PTK spotlight: Arizona engineers to know in 2024

Jamie Blakeman

CEO

Lokahi Engineering

Blakeman began her traffic engineering career 25 years ago. Her vision of shaping a collaborative environment that integrates creativity and outside-the-box thinking ignited her dream to launch Lōkahi. She innovatively creates solutions to increase mobility and provide equality between all modes of transportation while also improving safety. Additionally, Blakeman’s work focuses on supporting economic vitality.

Source of pride: “The accomplishment I am most proud of is the environment we have created at Lōkahi. Daily, I am in awe of everything from the depth of character and dedication of my team, to our amazing and incredibly loyal clients, who are also our greatest cheerleaders. It is an amazing community.”

Brent M. Borchers

Desert Southwest regional manager

Terracon Consultants

Borchers began working at Terracon as a laboratory technician in the summer of 1996. In his current role, he oversees the Arizona and New Mexico region, supporting 200 employees in offices in Phoenix Metro, Tucson and Albuquerque. He also manages workloads in the offices as well as employee lifecycle. 

Biggest career accomplishment: “Overseeing the growth and expansion of the Arizona offices, including bringing our Arizona acquisition, Environmental Planning Group (EPG) into the fold.”

Surprising fact: “I have completed two full marathons and seven half marathons: San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, 2009 and Tucson Marathon, 2014.”

No. 1 on the commercial real estate bucket list: “To work on the largest multi-use project in Phoenix.”

Ronald W. Hilgart

Managing principal

HILGARTWILSON

Hilgart enjoys utilizing his 40-plus years of planning, engineering and construction management experience to add value to client’s projects, as well as to mentor and grow the professional staff at HILGARTWILSON. He is most proud of the growth and development of the firm, from its initial staff of six in 2009 to more than 180 professional team members today. This growth is the result of the confidence that clients have placed in HILGARTWILSON and the teamwork, commitment and expertise of the professionals at HILGARTWILSON.

Professional advice: “Lead by example. Work hard, but work even smarter. Never stop learning and never show up to a meeting without pen and paper (or a laptop) to take notes.”

Jeffrey Minch

Principal and vice president

WOODPATEL

Minch has managed the public works water resources department for WOODPATEL since 2005. He applies his technical and business expertise, quality control and leadership to all client projects. His experience includes planning studies, flood insurance studies, river mechanics, bridge waterways analyses, levee and bank protection design, dam rehabilitation design, hydraulic structure design, highway drainage design and NEPA projects. Minch is the engineer of record of more than $500 million in public works flood control and drainage infrastructure projects throughout Arizona.

Surprising fact: Minch is the co-author or contributing author on five articles/studies published by Civil Engineering Magazine, ASDSO and the Arizona Transportation Research Center. Three of his projects received ACEC Engineering Excellence awards.

Greg Potter

Senior vice president

Sunrise Engineering

During Potter’s 25-year career at Sunrise Engineering, his focus has been on water and wastewater systems including computer modeling, master planning, engineering, design and construction administration. He has provided direct and indirect technical support on more than 100 water and sewer projects encompassing collection, distribution, treatment, studies, modeling, pump stations and tanks. 

Key projects: Some of Potter’s projects include Gilbert Fiesta Tech Lift Station & Force Main, Gila Bend Highway Sewer Interceptor, Kortsen Relief Sewer Interceptor, Kingman Water Master Plan and the Casa Grande Sewer Master Plan.