Fickett News
Here’s where Fickett’s story unfolds. From new hires and team achievements to industry recognition and company milestones, stay up to date with the latest from Fickett Structural Solutions.
2026
Fickett’s Finn Hubbard, PE, Recognized as NHI Instructor of Excellence
March 2026
Fickett Structural Solutions is proud to share that Finn Hubbard, PE has been recognized as an Instructor of Excellence by the National Highway Institute (NHI) for 2025!
NHI is a part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. NHI is dedicated to enhancing the skills and knowledge of transportation professionals through various training programs and resources.
This distinction is awarded in recognition of outstanding instruction, and it reflects more than technical knowledge–it reflects preparation, professionalism, and the ability to elevate the people in the room.
Through our partnership with Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI), Fickett delivers NHI training on behalf of FHWA, helping develop inspectors and engineers across the country. These courses directly support the safety of our nation’s infrastructure.
Teaching at this level requires deep expertise, but it also requires humility and a genuine commitment to serving the industry. Finn represents both.
His recognition reinforces something we believe strongly: expertise is meant to be shared. When we raise the standard of others, we raise the standard of the entire profession.
Congratulations, Finn, and thank you for representing our team and our industry so well!
Check out this video to learn more about how the Fickett Annual Meeting fosters teamwork, drives our culture, and prepares our company for the future.
Celebrating Fickett’s 2026 Annual Meeting
February 2026
Gathering around our Madison, WI headquarters, we kicked off the week with the Leadership Team’s strategic planning meeting. On Tuesday, our rope access staff headed to ENSA for SPRAT refresher training. On Wednesday, we got up to speed with company updates and team-building exercises before heading over to Spare Time for a night of food, bowling, and laser tag. We visited Vortex Optics on Thursday, where CEO Joe Hamilton discussed how service isn’t a “means to an end”—putting people first is the goal! That evening, the Fickett team wrapped up with a company dinner at Cooper’s Tavern in downtown Madison.
This Annual Meeting was a great time for employees from around the country to connect face-to-face, celebrate our company’s accomplishments, and prepare for our 25th anniversary and other initiatives in 2026!
Brian Schmidt and Ryan Sievers Join Fickett’s Shareholders
February 2026
We’re proud to share that Brian Schmidt and Ryan Sievers are now Shareholders of Fickett Structural Solutions!
Brian and Ryan earned this opportunity through years of consistent leadership, trust, and a deep commitment to our people, our clients, and the standards behind our name. They have shown up every day with a sense of ownership long before it ever appeared on paper.
Ownership at Fickett is intentional. It reflects belief in the long-term future of the company and a willingness to help steward it forward. It is about responsibility, accountability, and caring deeply about what we are building together.
Company president Andy Fickett shared: “Brian and Ryan embody our values and the kind of leadership we want shaping Fickett for decades to come. I’m grateful for their partnership, proud to call them co-owners, and genuinely excited for what we’ll continue to build together.”
Congratulations, Brian and Ryan!
Celebrating Michael Feilbach’s Promotion to Project Manager
January 2026
Milwaukee, WI
Fickett Structural Solutions, Inc. is proud to announce that Michael Feilbach, PE, CWI has been promoted to Project Manager!
Based out of our Milwaukee Office, Mike has served as a team member and leader on various bridge and ancillary structure inspections throughout the country. He is a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), an FAA-certified Remote Pilot, and a Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) Level II.
“Mike has been promoted to Project Manager due to his ongoing efforts on several projects across the company,” says Fickett Vice President, Todd Demski. “He has been integral in running several bridge and ancillary projects in WI, as well as taking over the Golden Gate Bridge client coordination and reporting efforts.”
Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Mike! We appreciate the dedication you bring to work every day and the positive attitude you contribute to our team, and look forward to seeing what you’ll accomplish in the years ahead!
2025
In Business – Madison Names Fickett a Finalist for Small Business of the Year
December 2025
Madison, WI
Fickett Structural Solutions, Inc. is honored to share that we’ve been named as a finalist for In Business Madison’s Business of the Year Awards, in the Small Business category!
Thank you, In Business Madison, for this recognition, and to our clients, industry partners, and everyone on our team—you have all made monumental contributions to Fickett’s success!
Welcome Sheila Arias-Roman, PE!
November 2025
We’re excited to welcome Sheila M. Arias-Roman, PE as a full-time Project Manager at Fickett! Sheila is now stepping into a larger role, leading our scour assessment and hydraulics engineering programs, as well as supporting our bridge inspection services nationwide.
Sheila brings over a decade of experience in hydraulic engineering and bridge inspection, including work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Engineer Research and Development Center. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and FHWA-certified Team Leader, with deep expertise in scour analysis, HEC-RAS modeling, and stream stability.
Welcome Cole Maurer, PE!
September 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions is excited to welcome Cole Maurer, PE to our team! Cole joins our Portland Office as a Project Engineer. He brings a wealth of experience to our team, with a strong background in bridge engineering and inspection. In addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer, Cole recently passed his SPRAT Level II Evaluation. Welcome aboard, Cole!
Excellence Through Execution Podcast Interview with Andy Fickett
August 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions’ President, Andy Fickett, joined host Jason Weseman, MBA, M.Ed., for an episode of the podcast, “Excellence Through Execution”! The conversation highlights how Fickett Structural Solutions continues to grow by prioritizing people over profits, leading with integrity and humility, and creating a culture of autonomy and trust. Watch or listen to the entire interview here!
Andy reflects on the evolution of the bridge inspection and engineering industry, including the challenges, opportunities, and what the future may hold. The episode also touches on how we’re building the next generation of industry leaders and the importance of finding the right people to join our team as we scale nationally. We’re proud to share our story and hope it offers insight into the values that continue to guide our work!
Welcome Steven Hammerschmidt, PE!
August 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions is excited to welcome Steven Hammerschmidt, PE to our team!
Bringing 14 years of experience to his position as a Senior Project Manager, Steven will be based in Cleveland, OH. With his SPRAT Level III Certification, he will play a key role in strengthening our rope access department and in-service inspection program. Steven also brings a wealth of knowledge regarding SNBI and updating bridge inspection manuals.
Welcome Jeffery Roberts, PhD, PE!
August 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions is excited to welcome Jeff Roberts, PhD, PE to our team! Jeff joins us as Senior Structural Design Manager at our Portland Office, expanding and strengthening our structural engineering design service capabilities.
Jeff brings a wealth of experience in civil and mechanical engineering, with a strong technical background in structural design, load rating, bridge inspection, and asset management. In addition to his hands-on project delivery experience—from design to construction engineering support—Jeff is passionate about mentorship and professional development, making him a great fit for our culture here at Fickett!
Welcome Roman Peralta, PE!
August 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions is excited to welcome Roman Peralta, PE to our team! Roman joins our Olympia Office as the Director of Bridge Preservation and Project Development.
With over 26 years of experience at WSDOT, Roman has served as Regional Inspection Engineer, Local Programs Bridge Engineer, Bridge Condition Engineer, and most recently Bridge Preservation Engineer/Statewide Program Manager. In these roles, he supervised inspection teams and emergency response efforts, assisted local agencies with their bridge programs, led complex bridge and tunnel inspections, managed statewide initiatives, updated the Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual, and directed WSDOT’s transition to SNBI standards. His passion for family, community, and teamwork makes him a welcome addition to Fickett!
Congratulations to Kirsten Parent on Passing Her Professional Engineers’ Exam!
May 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions proudly announces that Kirsten Parent passed her Professional Engineering Exam!
This achievement of PE joins Kirsten’s other credentials as a Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) Level I Technician, an FAA-certified Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Remote Pilot, and an NDT Limited Level II – Ultrasonic Testing of Anchor Rods inspector.
Congratulations, Kirsten! Your hard work and diligence have paid off, and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the future!
Congratulations to Jordan Budiac on Passing His Professional Engineers’ Exam!
April 2025
Fickett Structural Solutions is proud to announce that Jordan Budiac has passed his Professional Engineering Exam! The “PE” joins Jordan’s other accomplishments, including being a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Ultrasonic Testing Level II, Part 107 Remote Pilot, and numerous NHI Courses.
Congratulations on your accomplishments, Jordan! We look forward to seeing what the future holds!
2024
Fickett Opens Office in Portland, OR
June 2024
Fickett Structural Solutions is excited to announce the opening of our new office in Downtown Portland, OR! Along with our Olympia, WA office, we are continuing to build strong support for our awesome Oregon and Washington clients in the Pacific Northwest.
Congratulations to Michael Feilbach on Passing His Professional Engineers’ Exam!
May 2024
Congratulations to Michael Feilbach from our Milwaukee Office for successfully passing his Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam! This has been a great year for Mike as he also obtained his SPRAT Level II in January. All of his hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and we can’t wait to see what his future holds.
2023
The Biz Doctor Podcast Interview with Andy Fickett
August 2023
Andy Fickett joined Golden Key Partnership founder Lauren Goldstein on her podcast The Biz Doctor to discuss his experiences as the owner of Fickett Structural Solutions. Andy talked about the challenges as a small business owner and how hiring consultants has helped the company overcome those challenges. Andy also offered advice on developing partnerships with outside consultants for other business owners who are hesitant to hire outside help.
2020
The Spokesman-Review covers Fickett’s Latah Creek Bridge Inspection
March 2020
Olympia, WA
Fickett Structural Solutions was retained by the City of Spokane to provide a detailed supplemental arm’s-length bridge inspection of the Latah High Bridge superstructure. This bridge inspection was featured in an article in The Spokesman-Review.
The Latah High Bridge is an iconic 7-span reinforced concrete arch structure built in 1913 in Spokane, WA. Fickett assembled and led a multimodal team that included four climbing inspectors, a rope access supervisor, and a three-man drone inspection team from Fickett, HDR, and PRENAV.
The two-day rope access inspection included an arm’s length inspection of all main arch lines and the inspection of the deck soffit and floor beams between the bays of the outer arches. All rope access techniques followed the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) standards. A drone inspection with high-resolution cameras and LIDAR, completed by subconsultant PRENAV, supplemented the climbing inspection and provided images of the floor beams between the two center arches.
The inspection team completed a thorough NBI and element level inspection of the superstructure in conformance with WSDOT’s Bridge Inspection Manual and NBI Standards for routine element level inspections using tablets to record inspection findings. Upon completion of the inspection, a report containing an evaluation of the superstructure of the bridge, including photographs, sketches and maintenance recommendations were provided to the City.
Through a coordinated effort with PRENAV, supplementary 3D modeling and high-resolution photographs of difficult-to-access locations were provided to the City to support the inspection report. Fickett partnered with PRENAV to leverage emerging technology to complement existing bridge inspection techniques and provide additional insight and value to clients. This project was completed on time and on budget.