FUELED — A Fenstermaker Podcast

Ian Trahan, P.E. is a Senior Engineer, he joined Fenstermaker in April 2021. Ian obtained his professional licensure first in Illinois in 2002, and then 2 years later became licensed in Louisiana, almost 20 years ago now.  

In his prior role, Ian served the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) as Program Manager for their involvement in the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI). 

There, Mr. Trahan oversaw the DOTD/LWI Statewide Modeling Program, managing four out of seven modeling teams across the State of Louisiana. His active participation in various LWI Technical Advisory Groups, representation of DOTD on the LWI Working Group, and involvement in the LWI Technical Design and Quality (TDQ) Team underscore his dedication to advancing the engineering field. 

Dr. Ehab Meselhe is a Professional Engineer and Professor in the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering at Tulane University. Born in Egypt, in a small town at the tip of the Nile Delta, he spent the first part of his career studying the Nile basin. Ehab left Egypt to study Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa, there earning his master’s and PhD.

It was the University of Louisiana at Lafayette that brought Ehab to Louisiana, where he was a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering for 15 years.

One of Louisiana’s leading experts on coastal systems, Dr. Meselhe has nearly 30 years of experience researching coastal wetland hydrology, sediment transport, and computer modeling of coastal wetland systems. Ehab holds particular interest in the integration of physical, ecological, and social processes for inland watersheds’ riverine, deltaic, and coastal systems.

Serving as Louisiana’s technical lead for the 2013 Mississippi River Hydrodynamic and Delta Management Study, Ehab’s work in predictive modeling has also contributed heavily to Louisiana’s $50 billion 2017 Coastal Master Plan.

Ehab has worked as an educator, researcher, and practitioner with extensive experience working with academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. Ehab strongly believes that the next generation of scientists and engineers need to be taught to collaborate and seek public input in order to develop solutions for large-scale issues related to local and global coastal land loss.

Billy Williamson is the Statewide Flood and Watershed Evaluation Programs Administrator with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Prior to his near 9-year tenure with LADOTD, Billy worked within the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources as a Professional Engineer upon graduation from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

In his current role with LADOTD, Mr. Billy Williamson provides management and oversight for the Watershed and Flood Protection Programs in the Public Works and Water Resources Division, including the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI), the Statewide Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling and Statewide Flood Control Programs, the Roadway Flood Mitigation Program, and the Federal Highway Administration’s formula program, Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost Saving Transportation (or PROTECT) which seeks to enable the resiliency of our surface transportation infrastructure.

Billy often speaks to the ongoing efforts of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, presenting regularly at American Society of Civil Engineers seminars and conferences, along with providing detailed project progress updates to local stakeholder groups and the public.

A recent recipient of the Louisiana Engineering Society’s Andrew M. Lockett Medal, Billy was recognized in February of 2022 for his distinguished service as an engineer, acting in the best interest of the Public even in the absence of compensation. Having taken great care to contribute to the civic well-being of his community, surrounding Parishes, and the State of Louisiana, Billy serves as an inspiration to other engineers, that they may follow his lead in this exceptional service.

Austin Doucet began his career at Fenstermaker in 2017 as a Civil Engineering Student Intern shortly before his graduation in 2019 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. For the duration of his now 6-year tenure with our firm, and through his current position as an Engineer Intern, Austin has been working toward obtaining his Professional Engineering Licensure with mentorship and supervision from Engineering Director, Jeanne Hornsby, who leads our Water Resources team.

Austin has been involved in reviewing and developing flood study analyses, the designing of open channel and subsurface drainage systems, and has assisted and managed the development of hydrologic and hydraulic numerical models as part of Fenstermaker project teams.

Austin has worked heavily in dealing with Calcasieu Parish Regional Watershed Modeling and Planning. He has played a vital role in the ongoing development of a Stormwater Master Plan for Calcasieu Parish, his main responsibilities including that of data collection and inventory, hydrologic and hydraulic numerical modeling, the creation of a Drainage Infrastructure Watershed Report Card, along with the effective implementation and monitoring of the masterplan itself.

Austin has routinely assisted in the development of hydrologic and hydraulic models which are in turn used to analyze the current and future flood risk and vulnerability of communities. Austin and his colleagues are also skilled in making determinations as to the effectiveness of proposed water resources projects.

It is Austin’s excellent professional and technical skills that have afforded him the opportunity to serve as Region 4’s Program Manager for our current work as part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, the topic of our podcast this season.

Bradford Millett is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Louisiana with a decade of tenure here at Fenstermaker. Bradford’s career at Fenstermaker began in 2013 when she joined us as an Engineer Intern, coinciding with her graduation from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Serving in a dual capacity as both engineer and surveyor, Bradford combines her training in civil engineering with her exceptional proficiency in survey work to engage in cross-disciplinary projects such as the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, the topic of this season of FUELED, our corporate podcast.

As a Professional Land Surveyor and Engineer Intern at Fenstermaker, Bradford is responsible for completing and overseeing all survey-related services for our Engineering Division and Municipal Clientele. She specializes in topographic, boundary, construction and as-built surveys, watershed surveys, project control establishment, along with subdivision, topographic, right of way, and servitude plats, LA DOTD right of way maps and ALTA surveys.

Throughout her ten-year history with our firm, Bradford has been involved in a broad swath of projects ranging from road construction and water treatment facility design to surveying dredging operations, diversion canals and channel realignments. Perhaps most relevant to today’s conversation surrounding the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, Bradford has been heavily involved in Fenstermaker’s efforts toward Calcasieu Parish’s Regional Watershed Modeling and Planning. In this capacity, she has been responsible for managing survey field crews and processing field data along with supporting documentation related to hydraulic structure analyses, assessing impacts on proposed drainage improvement activities.

Bradford is one of Louisiana’s six women currently licensed and practicing as a professional land surveyor. Her efforts and accomplishments to-date make her uniquely qualified to speak on behalf of the work being done for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.

Jonathan Breaux began his surveying career at Fenstermaker as a Rodman in 2007, now, almost 16 years later, Jonathan is a Party Chief III, having worked his way through the ranks of our field operations. As a survey party chief, Jonathan coordinates and supervises the activities of his crew, including instrumentmen and rodmen, as directed by project managers and under the supervision of our Field Operations manager along with a Licensed Professional Surveyor. Throughout the years, Jonathan has exhibited excellent time management, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills, has held himself and crew to a high standard of operation, demonstrating accountability, independence, and professionalism as our company representative on job sites.

John Fenstermaker is a Registered Professional Land Surveyor, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Business Development here at Fenstermaker. John leads our Business Development Team, managing the promotion of our firm’s services. While in his former role as Vice President of the Survey & Mapping Division, John built a vast network of contacts consisting of both long-time and new clients. His experience with the company includes project planning, quality assurance and quality control, data acquisition and management.

Under John’s leadership, our firm’s Survey & Mapping Division grew into what is now one of the most respected surveying firms in the country. John and his team developed new workflows and field communications, ensuring the company’s position at the forefront of technology. With a focus on client satisfaction and technology integration, John has led some of the most efficient, well-equipped, and experienced teams in the industry.

John is a member of the American Association of Professional Landmen, the Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen, the Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, the Pipeliners Association of Houston, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Association of Drilling Engineers, the Louisiana Gas Association, the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, the ADAM Energy Forum, and the International Right of Way Association.

Thank you, John, for participating in this Season of FUELED, which we are calling ‘Seeking CHF,’ an attempt to gain insight into our origins as a company, our founder, Charles Howard Fenstermaker, Jr., and of course, your role in the development and trajectory of our family business to where we are today—over 70 years in the making!

Greg Palmer, prior to his retirement late in 2020, served Fenstermaker as Vice President of Contracts and Acquisitions. Greg was a key member of our executive team and was heavily involved in setting the company’s strategic direction. In his VP role, Greg oversaw the details of all corporate contracts including negotiations, management, and closeout for our diverse client base comprised of state and local agencies and governments along with private industry. Greg’s tenure with Fenstermaker began in 1984, and from there, he dedicated over 3 decades of his life to our firm. Greg was a driving force in the growth and diversification of the company. He certainly played a vital role in the development of our firm’s work ethic, culture, and values.

R.J. Boutte, prior to his retirement late in 2020, served in a vital leadership capacity here at Fenstermaker as Senior Vice President, overseeing quality and safety programming while working closely with all management teams.

In a prior role as Sr. VP of Operations, he coordinated daily activities in support of the policies, goals, and corporate vision established by our CEO and President. He was responsible for the development, promotion, and financial forecasting of the company’s products and services. R.J. ensured that all of our operations were carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws. His leadership effectively maximized resources and the timely delivery of project objectives.

During his tenure of almost 50 years, R.J. contributed substantially to the formulation of our Safety and Quality Control Programs. Under his direction, and as a result of his effectual management, Fenstermaker experienced tremendous growth in size, expertise, and revenue.

Mark Fenstermaker has been employed within the family company since 1985 and has served in various capacities since joining the team. He is currently serving as our Director of Corporate Resources. Mark is heavily involved in all new capital expenditures, and supervises the construction, operation, and maintenance of all buildings as well as supervising the purchase and maintenance of all vehicles and equipment. Mark is also involved in the in-house design and fabrication of specialized equipment for field operations.