Taneika Warner
ACCOUNTING | LOUISVILLE, KY
Taneika Warner
Staff Accountant
I started my land survey career in the field, and that has been a major help as I help manage the field crews and process the data that our crews bring in now. One of the biggest challenges is to ensure that before our survey crews climb into their trucks each morning they have the info they need to collect good survey data. When survey data comes back into the office, I make sure it’s complete, accurate, and usable by the engineers. Even though I’m a professional land surveyor and not an engineer, I try to think like an engineer. That way, I can anticipate what they need to create a design that can be built without surprises.
For example, if we are working on a highway improvement, it would be a terrible thing for our engineers to have designed a new storm drainage system and then during construction discover that there’s a telephone line that conflicts with a proposed storm pipe. When that happens, our engineering teams have to scramble to come up with a new design. That leaves the construction crew cooling its heels, which costs time, effort, and money. We can prevent that by looking ahead to what happens with our product when we pass it along.
I’m particularly proud of my part in the Bridging Kentucky project. We surveyed about 500 bridges in two years – pretty amazing when you think about it. To keep track of the status of those hundreds of bridges, I created a system to keep track of field crews, CAD operators, and outside services (such as 811) as all the components of each bridge survey were completed. In a matter of minutes, I could answer questions about the survey status of each bridge, including details like what utilities were notified of the project by 811 or who the field crew was. If on any given day KYTC needed to know the status of a particular bridge, I always had the answer at my fingertips. Knowing that I helped us survey 500 bridges in an impossible timeframe is a very satisfying feeling.
Byron Tse, PE
TRANSPORTATION | LOUISVILLE, KY
Byron Tse, PE
Project Engineer
As a civil engineer, Iāve worn multiple hats on many kinds of wastewater and highway projects, but the bridge-related projects Iāve 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 teamās 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 Iāve 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.
Isaiah Kingsberry
SURVEY | LOUISVILLE, KY
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 scienceāmeteorology, 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.
Steven Trevino
TRAFFIC SERVICES | NEWBURG, IN
Steven Trevino
Traffic Modeler
Iām a data geek. Answering transportation questions with machine learning and big data is vital to what I do, so you might even say Iām a ābig dataā geek. What distinguishes me from many other modelers is how much I enjoy interacting with people and sharing what Iāve 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 āblack boxā 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 thatās 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.