALMA MATER(S): State University of New York at Buffalo and Penn State University

FORTE: Martin is a specialist in the design of membrane structures for the firm’s façade engineering practice. Prior to joining Walter P Moore, Martin worked for an international manufacturer that produced products and engineering initiatives for roofing and façade systems for sports stadiums and arenas around the world.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: He would have become a pilot.

ROLE MODEL: Carroll Shelby

Martin Augustyniak   /   716.573.6513   /   maugustyniak@walterpmoore.com

ROOTS: San Jose, Costa Rica

ALMA MATER(S): University of Costa Rica and University of Kansas

FORTE: Javier is a Senior Project Manager in Walter P Moore’s Orlando office. He is an expert in condition assessment and restoration of structures and has significant experience with parking garages and sports venues. He has experience with nondestructive testing methods such as ground-penetrating radar, impulse response, ultrasonic pulse velocity, impact echo, and corrosion testing of concrete reinforcing steel. Javier is a registered professional engineer in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and 15 U.S. states, and is also an AMPP-certified Cathodic Protection Technologist.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Engineering has made our lives much easier and safer.

FUN FACT: He has a black belt in Kuk Sool Won.

Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE   /   407.418.2248   /   jbalma@walterpmoore.com

ROOTS: Stow, Ohio

ALMA MATER(S): University of Illinois and University of Akron

FORTE: Dan has over 13 years of experience in the field of forensic engineering, encompassing various modes of testing and assessment. His structural investigation and design experience include concrete, steel, wood, and masonry systems. His building enclosure experience includes evaluating and designing stucco cladding, EIFS cladding, brick masonry cladding, cement board siding, asphalt shingle roofs, MOD-BIT roofs, metal panel roofs, and a variety of single-ply roofing materials. Furthermore, Dan has extensive experience with catastrophic loss event assessments.

WORK SATISFACTION: Given a challenging problem and delivering a solution.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Completed the Houston Marathon under 3:30.

Dan Barbuto, PE   /   713.394.5733   /   dbarbuto@walterpmoore.com

ROOTS: Panama City, Panama

ALMA MATER(S): Technological University of Panama and University of Arkansas

Forte: Luis has more than 15 years of experience in structural and forensic engineering. His expertise includes high-rise concrete and steel buildings analysis and design, post-tensioned slab analysis and design, seismic analysis, soil-structure interaction analysis, and vibration analysis for projects in Panama, Latin America, and the U.S. He also has extensive experience assessing, repairing, rehabilitating, and retrofitting buildings and infrastructure with structural distress and/or waterproofing issues, including those affected by CAT events. He enjoys mentoring new engineers and collaborating with different types of clients, such as property managers, property owners, insurance companies, insurance adjusters, and architects.

AHA MOMENT: “My father and his friends inspired me to choose civil engineering as my professional career. When I was in high school, I was always curious about the design, construction, and repair of buildings. They gave insightful answers and made my decision easy. All their lessons have helped me until today.”

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED: “Listen and think carefully, then give a safe and practical solution to a specific problem.”

Luis Buitrago, PE   /   507.393.7477   /   lbuitrago@walterpmoore.com

Roots: Fresno, California

Alma Mater: California Polytechnic State University

Forte: Margaux joined the industry in 2010 and is a Project Manager and licensed California Structural Engineer in the Los Angeles area. She has worked on a variety of project types including multi-family residential, commercial, mixed use, and retail, and has extensive experience with steel, concrete, wood, masonry, and light-gauge structural materials on projects large and small. Margaux specializes in seismic retrofit and performance-based design projects.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Engineers are responsible for creating safe but beautiful designs for the built environment that people interact with daily.

FUN FACT: Her first language is French, and she played water polo through college.

Margaux Burkholder, PE, SE   /   213.694.4789   /   mburkholder@walterpmoore.com

ROOTS: Vidin, Bulgaria

ALMA MATER(S): University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and The University of Texas at Austin

Forte: Yavor is an expert in large international and domestic projects of commercial building. He has expertise in various market sectors including commercial, education, entertainment, healthcare, and sports. Yavor guides the design approaches to our most important projects, ensuring that our clients benefit from our best practices in developing design solutions, optimizing efficiency through digital workflow, and creating practical, well-detailed structures.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: Architect.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Designing the Walter Tower in Houston, Texas.

ROOTS: Woodstock, New York

ALMA MATER(S): Catholic University of America and Northwestern University

Forte: Having begun her AEC career in 2003, Michele joined Walter P Moore's New York Diagnostics Group in 2019 as a Senior Project Manager. An expert in forensic engineering, she specializes in the performance of structures and construction materials, especially concrete and cement-based materials. Michele performs post-disaster, structural damage assessments following earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires. She has also evaluated the effects of construction activity such as construction vibrations and excavation on adjacent structures and has experience with demolition engineering.

INSPIRATION: Stepping back to look at the bigger picture and bouncing off ideas from other people.

HOBBIES: Playing the piano, reading, and spending time outdoors.

ROOTS: Scotch Plains, New Jersey

ALMA MATER(S): Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Austin

FORTE: Amanda is a Senior Project Manager in Walter P Moore's Structural Group. She always knew she wanted to work with buildings, and is particularly passionate about high-rise construction, post-tensioned concrete, mass timber, and specialty steel structures. Amanda is interested in the in-between spaces where engineering and architecture overlap and allow for amazing innovations in the built environment. She is an inaugural Co-Chair for Walter P Moore’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, as well as a founding member of both Women in Architecture Houston and the Houston AIA Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Collective.

WORK SATISFACTION: Helping others realize their growth potential and collaborating with folks in the AEC industry who are passionate about their area of expertise.

BEST ADVICE: “Focus on the right thing to do right now and everything else will fall into place.”

ROOTS: Kansas City, Missouri

ALMA MATER: Kansas State University

Forte: Josh is a Senior Engineer in Walter P Moore's Kansas City Structural Group. With a decade of experience in diversified aspects of structural engineering analysis, design, and management. He enjoys working on one-of-a-kind structures that provide unique value to their owners. Josh is adept at using advanced modeling techniques to precisely analyze designs and works closely with both the design team and contractors to ensure solutions work well for all parties.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: A farmer.

INSPIRATION: The pursuit of practicality.

ROOTS: Dallas, Texas

ALMA MATER: Texas A&M University

Forte: Leslie leads the QC Process firmwide and serves as a Design Manager in Walter P Moore's Houston Structural Group. With two decades of experience in structural engineering, design, quality control, and management. She builds trust with her clients and internal teams by responding and following through in a timely manner. Leslie enjoys working on one-of-a-kind structures that provide unique value to their owners. She is instrumental in the development of conceptual designs, project scope, budget, and production of structural documentation and excels at coordination with architects, contractors, and engineers.

WHY WALTER P MOORE: “I was first introduced to Walter P Moore, Jr. at Texas A&M when he served as one of my professors. The more I learned about the firm, its people, and the structures they designed I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

HOBBIES: I enjoy aerobics, reading, and cross stitching.

ROOTS: Detroit, Michigan

ALMA MATER(S): Washington University in St. Louis and University of Houston

Forte: Jamila joined the industry in 1994, with over 25 years of diverse experience in public infrastructure and private development. In her position as the Managing Director for Water Resources in the Houston office, she utilizes her expertise in water resources, floodplain management, infrastructure policy, and land development. In addition to her technical skills and knowledge, her problem-solving, communication, and project management skills set her apart. Jamila is nationally recognized as a floodplain management expert with a strong commercial site development background including site grading and drainage design.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: “Civil engineering is engineering for people. I chose this profession to make a difference in the everyday lives of people.”

EXTRACURRICULAR: On the weekends you can find her at local parks, trails or relaxing at the beach with her family.

ROOTS: Lewisville, North Carolina

ALMA MATER(S): North Carolina State University and Cornell University

Forte: Justin is a Design Manager in Walter P Moore's Houston Structural Group. With more than a decade of experience in structural engineering, he is an expert in renovation and expansion projects using a variety of structural systems. Additionally, Justin brings structural engineering expertise across a wide range of market sectors including commercial, education, healthcare, residential, and sports. He is particularly adept in his technical knowledge of high-rise structures utilizing both steel and concrete.

ROLE MODEL: Pope St. John Paul II

FUN FACT: His goal is to visit all 50 states, and he is about halfway there.

ROOTS: Saigon, Vietnam

ALMA MATER: University of Minnesota

Forte: Quoc has more than 20 years of experience in the field of structural engineering, with expertise focused on seismic design and Antiterrorism Force Protection with both Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build delivery methods. His analysis and design experience span commercial, residential, industrial, and governmental buildings, including developing work scopes, generating technical specifications, and managing project teams.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: Architectural photographer.

BEST ADVICE: “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”

ROOTS: Chicago, Illinois

ALMA MATER: University of Illinois

Forte: With more than a decade of experience in structural engineering, Jim has worked on a variety of projects, focusing on engineering excellence. He is an expert at leveraging creativity, teamwork, and digital tools to bring the design of these complex facilities to realization. He enjoys the challenge of new sports facilities, as well as the unique problems associated with renovations of existing facilities. Jim is passionate about giving back to the community and is focused on elevating the next generation of diverse engineers through his involvement with Walter P Moore’s DEI Council and community initiatives such as the ACE Mentorship Program of Greater Tampa Bay.

INSPIRATION: “When I was young, I wanted to become an engineer to design roller coasters, which still inspire me today.”

HOBBIES: Jim enjoys music, traveling, and started taking remote Zoom piano lessons during COVID-19.

ROOTS: Ankara, Turkey

ALMA MATER(S): Middle East Technical University, University of California Los Angeles, University of California Berkeley

Forte: Joining the industry in 2004, Murat is currently a Design Manager for the firm’s Washington, DC office. Interested in fusing engineering and digital skills to improve the way buildings are designed, Murat places a keen focus on aviation, cultural, and healthcare markets. His expertise includes large-scale projects in healthcare: base-isolated hospitals, cultural, as well as peer review and performance-based seismic design of tall buildings.

WORK SATISFACTION: Having a happy team and client at the end of each project.

FUN FACT: He is left-handed, but only when he is writing.

ROOTS: Sharon, Pennsylvania

ALMA MATER: Youngstown State University

Forte: David is a Senior Parking Consultant in Walter P Moore's Atlanta office and specializes in smart garage systems, revenue control equipment, and functional parking layouts. He began his parking career managing the engineering services department of a national parking facilities management firm in Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after worked for a couple of civil engineering firms out of college. With more than 30 years of experience in the parking industry, David provides parking consulting services with a focus on airport parking and parking equipment and technology.

LITTLE-KNOWN TIDBIT: His passion growing up was to play baseball and he earned a four-year scholarship to play at Youngstown State University. “My love for the game gave me aspirations of making a career out of it, but I later discovered my baseball talent was good enough for college, but not the big leagues.”

EXTRACURRICULAR: David enjoys spending time with family and friends, in the woods around the campfire with his hunting buddies, a round of golf, outdoors, camping, and mountain biking in the trails of Georgia.

ROOTS: Perak, Malaysia

ALMA MATER: University of Arkansas

Forte: Chong is a Team Director in Walter P Moore's Houston Infrastructure Group. With more than a decade of experience in civil engineering, project management, and design. He's an expert in commercial and retail site design and a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control. In addition, Chong has demonstrated expertise in various market sectors including education, residential, commercial, cultural facilities, and healthcare. He has great client service capabilities and technical knowledge of the design and management of projects.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Everything that we do, regardless of the project, helps our clients and society improve their lives and safety.

FUN FACT: Chong is a badminton fan who will wake up in the middle of the night to watch live broadcast games and has even traveled to the UK to watch a tournament.

ROOTS: Burbank, California

ALMA MATER: Woodbury University

Forte: Eric is a Project Manager in Walter P Moore's Los Angeles Parking Group. With more than 15 years of experience focused on the design of parking structures and mass transportation facilities. He has collaborated with designers and architects in developing effective and creative parking solutions for buildings of all types throughout the world. In addition to utilizing established design methodologies and procedures within parking, Eric is a proponent of the new and alternative forms of transportation and technology that are often found in today’s parking structures.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: A music producer.

LITTLE-KNOWN TIDBIT: He has a collection of National Geographic vintage maps.

ROOTS: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

ALMA MATER(S): Washington University and University of Maryland School

Forte: Rachel is a Managing Director in Walter P Moore's Raleigh Diagnostics Group with more than 15 years of experience in structural engineering, and building envelope consulting, along with a background in historic preservation and sustainable design. Her expertise includes evaluating a wide range of existing structures, including the design of repairs or new elements for a variety of building materials such as timber, steel, masonry, and concrete. Beyond her work with the firm, Rachel is involved with the Association for Preservation Technology, serving as a lead for Disaster Response Initiative, has presented and published on a variety of topics related to building envelope rehabilitation, and serves as a mentor for the ACE Mentor Program for high school students.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Being recognized as a “Champion of Change” for mentoring and encouraging women in the engineering industry.

HOBBIES: Spending time with family, exploring new places, cooking, planning home renovations, and searching for the best coffee.

ROOTS: Northport, New York

ALMA MATER(S): The Cooper Union and The University of Tokyo

Forte: Justin is a Senior Project Manager and structural engineer based in New York City. Inspired by the application of structural engineering in creative and economical ways, he has worked on several building and infrastructure projects across the world and has experience in design of both reinforced concrete and steel structures. His breadth of experience spans several countries including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Hong Kong, Brazil, and the U.S.

HIDDEN TALENT: He can speak Japanese and Portuguese.

ROLE MODEL: Gustave Eiffel

ROOTS: Kathmandu, Nepal

ALMA MATER: The University of Texas at Austin

Forte: Usnik is a Senior Project Manager with more than two decades of experience in structural engineering and systems design. He leads the design efforts and supervises the production of all structural documentation. Additionally, Usnik has expertise in various market sectors including aviation, commercial, education, government, and sports.

2ND CAREER CHOICE: A practicing Buddhist.

HOBBIES: “When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my two young daughters.”

ROOTS: Central Texas, Texas

ALMA MATER: The University of Texas at Austin

Forte: Amanda is a Manager of Business Development Support in Walter P Moore's Orlando office with a diverse background in mentorship, developing processes, and procedures including project data collection strategy and training new team members. Amanda and her team have supported growth across the entire Structures Group and have consolidated efforts to grow multiple market sectors nationwide including education, municipal and federal government, commercial, healthcare, and entertainment. She is skilled at managing day-to-day high-functioning, reliable, and respected groups of professional marketers that assist in the process of proposal packages by capturing and maintaining data on current projects to support future pursuits.

WORK SATISFACTION: Leading a team of high performers who are committed to their success within the firm.

EXTRACURRICULAR: She loves to experience new cultures and has traveled to four continents.

ROOTS: Panama City, Panama

ALMA MATER: University of Panama

Forte: Henry is a Project Manager in Walter P Moore’s Panama City Structures Group. With 11 years of experience in structural design and project delivery, he leads the office operations as an Office Manager and is a liaison between the U.S. and Panama offices. Additionally, Henry has expertise in various market sectors including commercial, hospitality, mixed-use and retail, residential, and tall buildings. He serves as a client contact for all projects located in Panama and is licensed in the Republic of Panama as a Professional Engineer.

MUSE/INSPIRATION: A love for science and solving problems.

FUN FACT: He enjoys everything sci-fi and listening to music, mostly pre-2000s.