Our People - Qk4, Inc. (2024)

Taneika Warner

Staff Accountant

As an accountant at an engineering and planning firm, I have a very analytical job, working with numbers all day. You’d probably expect me to say I’m left-brained, but it might throw you for a loop if I told you I was once a total drama nerd.

I grew up near Chicago and caught the theater bug early. I was Thespian Society president in high school. My favorite role was a murderous granny in Arsenic and Old Lace!

I started studying civil engineering but switched to business. I loved accounting for the structure and problem-solving. Now, I handle accounts receivable, allocating money; it’s not as dramatic as playing a killer granny, but I like being detail oriented and hunting down discrepancies, satisfying my left brain.

But wait, there’s more! Outside work, I love baking and cake decorating. I made my wedding cake. I made my little sister’s wedding cake. I dream up crazy cake ideas and how to decorate them, like a banana pudding cake.

More than being left or right-brained, I think being detail-oriented is the thing that’s essential for everything I do, whether at home or the office.

Byron Tse, PE

Project Engineer

As a civil engineer, I’ve worn multiple hats on many kinds of wastewater and highway projects, but the bridge-related projects I’ve been on are particularly gratifying. Most recently, I helped as a design team leader in the monumental Kentucky Bridges project, which aims to replace thousands of bridges across the state. My role is to see a project through and ensure the streamlined and safe design of these bridges. This means aligning diverse elements such as structural engineering, geotechnical, hydraulics, and environmental aspects.

One of my proudest moments was my involvement in the emergency bridge replacement projects after the flooding in Kentucky, where our team worked around the clock to design roads and bridges that were washed out, managing to complete designs for seven bridges in just a few weeks. This experience was a testament to our team’s resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our community in times of need.

Beyond the projects themselves, the wonderful set of coworkers I collaborate with keeps me excited to come to work every day, and I’ve been at Qk4 for over 20 years. They are more than just colleagues; they are good friends, supportive mentors, and knowledgeable companions who make work enjoyable.

Morgan Keck, EIT

Project Engineer

As a member of our Native American Services group, I get to do a lot of exciting work. I fly around the country to different tribal lands and get to know their leaders and others in the tribal community. I drive and inventory all of their roadways, and it really gives me a feel for the community and the people in them. What’s more, it gives us ideas for future life-improving projects.

Project-wise, my favorite has been the Trinidad project in Northern California. We’re designing a new interchange consisting of two roundabouts from US 101 into the tribal lands. The interchange will reconnect the tribe’s territory, which was split by the construction of the state highway. This improvement will allow tribal members direct access to vital services and resources.

Tribal leaders I’ve met care about their communities in a way that goes beyond roadway functionality; they genuinely want to help their people. Their communities experience real and pressing needs.

So, it’s been incredible to get to know and work with them to meet those needs, and it has given me valuable experience. Because of my experience, I’ve been able to speak at national conferences, including one in Anchorage, Alaska, which has helped me grow as a professional in short order.

Cathy Watson

Administrative Supervisor

I like to help people.

As a career-long administrative assistant, I know I’m successful when others are successful. That’s what I tell our admin staff; it’s our job to help and do whatever needs to be done to make things happen and make everyone else better at what they do. And those needs sure have changed over time.

When I started 35 years ago, we had an architecture practice, and one of my first responsibilities was checking architecture plans before they went out. I also helped executives compose various forms of documentation, assemble proposals, schedule meetings, and make travel arrangements. I help in very different ways now, but the common thread has always been that, to do it well, there’s a lot of crossing of Ts and dotting of Is. One example is being part of our recent headquarters office relocation.

I’m also a lifelong learner. I have ridden horses for decades, but I still take lessons. My husband asked me, “When will you finish taking lessons?” I replied, “When I stop riding.” That’s because there’s always something new; I can always get a little bit stronger, a little bit sharper, and maybe a little bit more patient.

Which helps me help people.
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Eunice Holland

Project Manager

I’m a transportation planner in Eastern Kentucky. When we can get grant money for highway improvement projects for the people of Eastern Kentucky, it fosters economic development, which means we improve the quality of life for our citizens, including me, because I live here. That’s part of what I do, but sometimes, it’s less about planning and more about getting things done to help people immediately.

In July 2022, a historic flood swept through 14 counties in Eastern Kentucky, including my home county of Perry. I was lucky that my home was not affected. Once the flood waters receded, I assisted local governments in several counties, assessing road damage and volunteering with clean-up and distribution centers.

Qk4 recently teamed with DCMC Partners to assist Breathitt and Letcher Counties with their Comprehensive Recovery Plans. Recovering from a disaster is a tough process, and I love helping my area put the pieces back together and be better prepared for future events.

I like to be known as a person who, when I say I’m going to do something, I do it. A local mayor, one of my favorite clients, paid me my best compliment; when he introduced me to someone, he said, “She’s topnotch. Anything that you ask her do, she’ll get, she’ll get it done.” I love that.

Isaiah Kingsberry

Land Surveyor

I’m a land surveyor, meaning I spend a lot of time on the ground, so you’d never guess that my undergraduate degree was in atmospheric science—meteorology, basically.

Something else that might surprise you if you don’t know what land surveyors do is that we help shape our world. As a land surveyor, I use my skills to measure and map land, which is essential for construction projects, environmental protection, and many other important goals. I also get to work with a variety of people, from engineers and architects to farmers and landowners.

I’m proud of having laid the foundations for significant projects, like a new tower at the University of Louisville Hospital and renovations at Churchill Downs. I like seeing my projects evolve from foundational groundwork to living structures, potentially becoming historically significant landmarks. The opportunity to work on diverse projects, from major constructions to boundary surveys on picturesque farms in small towns, is gratifying. For example, in Harlan, Kentucky, my work helped straighten dangerous roadway curves on US 421, which improved the community’s safety and enabled economic development.

I’m proud to be a land surveyor. I’m using my knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world.

Rebecca Hammond, PE

Traffic Engineer

As a student, I was initially intrigued by architecture’s creative aspects. Still, as I learned more, I discovered how multifaceted civil engineering is, that is, it combines creativity with everyday functionality, so I pursued that field. I’ve worked on many highway projects during my career, starting with my time at the University of Louisville while a co-op here at Qk4, but my passion has become traffic and safety planning.

I’ve had the exciting opportunity to help lead pivotal projects, such as creating the state of Kentucky’s first-ever transportation bike-ped plan and a comprehensive planning study in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Because E-town is amid a historic growth spurt, we studied a large swath of the city’s roads to anticipate problem areas and recommend potential projects to mitigate future issues. I got to work with representatives from the town and Harden County and help them envision the region’s future potential if we collaborated to devise creative but pragmatic solutions. That was only two years ago, and they’ve already started implementing some of the projects we suggested. It is satisfying to see the public benefitting from our work.

Currently working part-time, I balance work with raising two young children. I am grateful for my work flexibility so I can continue learning and using my skills to serve our transportation engineering clients.

Steven Trevino

Traffic Modeler

I’m a data geek. Answering transportation questions with machine learning and big data is vital to what I do, so you might even say I’m a “big data” geek. What distinguishes me from many other modelers is how much I enjoy interacting with people and sharing what I’ve learned. Even the simplest models have some complex elements, and I take pride in being a subject matter expert for others.

I enjoy working with non-technical professionals who may not fully comprehend the “black box” behind model results. Understanding the data is critical to developing transportation plans and making decisions. I do not have a Ph.D.; I worked my way up as a junior analyst and earned my expertise on the job. Therefore, I can explain the data in plain language that everyone can understand.

Travel models are a tool that comes with uncertainties found in any prediction, but that’s okay; the data usually points us in the right direction. I understand the theory behind these models, right or wrong, so I can help my clients make sense of the data, trends, and forecasts so they can make informed decisions.

As my clients harness this data, they improve the lives of the traveling public and their broader communities. When I think about it that way, I am proud to be a data geek helping to build a better future.

Amanda Greenwell, EIT

Project Engineer

I’ve only been out of college for a few years, but working with clients like Churchill Downs, the City of Radcliff, and the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District has already provided me with a wide range of engineering experiences. The variety means that I’m learning at a high-speed pace.

Right now, the Origin Park project is a highlight for me because it represents the intersection of project complexity and community impact. It is an evolving new 430-acre urban riverfront park on the north shore of the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana. We’re helping them replace dilapidated, abandoned industrial eyesores with healthy and biodiverse forests, meadows, and wetlands that visitors can enjoy via trails, boardwalks, and bridges.

I’m coordinating with architects, ecologists, and lighting designers nationwide. Due to the levee’s jurisdiction, this becomes even more intricate with the Army Corps of Engineers’ involvement. My mom has been an engineer for the Army Corps for 30 years, so that’s an interesting coincidence. What’s more, Origin Park was part of my capstone project for my engineering degree at the University of Louisville, so it’s been incredible to work on something I’ve known about for years.

Most of all, I like knowing that I am here not just to do a job, but to make a difference by building more resilient communities.

Chad Cutsinger, SR/WA

Right-of-Way Director

Moving is tough, ranking right up there with losing a loved one or going through a divorce. I’ve been in the right-of-way field since 1997, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard it can be for folks when they need to sell their property for a highway project. Today, I’m the Right-of-Way Director at Qk4, overseeing all activities related to right-of-way.

When it comes to acquiring land, I’m all about making it a win-win. We work hard to agree on a fair price with property owners, trying to skip the painful court battles that could come from condemning land. It’s quicker, smoother, and leaves everyone feeling a bit better about the whole process.

Although I haven’t done a lot of relocation of homeowners and tenants lately, I have a story about what it means to try to make moving a less stressful situation. Years ago, I helped a single mom move her kid out of a rundown rental and into a home they could call their own. I drove her to homebuyer classes, worked out the financing bits with her, and made sure she got a mortgage that was less than her old rent!

I don’t see what I did as something extra; it’s just part of the job. It’s about treating people right, helping them move forward, and, at the same time, keeping those essential highway projects on track.

Jeremy Lukat, PE, PTOE

Traffic Engineer

As a traffic engineer, I use advanced simulation software to model traffic patterns, considering variables like vehicle flow, signal timings, and road geometry. I can represent current conditions by inputting real-world data such as traffic counts, turning movements, and pedestrian activity. Drone footage is also helpful in replicating real-world conditions. A well-calibrated base model allows the general public, who uses these facilities every day, to buy into the accuracy of the analysis visually.

My models enable the visualization of potential roadway changes, allowing engineers to assess their impact on traffic flow and safety. This data-driven approach helps city planners and highway engineers optimize road networks for efficiency and safety.

The Fourth Street project in Covington, Kentucky, has been my signature project lately. The city bought 23 acres of land and demolished an IRS building to free it up for development. The master plan shows 200,000 square feet of new office space, 177 new hotel rooms, nearly 90,000 square feet of retail, 348 residential units, and a 110,000-square-foot convention center expansion.

As they demolished the building, the traffic count dropped on Fourth Street, so we’re now looking at dropping a lane and adding some bike paths as a more complete multi-modal street. Fourth Street will still move car traffic, be safer with pedestrians and bicycles, and create more of a sense of community optimized for all users moving forward. It’s pretty cool to help transform a whole city.

David Fox, PE

Transportation Engineer

As an engineering professor once said to me, civil engineers put the “civil” in civilization, and I’m proud to be a part of that legacy.

Although I’ve had several different careers, they all have a common theme—I strive to make a positive impact on the world. Before settling into civil engineering, which is now my passion, I dabbled in architecture, combining my love for math, art, and history. After college, one of the remarkable experiences in my life was my time in the Peace Corps, where I served in Guatemala for two and a half years. It fueled my desire to make the world a better place.

Over the years, I’ve been involved in many projects as a civil engineer, but one that truly stands out is the Skip Spann Connector in Kennesaw. This project improved accessibility and reduced congestion around Kennesaw State University. It involved creating a striking bridge with arches that mirrored the silhouette of Kennesaw Mountain, making it a beacon of the area. It was a complex puzzle involving coordination with various teams and meticulous planning.

Engineers are problem solvers, and I relish the challenge of finding innovative solutions to leave a lasting mark on the world.