Chris N. Kavalaris, P.E. Vice President/Professional Engineer Mr. Kavalaris has specialized in the testing and inspection business since the mid 1970s; having over 34 years of experience in the construction industry pertaining to commercial, private, residential, hospital, school (private and public) and a variety of projects. Mr. Kavalaris is a licensed professional Civil Engineer in the states of California, Washington, and Hawaii.
Greg Hanson, G.E. Senior Geotechnical Engineer Mr. Hanson, a registered geotechnical engineer and a certified engineering geologist, has over 30 years of experience in the geotechnical field. He has provided investigation, design and construction phase management services for a wide range of major projects. His experience includes extensive public works projects, numerous schools and hospitals, quarry reclamations, extensive landslide mitigation, and large-scale hillside residential developments. Mr. Hanson acts as a senior project manager for major projects requiring his expertise, as well as providing in-house review for geotechnical projects.
Raghubar Shrestha, Ph.D, PE Senior Engineer Mr. Shrestha brings enormous expertise and depth to CEL’s pavement engineering department. He received his Ph.D. in geotechnical pavement and materials engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV in 2009. He has extensive knowledge in all asphaltic applications including recycle asphaltic pavement (RAP), pavement analysis and design, and has developed and implemented pavement management systems. He also has deep knowledge in soils mechanics and geo-synthetics designs. In addition to his past tenure as an assistant professor, Mr. Shrestha brings over five years of industry experience in California.
Greg LeRoy, P.E. Staff Engineer Mr. LeRoy has over 20 years experience in the construction industry. He joined CEL in 2005 and performs field inspection activities, quality control functions, and report and submittal reviews As well as being a licensed professional engineer, he is ICC certified in reinforced concrete and structural steel.
E. A. “Rick” Navarro, P.E. Laboratory Director Mr. Navarro brings over 30 years of experience in the arena of materials engineering. He has spent several years directing laboratory operations as is his current role at CEL. He has also worked in the materials supplier role, assuring the quality control of aggregates, asphaltic concrete, and structural concrete. As a licensed professional, he provides not only test results but analysis and solutions.
William Coletto, P.E. Staff Engineer Mr. Coletto has worked in a variety of quality assurance roles in his tenure at CEL. He has performed field grading observations and acted as a laboratory director overseeing a full-service concrete and soils laboratory and acted as a QC manager. His wide-ranging experience provides valuable information to design engineers to facilitate problems and solutions.
Joe Kraft Field Supervisor With over 25 years of experience in the area of structural steel and welding, Mr. Kraft brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge of structural steel and welding applications to your project. He provides valuable insight to structural engineers regarding design and testing parameters as well as a direct and pragmatic problem solving approach to field issues. Mr. Kraft has worked as a shop foreman in major structural steel fabrication plants and a lead structural steel inspector on several major projects, and his knowledge of AWS, AISC, and ASNT codes is unsurpassed.
Cliff Lowe Field Supervisor Mr. Lowe is a highly-skilled special inspector who is now devoting his skills and energy to oversee and facilitate the outstanding performance of our inspectors on a daily basis out in the field. As an inspector with over 30 years of experience, Mr. Lowe provides technical input to designers, contractors, and our own field staff to ensure the high –quality performance of our project team.