Leadership Teamladams2023-11-18T17:25:53-05:00
Leadership Team
Our success is due to the combined efforts of each and every employee
Sustaining a high-performing firm like ours means never being satisfied with what we did yesterday. Ongoing improvement means that our leaders must foster a workplace that values renewal. Given our growth in recent years, we have continued to hire talented people with outside experience and ideas that make us better. We then find ways to couple those fresh perspectives with our proven practices that deliver great projects for our clients. And the opportunities to do that are limitless.
Taylor Kelly, PE
PRESIDENT & CEO | LOUISVILLE, KY
About Taylor
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
Frankfort: 502-352-2197
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Taylor Kelly, PE
President & CEO
In March 2010, while driving down I65 to a attend a project meeting, I saw a horrendous sight, a semi on the northbound shoulder, emergency vehicles, and burn marks on the adjacent rock wall. Earlier that day, the semi had crossed the median and struck a passenger van, claiming the lives of eleven people, including eight members of a single family. Passing the site again on the way home, I knew that the state would be inspired to act quickly. I pledged to myself that, if called upon to assist, I would do whatever I could to help make the corridor safer.
The Governor acted quickly, challenging us to deliver plans – within six months – for widening and improving the first of four unsafe sections of I-65. The corridor is 21 miles long, and includes a barrier wall to prevent median crossover accidents. Because of the needed environmental clearances and other obstacles, folks said, “It can’t be done.” Yet we did it. It remains one of the proudest accomplishments of my career.
Glen Kelly inspired me to become an engineer. Glen is not only one of the finest highway engineers in the history of Kentucky, he also happens to be my dad and President of Qk4. When I chose to join the same profession, I knew that I wanted to create my own identity and establish myself as a competent engineer without reliance on him to help advance my career. Therefore rather than pursuing the chance to work with him at Qk4 (then Presnell Associates), I went to work for a competitor, where by the mid-2000s I became the youngest owner. I left the firm to become an entrepreneur in the construction industry; however, that job only reinforced for me that my true calling would be as a design engineer.
Once I made the decision to return to highway engineering, I resolved to work for Qk4, because of how my father talked about what a tight-knit family Qk4 is, irrespective of our own bond as father and son. To a person, the people of Qk4 know each other’s families and what is going on in their lives, both the good and the less so, the joys and the heartbreaks. It truly is a second family.
It is doubly rewarding to be able to spend most workdays (and some weekends, too, truth be told) learning from and working with my dad.
Today, what I strive for is mastery of solving the “impossible” engineering challenges. At the same time, I also strive to help ease the burden on the state and local highways professionals who are continually asked to accomplish more with fewer resources. I can do that by eliminating needless worry and effort for them.
But that’s not what drives me. What drives me is the thought that what we do might help improve, and even save lives, such as the lives of those eleven people on the highway five years ago.
David Reed, RLA
COO | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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David Reed, RLA
Chairman of the Board, Chief Operations Officer, Sr. Vice President
As a wet-behind-the-ears landscape architect in a two-person firm in east Louisville, I was thrust quickly into face-to-face involvement with clients and their projects. I learned swiftly that solving the unique site challenges of a given project are secondary only to the challenges of serving people, that is, the owners and users of the environments I help create. The people involved in a given project have their own unique personalities, preferences, visions, and needs that must be served.
To serve those needs, landscape architects must understand the communion between people, buildings, and the land, including all its natural systems.
While helping owners develop environments wherein people can live, work, find enjoyment, and prosper, responsible landscape architects also strive to be stewards of the land. As an avid fly-fisherman and outdoorsman, I count on others to create and protect environments where I can fish and explore. In each client endeavor, I have a similar responsibility to do the same for the environments I help my clients craft.
I enjoy creating unique streetscapes and plazas where people can experience nature in a built environment; for example, the University of Louisville Freedom Park Improvement. On a grander scale, I am proud of Qk4’s role in The Parklands of Floyds Fork. At 2,700 acres, The Parklands is one of the largest and most successful recent urban parks projects in the world.
Today, after many office moves, I now work less than a block away from where I began my journey as a landscape architect 30 years ago. No longer wet-behind-the-ears, I am a shareholder, Senior Vice President, and a member of the Board of Directors of Qk4. In my role as a leader here, I help create an environment where people can work, prosper, and feel like family. I believe that we succeed in creating a communion of people and work, and I am proud of that.
Mike Vickers, PE
CFO | LOUISVILLE, KY
About Mike
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Mike Vickers, PE
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President
A career in Civil Engineering, and my entrusted roles at Qk4, have been a rewarding pathway for my curious and ambitious mind to make the communities, we live, work, and play in, safer and better for countless people. Every day, I have the privilege to “roll up my sleeves” with the Qk4 family, delivering some of the most challenging, constrained, and rewarding projects.
I continue to participate in all the realms of work I enjoy most, which is a testament to our culture at Qk4. We do not set limits or restrictions on how our coworkers contribute to the goals and aspirations of the organization. For me personally, it has been through projects like KYTC’s Statewide Scour Assessments, KYTC’s Statewide NBIS Safety Inspections, structure maintenance and design contracts, and our continued growth in the infrastructure preservation and rehabilitation marketplace, where my passion for the work we do is best exemplified. Beyond my current role as our CFO, I am so thankful for the ability to put my bridge inspection and innovative processes expertise into practice at Qk4. Everyday we are helping ensure bridges and roads are safe for the travelling public, while also employing processes and techniques to save valuable resources for our clients.
As part of our leadership team, my contributions revolve daily around driving process implementation, financial strategies, resource management, business development, and talent recruitment, which have been more rewarding than I could have ever expected. As Qk4 moves forward supporting and assisting more clients, communities, and employees, we are laser-focused on preserving and strengthening our culture. We strategically invest in people and equipment to nurture leaner, more efficient, innovative, and malleable delivery to our clients and communities.
From a young age, my mind has always gravitated towards creating and constructing. However, over time and primarily through my college baseball experience, leveraging positive team dynamics and collective goal achievement have become some of my core values. Most importantly, I yearn to have a positive impact on the people around me. Profound experiences throughout my life, like living in third-world countries, accepting roles outside of my expertise, challenging Qk4 to think and act differently, and growing old with my soulmate, continually present opportunities to be as curious and ambitious as ever. I believe with a full heart, my experiences and contributions strengthen and improve the diverse, experienced, and growing cultural fabric of my Qk4 family.
As cliché as is sounds, I love what I do, and I love the people I do it with. Great pride and happiness occur when you “climb the hill” with people you genuinely care about and that you know genuinely care about you. Some of my favorite days at Qk4, have included learning about my colleague’s families, discussing shared life challenges, and adding long-term friends to our team. Surrounding ourselves with people we trust whole-heartedly allows us to continuously challenge and push each other to be our best. Our clients and the public expect and deserve this from professionals, and at Qk4 we are able put our clients and the public at the forefront, because of the trust we have in each other to achieve the tasks at hand.
As I prepare to put my head on my pillow tonight and every night, I know each day will be as unique as the previous one. I know the projects we work on will all be different and pose their own unique challenges. I know once planned out, designed, constructed, and put into service, each of these projects will have a profound impact on someone and their day will be better and safer because of them. It is my humble privilege to be a part of a such wonderful work family, and for that I am forever grateful.
Albert Zimmerman, PE
TRANSPORTATION | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Albert Zimmerman, PE
Transportation: Highways and Structures, Vice President
Having worked on projects in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina during my 20+ years at Qk4, I have been afforded the opportunity to see how four state transportation departments approach highway design projects. I have applied some of the best practices of each state to all my design projects. For example, Tennessee requires that environmental boundaries for wetlands and streams be shown on the plans; that has enhanced my awareness for determining environmental footprints and probable in-lieu costs for Kentucky projects. Projects on which I gained the most experience are:
- Kentucky: I-64 in Jefferson and Shelby Counties
- Tennessee: SR 111 in Sequatchie and Van Buren Counties
- West Virginia: WV 9 between Charlestown and Martinsburg
- North Carolina: NC 55 in Mooresville
I-64 widening produced a challenge between a proposed overpass bridge design and a major overhead utility tower. Louisville Gas & Eelectric estimated a two-year delay to the project for tower design and relocation. My staff and I redesigned our profile grade to save the existing bridge and still meet horizontal and vertical clearance criteria for the widened interstate.
I started my engineering career by specializing in drainage design with the highlight being developing the drainage documentation for the entire Toyota Access Roads project in the mid 1980s. I transitioned into complete plan development and project management during tenures in North Carolina (2 years) and West Virginia (3 years) with my previous employer. During my 20 years at Qk4, I have been fortunate to work on many Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Louisville Metro projects. Our design for Johnsontown Road in southern Jefferson County provided an improved link between Dixie Highway and the Tradeport Industrial Park along the Greenbelt Highway. The project earned an APWA Award.
Tom Springer, AICP, CEP
PLANNING/ENVIRONMENTAL | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Tom Springer, AICP, CEP
Environmental & Planning, Vice President
As a kid growing up in Hardin County, I was into everything outdoors: camping, hiking, Boy Scouts, tree houses, bikes, fishing, etc. My love for the outdoors led me to major in physical geography and environmental science. My grandfather, and hero, was a highway contractor, which influenced my fervor for getting projects built. Having learned that I could apply this pursuit to roadway planning, I have enjoyed a satisfying career since.
Qk4 (then Presnell Associates) hired me in 1994 as a transportation planner. My first opportunity to work on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a roadway project was, ironically, KY 101. This “101” introductory project “schooled” me in environmental issues, roadway design, regulations and laws, and people skills. I loved every second of it.
That on-the-job education helped prepare me for one of my most complex early assignments, Industrial Parkway in Northeastern Kentucky. The project manager, Glen Kelly, who is now president of Qk4, charged me with completing an all-hands-on-deck, 9-month turnaround of an EA/FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact). The success of the 9-month contract-to-construction effort netted the project an ACEC award for excellence in engineering.
Of more than 40 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects for highway work across the state, my proudest was the expedited completion of the extraordinarily complex Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final EIS for the Louisville and Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project. That may soon be supplanted by my current project, the 40-mile-long widening the widening of the Mountain Parkway in Eastern Kentucky, for which I am the environmental project manager.
I understand the need for and have great respect for the NEPA process, its scope is wide-ranging, its outcomes are of great consequence, its complexity is challenging, and its successful completion very rewarding!
Other types of projects are also gratifying because they hearken back to my enthusiasm for the outdoor recreation. For example, I have a role in managing the Louisville Bike Share program and other projects for multi-use trails and bicycle corridors. Not only do I help create these special places for others, I also enjoy using them myself. I have been blessed to have a career here at Qk4 that allows my professional fervor to dovetail with my personal interest. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Ben Shinabery, PLS
SURVEY | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Ben Shinabery, PLS
Survey Department Director, Vice President
When I consider my work as a professional land surveyor, I can remember the places I’ve been and the people I’ve been able to help. It is relaxing to me to be out in nature, to climb the side of a ridge deep in the Daniel Boone National Forest looking for property boundary evidence or to walk a fence row between farms. Most people in Kentucky never experience the remote areas within the Commonwealth that surveyor’s traverse. I have surveyed along creeks, across Interstates, under bridges and in untouched forest. Each place my job takes me is unique and new.
In the same way, people are all unique with different interests and needs. Land surveying is a specialized field that most people don’t quite understand. Most people think we are all just taking pictures on the side of the road. Land surveying in this modern era includes much more than just collecting survey shots from a tripod. I look for ways to help people know what survey information we are collecting and why it is important for the value of their land.
I try to approach each project with the hope to create simple solutions and make those solutions easy for each client to understand. If I can treat others the way that I would like to be treated, help educate them to the importance of gathering precise survey information, and work toward mutual success, I consider it a job well done.
Rob Campbell, PE
CIVIL SITE GROUP | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Rob Campbell, PE
Director: Civil Site Group, Vice President
When I was a junior engineer, like most junior engineers I felt the need to prove how much I knew and to have strong opinions. As I’ve grown in my breadth of responsibilities, I realize that it isn’t very important for me to be the most knowledgeable or opinionated guy in the room … I don’t have to be. As a project leader, I bring together diverse experts to help my clients succeed. I get capable folks in the right roles, then trust them to do their work without micromanaging them. This requires me to work well with people, which starts with listening.
As a water/wastewater engineer, it is my job to ensure that my clients deliver safe water and remove wastewater and storm water efficiently. I enjoy knowing that what I do helps communities grow and change in a manner that improves the health and welfare of their people. Recent projects such as the new wastewater treatment plant in Shepherdsville, and current projects such as the I-64 and Grinstead Drive CSO basin allow me to have that impact.
In 1991 when I first began my work with Qk4 (then Presnell Associates) I only had my education and upbringing to use while helping others. Since 2004, I have led Qk4’s water and wastewater engineering. In 2014, I was voted by the Qk4 board to become an associate member of the Qk4 board of directors.
Over time, my work experience at Qk4 has allowed me to graduate from solving narrow problems that help thousands of people to solving broad, complex problems that help hundreds of thousands of people. Along the way, I developed an array of technical skills that help deliver projects, for example, field surveying, construction observation, plan production, field corrections, sewer and water line design, pump station design, treatment plant design, and easement acquisition.
But that’s only half of what matters. Projects are really about people, and counter to the stereotypes of introverted engineers, working elbow to elbow with people is rewarding to me. I enjoy drawing out concerns and great ideas from diverse groups of engineers, clients and stakeholders’ and then working with the same folks to execute those ideas. That others think of me as someone who makes people is a source of great pride and satisfaction to me.
Andy Ballerstedt, PE
TRANSPORTATION | ATLANTA, GA
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Atlanta: 404-329-5900
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Andy Ballerstedt, PE
Regional Manager: Georgia, Vice President
As an engineer, I enjoy improving people’s lives, whether making their travel safer or helping revitalize neighborhoods. Two memorable projects from my career with Qk4 are examples of each.
The Back River Bridge for the Georgia Department of Transportation replaces an extremely dangerous bridge spanning from Georgia to South Carolina in Savannah. During the design process, three fatal accidents occurred along the existing bridge, each time motivating GDOT and our team more to get the project built as soon as possible. After meeting a couple from Savannah who described the personal importance of the project to them, I mentioned the bridge being under construction at the time and that we had done the design. The response was overwhelming gratitude and how much the replacement was needed. I love knowing that I’m helping create safer roads for people and moving GDOT toward their goal of zero fatalities on Georgia roads.
Midtown Roswell Streetscape for the City of Roswell, Georgia: This project narrowed a two mile stretch of State Route 9 by four feet through the heart of Roswell to make room for a beautiful new pedestrian friendly streetscape. The project was challenging, as there are many small commercial properties close to the road. By setting a new alignment, we were able to meet the needs of targeted properties that required the additional four feet of frontage. We added a meandering sidewalk, landscaping, and attractive streetlights. The revitalization of the area has led to upscale restaurants moving in and replacing pawn shops. I am proud of my contribution to the improved quality of life for folks in the area, and the increased values of the properties on the corridor. As I am a licensed real estate broker, this is doubly satisfying.
Qk4’s Atlanta regional office has been my home base since 1994. Over the past 21 years at Qk4, I’ve been the engineer of record on over $100 million of construction projects. With each new project, large and small, I look forward to continuing to make roads safer for the traveling public and to revitalize communities.
Tom Clouse, PE
TRANSPORTATION | SOMERSET, KY
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Somerset: 606-425-4636
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Tom Clouse, PE
Regional Manager: Somerset, Assistant Vice President
It is often said that finding a job you love means you’ll never work a day in your life. Approaching my 35th year in the transportation industry, I can personally affirm the truth of this statement. Additionally, I would emphasize two equally crucial factors that contribute to a fulfilling career:
1. Working in an environment that fosters continuous learning, growth, and the expansion of capabilities, preventing stagnation.
2. Surrounding oneself with motivated and competent individuals, creating a workplace that brings joy.
In today’s workforce, where the average employee tenure is a little over four years, my 24 years at KYTC defied the norm. Upon retiring from KYTC at the end of 2013, I did so with some trepidation. Leaving behind the only professional life I had known, I embarked on a journey with no clear destination—a true leap of faith.
Now, a decade into this new adventure, I can confidently state that this experience has exceeded my expectations. Initial concerns about my place in the industry were swiftly dispelled. Embracing new challenges, I found that past project experiences provided a strong foundation for guiding effective project delivery. Unexpectedly, this journey stretched beyond highway design, rekindling my passion for writing and reigniting a focus on highway safety.
These opportunities not only opened the door to securing four successful FHWA grant awards, totaling over $160M in new project funding, but also reinforced the importance of prioritizing the safety of all users as we address transportation projects across the state.
I consider myself truly blessed to have worked and called two places ‘home’ that go beyond merely checking the boxes for a satisfying and fulfilling career. My current position has expanded my sphere of influence from a single district to the entire Commonwealth. I am now presented with the opportunity to facilitate the safe, efficient, and effective movement of people and goods across Kentucky. What’s more, I am honored to work with a group of individuals who I consider family—motivated, competent, and, quite frankly, just fun to be around. Together, we go beyond project delivery; we work to make Kentucky’s highways safer for all our families and find joy along the way!
Neal Crawford, PE
CIVIL SITE GROUP | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Neal Crawford, PE
Project Manager, Assistant Vice President
When you spend eight months with your client crawling around their sewers, it helps make you a better design engineer. At least it’s worked for me. Ten years ago, I performed months of inspections of flood pump stations, combined stations, sluice gates, and sewers – including 100-year-old sewers. I’ve seen elaborate brick sewers constructed by hand in late 1800s and early 20thcentury. It’s amazing how some of these have held up and still work great today – a result of good engineering and construction. But time always wins and sewer infrastructure needs improving.
When figuring out how to prioritize sewer rehabilitation dollars, my clients count on me to help them stretch their already thin budgets to get the most bang for their bucks. By focusing on identifying and improving the problem areas from within the system, we eliminate areas for the highest risk for breaks and emergencies. That means that when a client is out eating dinner with the family, they’re less likely to get a phone call about a break that has shut down a roadway, sending them to the car, doggy bag in hand, and back to the office or to the site of the break.
So, working backward from my construction inspection experience, I have a comprehensive viewpoint because I understand the operational side and functionality side and regulatory side. That lets me help make the design more constructable, less risky, and less expensive.
Surprises during construction and design mistakes result in change orders and preventable expenses. While I can’t eliminate all change orders, I pride myself on limiting them.
So, if you want to get the most bang for the buck for your wastewater and storm sewer budgets and avoid costly rework caused by preventable mistakes in design, then I’d love to help you with your next project.
Matt Riddell
NATIVE AMERICAN SERVICES | LEXINGTON, KY
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Lexington: 859-436-6622 (Direct)
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Matt Riddell
Director: Native American Services, Assistant Vice President
Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, I saw budding roadway issues and my wheels were constantly turning towards how to develop creative solutions. When I experienced roadways that didn’t produce effective results, it made me want to fix it. This is how I commenced roadway engineering and I’ve never left.
I started in a “less-glamorous” area of engineering, creating solutions for stormwater management. Stormwater problems can prove to be the most devastating to the long-term viability of any roadway, thus this initial focus in my career drastically improved my skills towards creating effective roadway designs.
Working with Native American tribes across the country has given me the opportunity to see, firsthand, the richness of their culture and intricacy of their values and traditions. My ability to witness Native American communities’ roadway issues has ignited my passion to cultivate results that improve the lives of the community members. With many Tribes/Nations, funding is always tight. Therefore, I am constantly working towards developing economical project plans, while also helping them seek additional infrastructure capital. There is no greater satisfaction than when I travel to one of the Native American communities I have served and see the look on their membership’s faces when a long-term problem has finally been solved for them.
From my experience, engineering isn’t just math and following specific standards/guidelines. Engineering involves not only producing thorough and unique designs, but also serving your client’s best interest through your skills and your work. One of my favorite parts of my job is developing relationships with clients and ensuring that the entire process is efficient and enjoyable.
Almost 30 years later I still feel the same excitement when a project is completed and a roadway puzzle is solved. I hope to teach my three daughters to pursue a career they love and to find accomplishment through improving the lives of others.
Jeremiah Littleton, PE
CEI | LOUISVILLE, KY
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Louisville: 502-585-2222
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Jeremiah Littleton
CEI Manager
If you haven’t yet witnessed Thunder Over Louisville, one of the most impressive airshows and fireworks displays in the United States, consider adding it to your bucket list. It begins each April, timed to kick off two weeks of Kentucky Derby Festivities. It’s probably the event that led me to my career in civil engineering.
When I was a child, my Aunt Sharon took me “a small-town Kentucky boy” down to the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville to watch the show. As I stared up at the fireworks, I was awed by the 2,400-foot long John F. Kennedy bridge that carried vehicles across one of the widest points of the Ohio River. I thought to myself, “How cool would it be to build something like that?” It may have been that moment that made me interested in civil engineering.
And as I grew, so did my interest in highway engineering. Living in northeastern Kentucky, I began to see how difficult it was for rural folks to get somewhere to see a good doctor, to find a job (or a better paying one), to shop, or merely to be entertained. This realization made me want to help improve people’s lives by building better highway transportation. Therefore, in 1996 I accepted a scholarship from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to attend the University of Kentucky.
While working for 15 years at KYTC, I worked on a variety of projects, including routine grade work and asphalt; however, my proudest achievement was helping build the Abraham Lincoln Cable Stay Bridge. Standing adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Bridge, it now carries all northbound I-65 traffic across the Ohio. I feel blessed to have been able to realize my childhood dream and I’m thankful to the leaders of KYTC for their faith in me.
My wife Cindy and I now live in the Portland neighborhood in Louisville’s West End. I joined Qk4 in 2016, and during that time I’ve helped communities and governments solve transportation problems on a shoestring budget. I’ve also helped reshape the UofL campus. And, lately, I’ve been helping my friends at the KYTC improve over 1,000 bridges in short order.
I told Cindy that I would keep working as long as I was having fun – so I imagine I’ll be at Qk4 for quite some time! Beyond the work itself, it feels like I’m working with family here. . . because people treat each other like family. It is a joy to be a part of such an awesome team of professionals.
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