Staff

Shane Burkart is a President,Principal Consultant, and Lead Mechanical Engineer with over 15 years’ experience in structural and civil engineering projects. Mr. Burkart’s designs include concrete, steel and masonry designs for industrial, commercial, institutional, and fall protection projects.

He has experience and expertise in the inspection, engineering and evaluation of new and existing structures and industrial chimneys. Additionally, Mr. Burkart has expertise in, and coordinates Pearl Engineering’s high definition laser scanning services.

Prior to joining PEC, Mr. Burkart worked as a Civil Engineer, EIT at Ayres Associates in Madison, Wisconsin where he worked with the municipal engineering group on various projects including design of sanitary sewers, storm sewers, building sites, roadways, and environmental remediation. He conducted construction oversight for municipal projects including sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, regional storm water detention ponds, site grading, street excavation, and asphalt pavement.

Prior to this position, Mr. Burkart was a Student Engineering Intern for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation where he worked with the state highway (STH) 53 construction management team coordinating the construction of five bridges and three retaining walls. He also served as the fulltime inspector and assisted in the surveying of abutments, pier caps, and top of girder elevations.

Mr. Burkart is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered Model Law Engineer (MLE) with NCEES, and is professionally licensed in Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Daniel Bachinski is a Structural Engineer who joined Pearl Engineering in 2017. Mr. Bachinski previously worked as a Material Technician at Point of Beginning, Inc. in Stevens Point, Wisconsin prior to joining Pearl Engineering. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Robin Schmit is a Vice President with PEC, specializing in the structural engineering, design, and analysis of industrial, commercial, and institutional projects.

Ms. Schmit has 14 years’ experience in structural engineering including structural steel connection design, examination and evaluation of existing structures, and structural engineering design of steel, pre-engineered metal buildings, precast concrete, cast-in-place concrete, masonry, and wood structures. Ms. Schmit also has experience in the preparation of structural design calculations, details and drawings, specifications, bid packages and bid reviews, interaction with bidders and subcontractors, and maintaining project documentation.

Ms. Schmit is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics; Milwaukee School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin and Maine.

Tim Kleckner joined the Pearl Engineering team in 2023 as a Senior Project Consultant. Even with 20 years of structural engineering-related experience, Tim likes learning about new engineering processes and innovative design ideas. He finds fulfillment in working as a part of a team to provide solutions to complex problems. Tim’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Masters in Engineering from UW-Milwaukee, and his previous work experience is primarily with steel framing and concrete foundations for industrial projects. He is currently a licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Maine, and Nevada.

In his free time, Tim likes being outdoors, working on projects at home, and travel. He has traveled to six countries in Europe, and enjoys experiencing the different cultures, food, and both modern and historic architecture.

Jeff Ferkey is a Mechanical Project Engineer at Pearl Engineering with 3 years’ domestic and international engineering and project management experience specializing in the detailed engineering and layout of piping and HVAC systems, including the performance of Flow Analysis, Piping Stress Analysis, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis to comply with ASME, CSA/CRN, and SMACNA requirements.

Mr. Ferkey has experience in the design and on-site installation support of industrial facilities’ mechanical modifications and additions, including the coordination of Client and multi-disciplinary requirements with Supplier designs to ensure successful equipment selection.

While studying for his degrees in Mechanical Engineering and German, Jeff’s final semester was spent in Darmstadt, Germany, with a primary focus of study in Failure Analysis and Fracture Mechanics. Prior to joining Pearl Engineering, Mr. Ferkey was the STEM Instructor at Assumption High School and an Adjunct Instructor at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids.

Mr. Ferkey is an Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Platteville with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in German.

Josh McCallum is a Project Engineer who joined Pearl Engineering in July 2022. He was eager to become a part of the team after graduating from Trine University. He completed his degree with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Aerospace Engineering. In his role; Josh enjoys using numbers and solving calculations to make sure his projects work smoothly. Prior to Pearl, he was an intern at a local Municipal Service Group back home in Ohio, working on construction-based project management over the summer.

James Kuester is Vice President for Pearl Engineering, Senior Project Consultant and LEED^® Green Associate specializing in Industrial Engineering, Interior Design, and Project Management on LEED^® projects, Process Design, Continuous Improvement, and Business Profitability Projects.

 

 

Mr. Kuester has over 26 years of professional experience serving a variety of industries, including:  industrial and consumer goods manufacturing, paper and pulp, feed processing, hospitality, warehousing, non-profit, and insurance.  Mr. Kuester honed his process improvement and efficiency skills while spending 2 years removing $20+ million annually from the cost of operations for Emerson Electric Co.’s Specialty Motor Division and 12 years as owner and President of Allied Metal Products & Engineering Corp headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. AMPECO provided a wide variety of fabrication and engineering projects to industry throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.  He sold Allied to launch SEGCO and develop the SEG™, a patented vertical racking protection device and to explore his passion for designing modern furniture having exhibited his designs nationally.

 

Mr. Kuester is a graduate of the Krannert School of Management with a Master of Science in Industrial Administration and Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering and is a Registered Interior Designer in Indiana.

Mike Evans is an Engineering Associate at Pearl Engineering specializing in project management and operations. Mike spent the earlier years of his career at the Kohler company in Kohler, Wisconsin, focusing on operations support and was also part of the global maintenance and reliability team, integrating Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) practices for facilities to better prepare for preventative maintenance practices compared to reactive maintenance. Mike’s experience has focused on process improvements, reducing downtime, increasing production and quality of parts produced, machine installations, and documentation.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Physics, emphasis in Mechanics. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys various mountain bike and camping trips to Michigan’s upper peninsula.

Elizabeth Lenz is a Director and Design Team Lead at Pearl Engineering. She joined the team in 2014 as an Intermediate Design Technician.

Ms. Lenz worked as a designer for Küster Design in Indianapolis, Indiana and Keystone Architects in Lafayette, Indiana prior to joining Pearl Engineering.

“Lizzie” is a graduate of Kansas State University with a Master’s in Architecture.

Ron Kinnick is a Senior Design Technician at Pearl Engineering providing Mechanical and Electrical Design and Drafting expertise.  Ron has over 39 years of experience in various industries including an Electrical Designer/Drafter in the Corporate Engineering Department and Wisconsin Rapids Paper Mill of Verso Corporation, and as an Electrical/Mechanical Drafter for Woodward Governor Company in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  Other positions were for Felker Brothers Corporation, WaterStone Group, SNE Enterprises, Inc., Gamber-Johnson, Marinette Marine Corporation and Allis-Chalmers as an electrical or mechanical designer/drafter.  Ron is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Supervisor’s Management.

Clay Jansky is a Senior Design Technician for Pearl Engineering Corporation. In 2015 Clay joined Pearl Engineering from Revelations Architects & Builders in Stevens Point, WI where he worked briefly after serving four years in the United States Marines Corps as a Sergeant participating in cooperative operations between the U.S., Japan, Thailand, and Iraq through direct leadership and multinational teams.

Clay is a graduate of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Technology and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Studies.

Steve Phillips is a Senior Electrical Engineering Associate, with industrial experience in Electrical Engineering Design, Technical Team Leadership, and Facility Maintenance Leadership, with emphasis in low voltage power systems and machine control design.

Mr. Phillips has over 32 years of combined experience in an industrial environment specializing in the design of electrical machine controls, electrical enclosure, low voltage power distribution systems, wire tray layouts, and safety systems. He has provided team leadership for maintenance support and commissioning of process machines and conveyor systems. He has managed project procurement, as well as performed as site facility engineer. His major work experience includes eight years with Jacobs Engineering, and nineteen years with Kimberly–Clark Corporation.

Steve is a graduate of Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin with a degree in Electronics Technology. Other training includes the American Lighting Association (ALA), Lighting Specialist, PLC3, PLC5, ControlLogix, Automax Drive control systems and NEC Grounding.

Lee Thao is the Staff Accountant for Pearl Engineering Corporation. Lee is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting and has more than 15 years’ experience in banking and accounting.

Shae Wallner started at Pearl Engineering in May 2022 as an Operation Support Clerk after graduating from Mid-State Technical College with a Liberal Arts degree. She started designing and constructing projects when she was just 10 years old, working with her Dad to build treehouses and workshops! In her current role at Pearl Engineering, she works on archiving past projects, data-entry, helping with accounting and learning skills from her co-workers.

Scott Burkart is a Senior Safety Consultant for Pearl Engineering Corporation with more than 30 years experience as a professional fire fighter and Emergency Medical Technician.

 

 

Mr. Burkart was the Deputy Fire Chief for the Eau Claire, WI fire department prior to his retirement and joining Pearl Engineering as a Senior Safety Consultant. While on the Eau Claire Fire department, Scott progressed thru the ranks and was a supervision on the State of Wisconsin Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team, Captain of the Technical Rescue Team, and Deputy Chief of Fire Inspection, Prevention and EMS Divisions. Scott also was involved in training for fire departments, and private businesses throughout the state In the fire, technical rescue, and hazardous materials areas for the past 30 years.

Gary Pelot is a Senior Safety Consultant for Pearl Engineering with more than 30 years of experience in safety engineering, training, and creating safe work environments. A graduate of and 26 year adjunct faculty member at Mid-State Technical College, Gary has worked extensively throughout his career to teach sound safety practices.

Gary is certified to teach CPR and other emergency care courses; co-founded a group to teach Emergency Skills to Fire Department, Law Enforcement, Rescue Squads, Hospitals, and Industry; is an EMT for United Emergency Medical Response; a former member of the Tri-City Safety Council and the Local Emergency Planning Committee for Wood County, WI.