February 23, 2024

EWeek 24: Andy Sellers, P.E., hosted by Rhett Hebert, E.I.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:25 — 30.8MB)

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Andy Sellers joined Fenstermaker’s Lafayette Engineering group in December 2006 and gained professional engineering licensure over a decade ago in 2013. Andy specializes in civil projects for municipal and parish clients. Currently serving as the Engineer for the City of Carencro, Mr. Sellers manages client relations, engineering services, and infrastructure projects. His responsibilities span the design and enhancement of drainage systems, floodplain management, roadway design, utility design, site design, construction administration, and plan review for commercial and residential developments. 

In his capacity as a Certified Floodplain Manager, Andy collaborates closely with the City of Carencro’s planning department to oversee and administer floodplains within the city limits. He plays a pivotal role in the annual recertification of the City’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, actively contributing to secure funding for flood mitigation projects through various grant programs, and serving as agency coordinator for these initiatives. 

EWeek 24: Dustin Guidry, P.E., hosted by Marina Saad, E.I.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:27 — 39.1MB)

Dustin Guidry is a licensed professional engineer in Louisiana with extensive expertise in civil engineering and construction management. Dustin began his career with Fenstermaker in December 2012 as a construction inspector. In this role, Dustin collaborated closely with contractors and engineers in the field, ensuring projects adhered to plans and specifications. 

Evolving within the company, Dustin transitioned into the role of a CADD Technician, where he collaborated with engineers and surveyors to generate construction plans, survey plats, and project exhibits. With a solid foundation in Civil Engineering, he furthered his career as a project engineer, shouldering responsibilities for Construction Administration. 

February 21, 2024

EWeek 24: Nick Castille, P.E., hosted by Holden Landry

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:37 — 35.2MB)

Nicholas Castille joined Fenstermaker in November 2019 after graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He then gained his professional engineering licensure three-and-a-half years later in 2023. As a civil engineer, Nick brings his expertise in design, planning, and hydraulic modeling to our Engineering division.

Nick actively contributes to roadway plan preparation, horizontal geometric design, inspections, design of geotechnical features, and the implementation of open and closed drainage systems. His primary focus and expertise encompass various areas, including drainage design, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and reporting, roadway design and plan production, civil site design, and construction administration.

February 20, 2024

EWeek 24: Anna Doucet, P.E., hosted by Braden Dauphine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:15 — 29.2MB)

Anna Doucet began her career at Fenstermaker early in 2015. Subsequently gaining her licensure 4 years later in 2019, Anna is now a Professional Engineer specializing in roadway design, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and project management within water resource and transportation sectors.  

In her current role, Anna oversees civil design projects, strategically managing multi-million-dollar projects for both public and private sectors. She has collaborated with various agencies, including LADOTD, FEMA, GOHSEP, along with local municipalities, showcasing her coordination skills in diverse project environments. 

Anna has successfully brought many water resources projects to completion, incorporating numerical hydrologic and hydraulic modeling for floodplain mapping, FEMA No-Rise, and FEMA LOMR. Her utilization of numerical modeling extends to assessing future conditions of drainage basins and formulating cost-effective projects that enhance individual watersheds. 

February 19, 2024

EWeek 24: Ian Trahan, P.E., hosted by Mason Macaluso, E.I.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:24 — 33.5MB)

Ian Trahan, P.E. is a Senior Engineer, he joined Fenstermaker in April 2021. Ian obtained his professional licensure first in Illinois in 2002, and then 2 years later became licensed in Louisiana, almost 20 years ago now.  

In his prior role, Ian served the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) as Program Manager for their involvement in the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI). 

There, Mr. Trahan oversaw the DOTD/LWI Statewide Modeling Program, managing four out of seven modeling teams across the State of Louisiana. His active participation in various LWI Technical Advisory Groups, representation of DOTD on the LWI Working Group, and involvement in the LWI Technical Design and Quality (TDQ) Team underscore his dedication to advancing the engineering field. 

April 27, 2023

Ehab Meselhe, PhD, PE, on the Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:58 — 38.4MB)

Dr. Ehab Meselhe is a Professional Engineer and Professor in the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering at Tulane University. Born in Egypt, in a small town at the tip of the Nile Delta, he spent the first part of his career studying the Nile basin. Ehab left Egypt to study Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa, there earning his master’s and PhD.

It was the University of Louisiana at Lafayette that brought Ehab to Louisiana, where he was a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering for 15 years.

One of Louisiana’s leading experts on coastal systems, Dr. Meselhe has nearly 30 years of experience researching coastal wetland hydrology, sediment transport, and computer modeling of coastal wetland systems. Ehab holds particular interest in the integration of physical, ecological, and social processes for inland watersheds’ riverine, deltaic, and coastal systems.

Serving as Louisiana’s technical lead for the 2013 Mississippi River Hydrodynamic and Delta Management Study, Ehab’s work in predictive modeling has also contributed heavily to Louisiana’s $50 billion 2017 Coastal Master Plan.

Ehab has worked as an educator, researcher, and practitioner with extensive experience working with academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. Ehab strongly believes that the next generation of scientists and engineers need to be taught to collaborate and seek public input in order to develop solutions for large-scale issues related to local and global coastal land loss.

April 13, 2023

Billy Williamson, PE, on the Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:26 — 37.0MB)

Billy Williamson is the Statewide Flood and Watershed Evaluation Programs Administrator with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Prior to his near 9-year tenure with LADOTD, Billy worked within the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources as a Professional Engineer upon graduation from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

In his current role with LADOTD, Mr. Billy Williamson provides management and oversight for the Watershed and Flood Protection Programs in the Public Works and Water Resources Division, including the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI), the Statewide Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling and Statewide Flood Control Programs, the Roadway Flood Mitigation Program, and the Federal Highway Administration’s formula program, Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost Saving Transportation (or PROTECT) which seeks to enable the resiliency of our surface transportation infrastructure.

Billy often speaks to the ongoing efforts of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, presenting regularly at American Society of Civil Engineers seminars and conferences, along with providing detailed project progress updates to local stakeholder groups and the public.

A recent recipient of the Louisiana Engineering Society’s Andrew M. Lockett Medal, Billy was recognized in February of 2022 for his distinguished service as an engineer, acting in the best interest of the Public even in the absence of compensation. Having taken great care to contribute to the civic well-being of his community, surrounding Parishes, and the State of Louisiana, Billy serves as an inspiration to other engineers, that they may follow his lead in this exceptional service.

March 30, 2023

Austin Doucet, EI, on the Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:38 — 55.5MB)

Austin Doucet began his career at Fenstermaker in 2017 as a Civil Engineering Student Intern shortly before his graduation in 2019 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. For the duration of his now 6-year tenure with our firm, and through his current position as an Engineer Intern, Austin has been working toward obtaining his Professional Engineering Licensure with mentorship and supervision from Engineering Director, Jeanne Hornsby, who leads our Water Resources team.

Austin has been involved in reviewing and developing flood study analyses, the designing of open channel and subsurface drainage systems, and has assisted and managed the development of hydrologic and hydraulic numerical models as part of Fenstermaker project teams.

Austin has worked heavily in dealing with Calcasieu Parish Regional Watershed Modeling and Planning. He has played a vital role in the ongoing development of a Stormwater Master Plan for Calcasieu Parish, his main responsibilities including that of data collection and inventory, hydrologic and hydraulic numerical modeling, the creation of a Drainage Infrastructure Watershed Report Card, along with the effective implementation and monitoring of the masterplan itself.

Austin has routinely assisted in the development of hydrologic and hydraulic models which are in turn used to analyze the current and future flood risk and vulnerability of communities. Austin and his colleagues are also skilled in making determinations as to the effectiveness of proposed water resources projects.

It is Austin’s excellent professional and technical skills that have afforded him the opportunity to serve as Region 4’s Program Manager for our current work as part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, the topic of our podcast this season.

March 20, 2023

Bradford Habetz Millett, PLS, EI, on the Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:15 — 39.6MB)

Bradford Millett is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Louisiana with a decade of tenure here at Fenstermaker. Bradford’s career at Fenstermaker began in 2013 when she joined us as an Engineer Intern, coinciding with her graduation from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Serving in a dual capacity as both engineer and surveyor, Bradford combines her training in civil engineering with her exceptional proficiency in survey work to engage in cross-disciplinary projects such as the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, the topic of this season of FUELED, our corporate podcast.

As a Professional Land Surveyor and Engineer Intern at Fenstermaker, Bradford is responsible for completing and overseeing all survey-related services for our Engineering Division and Municipal Clientele. She specializes in topographic, boundary, construction and as-built surveys, watershed surveys, project control establishment, along with subdivision, topographic, right of way, and servitude plats, LA DOTD right of way maps and ALTA surveys.

Throughout her ten-year history with our firm, Bradford has been involved in a broad swath of projects ranging from road construction and water treatment facility design to surveying dredging operations, diversion canals and channel realignments. Perhaps most relevant to today’s conversation surrounding the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, Bradford has been heavily involved in Fenstermaker’s efforts toward Calcasieu Parish’s Regional Watershed Modeling and Planning. In this capacity, she has been responsible for managing survey field crews and processing field data along with supporting documentation related to hydraulic structure analyses, assessing impacts on proposed drainage improvement activities.

Bradford is one of Louisiana’s six women currently licensed and practicing as a professional land surveyor. Her efforts and accomplishments to-date make her uniquely qualified to speak on behalf of the work being done for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.

March 2, 2023

Jonathan Breaux on the Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:58 — 39.3MB)

Jonathan Breaux began his surveying career at Fenstermaker as a Rodman in 2007, now, almost 16 years later, Jonathan is a Party Chief III, having worked his way through the ranks of our field operations. As a survey party chief, Jonathan coordinates and supervises the activities of his crew, including instrumentmen and rodmen, as directed by project managers and under the supervision of our Field Operations manager along with a Licensed Professional Surveyor. Throughout the years, Jonathan has exhibited excellent time management, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills, has held himself and crew to a high standard of operation, demonstrating accountability, independence, and professionalism as our company representative on job sites.

May 17, 2022

John Fenstermaker on the History of the Fenstermaker Family Firm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:02 — 44.9MB)

John Fenstermaker is a Registered Professional Land Surveyor, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Business Development here at Fenstermaker. John leads our Business Development Team, managing the promotion of our firm’s services. While in his former role as Vice President of the Survey & Mapping Division, John built a vast network of contacts consisting of both long-time and new clients. His experience with the company includes project planning, quality assurance and quality control, data acquisition and management.

Under John’s leadership, our firm’s Survey & Mapping Division grew into what is now one of the most respected surveying firms in the country. John and his team developed new workflows and field communications, ensuring the company’s position at the forefront of technology. With a focus on client satisfaction and technology integration, John has led some of the most efficient, well-equipped, and experienced teams in the industry.

John is a member of the American Association of Professional Landmen, the Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen, the Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, the Pipeliners Association of Houston, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Association of Drilling Engineers, the Louisiana Gas Association, the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, the ADAM Energy Forum, and the International Right of Way Association.

Thank you, John, for participating in this Season of FUELED, which we are calling ‘Seeking CHF,’ an attempt to gain insight into our origins as a company, our founder, Charles Howard Fenstermaker, Jr., and of course, your role in the development and trajectory of our family business to where we are today—over 70 years in the making!

May 3, 2022

Greg Palmer on the History of the Fenstermaker Family Firm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:09 — 56.0MB)

Greg Palmer, prior to his retirement late in 2020, served Fenstermaker as Vice President of Contracts and Acquisitions. Greg was a key member of our executive team and was heavily involved in setting the company’s strategic direction. In his VP role, Greg oversaw the details of all corporate contracts including negotiations, management, and closeout for our diverse client base comprised of state and local agencies and governments along with private industry. Greg’s tenure with Fenstermaker began in 1984, and from there, he dedicated over 3 decades of his life to our firm. Greg was a driving force in the growth and diversification of the company. He certainly played a vital role in the development of our firm’s work ethic, culture, and values.

April 19, 2022

R.J. Boutte on the History of the Fenstermaker Family Firm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:24 — 91.2MB)

R.J. Boutte, prior to his retirement late in 2020, served in a vital leadership capacity here at Fenstermaker as Senior Vice President, overseeing quality and safety programming while working closely with all management teams.

In a prior role as Sr. VP of Operations, he coordinated daily activities in support of the policies, goals, and corporate vision established by our CEO and President. He was responsible for the development, promotion, and financial forecasting of the company’s products and services. R.J. ensured that all of our operations were carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws. His leadership effectively maximized resources and the timely delivery of project objectives.

During his tenure of almost 50 years, R.J. contributed substantially to the formulation of our Safety and Quality Control Programs. Under his direction, and as a result of his effectual management, Fenstermaker experienced tremendous growth in size, expertise, and revenue.

April 5, 2022

Mark Fenstermaker on the History of the Fenstermaker Family Firm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:17 — 22.2MB)

Mark Fenstermaker has been employed within the family company since 1985 and has served in various capacities since joining the team. He is currently serving as our Director of Corporate Resources. Mark is heavily involved in all new capital expenditures, and supervises the construction, operation, and maintenance of all buildings as well as supervising the purchase and maintenance of all vehicles and equipment. Mark is also involved in the in-house design and fabrication of specialized equipment for field operations.

March 22, 2022

Bill Fenstermaker on the History of the Fenstermaker Family Firm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:26 — 31.5MB)

William H. Fenstermaker, better known as “Bill” Fenstermaker, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of C.H. Fenstermaker and Associates, LLC., our family’s surveying, mapping, engineering, and environmental consulting company that has been conducting operations for over 70 years. He has been employed in this capacity since 1971 and is responsible for the financial and operational stability of the company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, with offices in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Mandeville, and New Orleans, Louisiana, along with Houston, San Antonio and Midland, Texas.

Bill Fenstermaker is not only recognized as a leader in his field, but a leader in the state of Louisiana. In addition to his role with Fenstermaker, Bill was Chairman of the Board of IBERIABANK Corporation a $32B bank holding company, which recently merged with First Horizon out of Memphis, TN. Bill is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization, Chief Executives Organization, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Acadiana, he’s on the Entergy Louisiana Advisory Board, and is immediate past chairman for the Board of Trustees at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, the largest full-service medical facility serving the Acadiana region.

Mr. Fenstermaker also sits on the Board and is Past Chairman of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), he is the past Chairman of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, past member of the Board of Regents for the State of Louisiana, he also serves on the Advisory Board of the Louisiana Geological Survey. Bill is on the Board of Directors and is Past Chairman of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, and is a founder, Past Chairman, and Trustee of Blueprint Louisiana. This list of the key roles he has played with local non-profit, civic and business organizations is indicative of his commitment to our community. His honors include Business Person of the Year (by the Times of Acadiana) in 1998, the Lafayette Civic Cup in 1999, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award in 2001, and was named Executive of the Year by Acadiana Business Magazine in 2009. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science Degree from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003 and most recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to Lafayette General Medical Center.

January 17, 2020

Professional Engineer, Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby, on Drainage Infrastructure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:00 — 109.8MB)

Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby is a Professional Engineer and Director at Fenstermaker with 15 years of numerical modeling, water resource engineering, planning, and project management experience. Mrs. Hornsby earned her Master’s of Science degree in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette under the direction of Dr. Ehab Meselhe and Dr. Emad Habib. Currently Mrs. Hornsby leads Fenstermaker’s Water Resources Team throughout the company’s offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans, LA. Her main responsibilities include leading multi-million-dollar projects that range from coastal and watershed modeling and management to roadway design and construction for both the public and private sectors. She has obtained her experience and expertise by working on projects in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, with the majority of her hydrologic and hydraulic modeling experience focused on Southwest Louisiana, specifically the Vermilion, Teche, Mermentau, and Calcasieu watersheds. As a Certified Floodplain Manager, Jeanne assists many area communities in flood mitigation project funding through the use of available grant programs. She also assists communities in drafting flood protection and drainage ordinances as well as leading participation and renewal activities in the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). Jeanne was raised and currently resides with her family in Lafayette Parish.

January 3, 2020

Professional Land Surveyor, Lolly Brasseaux, on Pipeline Infrastructure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:06 — 98.7MB)

Mr. Lolly Brasseaux was the Senior Project Manager and Associate Director within Fenstermaker’s Survey division and served as the point of contact for many of our firm’s larger mid-stream capital projects. He performed pipeline, hydrographic, topographic and boundary surveys for local, state and Federal agencies, major and independent oil companies, as well as private industry.  Lolly was also one of the Staff Coordinators for technical overview and quality control, having done work for clients in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Registered Professional Land Surveyor No. 4692, Lolly began surveying in 1974 and was a part of the Fenstermaker family from August of 1977 up until his passing on Thanksgiving day in 2021.

We’re so fortunate to have been on the receiving end of Lolly’s best for almost 45 years. We’re proud to continue sharing this interview with everyone. We’ll be forever missing his genuinely selfless nature, his authenticity, and his kind-hearted spirit.

December 20, 2019

Dr. Kam Movassaghi on Transportation Infrastructure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:45 — 118.5MB)

Dr. Kam Movassaghi is currently President and CEO of Movassaghi Group, PEC, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has experience in civil engineering in the areas of consulting, academia, and government. Dr. Movassaghi received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1963. He then went on to earn his Master of Science and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department in 1965 and 1971, respectively.

Dr. Movassaghi served as an engineer in several engineering firms in his early career. He then joined the faculty at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette where he was selected to head the Department of Civil Engineering. Under his direction the department expanded programs in research, developed a design computation laboratory, developed a graduate engineering management program, and received very successful ABET accreditation reviews.

In 1998 Dr. Movassaghi was appointed by then Governor “Mike” Foster as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. With this position, Dr. Movassaghi was able to increase the annual construction project lettings by 78 percent with no net increase in annual revenues. He also implemented a comprehensive management plan to expedite completion of the TIMED program, the largest construction program in the history of the department. Dr. Movassaghi accomplished these and many among other notable feats in the 6 years as he served the state in this role.

Dr. Kam was also the President of Fenstermaker from 2005 – 2014 and was excited to be a part of our first season of Fueled.

December 6, 2019

John D. Foret, PhD. on Coastal Infrastructure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:08 — 112.5MB)

Dr. John Foret is Vice President of Environmental, and the Environmental Leader to a staff of fourteen biologists. His duties include supervising all environmental staff activities as they relate to industry permitting activities (air/water/wetland), wetland delineations, mitigation banking consultation, wetland habitat restoration consultation (emergent marsh, shoreline protection, reef restoration), environmental assessments, biological assessments, project budgets and timelines, and project management. Prior to his time at Fenstermaker Dr. Foret served as a Research Fisheries Biologist for 18 years with DOC/NOAA/NMFS Galveston Laboratory. He was the Team Leader within the Fishery Ecology Branch in Lafayette, LA and managed all activities associated to the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) as they related to coastal fisheries habitat restoration. He was also a Federal restoration project manager for NOAA Fisheries in the CWPPRA Program.

November 22, 2019

Professional Engineer, Dax Douet Speaks on Infrastructure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:59 — 109.8MB)

Dax Douet is an Engineering Director with 22 years of professional experience in design, planning, and project management. He has designed highways, roadways, drainage systems, interchanges, roundabouts, standard intersections, and various site developments. Mr. Douet also has numerous years of experience in the bidding and construction administration of projects. During his tenure here at Fenstermaker, Dax has performed multiple reviews of construction plans to determine constructability of designs under actual field conditions and live traffic loading. Additionally, Mr. Douet managed the preparation of over thirteen transportation feasibility studies for the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development. These feasibility studies were conducted for a wide range of transportation projects throughout the State of Louisiana to include roadway improvements, interstate highway interchanges, and grade-separated bridge structures. Mr. Douet has also led the preparation of geometric line and grade studies to support more than five Environmental Assessment documents in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines. He has managed various multi-disciplinary projects and performed roadway corridor studies, traffic safety analyses, and feasibility studies, which encompass design, right-of-way, environmental, and utility work. Mr. Douet was previously a city engineer responsible for roadways, drainage, development review, municipal code development, utilities systems, and various other municipal engineering tasks. Throughout his career, Dax has worked with various local, state, and federal agencies. A life-long resident of Acadiana, Dax was born and raised in St. Martinville, Louisiana and currently resides in Youngsville, Louisiana.

November 19, 2019

Season One Trailer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:55 — 9.0MB)

Introducing Fueled: A Fenstermaker Podcast. A series of conversations offering a variety of professional insights, enlightening discussions and fueling a greater understanding and awareness of Fenstermaker’s expertise.

In season 1, join host, Kathryn Fenstermaker, as she explores our region’s infrastructure with members of the Fenstermaker Family as well as State and Local leaders.