Leadership

Tabetha Stirrett serves as President of RESPEC Canada and Vice President of Mining & Energy, leading the growth, strategy, and client partnerships that support RESPEC’s mining and energy work across Canada. Her career spans geoscience roles on projects around the world, giving her a broad perspective that informs her people‑focused leadership approach. Tabetha’s work centers on strengthening relationships, expanding multidisciplinary services, and supporting teams as they deliver practical, trusted solutions for clients.

Stephen T. O’Rourke was elected to the RESPEC Board of Directors for a 3-year term by the ESOP Committee to replace Paul Fosdick, who retired after 14 years of service on the Board. Stephen is a geological engineer with over 30 years in the  petroleum industry. Stephen retired from BHP Billiton as President of Global Exploration in 2011. BHP Billiton is a global energy company and amongst the world’s largest producers of major commodities. Presently, he serves as Managing Director of Heat Mining Company, which is a geothermal company located in Rapid City, SD.

Stephen’s background aligns with the company’s strategic interest in energy, specifically the petroleum and geothermal markets. His knowledge of the global marketplace, business management practices in technical fields, and business development and acquisition will greatly assist the company in expanding our services within the energy sector.

Sam Voegeli serves as RESPEC’s Vice President of Mining and Energy, leading the growth and diversification of the Energy Market Sector while shaping strategy across the broader division. Over his 15-year career with RESPEC, from starting as an intern to roles as project manager, business developer, and market sector lead, Sam has built a reputation for strong client partnerships and strategic expansion into new markets. He has been instrumental in transforming the sector from a handful of niche specialties into a full-service portfolio spanning oil and gas, geothermal, and underground injection disposal. A client-first leader, Sam focuses on understanding what drives clients’ business decisions and ensuring the RESPEC team delivers solutions that are appropriately scaled and truly meaningful. He is known for empowering employees, supporting their career growth, and encouraging ownership of roles and opportunities. Since stepping into his leadership role, Sam has remained committed to positioning the organization for continued momentum and long-term success.

As RESPEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Persyn focuses on helping teams work better together. He makes sure people have what they need: clear systems, fewer roadblocks, and support that scales as the company grows. With more than 25 years of experience in engineering and operations, Russell brings a practical mindset and a steady approach to leadership. Since joining RESPEC in 2015, he’s helped grow the company’s work in Texas and played a key role in building strong, people-first teams. He leads with accountability, clarity, and a focus on getting things done the right way.

As Controller, Robyn Beaird transforms financial data into strategic insights that help shape our decision-making. With a distinctive leadership approach, Robyn cultivates an atmosphere rooted in trust, collaboration, and mutual support. Her dedication to the integrity of financial reporting and empowering leadership style set her apart.

Believing strongly in the value of our people and aligning with RESPEC culture, Robyn continues to shape the finance department fostering collaboration and accountability.

Skilled at balancing the details with the big picture, she empowers her team by encouraging pride in their work, which drives our company forward. Under her guidance, the finance team shines behind the scenes through their professional integrity, always working to advance RESPEC’s growth.

Phil is RESPEC’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, leading financial strategy and strengthening the systems that support the company’s growth. He brings extensive experience in professional services and government contracting, grounded in corporate accounting and finance. Phil specializes in building the RESPEC’s financial infrastructure to support continued growth. His knowledge of financial platforms and his focus on practical controls and visibility help ensure clarity, stability, and long‑term value across the company.

Pam Feuerstein joined the RESPEC Board in July 2022. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer for CORE Electric Cooperative in Sedalia, Colorado, where she has worked since 2010. She is responsible for engineering, distribution and transmission operations, power supply, and safety for CORE. Before working at CORE, she worked for an engineering consulting company for more than 15 years, focusing on electric infrastructure design for electric utilities. Pam is a registered Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Montana State University.

Mike has 38 years of experience in managing multidisciplinary consulting operations and leading large-scale infrastructure projects. With expertise spanning roadway, stormwater, and cold-region civil design, Mike has successfully overseen complex projects, including airport infrastructure, road systems, and municipal improvements. His leadership integrates technical excellence with strategic vision, ensuring that RESPEC continues to deliver innovative and sustainable transportation solutions. A licensed professional engineer and seasoned business strategist, Mike is dedicated to meeting client needs while advancing the company’s mission.

As Senior Vice President, Data & Technology Solutions, Meagan Chaddick leads RESPEC’s DTS business, aligning people and projects to deliver for clients across federal, state, and commercial markets. She guides DTS sales and marketing and brings teams together to solve client challenges with data and technology. Meagan led RESPEC’s first company‑wide rollout of Salesforce, making it easier to see and manage client relationships across the firm. She is also helping build a more unified marketing function to support clear messaging and consistent growth across the company. Meagan joined RESPEC in 2017 through the acquisition of SSG Ltd.

Matt Emerson leads RESPEC’s Alaska operations with a focus on strategic growth, client partnerships, and advancing business opportunities across the region. A registered structural and civil engineer and a former Senior Vice President of RESPEC, Matt combines deep industry expertise with a strong network in Alaska’s infrastructure and development sectors. His career spans designing for some of the world’s most extreme Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions, managing complex, multidisciplinary projects, and navigating the unique challenges of remote construction. Drawing on his early career in the trades, Matt brings a practical perspective and a results-driven approach to connecting RESPEC’s capabilities with the priorities of Alaska’s communities, industries, and public agencies.

Mario DiPasquale is a seasoned engineer with over two decades of experience in the water industry. With a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Mario began his career in northwest Montana before relocating to Colorado, where he has since dedicated most of his professional life to advancing the field of water engineering.

Mario’s leadership style is characterized by creating opportunities for individuals to excel and advance within the company. As Vice President, Mario works to lead and support RESPEC’s staff, enhance our presence in target markets, and promote a holistic approach to water resource management. He wants to expand RESPEC’s treatment capabilities and proficiency in executing large, multidisciplinary projects.

Lee Rosen brings over 16 years of experience, marked by a steady climb from an entry-level engineer to a key executive leader. His career began in Southern California, where he received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at UCLA, and flourished in Denver, Colorado, where he joined Moser and Associates, which later became part of RESPEC. There, he has gained valuable experience in stormwater and water resource work. At RESPEC, Lee has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, driving business growth and innovation. He was the driving force behind establishing RESPEC’s engineering presence in Minnesota, where he successfully managed diverse water-related projects and built a dedicated team. A strategic thinker and an advocate for growth, Lee’s leadership style is characterized by his commitment to professional development and ability to inspire and build high-performing teams. His focus on opportunity and innovation drives our Water market sector to new heights, ensuring the delivery of exceptional services to clients across various sectors.

Laura Donaldson joined the RESPEC Board in July 2024. Laura Donaldson has represented clients before legislative and executive branches of government, agencies, Cabinet and gubernatorial commissions on growth management, environmental and local government issues. Laura has also been general counsel for local governments and special districts providing guidance related to government, environmental and land use issues. She has negotiated and drafted complex and technical interlocal agreements, contracts and other transaction documents. She also provided advice on water and environmental permitting issues.

With the majority of her over 30 years of professional experience at RESPEC, Karla Lipp has a special gift in creating and editing documents and organizing multiple projects. Her keen attention to detail and natural talent for organization ensures that RESPEC’s documents are completed accurately, consistently, and promptly. With her meticulous, detailed nature and education as a Certified Administrative Professional, Karla collaborates with RESPEC staff to maintain the highest standards for all documents and to ensure that RESPEC’s clients are more than satisfied with the documents they receive.

Karen manages the utility group at RESPEC and remains involved in planning, design, and construction administration. Over the years, she has added site design work and expanded her capabilities as a well-rounded civil/environmental engineer. She has a solid, practical understanding of how technical drawings and specifications relate to the construction process in the field. Karen’s utility experience includes hydraulic modeling, fire flow capacity analysis, thermal modeling, alignment and profile development, and storm drains. Her site design experience includes parking lots, access, grading, and drainage. Karen enjoys working with a multidiscipline team, collaborating to resolve potential issues. She finds it especially rewarding to be involved from the planning stage, through the design and then construction.

John directs RESPEC’s development services, bringing more than 2 decades of expertise in civil engineering and site design. He has successfully led diverse projects, such as urban redevelopments in major metropolitan areas and large-scale master-planned communities. His innovative solutions in stormwater management and utility design have earned recognition for balancing client goals with environmental sustainability. John’s leadership ensures RESPEC’s development services consistently deliver high-quality, impactful solutions.

Jay VanOrden has more than 38 years of experience in the IT industry. He has served as a Chief Executive Officer for most of his career. Jay successfully built two IT companies and was named one of the top ten New Jersey CEOs by the Axial Growth 100 List. He is currently the CEO of Worldwide Services, a global IT services organization that provides a portfolio of IT services in over 100 countries. Jay is a strategic thinker and a well-organized individual. His executive leadership experience and broad background in sales, marketing, and operations, as well as financial administration, will be a real asset for RESPEC.

As Senior Vice President of Mining & Energy, Jay Nopola drives the strategic direction and growth of RESPEC’s work across the mining and energy industries. Known for a collaborative and steady leadership approach, he brings teams, partners, and clients together around clear objectives to advance complex initiatives. With a career rooted in practical problem‑solving and client engagement, Jay focuses on strengthening long-term relationships and expanding RESPEC’s ability to deliver integrated, forward‑looking solutions. He is committed to helping clients navigate evolving industry challenges and positioning RESPEC at the forefront of strategic and innovative services in mining and energy.

Jason serves as Chief Administrative Officer, guiding the people and operational systems that support RESPEC’s culture and organizational effectiveness. With more than 20 years of experience, he draws on a background in technology and operations to help teams work with clarity and purpose. Jason’s leadership centers on developing people, strengthening collaboration, and creating structures that support an effective, high-performing workplace. In his role, he focuses on building strong leaders, aligning key functions across the company, and shaping the organizational foundation that enables RESPEC’s long-term growth.

As President and CEO, Jason Love guide’s RESPEC’s growth and impact across North America, with a focus on client success and community benefit. He believes great companies are built by great teams and focuses on developing leaders and elevating performance. Grounded in 2030, Jason ensures RESPEC is one great team, where people grow under strong leaders, and a culture that creates long‑term value for employee‑owners. Under his leadership, RESPEC is expanding its reach, developing leaders at every level, and building a company recognized for its talent, integrity, and impact.

Jan leads the recently acquired EARTHRES team and has over 40 years of experience in mining, engineering consulting, and solid waste management. He has directed hundreds of projects across permitting, engineering, and construction, delivering innovative solutions in landfill gas management, geotechnical analysis, and process design. His expertise, complemented by hands-on operational management, ensures a client-centered approach to solving complex challenges. As a licensed professional engineer in multiple states, Jan sets the standard for excellence, fostering an exceptional workplace while helping RESPEC clients achieve their goals.

Ezaz Khan is Vice President of Solid Waste and brings 35 years of experience in energy projects, with significant expertise in process and mechanical design and wastewater treatment facilities design. He has been extensively involved in various stages of compressor station design, including natural gas liquid (NGL) and LPG processing plant upgrade projects, natural gas well pad flow lines, and equipment design and RNG facilities design.

He leads engineering efforts across the Energy, Solid Waste, Mining, and Environmental sectors. Ezaz is known for integrating process engineering with infrastructure development to deliver full-service, results-driven solutions.

He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Ed leads RESPEC’s Water market sector across North America. He has spent more than 25 years working in hydrogeology and water infrastructure and is known for being approachable, down-to-earth, and team-oriented. Before joining RESPEC, Ed ran a national team focused on large water supply and underground injection control (UIC) projects across the country. His technical experience includes developing large programs for water supply and UIC systems with a people-first mindset. Ed is focused on growing the RESPEC Water team, strengthening connections between offices and creating an environment where collaboration comes naturally.

As Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Dustin leads RESPEC’s growth strategy and is responsible for aligning marketing, sales, and proposals around how clients engage with the company. He brings a data-driven approach to client satisfaction, using CRM insight to improve visibility into relationships and performance. Dustin focuses on building practical systems and programs that help teams identify the right opportunities, communicate consistently, and measure what’s working. His work is centered on making growth easier to execute and more accountable across the organization.

Denise Quick joined RESPEC’s Data & Technology Solutions (DTS) team in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, office in 2013, and brings more than 25 years of communications, quality, program, and operations management experience in multiple industries. With a strong background in IT software applications, she has been responsible for delivery management and direction of all DTS projects. Denise effectively listens to and communicates with clients and teams, while leading successful and profitable delivery on a breadth of technology-based programs.

As Senior Vice President of Solid Waste, Dave leads RESPEC’s solid waste engineering practice. With more than 30 years of experience in solid waste consulting, Dave brings both technical depth and hands-on problem-solving to support clients across the public and private sectors. He has led the solid waste team for over a decade, guiding clients through major industry changes, including the transition from landfilling to waste diversion and biogas reuse. His expertise includes leachate treatment, landfill facility planning, permitting, design and construction sequencing, odor and LFG management, and operational support for site activities. Dave continues to expand RESPEC’s role as a trusted partner in sustainable solid waste infrastructure, facility construction, and operational support.

As Senior Vice President of RESPEC’s Facilities market sector, Danny leads a multidisciplinary team in delivering innovative, client-focused solutions for unique engineering challenges. With more than 25 years of experience as a mechanical and fire protection engineer, Danny has built a reputation for turning bold ideas into practical designs, particularly in remote and cold-climate facilities. Born and raised in Alaska, Danny’s firsthand experience in extreme environments has shaped his approach to engineering—balancing technical expertise with real-world practicality. His leadership has driven the success of high-profile projects across Alaska, delivering transformative results for clients. Driven by a vision to push boundaries and create solutions that endure, Danny inspires his teams to deliver meaningful results that align with RESPEC’s mission of integrated, impactful solutions.

Brian G. Iverson joined the RESPEC Board in July 2020.  He is currently Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer of Black Hills Corporation. He has worked at Black Hills Corporation since 2004 and has served as Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Government Affairs, Vice President and Treasurer, Vice President, Electric Regulatory Service, and Corporate Counsel during his career at Black Hills Corporation.  Before joining Black Hills Corporation, Brian was employed in the banking industry and the private practice of law.

Brian is a Certified Public Accountant.  He attended the University of South Dakota where he received a B.S.B.A. in accounting and an MBA.  He also received a J.D. from the University of South Dakota, School of Law.

Amy Mestas is a structural engineer and project leader based in Anchorage, Alaska. As Vice President of Facilities, she oversees RESPEC’s multidisciplinary vertical construction design teams across Alaska, focusing on infrastructure resilience, team development, and strategic growth.

Amy brings two decades of experience in high-seismic design, structural assessments, and project delivery across Alaska for education, healthcare, industrial, and military facilities. Amy is known for her collaborative leadership style, shaped by her background as an engineer and community coach.

She is a licensed Structural and Civil Engineer in Alaska and serves on the Alaska Professional Design Council (APDC) executive board. Amy plays a central role in expanding RESPEC’s facilities capabilities and shaping infrastructure strategies for the future.