Burkett & Wong Engineers has always had a philosophy of promoting from within. Since its inception, the firm has embraced meaningful mentoring, assessment over time and specific training to ensure that all key personnel are able to provide services that exceed the expectations of everyone that works with the firm. From the President to Associates, the firm’s dedication to this philosophy is evident with the promotions of several key staff members over the past few years. Recently, the Board of Directors named Thomas Newsom as its third President. Mr. Newsom has been with Burkett & Wong Engineers since 2001 and is a licensed Civil Engineer in California, Nevada and Arizona. He comes from a Geotechnical Engineering background with extensive experience associated with the development and construction of residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. Mr. Newsom is also a Registered Geologist, Civil Engineer and Certified Engineering Geologist in California. In addition to the responsibilities associated with running a 40 person firm, he provides consulting services for the resolution of construction defect cases in California, Nevada and Arizona. He was promoted to Principal Associate in 2005 and Principal in 2007. Prior to working at Burkett & Wong Engineers, Mr. Newsom was a Principal at Lejman Geotechnical, Inc. in Laguna Hills, CA.
He succeeds Timothy Yeun who served as President for over 13 years, who succeeded Bob Burkett, the founding President.
In addition, Burkett & Wong Engineers has named two new Principals, Charlie Colvin and Casey Lynch. Charlie Colvin is a licensed Structural Engineer in multiple states, including California, and has been with the firm for over ten years. His project management experience covers a wide variety of assignments ranging from education and military structures, to hotels and corporate centers. He coordinates projects for several large institutions and Fortune 500 companies on an as-needed basis for the structural engineering design of new construction, retrofit, and repair needs. His most notable projects include an award-winning remodel of Ferring Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, CA and ongoing projects with Grand Pacific Resorts, which he began when he first joined the firm. Since then, Mr. Colvin has provided project management support on over 12 buildings for Grand Pacific Resorts.
Mr. Lynch joined Burkett & Wong Engineers in 2007 as a Land Surveyor and quickly began his ascent to become the firm’s first Principal Land Surveyor. He was the 2010 President of the California Land Surveyors Association, San Diego Chapter and the founding member of the Land Surveyors Advisory Council on Technical Standards. Mr. Lynch also serves as an instructor for the Land Surveyor Review Session, teaching the Subdivision Map Act and Land Surveyors Act to Professional Land Surveyor candidates. In the office his responsibilities include directing, planning, reviewing, and approving projects for the land surveying department as well as providing strategic oversight for the Civil Engineering Department. His experience encompasses residential developments, military, healthcare, civic, and commercial projects. He has worked on several prominent projects such as the New Central Library for the City of San Diego, Miramar National Cemetery, and UCSD’s Jacobs Medical Center.
From Burkett & Wong Engineers’ Civil Engineering Department, Tom Eagling and Carl Fiorica have been promoted to Principal Associate, along with Jeff Densley in the Structural Engineering Department. Mr. Eagling joined Burkett & Wong Engineers in 2009 and has been responsible for the civil engineering design and project management for dozens of projects including the firm’s largest project, UCSD’s Jacobs Medical Center. Mr. Fiorica also worked on the Jacobs Medical Center providing design and BIM expertise. He started with the firm over three years ago and has since worked on over 20 projects as a project manager. Mr. Densley started with Burkett & Wong Engineers over five years ago and has over ten years of Structural Engineering experience, including his involvement on over 50 projects for Burkett & Wong Engineers. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from UCSD’s Structural Engineering program, graduating Magna Cum Laude both times.
At the Associate level, the firm has promoted Mike Wagner and Hansol An. Mike Wagner, a licensed Professional Engineer, has been with the firm for over four years. He is currently the project manager for the modernization of Pershing Middle School in San Diego, CA and is overseeing the completion of Los Angeles Southwest College School of Career and Technical Education. Mr. An was brought on seven years ago as the Director of Marketing. Today he oversees the day-to-day operations of the Administrative Department as well as business development and marketing activities.
“Our company’s success ultimately relies on our employees’ abilities to perform at a high level and provide our clients with the technical ability and service they have come to expect. At Burkett & Wong Engineers, we believe that promoting from within ensures that the right people are placed into the right situations to succeed. It also allows us to maintain our high standards of excellence for our clients and the community we serve,” said Mr. Newsom.
Burkett & Wong Engineers is a consulting design firm located in San Diego. Founded in 1971, the firm provides structural and civil engineering design services, land surveying, land planning, expert witness consultation and project administration. More than 11,000 projects have been completed for the public and private sectors throughout the Southwestern United States and beyond.
