As we embark on our second century, we recognize the rapid changes and opportunities that lie ahead. Our organization is deeply committed to creating a future that benefits everyone, and we passionately pursue opportunities for growth and development within our team. We are excited to announce the promotion of the following individuals, who exemplify our dedication to providing superior engineering services for our clients. Their exceptional work on recent projects has gone above and beyond our clients’ expectations, and we look forward to seeing their continued contributions to our organization.

Principals

Matt DiPiro, PE

Matt effortlessly relates technical topics to those who seek guidance. He understands the importance of refining ideas through an iterative design process. As a Principal and Studio Director, he is committed to focusing on business development and continuously improving internal processes. Matt firmly believes that treating project team members as friends and fostering good communication, humility, and open-mindedness are all key to achieving successful project outcomes. He is also extremely enthusiastic about the ever-evolving cloud-based documentation and is excited to witness its continued growth.

Matt loves to visit the mountains of North Georgia or Western North Carolina, but his all-time favorite vacation spot is Telluride, Colorado, particularly for their Bluegrass Festival, which he has attended eight times in the last eleven years!

Juli Johnson, PE

Juli’s passion for buildings and design led her to pursue a career in Architectural Engineering. As a Principal and Studio Director, Juli is enthusiastic about enhancing the client experience and the quality of our projects. Her primary focus is oversight of design and process improvement efforts, which ensures that every project meets the highest standards.

Juli believes building strong client relationships requires open communication and active listening to understand their priorities, opportunities for improvement, and core standards. She is committed to fostering trust and collaboration with clients to ensure their needs are met and their projects are successful. Juli cares deeply for the growth and well-being of those she works with, and her dedication to their success is evident in her design efforts, project management, and team alliance.

Outside the workplace, Juli leans on her musical talents to recharge. A self-taught church organist, she loves to play the piano and sing. With three young children, her favorite vacation spot is anywhere she can relax.

Walker Jones, PE

Growing up, Walker was exposed to the world of engineering for the built environment by his father, who was a mechanical engineer. Walker is drawn to solving complex problems and sees each challenge as an opportunity to prove himself and deliver.

Above all, Walker values client satisfaction and strives to make working with him an enjoyable experience. He credits having an agreeable and helpful demeanor to developing strong relationships with his project teams. In his new role as Principal and Studio Director, Walker is excited to mentor new team leaders at Newcomb & Boyd.

One of the best pieces of advice he has received is to never stop learning. He stays updated with the industry’s latest news and innovations by working with clients to develop innovative designs for unique project requirements, as well as speaking at conferences. Walker’s proudest accomplishment is being a father to his three children, and at the top of his bucket list, he hopes to catch a game at every Major League Baseball stadium.

Bo Laraia, PE, RCDD

Bo began his career as an IT professional at the dawn of the internet, during the shift in data processing from mainframes to local area networks. During this transformational era, he began designing cooling, electrical, fire protection, and cabling systems for computer rooms.

The technology field offers endless opportunities for innovation, and Bo is excited about Intelligent Building technologies that improve performance, sustainability, operations, and occupant outcomes in the built environment. As Principal and Studio Director, Bo looks forward to expanding Newcomb & Boyd’s presence in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets.

Before joining Newcomb & Boyd, Bo was a volunteer EMT for over 20 years. He also serves on the Event Leadership Team for one of the country’s largest American Cancer Society Relay for Life events that raises approximately $500,000 annually for cancer research and patient programs.

Directors

Curt Bridges
Electrical Studio Director
After many summers working with his grandfather to install MEP systems in homes, Curt pursued a career in engineering. As an Electrical Studio Director, it is important to Curt to promote team member growth so that each person can refine their critical thinking skills, produce high-quality designs, and reach their professional goals. He will focus on building blocks that create a foundation for sound engineered design, owner functionality, and client satisfaction. Curt’s engineering philosophy is simple: do not assume there is a square peg for every square hole. Engineers must develop solutions and cannot rely on always having a single and obvious answer to each challenge.

Jessica Clements
Acoustics Studio Director
With a love of music and excellence in math and science, Jessica found that the field of Acoustics perfectly embodied her talents. As Acoustics Studio Director, Jessica guides a team of responsive acousticians who provide bespoke solutions to enhance occupant experiences and help make a quieter world. Jessica hopes to improve cross-functional collaboration between studios, such as creating 3D auralization models alongside our Audio-Visual team so clients can hear their space in the design phase. Acoustics are well known to affect the health and enjoyment of rooms, and it is now a component of sustainability certification programs such as LEED and WELL. Jessica is excited by the opportunity to learn more about these sustainability efforts in acoustical design in order for her studio to create spaces that support the health of the natural environment and the comfort of occupants.

Jason Conner, PE
Charleston Office Director
Jason takes pride in the exceptional workplace environment and culture cultivated in our Charleston office. As Director, his focus is on strengthening relationships with our local clients and facilitating deliberate growth of the office to meet their needs. With a foundation of hands-on engineering and a client-centric mentality, we can continue to engineer smart solutions for the built environment.

David Duda, PE, CPP, CSC, PSP
Security Studio Director
The Newcomb & Boyd Security Team is known for completing large, complex projects, such as federal courthouses and correctional facilities, on time and within budget. David’s focus in his new role as Security Studio Director will utilize his attention to detail to improve the quality and efficiency of the team’s process by enhancing Quality Control efforts and refining the master documents and tools. Keeping with the theme of efficiency, David is particularly excited about the improvements in Revit processes, our clients’ increasing use of Bluebeam Studio for coordination, and an upcoming software adoption that will allow us to better plan and execute projects.

Will Duncan, PE
HVAC Technical Director
Will’s favorite aspect about his new role as HVAC Technical Director is the ability to contribute to the broad array of the firm’s projects. This will allow him to share this insight and perspective on project challenges and successes with our engineers. Will believes we are experiencing a pivotal time in the HVAC industry. He is excited about decarbonization and the paradigm shift it brings for technology in our design approach. Will jokes that, as a third-generation engineer, he inherited his career, but in reality, he feels fortunate to find a profession that aligns with his skills. By filling the newly created role of HVAC Technical Director, he will help to facilitate the firm’s initiative to provide superior engineering services for our clients.

Matt Eason, PE
Electrical Studio Director
As an Electrical Studio Director, Matt is known for his calm attitude, extensive industry experience, and multi-dimensional perspective. He has a knack for mentoring a highly efficient group of electrical engineers who consistently deliver quality work. Matt strongly believes in the efficacy of the studio approach, which promotes teamwork and collaboration and provides more organized and proactive services for our clients. Inspired to pursue a career in engineering by his love for logical thinking, Matt’s design philosophy is never rush and be consistent. He enjoys spending more time with clients to better understand their needs.

Brendan Gardes, PE, CEM, WELL AP
Sustainability Studio Director
Sustainable Studio Director Brendan prioritizes building positive client relationships by listening to clients to understand their needs and key drivers, educating them on the latest innovations, and providing quality deliverables they can trust. His consulting philosophy revolves around the question: “Am I positioning the client to make the best decisions possible to achieve their goals?” Team members of the studio are primarily responsible for informing and educating decision-makers, so Brendan encourages energy and sustainability consultants to consider how they can best communicate answers to project questions. The studio focuses on best-in-class analysis and the expansion of service offerings. The sustainability team is excited about innovation and initiatives within the industry, including humanity in the built environment, decarbonization, electrification, water reuse, embodied carbon, and computational analysis improvements, including AI.

Britton Gates, CTS-D, CTS-I
Audio-Visual Studio Director
Audio-Visual Studio Director Britton Gates is passionate about guiding our clients through every step of the project process to ensure we meet the Owner’s goals. His key focus areas are user experience, smart building integrations, and unifying virtual collaboration environments with physical space. Audio-visual technologies evolve rapidly, so Britton stays on top of trends through involvement in industry demos, events, and tradeshows to fully capture an auditory or visual experience. He is excited about advancements in AI-driven camera and microphone systems for hybrid work and learning spaces. In his role as Studio Director, Britton looks forward to strengthening the collaboration between our building technology teams to ensure holistic design in our projects.

Brett Gilbert, PE
HVAC Studio Director
Collaboration, along with fostering the development of others, is central to Brett’s design philosophy. As HVAC Studio Director, he believes these actions drive quality, efficiency, and growth. Brett encourages his team members to bounce ideas off colleagues and solve problems together. Similarly, Brett is thrilled to see the construction industry move towards a more collaborative effort where relationships develop amongst all design and construction team members, facilitating a process that optimizes system selection and design. Brett will focus on being more data-based in workload planning while intentionally developing personal connections within the studio.

Steve Hayne
Aviation Director
An expert in the design of efficient, user-friendly, safe airports, Aviation Director Steve Hayne knows that the aviation industry is ever-changing and is at the forefront of technology. Steve is particularly excited about a new process in use on the Concourse D Widening project at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where finished modules are built off-site before installation, resulting in minimal delay and impact on the airport operations. With the ability to see things in three dimensions and to fully understand all the implications of a design, Steve is skilled in planning for impacts on existing facility operations, project schedule, and most importantly, project cost.

Lynda Herrig, PE
Business Development Director
With a strategic way of thinking and an unshakable faith that everyone is connected, Lynda fits right into the role of Business Development Director. The Business Development team focuses on building relationships, making connections, and telling the stories of some of our projects that positively impact society — like the highly sustainable, patient-centric Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown. She is excited about the opportunities in engineering regenerative, intelligent, and healthy buildings. Lynda believes the commitment to decarbonization in the private and public sectors has put us in a profound shift in the industry, and she is excited about the opportunity to help guide our clients on that path regardless of their timeframe.

Vince Lord, PE
Electrical Technical Director
In his new role as Electrical Technical Director, Vince aims to create a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability through innovation, teamwork, and technical proficiency. Vince believes engineers must stay up to date with the latest technological advancements, industry trends, and design methodologies. He has found that it is crucial to read industry publications, attend webinars and seminars from professional organizations, and network with vendors, manufacturers, and industry peers. Through training programs, mentorship, and quality assurance efforts, Vince aligns technical excellence with strategic objectives to assist our project teams in delivering exceptional results.

Michael MacMahon
Operational Technology Director
Michael is a trusted advisor to his clients, including Fortune 500 companies and prestigious universities. In addition to leading Intelligent Building projects, in his new role as Operational Technology Director, he acts as a key resource for projects impacted by cybersecurity, including our internal business operations. The services he manages include education, governance program development, risk-based posture assessments, and mitigation strategies. Michael is most excited about our Cyber Commissioning Program. One area of cybersecurity that IT companies and IT departments have been unable to tame is vulnerability, fragmentation, and inconsistency from building systems and contractors. An Operational Technology Commissioning Program helps eliminate threats and ensures that systems are as secure as possible upon introduction.

Danna Lopez Richey, PE, WELL AP
Sustainability Studio Director
Danna is a valuable resource for clients seeking sustainable, healthy, high-performing buildings. As a Sustainability Studio Director, she will focus on streamlining integration with internal disciplines and furthering Newcomb & Boyd’s culture of conservation and sustainability. Our sustainability consultants are fully integrated design team members who educate our engineers on the latest developments related to sustainability in the built environment. Danna is enthusiastic about utilizing real-world data and a forward-thinking mindset to bring a holistic view to our clients’ projects.

Max Shirley, RESET AP
Intelligent Buildings Studio Director
Our Intelligent Building Studio is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that prioritize the needs of people, processes, and systems. Studio Director Max Shirley is passionate about educating building owners, operators, and occupants on the benefits of Intelligent Buildings. By leveraging data and technology, these spaces can improve health and wellness, comfort, productivity, energy and water usage, and operational efficiency. As a forward-thinking studio, the team is excited to focus on Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx) to optimize processes by comparing a building’s operation to design benchmarks. Max’s core philosophy is empowering clients and building positive relationships through advocacy and strategic thinking.

Steve Wiggins
Commissioning Studio Director
Commissioning Director Steve Wiggins is industry-renowned in optimizing building operations. A widely published and sought-after speaker, Steve often teaches certification seminars for commissioning professionals and gets fulfillment from mentoring his team. His vision for the Commissioning Studio is to be known as one of the top commissioning providers in the country through a careful focus on growth, training, and expansion into new market sectors. Steve is excited about new technology initiatives in the commissioning world. Currently, the team is testing digital innovations, like Fault Detection and Diagnosis tools, for retrocommissioning and continuous commissioning.