UES Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

UES has 8 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, financial oversight, and environmental engineering.

Focused on delivering technology-driven solutions for sustainable infrastructure, UES maintains a commitment to resilient design and efficient project development across diverse industrial sectors.

Leadership Roles at UES

  • Chief Executive Officer - Dave Witsken
  • Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions - Kevin Ertel
  • Chief Financial Officer, Southeast - Clint Johnson
  • Chief Operating Officer - Travis Merrick
  • President - Colin Stevenson
  • President - Isidro Fernandez-Aballi
  • Regional President - Mark Clatt
  • President & Senior Environmental Engineer - Thomas Lao
  • Dave Witsken - Chief Executive Officer

    Dave Witsken, the Chief Executive Officer at UES, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the firm. By prioritizing technology-driven solutions, the Chief Executive Officer ensures the company remains a leader in environmental, testing, and inspection services. Dave Witsken manages high-level relationships with stakeholders across transportation, water, and power sectors to drive sustainable infrastructure growth. The Chief Executive Officer oversees the integration of earth sciences with innovative engineering practices to maintain competitive market positioning. Through rigorous assessment of operational performance, the Chief Executive Officer aligns internal resources with client needs for redevelopment projects. This leadership role involves constant evaluation of industry trends to foster resilience in infrastructure design. By championing a culture of technical excellence, the Chief Executive Officer secures the firm's reputation for delivering efficient, high-quality results on complex projects throughout the United States.
    Dave Witsken

    Kevin Ertel - Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions

    Kevin Ertel, the Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions at UES, directs all fiscal planning and financial reporting for operations within these specific geographic territories. Managing capital allocation and budgetary controls, the Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions ensures the financial health of regional infrastructure projects. Kevin Ertel analyzes market data to support strategic expansion and investment decisions across the Texas and Midwest markets. The Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions collaborates with regional leadership to mitigate financial risks associated with large-scale environmental and testing contracts. By optimizing revenue cycles and expense management, the Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions strengthens the firm's ability to fund innovative engineering solutions. This role involves maintaining compliance with regional regulatory requirements while supporting the broader corporate financial objectives. Ertel provides critical insights into regional economic trends, enabling the company to adapt quickly to shifting demands in the construction and industrial sectors.

    Clint Johnson - Chief Financial Officer, Southeast

    Clint Johnson, the Chief Financial Officer, Southeast at UES, oversees the financial architecture and fiscal strategy for all operations throughout the Southeast region. Managing complex project accounting and regional budget forecasting, the Chief Financial Officer, Southeast ensures that resources align with the firm's commitment to sustainable infrastructure. Clint Johnson evaluates the profitability of environmental and geophysical service lines to maximize regional growth. The Chief Financial Officer, Southeast coordinates with executive leadership to implement financial controls that support long-term project viability. By analyzing regional market dynamics, the Chief Financial Officer, Southeast identifies opportunities for investment in new testing technologies. This leadership role requires precise management of cash flow and capital expenditures to maintain operational stability. Through diligent oversight of financial performance, Johnson enables the firm to deliver high-value engineering services across the Southeast, ensuring that every project meets both client expectations and corporate financial targets.

    Travis Merrick - Chief Operating Officer

    Travis Merrick, the Chief Operating Officer at UES, manages the daily execution of engineering and consulting services across all business units. Overseeing the deployment of testing and inspection teams, the Chief Operating Officer ensures operational efficiency and strict adherence to safety standards. Travis Merrick coordinates resource allocation to support large-scale infrastructure projects in the healthcare and education sectors. The Chief Operating Officer drives the implementation of standardized workflows to optimize project delivery timelines. By monitoring key performance indicators, the Chief Operating Officer identifies opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction. This leadership role requires close collaboration with regional teams to maintain consistent service quality. Through the application of advanced geophysical methodologies, the Chief Operating Officer supports the firm's mission to provide reliable data for complex construction environments. Merrick maintains operational excellence by fostering cross-departmental communication and ensuring that all technical teams possess the necessary tools for success.

    Colin Stevenson - President

    Colin Stevenson, the President at UES, leads the strategic development and execution of core engineering services. Focusing on the expansion of testing and inspection capabilities, the President drives the firm's efforts to secure major infrastructure contracts. Colin Stevenson manages the integration of new geophysical technologies into existing service offerings to enhance project outcomes. The President collaborates with the executive team to define the company's market approach in the transportation and industrial sectors. By fostering partnerships with key industry stakeholders, the President ensures the firm remains at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure development. This leadership role involves overseeing the performance of technical divisions to guarantee consistent service delivery. Through the implementation of growth-oriented initiatives, the President strengthens the company's competitive advantage. Stevenson maintains a focus on operational scalability, ensuring that the firm can effectively support complex redevelopment projects while upholding the highest standards of engineering precision and client satisfaction.

    Isidro Fernandez-Aballi - President

    Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, the President at UES, directs the firm's specialized environmental consulting and earth science divisions. Overseeing the technical staff, the President ensures that all environmental assessments and geophysical surveys meet rigorous quality standards. Isidro Fernandez-Aballi develops strategies to integrate sustainable practices into the design and maintenance of infrastructure projects. The President coordinates with other executive leaders to align environmental service offerings with the company's broader engineering goals. By leveraging deep expertise in earth sciences, the President provides clients with actionable data for complex construction challenges. This leadership role involves managing relationships with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance across all environmental projects. Through the promotion of innovative testing methodologies, the President enhances the firm's ability to support resilient infrastructure development. Fernandez-Aballi drives the growth of the environmental consulting practice by focusing on technical excellence and the delivery of high-impact solutions for diverse industrial and public sector clients.

    Mark Clatt - Regional President

    Mark Clatt, the Regional President at UES, manages the operational and business development activities within the assigned region. Overseeing the delivery of testing, inspection, and engineering services, the Regional President ensures that local projects align with the firm's national standards for quality and efficiency. Mark Clatt directs regional teams to provide personalized solutions for transportation, water, and power infrastructure clients. The Regional President identifies local market opportunities and implements strategies to increase the firm's footprint in key sectors. By fostering strong relationships with regional partners and clients, the Regional President drives business growth and project success. This leadership role involves managing regional resources and ensuring that technical teams have the support required to execute complex projects. Through consistent monitoring of regional performance, Clatt maintains high levels of client satisfaction and operational productivity. The Regional President plays a vital role in translating the company's mission into tangible results for local infrastructure development.

    Thomas Lao - President & Senior Environmental Engineer

    Thomas Lao, the President & Senior Environmental Engineer at UES, leads the technical direction of the firm's environmental engineering practice. Combining executive leadership with deep subject matter expertise, the President & Senior Environmental Engineer oversees the design and implementation of complex environmental remediation and testing programs. Thomas Lao provides technical guidance on geophysical services, ensuring that all projects utilize the most advanced and sustainable methodologies. The President & Senior Environmental Engineer collaborates with project managers to solve intricate engineering challenges in the education and healthcare sectors. By mentoring technical staff, the President & Senior Environmental Engineer fosters a culture of innovation and precision. This leadership role involves reviewing high-stakes project plans to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and engineering best practices. Through the application of scientific rigor, Lao supports the firm's mission to build resilient infrastructure. The President & Senior Environmental Engineer ensures that every project benefits from cutting-edge environmental science and engineering expertise.
    Thomas Lao

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding UES Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads UES?
    UES is led by Dave Witsken (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Kevin Ertel (Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions) and Clint Johnson (Chief Financial Officer, Southeast).
    Who is part of UES’s executive team?
    The executive team of UES includes leaders such as Dave Witsken (Chief Executive Officer), Kevin Ertel (Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions), Clint Johnson (Chief Financial Officer, Southeast) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does UES have?
    UES has 8 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in UES’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of UES includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Texas & Midwest Regions, Chief Financial Officer, Southeast, Chief Operating Officer, President.