Management Team Bios

Christopher P. Hodges, P.E., CFM, LEED® AP, IFMA Fellow

Chris Hodges is a founding Principal of FEA, with 30 years of experience in engineering and facility management. Mr. Hodges earned his Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and Certified Facility Manager. In addition, he holds the designation of Registered Roof Consultant from the Roof Consultant’s Institute and LEED Accredited Professional from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. He has also received the designation of Fellow from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Mr. Hodges is also an IFMA instructor and teaches in the Facility Management Certificate Program at George Mason University.

Paul G. Swanson, P.E.

Paul Swanson is a Principal and co-founder of FEA. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Science Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Cornell University, and has 35 years of consulting engineering experience in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, throughout the United States and internationally. Mr. Swanson is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the state of New York. Mr. Swanson has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) since 1972 and is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Academy of Forensic Engineers

Thomas W. Larson, P.E., R.S., PRA

Tom Larson is a Principal and co-founder of FEA. He has performed or participated in numerous building condition surveys, replacement reserve studies, transition studies, and property inspections and assessments. Mr. Larson graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas. He has also been certified as a Reserve Specialist by the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and a Professional Reserve Analyst by the Association of Professional Reserve Analysts.

James P. Whittaker, P.E., CFM, FRICS

Jim Whittaker is President of FEA with 22+ years of experience in the facilities industry. Mr. Whittaker earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont and his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. He has managed numerous facilities-related projects in the United Kingdom, Central and South America, and throughout the United States. Mr. Whittaker's area of specialization is facilities asset management and facility management technologies. He has managed hundreds of projects for commercial, institutional, and government clients throughout the U.S. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and teaches Facility Management courses at George Mason University, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA).

William W. Small, P.E., PMP

Bill Small is Vice President and an Associate of FEA. Through his 21 years of industry experience, he has developed expertise on a full range of building materials and systems. Mr. Small earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is also a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute. Mr. Small has managed and performed field investigations, analyses and follow-up recommendations and designs for numerous projects nationally as well as large facility condition assessment efforts at various facilities across the United States. He has performed work at prestigious facilities such as the Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Virginia, NAVY Flag Quarters, the Watergate Complex, and at numerous parks throughout the National Park Service system.

James L. Justus, P.E.

Jim Justus is an Associate at FEA in Greenville, SC. He has over 24 years of civil/structural engineering and project management experience across the United States. Mr. Justus earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering from Purdue University, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in over 10 states. He is a member of the PE Exam Committee, served in the officer ranks for the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers, and was named Engineer of the Year in South Carolina in 2004 by SCSPE. His primary expertise is in concrete restoration and repair, including prestressed and post tensioned structures, and building envelope repairs and restoration, including EIFS, curtain walls, masonry, stone, glass systems, roofing, and fall protection systems. Project examples include façade restoration of the 72-story Wachovia Building in Miami, EIFS consulting services for over 100 hotel properties, multiple parking garage renovation and repair projects from Boston to Chicago to Atlanta, fall protection studies across the US, and roofing replacements for the Prudential Retail Complex and 60-story office tower in Boston.

Daniel L. Watkins, P.E.

Dan Watkins is an Associate of FEA, and is currently its Director of Professional Development. He has served as Project Manager for over 200 projects in his 20+ years of engineering consulting practice. Mr. Watkins earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Mr. Watkins has extensive experience with structural and materials restoration projects including performing assessment, design, and contract administration services. He is an active member of the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI).

Leslie G. ZumBrunnen, P.E.

Les ZumBrunnen is an Associate at FEA in Denver, CO. He has 18 years of civil/structural engineering and project management experience across the United States. Mr. ZumBrunnen earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wyoming and his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Austin with a Structural concentration. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, Florida, Wyoming, and Washington. Mr. ZumBrunnen has specialized in the investigation and remediation of building envelope and water infiltration problems, structural evaluations and repair, historic preservation, and general knowledge of building systems and construction. He is also an expert in the evaluation and repair of suspended scaffolding systems. He currently serves as an advisor to the Architectural Engineering Program at the University of Wyoming.

Mark E. Leeman, P.E.

Mark Leeman is an Associate at FEA and currently serves as the Fairfax Office Manager with over 15 years of experience. Mr. Leeman holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Purdue University. Mr. Leeman is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Georgia, and Indiana. Mr. Leeman's areas of specialization are restoration engineering and building condition assessments. He has managed hundreds of projects involving assessment, repair, and restoration engineering of existing buildings. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), and active in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). Mr. Leeman has managed projects in the commercial, industrial, and transportation market segments.

Daniel F. Geldermann, P.E., CFM

Dan Geldermann is an Associate and Senior Professional at FEA with more than 27 years of experience that includes directing all aspects of facilities engineering management to include planning, engineering, design, contracts, operations, maintenance, repair, construction, utilities, environmental, transportation, safety, real estate, historic properties and family housing at various locations across the United States, Asia, and Europe. In addition to his consulting experience, his expertise has been developed through a career as a U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer and as an associate director of facilities at a state university. Mr. Geldermann has managed facility-related organizational budgets, service contract programs, construction management projects, facilities planning, commissioning services, and facilities operations. As a consultant he has conducted numerous facility management studies for agencies that include the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Army, and NASA. Mr. Geldermann is a registered Professional Engineer, a Certified Facility Manager, and holds a Master Facility Executive Certificate from the Building Owners & Management Institute. He is also the Chairman of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) National Facilities Management Committee.

Laurie A. Gilmer, P.E., CFM, LEED AP

Laurie Gilmer is an Associate and Senior Professional at FEA in its San Francisco location. Ms. Gilmer has assisted facility managers in improving building systems operations, identifying and implementing energy saving strategies, and LEED certification. Her experience spans a wide variety of projects including systems analysis, energy audits, commissioning services, and building systems strategic planning. Ms. Gilmer’s technical background includes design of HVAC and exhaust, plumbing, process piping, and fire protection systems for various facilities applications including laboratories, clean rooms, offices, schools, retail spaces, and computer rooms. Ms. Gilmer has published numerous articles, and has presented on sustainable solutions, commissioning, tools for saving energy, and facility management. She currently serves on the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Redwood Empire Board, and is a LEED Accredited Professional, an accreditation of the U.S. Green Buildings Council.