Otak

“I don’t think you’re ever done growing and that’s what I love about our organization, is that it consists of many growth-oriented people. I’m excited to stoke that fire.” Even after many years managing the completion of schools, hospitals, and other important public facilities, Shawn Klinkner still feels he’s in more in the business of building people than building buildings. We’re happy to announce this is an approach he’s now bringing to guide the firm’s growth, as PM/CM business unit leader. Congrats on the promotion to leadership Shawn!

#TuesdayProjectSpotlight: In the notoriously rainy Pacific Northwest, how is a single facility designed to collect and treat stormwater across 260-acres using the power of biology? Take a closer look at the Monroe Avenue Infiltration Facility in the City of Renton, where a “treatment train” approach is taken to filter sediment and minimize flooding during even the most extreme storm events. #StormwaterTreatment #InfiltrationFacility #HydraulicModeling https://lnkd.in/gRVhYYPb

We’re #hiring a Transportation Senior Project Manager to join our growing Puget Sound team in Redmond, WA! In this role, you’ll lead multi-disciplinary transportation projects, from municipal roadways and transit infrastructure to grading, drainage, and utility systems. You’ll build strong client relationships, drive business growth, and mentor staff—all while making a lasting impact on communities across the region. We’re looking for a collaborative, self-motivated leader with established client connections and a passion for innovation. If you’re ready to take on diverse, high-impact projects and grow with a dynamic team, we want to hear from you! Click the link to learn more and apply! https://lnkd.in/g7P_gJwR #TransportationEngineering #CivilEngineering #NowHiring #PugetSoundJobs #RedmondWAJobs #InfrastructureDesign #EngineeringLeadership

We’re heading to Keystone for Housing Colorado 2025! Keep an eye out for Emily Carter and Dan Kessler from Otak’s architecture team as we join the affordable housing community at the Housing Colorado Annual Conference, October 15–17 in Keystone, CO. We’re excited to join developers, advocates, and policy leaders for conversation on shaping the future of housing across the state. If you’re attending, we’d love to meet and explore how we can collaborate to build more equitable, sustainable communities. Explore our affordable housing portfolio: https://lnkd.in/gwgKxXXA And learn more about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/gytR2_2T #HousingColorado2025 #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #ColoradoHousing

Another year, another Otak Fall Harvest in the books! From the technical aspects of a well-designed planter to its natural alignment with sustainable practices, gardening in many ways mirrors the art and science that fuels our work. And as usual, our teams have the green thumbs to prove it. See how gardeners across our teams fared this year, applying passion and expertise to–quite literally–their chosen field. Lindsay Martin | John Rogers | Brezil Ponec | Brian Weller-Gordon | Annika Hudson | David Brodkey | Rose Horton | Douglas Sarkkinen | David W. | Kevin Dooley, PE, ENV SP

#TuesdayProjectSpotlight: How is a flood-prone neighborhood transformed to protect its community from a once-in-a-lifetime storm? Take a closer look at the Foster Floodplain Natural Area, where environmental science aids the restoration of 5,600 feet of stream while helping people in this area of City of Portland relocate to safety from a 100-year storm event. https://lnkd.in/gAx8BPWq

If you’re looking for an opportunity to lead innovative transit projects in the Puget Sound region, we’d love to hear from you!

This fall started off with two events in two regions that shared one common goal: improving the impact of stormwater infrastructure. In Portland, Oregon, the annual Sustainable Stormwater Symposium organized by EWRG, included a presentation led by our own Trista Kobluskie alongside Clackamas County Water Environmental Services. The session focused on the variety of approaches that can be taken to create positive environmental outcomes while meeting regulatory standards. In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the bi-annual flagship gathering for the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) featured a panel with stormwater lead Amy Murdick, as well as leaders from Town of Parker, Colorado, Naranjo Civil Constructors , Mile High Flood District, and ERO Resources Corporation. Their discussion highlighted the practice of adaptive management, and the process of establishing what to expect with the often-unexpected nature of water resources. Learn more about both events, those involved, and the importance of continuously improving the impact of this work for communities, at our website. https://lnkd.in/gUYMyXYv

“Don’t be afraid to reach out to other disciplines…that’s one of the ways I was able to diversify my knowledge. The presence of our other disciplines provided added exposure into those facets of engineering.” Earning your Professional Engineer (PE) license is a natural next step in the career of most engineers, but there are many paths to reaching that goal. On the way to recently earning his, Daniel Harrison took the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and learn from a diverse set of experts, crediting Otak’s multidisciplinary environment for making that more possible. Because of the range of work across our groups, Daniel feels he benefited from not being “typecast” into specific projects. Being able to work on everything from small city parks to large subdivisions is part of what’s kept him interested and advancing in the field. That interest—along with months of studying—has now culminated in an ability to take on more leadership roles on projects, which is now the next step he looks forward to as he continues his career. Congrats on the professional milestone Daniel! #ProfessionalEngineer #Multidisciplinary

🏫PROJECT UPDATE: Ground has been broken for the new Molalla River Middle School! After the passing of a May 2024 bond, the long-awaited replacement for the 70-year-old building will be an amazing improvement for the students and surrounding community. See what project partner Opsis Architecture had to say about the start of construction as they celebrated alongside Otak’s project management team and partners from Pence Contractors. Otak Project Leads: Miki Bragg, Bob Collins Client: Molalla River School District