HOUSTON, TX RPS Klotz Associates announces new hires and promotions in their Austin, Houston and San Antonio offices. 

Brent Christian, PE, has been recently hired as Vice President and Regions Practice Manager for the Austin and San Antonio locations. In his new role, Christian will leverage more than 30 years' engineering and operations experience to lead the firm's transportation, municipal works and land development efforts in Central Texas. With an extensive background in surface transportation planning, including an emphasis in traffic and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), his recent notable projects include improvements to Interstate 35 across three counties, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)'s five-year ITS plan and the traffic incident management plan for the Austin Capitol area. He has represented public agencies and private sector clients on projects and programs ranging in size from a few thousand dollars to over $150 million in capital expenditure. 

Christian is involved in several organizations in the Austin area, including the American Council of Engineering Companies, Intelligent Transportation Society of America and Institute of Transportation Engineers. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University.

Don Durgin, PE, has been promoted to Transportation Practice Manager. Durgin has 15 years of experience in a variety of transportation-related fields, including municipal roadways, complex highways and interchanges, rail design, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Nevada.

Alex Kuzovkov, PE, has been promoted to Deputy Practice Manager in the Public Works Department. Kuzovkov has more than 25 years of experience in planning, design, operation and construction administration of water and wastewater treatment facilities, water and wastewater conveyance systems, and pumping and storage facilities. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Petersburg State University in Russia.

Lynn Pipkin, PE, has been promoted to Mobility Department Manager. Pipkin has nearly 30 years of transportation planning, design and construction expertise, with significant experience with TxDOT and Harris County Toll Road Authority. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

David Balmos, PE, has been a Vice President since 2011. He will now serve as Transportation Marketing Director for the firm's offices across the state. He joined RPS Klotz Associates in 2008 and leverages 20 years of experience in roadway, rail transit and drainage engineering for urban and rural transportation projects. Balmos holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

The promotion of Bart Standley, PE, to Vice President comes a year after joining the firm as Public Works Practice Manager. Standley has nearly 40 years of experience in business operation and management, program and project management, engineering analysis and design, and construction management. He holds a bachelor's degree from Lamar University.

Beth Shelton, PE, has been promoted to Project Manager in the Transportation Department. Shelton has 10 years of experience in traffic engineering, including modeling, traffic impact analysis, wayfinding signing plans, access management studies and signal warrant analysis. She holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University.

Morena Arredondo, PE, has been promoted to Project Manager in the Public Works Department. Arredondo has nearly 10 years of experience in site design, public utilities design, and water and sanitary sewer modeling. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston.

Natalie Weiershausen, PE, ENV SP, has been promoted to Project Manager in the Public Works Department. Weiershausen has nearly 10 years of experience in a variety of projects, including water and wastewater planning, utility relocation/design, flood plain analysis and roadway design. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas.

Jonathan Griffin, PE, has been promoted to Associate Project Manager. Griffin has nearly 10 years of experience in roadway design, bridge design and traffic studies, and holds master's and bachelor's degrees from Texas Tech University.

"The past year was a record one for growth at RPS Klotz Associates, and we have our talented staff and the leaders who guide them to credit for that," said D. Wayne Klotz, PE, D.WRE, President. "Congratulations to these rising stars. We consider our team the best around and are proud to recognize them for their contributions."