BIO

RICK is a recognized expert structural engineer, humanitarian, and disaster risk reduction specialist for natural hazard & disaster events. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering with structural emphasis. Rick spent his career studying and applying structural engineering on challenging projects, and more recently, has applied that knowledge in humanitarian post natural disaster environments. He has lived and/or worked in 8 countries, has traveled to 28 countries, and embraces the diversity, challenges, and unique opportunities inherent to all cultures. Extended efforts included 9 months in Nepal, almost 4 years in New Zealand, and almost two years in Haiti assisting with the response and recovery efforts following the earthquake disasters in those countries.

Rick served as the technical advisor and project lead on disaster recovery programs on the UK overseas territories of Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Rick worked closely with stakeholders to understand the needs, capacities, and personalities unique to each territory. Rick understands the challenges of working in regions with limited resources, and he embraces the possibilities and opportunities that will enhance the sustainability and resilience for the persons being served.

Rick promotes the values of transparency, technical excellence, responsibility, accountability, client service, and integrity for the engineering profession.  He maintains professional engineer registrations in California, Colorado, Oregon, and South Dakota. He also holds an FAA Part 107 commercial drone pilot license and flies a Phantom 4 Pro drone to aid in the assessment of client properties pre- and post-disaster.

SERVICES

We offer services within our complimentary fields of expertise - disaster risk reduction (DRR) culminating in personal and community resilience and sustainability (planning, response, recovery and mitigation) and expert structural engineering. Through these services, we assist our clients in meeting their ultimate objectives - providing safe homes and businesses for their beneficiaries to live and work despite the threats associated with natural hazard events.

AUTHORSHIPS

Implementation of a Pilot Social Housing Programme on Montserrat, June 2019.

Independent Review of Requested Variations and Assessment of Current Housing Construction, August 2018.

Awareness, Action & Accountability – 3 Pillars for Post-Disaster Housing Construction in the British Virgin Islands, draft April 2018.

Technical Support to the Design of a Vocational Technical Training Programme – British Virgin Islands, December 2017.

Review of the Montserrat Building Code and Building Code Adherence, July 2017

Vulnerability Assessment of Nepali Homes and Culture Through Identification of Geological Hazards, draft March 2016

Geologic Hazard Evaluation, Duguna Gadi, Nepal, December 2015

HCC Pukete Waste Water Treatment Plant: Building Assessments, April 2015

Waingaro Springs Hotel Preliminary Seismic Assessment, January 2015

Initial Evaluation Procedure for University of Otago Second Tier Buildings, co-author, prepared for the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, February 2013

Coral Concrete at Bikini Atoll, Concrete International, January 1991

Lateral Stability Considerations of Timber Beams in Old Bridges, Montana State University, co-author, 1984

Rick has also volunteered in a number of roles throughout his career including the following:

- Structural specialist, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Colorado Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, CO-TF1

 - Structural engineer, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Civil Committee

- Advisory Trustee for the Kenbe La Foundation, New Zealand

- Seattle University chapter of Engineers Without Borders while in Haiti

- American Concrete Institute, Albuquerque Chapter

Rick's experiences provide him with a deep respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and human commonalities.  He understands that all people share basic needs and life goals, regardless of cultural heritage, race, religion, political influences, or economic disparity.  The vast majority of people around the world have not been afforded equal opportunities that enable them to realize even the most fundamental needs.  One of Rick's passions is utilizing his skills, knowledge, and experiences to help people and businesses realize sustainability and resilience with one key element - properly designed and built shelters and work environments.