Personnel
Principal
Alan Kropp, G.E., President, Principal Engineer
Mr. Kropp has over 30 years of local geotechnical experience and is recognized for his expertise in the identification, characterization and mitigation of landslide hazards. Mr. Kropp currently serves on the board of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Northern California chapter (EERI-NC) and is recognized for his contributions in earthquake hazard research. His project experience includes performing geotechnical investigations for schools, roads, subdivisions, hillside properties, office and commercial buildings, and bridges. Mr. Kropp regularly provides geotechnical peer review services to City and County governments and is knowledgeable about geotechnical conditions, principles and practices throughout much of California. Resumé
Associate Engineers
James Lott, G.E., Associate Engineer
Mr. Lott has 25 years of practical experience in providing geotechnical engineering services on projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Lott's geotechnical experience includes investigations and services during construction for research, commercial and industrial facilities, seismic rehabilitations, transportation and bridge structures, multi-family residential structures, single-family homes, landslide repairs and hillside grading. Mr. Lott’s extensive experience also includes public agency peer review services, expert witness consultation and forensic evaluations. Resumé
Wayne Magnusen, G.E., Associate Engineer
Mr. Magnusen has over 15 years of local geotechnical engineering experience which includes public buildings, infrastructure, schools, and private development projects. He has extensive experience conducting geotechnical studies for landslide hazard mitigation and has managed large multi-disciplinary project teams for both public and private-sector projects. Mr. Magnusen’s extensive experience on building projects has included evaluations of slope stability, seismic site response, non-linear dynamic foundation response, foundation alternatives, retaining structures, ground improvement, grading, excavations, pavements, shoring, and dewatering. Resumé
Senior Engineer
Dona Mann, C.E., Senior Engineer & Geotechnical Group Manager
Ms. Mann has 9 years of geotechnical and civil engineering experience and currently serves as Geotechnical Group Manager at AKA. Ms. Mann received her MS in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Mann conducts geotechnical investigations for both public and private-sector clients involving commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, schools, and landslides. She is experienced in the identification and mitigation of seismic hazards including liquefaction and seismic slope stability. Resumé
Project Engineers
Donald Irby, C.E., Project Engineer & Field Operations Manager
Mr. Irby has nearly 10 years of local geotechnical experience which includes performing geotechnical investigations for hillside properties, landslide mitigation, roads, office and commercial buildings, and a local airport. Mr. Irby provides oversight and field training for staff level engineers and manages on-going field operations including several construction-phase projects for the West Contra Costa County Unified School District. Resumé
Thomas Brencic, C.E., Project Engineer & Lab Manager
Mr. Brencic has 10 years of local geotechnical experience performing geotechnical investigations for residential buildings and subdivisions, hillside properties, office and commercial buildings, and seismic hazard studies for sites susceptible to earthquake induced landsliding and liquefaction. Mr. Brencic also provides observation and testing services during the construction of these projects. Mr. Brencic manages our geotechnical laboratory and is the Associate Radiation Safety Officer for the nuclear density gauges, running the day-to-day operations. Resumé
