SOLUTION ENGINEERING - Key Persons
Andrae Holliday is a Civil Engineer Expert for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of construction management and design; highway rehabilitation and construction; highway/roadway design; earthmoving/mining/paving equipment use and dealer training; and conducts expert inspections for roadway, parking lot, and construction matters. Some practice areas include excavation and embankment, bituminous and concrete pavement, retainage walls, drainage, building construction, bridge substructure and superstructure, intersection design and construction, lighting, signing, surveillance, traffic control, and landscaping.
He has over twenty-five years of experience with construction management, field inspections, commercial planning, and engineering design. Leveraging that decades-long background, he is especially skilled at running an investigation that encompasses complex technical issues with the goal of determining why an event happened the way it did.
Dr. Holliday is passionate about communicating with people who come from different backgrounds and technical competencies. He excels in making complex subjects understandable to a non-technical audience. His diverse work experience in the private and corporate construction sector, as well as governmental transportation agencies and military service, provide him a solid background as a consulting expert.
Charles Ogborn is responsible for Solution Engineering's Agricultural Consulting Services. With over 30 years of Agricultural experience, from running his family's farm to investigating serious mechanical failures, Mr. Ogborn has a diverse background working with technically difficult issues.
He consults on all aspects of Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering including equipment failures, facilities, processes, fire cause and origin, storage and farm related accidents.
As part of Solution Engineering Group, he has the resources to document accident site geometry and condition with laser scanning, photogrammetric analysis, areal drone photography and total station measurements. Accident re-creation and product testing can be done in the SEG onsite laboratory. Chemistry, material analysis and corrosion testing are also available. Mr. Ogborn is part of Solution Engineering's wider engineering team that can solve most any technical issue.
Charles Roig is a senior consultant in the practice area of Architecture for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of architecture including forensic investigations regarding construction and related failures, personal injuries, architectural specifications, ADA requirements, land division and drainage, construction code violations and conformance, HVAC requirements, space planning, construction best practices, industrial and residential design and construction issues.
Mr. Roig has a First Professional B.Arch Degree in Design from the University of Illinois with over 40 years of experience in the field of architecture. Mr. Roig is a licensed architect in the state of Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Chief Scientist and Principal Consultant for the Human Factors and Safety Practice Area
Dr. Dave Curry is the Chief Scientist and Principal Consultant for the Human Factors and Safety practice area of the Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of human factors, applied human performance, ergonomics, and safety. Areas of particular expertise include: human-machine interface design and evaluation, human capabilities and limitations in applied environments, industrial ergonomics, instructions and warnings, perception/vision/visibility, slips/trips/falls, the evaluation of equipment/facilities/structures from a human use standpoint, and safety-related issues in general. He is recognized as an expert in operator-vehicle interaction and is a Certified Human Factors Professional.
Job Titles:
- Computer Network Technologies Associate
Dexter Briganti is a Computer Network Technologies Associate for Solution Engineering. Mr. Briganti oversees the development and implementation of information technology and also serves as the chief computer technician. He is responsible for laboratory testing services, aiding in the integration of computer technologies into test fixtures and providing technical help with equipment and testing processes.
Mr. Briganti has a Bachelor's degree in Science of Network Technologies from Western Illinois University where he graduated as department scholar.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Biomechanics and Structural Engineering Practice Areas
Dr. Daniel Roig is Vice President of the Biomechanics and Structural Engineering practice areas of Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of biomechanics including whiplash, head & neck injuries, low & high-speed vehicle collisions, slip trip & falls, joint implants, lumbar spine disc degeneration, child and adult head trauma and in associating injuries to accident scenarios. Dr. Roig is also experienced in analyzing human responses to an accident, and how they are influenced by their interaction with structures.
Job Titles:
- Senior Chemistry Consultant
Dr. John Fildes is a Senior Chemistry Consultant for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of chemistry and is an expert in materials science, advanced composite materials, materials processing including process sensor and controls, materials compatibility, materials selection, protective coatings, decorative coatings, coating fabrication, semiconductor materials, gas sensors, tribology, materials property modeling, corrosion, statistics and experimental design.
Job Titles:
- Senior Mechanical Engineering Consultant
Dr. John Meyer is a Senior Mechanical Engineering Consultant for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of mechanical engineering and conducts engineering investigations into accidents, incidents, mishaps, and failures of all kinds. He has directed hundreds of investigations over the past two decades involving a widely diverse range of items including aircraft, industrial equipment and machinery, automobiles and other vehicles as well as consumer products.
Job Titles:
- Professor and Director of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy
- Senior Consultant in the Practice Area of Electrical Engineering
Dr. Peter Schubert is a senior consultant in the practice area of Electrical Engineering for Solution Engineering Group, a multi-disciplinary engineering and technical consulting firm located in the Chicago metro area. He consults on all aspects of Electrical Engineering and conducts engineering investigations into accidents, failures and design issues.
Dr. Schubert is a Professor and Director of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His areas of expertise include: Renewable energy systems, engineering simulation, modeling, space-based manufacturing, biomass conversion technology, algorithm design & signal processing, semiconductor design, electronic applications for automobiles/transportation and research.
He has successfully won grants from the DOE, DOD and NASA for product development and research and holds multiple patents for designs, techniques and processes. Dr. Schubert has a P.E. license in the state of Illinois and holds degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering, with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Jeff Williams is President of Solution Engineering Group. In addition to managing all aspects of the company he also serves as the Lead Technologist for the laboratory. He works in all areas of the laboratory including accident reconstruction testing, product reliability testing, prototype development, fixture design and creation, courtroom models and displays, sales and trade show displays, CAD drawings, CNC machining and 3D printing. Jeff also supports Solution Engineering Group staff in the field by doing on-site laser scanning, total station surveys, photography and video documentation & editing.
Mr. Williams' has a varied technical services background with experience in failure analysis, testing, design and construction of fixtures, scale models and displays. He also has extensive experience contributing as a team member of several research projects. He designed and fabricated test fixtures for three NASA funded SBIR projects, two of which were flown on board the NASA microgravity jet. The third project was a ground-based fixture that used radioactive materials as a containment for high-temperature heating experiments. He has worked on building and designing prototypes for the Department of Defense, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and the US Marine Corps.
Mr. Williams and the Solution Engineering Group lab have conducted testing on firearms, railroad equipment, industrial fixtures, automobiles, construction equipment, forklifts, aircraft, watercraft, retail displays, consumer products and new inventions.
In addition to nearly 40 years of industry experience, Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of the Ozarks.
Job Titles:
- Senior Technical Specialist
John Kidd is a senior technical specialist who runs the SEG Drone Services group. He manages flight operations for the SEG drone fleet and is an expert at providing laboratory and field inspection services.
Mr. Kidd also heads up Solution Engineering's firearms test lab where he routinely conducts safety and forensic testing on firearms and firearm safety devices.
He has extensive experience in field testing and site documentation, including automobile accident recreations, aircraft inspections, industrial equipment operation and explosion site investigations, structural documentation, and field surveying and photography.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Aviation at Lewis University
John Nowicki brings a wealth of experience to Solution Engineering's Aviation Team, having worked in the aircraft industry for over 40 years. He is an F.A.A. Licensed Private Pilot, an Aerobatic Competition Pilot, an F.A.A. Licensed Air Frame and Power Plant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization, and has been involved with the manufacturing, flight testing, restoration, and maintenance of aircraft components, aircraft kits, and complete aircraft.
Mr. Nowicki has held several positions within a local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), is the current President of his local chapter, a member of the Volunteer Advisory Committee, and a Technical Counselor for the national organization. He has built several aircraft and has received awards from the EAA and The DuPont Company for his skill and workmanship.
Mr. Nowicki is an Associate Professor of Aviation at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, and served as a Certified Aviation Teacher, instructing students in Aviation Technology, at Wilco Area Career Center. As a Technical Counselor and volunteer for the EAA, he has been involved in promoting aviation education and aviation safety on a local and national level through programs such as Young Eagles, Flying Start, and the Amateur-Built Aircraft program.
At Solution Engineering, Mr. Nowicki provides expert analysis for all kinds of aircraft and aviation related investigations. His hands-on background gives him a practical perspective on aviation-related projects, providing a maintenance and design viewpoint; he can also call upon his experience as a pilot and Aerobatic Competition contestant to provide insight into pilot behavior. John is also active in the Solution Engineering laboratory as a senior technical consultant.
Job Titles:
- Electrical and Plumbing ( MEP ) Consultant
Keith O'Higgins is a Senior Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Consultant for Solution Engineering Group. Mr. O'Higgins brings 40 plus years of experience to both design of new MEP projects and the investigation, testing, evaluation and design of repairs for non-performing MEP systems for all building types including, but not limited to, healthcare, educational, commercial, institutional, governmental, recreational and residential buildings.
Mr. O'Higgins has expertise in heating systems, cooling systems, building energy use modeling, water piping incidents, building control systems, HVAC systems, hot water heater issues, sanitary piping, mechanical codes and standards and construction contract administration.
Mr. O'Higgins is licensed as a Professional Engineer in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. He is LEED certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and is a Certified Forensic Consultant (CFC) by the American College of Forensic Examiners. Mr. O'Higgins is experienced with litigation support services having served as an expert on numerous dispute resolution projects.
Job Titles:
- Senior Fire Cause and Origin Consultant
Normand Dube is a Senior Fire Cause and Origin Consultant for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of fire cause and origin including forensic investigations regarding automobile and heavy truck and bus fires, structure and equipment fires and has consulted on developing preventive measures for vehicular fires.
Mr. Dube holds CFEI and CVFI Investigator certifications and is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).
Job Titles:
- Senior Civil Engineering Expert
Roger Machut is a Senior Civil Engineering Expert for Solution Engineering Group. He consults on all aspects of roadway design, bituminous and concrete paving design, runway pavement design, stormwater management, utility design, site development, and surface and groundwater flooding.
Job Titles:
- Senior Demonstrative Evidence Consultant
Steven Streit is a Senior Demonstrative Evidence consultant for Solution Engineering Group. He has 28 years experience in graphic design and model building utilized for court room displays.
Sven Jonnson brings his knowledge and experience as a firearms designer and manufacturer to head up Solution Engineering's Gun Investigations group. As lead firearms investigator, Mr. Jonsson consults on all aspects of weapon related failures, design questions and manufacturing issues.
As a formally trained Architect, Mr. Jonsson has the scientific background required to investigate matters involving the Firearms Community. Backed up by Solution Engineering's Material Sciences, Human Factors and Mechanical Engineering experts, Mr. Jonsson can help solve even the most difficult Firearms problems. He consults on all aspects of firearms related issues including catastrophic failures, design concerns, operator mishaps, manufacturing problems, weapon function, ammunition and aftermarket equipment.
As part of Solution Engineering Group, he has the resources to document accident site geometry and condition with laser scanning, photogrammetric analysis, areal drone photography, 360-degree photo walk-throughs and total station measurements. Accident re-creation and firearm testing can be done in the SEG onsite laboratory and private offsite live fire range. Chemistry, material analysis and corrosion testing are also available.
Job Titles:
- Technical Specialist for Solution Engineering 's Laboratory
Thomas Kuhn is a technical specialist for Solution Engineering's Laboratory and Field Service operations. He has extensive experience in tool design, test fixture fabrication, welding, machining, agricultural machinery, industrial machinery, building and construction, field investigations, site documentation, video, lab testing, non-destructive testing and photography. Mr. Kuhn assists engineers and scientists with technical investigations, disaster scene documentation, field testing and laboratory fixture needs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Engineering Technologist Consulting
Mr. Long is a Senior Engineering Technologist consulting for Solution Engineering Group. He has over 30 years of experience in automotive, aviation, fire, structural, manufacturing, and heavy equipment accident investigations. His areas of expertise include scene documentation, laser scanning, surveying, CAD based drafting, 3D modeling, animations, simulations, graphics mechanical evaluations, failure analysis and component testing, test fixture design, data acquisition, and instrumentation. He is also skilled as a mechanic, machinist, welder, designer, fabricator, and has extensive knowledge in the area of firearms.
Areas of Expertise
Accident Investigation & Failure Analysis: Inspections/documentation of subject, exemplary vehicles, equipment and accident sites, vehicular accident reconstruction and simulation with HVE-3D