Meet Our New Principals and Associates
Freese and Nichols has elected nine new Principals and 29 new Associates, representing 20 different offices across eight states.
They are recognized leaders who live our LEADS values every day and have proven expertise in technical excellence, management and personnel development, and business development and marketing. These leaders are elevating excellence in serving our clients, leading others and leading the company.
Electing Principals and Associates every year is one of the many ways we recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our employees and provide opportunities for growth.
Principals
Peter Bartels is a senior structural engineer with 26 years in heavy civil and facility design. His structural engineering expertise and ability to integrate pumps, piping, vibration and structural systems support technically complex, high-performing designs. Nationally recognized for his work on the ANSI/HI 9.6.6 Appendix D Committee, he advances pump station vibration standards as the committee’s sole structural engineer. He coaches teams effectively and guides our structural specifications, standard details and processes because he stays connected with major design codes, standards, software and technology trends. Pete’s innovative work includes floating pump stations, tunnels, unique bridge designs, and precast systems for accelerated underground pump station construction and other unique structural challenges.
Todd Buckingham is a premier senior transportation project manager with 17 years of experience in roadway design, multimodal facilities and roundabouts. He manages more than 20 projects annually, consistently exceeding financial goals and maintaining a decade-long record of less than 1% projects over budget. Todd leads an 11-person high-performing team that oversees major transportation projects. As one of our first Envision Sustainability Trainers, he’s hosted numerous staff/client trainings and has taught sustainable design at Oklahoma State University for nine years, while chairing Freese and Nichols’ Sustainability and Resilience Committee.
Cullen Carlson is nationally recognized in wastewater system modeling, master planning, hydraulics, impact fee analysis and asset management. His technical expertise has significantly advanced our water/wastewater planning services across North Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He embraces emerging modeling technologies – from design storm development to infiltration analysis and Power BI visualization – and has contributed to award-winning projects, including ACEC honors. He leads a high-performing team while mentoring PMs, APMs, modelers and planners firmwide. He has produced resources such as AWIA materials, water quality initiatives and financial tracking that elevate our processes.
Aaron Conine has become a trusted technical expert for water/wastewater transmission and utilities, especially in pump station design and collaborative project delivery. He regularly guides teams on complex utility and multidiscipline projects and shares his knowledge nationally through the AWWA Capital Project Delivery Committee, technical presentations and his contributions to WEF’s Manual of Practice No. 7. Aaron’s technical credibility has earned trusted, long-term client relationships across North Texas and West Texas.
Coby Gee‘s water/wastewater treatment expertise spans PFAS pretreatment, industrial surcharge programs, odor control and wastewater treatment innovation. He consistently drives improvement by developing QA/QC workload tools, conducting after‑action reviews, and leading strategic workload planning efforts. Coby has built strong client relationships with cities and river authorities in Central Texas, contributed to the WEF Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal Manual, co‑authored a WE&T article, and delivered numerous conference presentations.
Daniel Harrison is an accomplished urban planning leader known for his expertise in comprehensive planning, code development and county regulatory strategy. His pioneering work on reservoir zoning and county development regulations is recognized statewide, making him a sought-after expert and speaker. His technical skill, political awareness and clear communication enables him to work effectively with city councils, county judges and diverse stakeholders. His quality delivery has earned him four major APA Texas project awards.
Jace Houston, our Risk and Compliance Director and General Counsel, brings leadership experience, legal expertise and industry credibility that make him a strategic asset. A former CEO-level leader in the Texas water sector, he has transformed Freese and Nichols’ risk management function into a proactive, enterprise-level strategic partner. He’s strengthened our legal and risk capabilities by hiring specialized talent and mentoring his staff. With clients, Jace provides guidance on water supply, flooding, reservoir operations and legislative participation.
Gregg Hudock is a recognized expert in dam design, geotechnical engineering and multidisciplinary project management. He has experience on 55+ dam designs across four continents, has delivered 15+ publications and presentations, and is actively involved in professional organizations such as ASDSO, USSD, ASCE and IGEL. In Gregg’s 27-year career, he has served federal, state and municipal government and power-generation and waste-management companies. Gregg applies his skills and insights, while mentoring staff, to provide practical solutions that allow our clients to meet their project goals while staying within budget and schedule.
Patrick Miles is an industry-leading expert in advanced hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling and risk analysis for dams, levees, canals, spillways and large basin systems. He leads our large basin hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling team, significantly expanding Freese and Nichols’ technical depth and strengthening collaboration between our dams and levees and stormwater practices. Patrick was the first at Freese and Nichols to adopt HEC-RAS 2D and LifeSim, pioneering their use to enhance dam safety modeling and risk assessment. He has contributed to FEMA’s risk screening tools and national guidance manuals and has provided leadership in organizations such as ASDSO and USSD.
Associates
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