Our Leadership Team

Firm Leadership

Shepherd Long
PE, LEED AP

Principal

Joe Severin
PE, LEED AP

President

Mike Thurman

Senior Vice President

Dana Butterworth

Vice President

Service Leads

Anthony Kamburis, PE

Vice President,
Transportation

Sammy Powell, PE

Vice President,
Transportation (Bridges)

Randy Sanborn, PE

Vice President,
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)

Andrew Pankopp,
PE, LEED AP BD&C

Vice President,
Land Development

Sean Byers

Vice President,
SUE & Land Surveying

Jeff Graham

Manager,
Construction Engineering & Inspection (CEI)

Dan Riceman, RLS

Survey Director

Jaime F. Higgins, PLS, CP

Land Development Survey Manager

David Simmons, PLS

Project Manager,
SUE & Land Surveying

Shepherd Long | PE, LEED AP

Role:

Principal – Responsible for overseeing the company’s brand, mentoring younger engineers technically and professionally, assisting with the execution of strategic directives and lending expertise on special projects.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering, San Jose State University, 1979

Unique Skills:

Shepherd brings a career of hydraulic modeling of surface and piped systems, design of large sewer and stormwater infrastructure blended with land development projects. This has enabled him to provide a more holistic approach to site design that has benefitted clients through his understanding of the interaction of the site and infrastructure that serves it, preventing flood issues and minimizing stormwater impacts in urban areas.

Interests:

Golfing, traveling, being with family, working in the yard, caring for his Koi fish and spending time in Savannah.

Joseph Severin | PE, LEED AP

Role:

President – Responsible for company-wide operations, including finances, personnel and client management.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering, Rutgers University, 2002

Unique Skills:

He is an excellent communicator on complex projects with large design and ownership teams, as well as internally with management and staff. Joe has the ability to stay calm under intense conditions, creating a sense of ease to those around him.

Interests:

Golfing, watching sports events and hanging out with his wife and two daughters.

Mike Thurman

Role:

Senior Vice President – Responsible for the management of the Land Surveying, Transportation Engineering, Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI), and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) departments.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering, Georgia Southern University, 1992

Unique Skills:

Mike is an exceptional leader that can adeptly manage numerous projects simultaneously while also supervising and leading a large staff. His management style is consistent, calm and firm, fostering a positive and respectful work environment.

Interests:

Snow skiing, coaching high school pole vault, kayaking, and traveling

Dana Butterworth

Role:

Vice President of Support Services – Responsible for financial and marketing oversight and office management for the company.

Education:

BS Human Services, Kennesaw State University, 2003

Unique Skills:

Since 2006, Dana has functioned in every administrative role, enabling her to have a unique understanding of the totality of the company operations. She is very dedicated and serves as a critical leader that values in doing her job as if the company were hers.

Interests:

Traveling all over the U.S., particularly to National Parks, disc golf and watching Hallmark Channel movies.

Anthony Kamburis | PE

Role:

Vice President of Transportation Department – Responsible for managing operations, financials and business development including strategic planning and team building.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering, Auburn University, 1998

Unique Skills:

Anthony has a broad range of transportation experience that enables him to be productively involved in all projects within his department. This experience applies to the entire southeast region of the U.S., making him familiar with numerous state and local design standards and processes.

Interests:

Spending time on Lake Martin with family, bird hunting, offshore fishing, hiking and traveling.

Sammy Powell | PE

Role:

Vice President of Transportation Department – Responsible for overseeing the structural engineering for bridges, and business development for the Transportation Department.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1982

Unique Skills:

Sammy has comprehensive bridge design experience that includes prior employment in the Bridge Design Office at the Georgia Department of Transportation. His background includes navigating the nuances of Public-Private Partnerships. He has an extensive network of friends in the engineering industry.

Interests:

Playing guitar in a band, Boy Scout troop leader, gardening, and writing children’s books

Randy Sanborn | PE

Role:

Vice President of the Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Department – Responsible for business development and establishing and maintaining client relationships.

Education:

BS Environmental Engineering, University of Florida, 1986

Unique Skills:

Randy has a thorough knowledge of the utility industry and has developed strong relationships with industry leaders. His expertise includes Georgia Department of Transportation utility locating and mapping procedures, allowing him to educate others throughout Georgia. Randy’s extroverted personality creates a fun atmosphere for networking and teaming.

Interests:

Playing golf and tennis, being with his kids, finding and overcoming challenges and enjoying time with family and friends

Andrew Pankopp | PE, LEED AP BD&C

Role:

Vice President of Land Development Department – Responsible for managing all staff and overseeing the scheduling, production and quality control within the department. Andrew is also responsible for the department’s teaming and strategic partnerships.

Education:

BS Civil Engineering Technology, Southern Polytechnic State University (now KSU), 2007

Unique Skills:

Andrew is extremely proficient in identifying problems on projects at the appropriate time and developing options that can then be analyzed and implemented. He is a very effective communicator, well organized, and can successfully lead numerous projects simultaneously.

Interests:

Repairing/flipping vehicles as a hobby, DIY projects at home, exercise and fitness, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

Sean Byers

Role:

Vice President for our Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) and Land Surveying Departments – Responsible for managing all SUE & Survey staff as well as business development and client relationships.

Education:

Diploma – South Cobb High School 1992
Emory University – Robert Goizueta Leadership Certificate Candidate

Unique Skills:

Sean has over 24 years experience in the utilities and infrastructure industry and has managed and led projects and teams throughout the Southeast and Puerto Rico. He has extensive experience consulting on municipal, transportation, land development, and pipeline projects. With a focus on servant leadership, Sean enjoys fostering a collaborative team culture and developing long lasting client realtionships.

Interests:

Faith and Family. Sean enjoys raising his 2 boys with his wife and traveling whenever possible – especially to the coast. An ardent University of Georgia fan and supporter (Go Dawgs), Sean also enjoys golf, baseball, and college football. He is also passionate about country music and songwriting and enjoys performing whenever he can.

Jeff Graham

Role:

Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) Manager – Responsible for the oversight of daily operations for CEI team members and fleet. He maintains client communication and internal project monitoring for technical and budgetary aspects for the CEI projects. Jeff is also LONG’s Safety Manager, and Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).

Unique Skills:

Jeff relies on his 15 years of field inspection experience to provide hands-on management for 40+ inspectors throughout Georgia. He combines his acute attention to detail with great interpersonal skills and a quick sense of humor to be effective and a pleasure to work with.

Interests:

Jeff enjoys attending concerts, watching all types of sporting events, particularly hockey, exploring new places, and being with his family. Jeff is also a big Braves fan.

Dan Riceman | RLS

Role:

Survey Director – Senior Registered Surveyor responsible for the management of the Land Survey Department, coordination of multiple field survey crews, and drafters. Overseeing and supervising the development of a wide range of land surveys for a diverse client base including: Boundary, Topographic, Construction, and ALTA surveys, with a particular focus in DOT database route surveys.

Education:

A.A. Mathematics, University of Georgia, 1999

Surveying and Mapping Certification, Middle Georgia College and State University, 2005

Unique Skills:

Dan has an eye for detail and can adapt quickly to changing project elements. His management style focuses on ways to maximize company resources to provide a quality product and service while creating the value and satisfaction clients expect.

Interests:

Diesel pickup restoration, permaculture farming, and sailing

Jaime F. Higgins, PLS, CP

Role:

As Land Development Survey Manager, Jaime has over 33 years of experience and is responsible for the day-to-day oversite and management of supporting staff as well as a variety of site civil-related survey efforts including predesign, existing conditions, utility, as-built, ALTA, and other land title surveys.

Education:

Attended West Georgia University, Clayton State College and Southern Polytechnical.

Professionally licensed Land Surveyor in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Certified Photogrammetrist (American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing).

Unique Skills:

Mr. Higgins has extensive experience with land development surveys encompassing a wide range of projects including campus settings, residential, industrial, ALTA Land Title, and solar farm projects. He’s worked on projects in the power, gas, light, and utility industry with inventory projects and corridor surveys. Mr. Higgins has additional expertise with aerial mapping and knowledge with GPS systems including Real Time Kinematic systems, reflectorless survey technology, robotic total stations, digital levels, and First Order and Second Order Class 1 Procedures.

Jaime works closely with clients to define project scopes, accuracy requirements and specific projects goals as part of the overall effort to determine the best approach and tools, and to provide a deliverable that meets or exceeds the client’s expectations and budget requirements.

Interests:

Saltwater fishing, game habitat and herd management, and hiking.

David E. Simmons, PLS

Role:

As Project Manager in our Land Surveying and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) department, Mr. Simmons has been licensed in the State of Georgia since 1995. His comprehensive experience includes projects for the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, City of Suwanee, as well as GDOT projects with a focus on topographic surveying, deed research, preparation of right-of-way plans, plats and legal descriptions for deeds, right-of-way staking, surveys for roadway sight distance determinations, roadway multi-point levels, and surveys in support of the preparation of demolition plans. Additional expertise includes subsurface utility engineering (SUE), utility research, and utility impact analysis, which has been an important service line for our clients.

Education:

Middle Georgia State College – Land Surveying Certificate
Western Governor University – Business Administration
Georgia Licensed Land Surveyor

Unique Skills:

David has had thirty-four years of experience specializing in transportation, utility, and mapping industries. David has extensive involvement in projects for the Georgia Department of Transportation, multiple county governments in the metro-Atlanta area, as well as the City of Atlanta. He is driven to support both his team and his clients to complete a quality project everyone can be proud of. David is also Co-Chair on GDOT’s GPTQ/CRC Surveying and Mapping Subcommittee.

Interests:

David has four adult children and two children-in-law, collectively they love to compete in family board/card games. David also enjoys attending church and singing gospel hymns with the congregation he is a member of. He is a golf enthusiast and looks forward to his annual golf vacation with friends. The start of College football in September is always an anticipated time of year in the Simmons’ household.

Our Leadership Team

Firm Leadership

Shepherd Long PE, LEED AP

Joe SeverinPE, LEED AP

Mike Thurman

Dana Butterworth

Service Leads

Anthony Kamburis, PE

Sammy Powell, PE

Randy Sanborn, PE

Andrew Pankopp,PE, LEED AP BD&C

Sean Byers

Jeff Graham

Dan Riceman, RLS

Jaime F. Higgins, PLS, CP

David Simmons, PLS

Shepherd Long | PE, LEED AP

Role:

Education:

Unique Skills:

Interests:

Joseph Severin | PE, LEED AP

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Unique Skills:

Interests:

Mike Thurman

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Dana Butterworth

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Anthony Kamburis | PE

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Sammy Powell | PE

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Randy Sanborn | PE

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Andrew Pankopp | PE, LEED AP BD&C

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Sean Byers

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Jeff Graham

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Dan Riceman | RLS

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Jaime F. Higgins, PLS, CP

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David E. Simmons, PLS

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Shepherd Long
PE, LEED AP

Joe Severin
PE, LEED AP

Andrew Pankopp,
PE, LEED AP BD&C