CIORBA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Water Resources Project Manager
Adam Hacker, a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, joined Ciorba Group in 2022 with 15 years of experience. Adam's experience includes transportation drainage design; transportation drainage design; hydrologic and hydraulic modeling; water quality BMP design; floodplain mapping and damage analysis; and floodplain and stormwater permitting.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Structures
Brett Sauter, a graduate of Valparaiso University and of the University of Illinois-Chicago, leads Ciorba's Structural Group. Brett joined Ciorba in 2004 with three years of experience in bridge inspection and design. Brett's design experience now encompasses a large variety of bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction projects including steel, concrete, prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures with complex geometry. Mr. Sauter is a NBIS qualified Program Manager and Team Leader for bridge inspection. Brett also leads efforts for structural assistance during construction, either with design or construction support. He has authored technical papers, presented at various conferences and is an active in professional societies. He was named the ASCE Illinois Section Young Engineer of the Year in 2014. Brett is also an Associate owner of Ciorba Group
Courtney Anderson, a graduate of Valparaiso University, joined Ciorba in 2020 with 17 years of experience. Courtney is experienced in providing preliminary engineering and final design services for transportation infrastructure improvements in Indiana and Illinois. Her expertise is in utility coordination, asset management, roadway and site design, and planning/managing municipal infrastructure programs.
Diana Decker, a University of Iowa graduate, joined Ciorba Group in 2019 after 25 years of experience in the design of transportation facilities including expressways, tollways, highways and local streets. She has completed significant projects for the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation, Kane and Lake County Division of Transportation and local agencies around the Chicagoland area. She is also an active member of APWA, ASCE, ACEC, and SAVE. Diana leads our Roadway Group while overseeing all preliminary and final design engineering projects for our clients.
Duane O'Laughlin, a graduate of West Point and of the University of Florida, joined Ciorba Group in 2011 after 25 years of experience in construction and design. Duane directs company operations, including engineering, IT, and Human Resources, and participates in business development for the company. Duane applies his extensive design, project management, and construction management experience to provide technical assistance and directions to staff in all disciplines for preliminary, final design and construction management. His focus on providing quality services to our clients is integral part of our company culture when delivering projects that add value to the community. Duane is a Principal owner, and a member of the Board of Directors
Eric Spina, a graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, leads Ciorba's Roadway Group. Mr. Spina has experience in preliminary, design, and construction engineering services for infrastructure improvement projects. His expertise includes roadway geometric studies, intersection design studies, capacity analysis, and crash data analysis for improvements to arterial streets and local roads. For design engineering, Eric has lead teams in the plan preparation for improvements to expressways and arterial streets. He has also supervised the plan preparation for annual street improvement programs for local agencies. Eric has served as a Resident/Construction Engineer on arterial and local road improvements, stormwater facility construction, and water main replacement projects. Eric has received the training required to serve as a Materials Coordinator on construction projects. Eric is also an Associate owner of Ciorba Group
Holly Ryan, a graduate of Roosevelt University, joined Ciorba in 2012. Holly has 13 years of experience in the A/E/C industry, serving in both Marketing and Administrative functions. For Ciorba, she oversees the Marketing Department. She is responsible for internal and external communications, corporate branding, and coordinating responses to RFPs and RFQs. Holly is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). Holly is also an Associate owner of Ciorba Group.
Jeanne Penton, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, joined Ciorba in 2021. She comes with ten years of human resources experience, after starting her career in various corporate health and wellness roles. For Ciorba, Jeanne is responsible for all human resources functions including recruiting, onboarding and retention efforts, employee relations, benefits management, and employee training and development.
Jesse Singer, a graduate of Calvin College, joined Ciorba Group in 2014 with 7 years of experience. Jesse's experience includes construction engineering on projects ranging from collector street to interstate expressway reconstruction and rehabilitation. Jesse is actively involved in professional organizations and has been appointed to the APWA Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector (CPII) Council.
Jim Earl, a graduate of Purdue University, joined Ciorba Group in 2022 with 27 years of experience with a blend of structural and highway projects, including 17 years with the Indiana Department of Transportation Central Office where he was involved with several major projects throughout the State including the preliminary engineering for the Illiana. Jim will be overseeing our operations in Indiana , and establishing an office in Indianapolis.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Lighting and Electrical
Joseph Vondra joined Ciorba in 1997 after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. His experience includes design of lighting systems, ITS and traffic signal installations for projects on local roads, state arterial streets, interstate expressways, and parking lots. These projects were completed for municipalities, counties, IDOT, and the Illinois Tollway. For street lighting projects, Joe oversees the photometric analysis, equipment selection and layout, control cabinet design, voltage drop calculations, and preparation of specifications for new lighting systems. For new traffic signal or signal modernization, Joe designs the improvement to meet MUTCD and client requirements as well as ADA compliance for the placement of all equipment. Joe is also an Associate owner of Ciorba Group.
Job Titles:
- Water Resources Project Manager
Katrina Lopez, a graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Chicago, joined Ciorba Group in 2022 with 19 years of experience. Katrina is a Mechanical Engineer with experience in a wide array of design and construction projects encompassing civil/mechanical/electrical applications. Her experience includes assisting in the design of roadway/site lighting, wastewater facilities, sanitary lift stations, potable water pump stations, and site irrigation.
Job Titles:
- Water Resources Project Manager
Luke Mattson, a graduate of University of Illinois and Augustana College, joined Ciorba in 2013 with 10 years of experience. Luke specializes in water resources infrastructure improvement projects, including potable water, sanitary, and drainage design for municipal governmental agencies. Luke has specialized expertise in water system modeling and analysis and water main design, as well as pump station design. His background includes three years of international water systems design and project management experience in the country of Namibia for population centers of more than 1 million people. In addition to his design capabilities, Luke also provides construction management services on select water related projects. Luke is also an Associate owner of Ciorba Group.
Mark Johnson joined Ciorba in 1991 after graduating from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Mark specializes in the preparation of preliminary engineering studies and design plans for improvements to expressways, arterial roads, and municipal streets. He leads Ciorba's traffic and geometric engineers in improving traffic flow and safety for state, county, and local roadways. Mr. Johnson has been trained and is experienced in the NEPA environmental processing necessary to construct today's infrastructure improvements. He has also been trained in Context Sensitive Solutions procedures to engage local stakeholders in the planning process with the goal of minimizing adverse impacts to the community.
Melissa Bentz, a graduate of North Central College, joined Ciorba in 2005 after 7 years of accounting experience and is the firm's Chief Financial Officer. Melissa's career has been both in public and private accounting. She began as an auditor in public accounting managing audits and reviewing engagements of mid-sized, closely held corporations. She is responsible for all aspects of finance and accounting and oversees the administrative staff. Melissa is also an Associate owner and member of the Board of Directors.
Michael Kowalski, a graduate of Marquette University, joined Ciorba Group in 2017 with 6 years of experience. Mike's experience includes construction engineering on projects ranging from reconstruction and rehabilitation of roadways and bridges as well culverts, retaining walls. Mike is actively involved in professional organizations and serves as Vice Chair of the ASCE Construction Institute Illinois Chapter.
Salvatore Di Bernardo, a graduate of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Kellogg School of Management, joined Ciorba Group in 2004 after 14 years of experience in the United States and overseas. As CEO and President, Salvatore focuses on elaborating and implementing the company vision and strategy. He oversees company operations, financials, and business development. Salvatore has authored and presented technical papers and has carried leadership roles in professional associations. He applies his technical and managerial knowledge to oversee company relationships with clients and to identify opportunity for growth. Salvatore is a Principal owner, and a member of the Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Water Resources
Tony Wolff, a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Northwestern University, joined Ciorba Group in 2010 after 17 years of experience in consulting and government. Tony oversees Ciorba's Water Resources and Municipal Engineering services. Tony applies his broad expertise to manage the design of stormwater management facilities, water supply systems and sanitary collection systems for municipalities and other local government agencies. His expertise includes not only the study and design of water resources improvements, but also the various regulatory requirements and processes associated with these projects. Tony is an Associate owner of Ciorba Group.
Job Titles:
- Structural Project Manager