LEADERSHIP

Leadership is about leading people in an organization towards achieving goals. Athena has a distinguished team of talented leaders at all levels of our organization. The Athena leadership team sets a clear vision for the organization, motivates employees, and guides our team through the work process while building morale.

Every project we execute gets the personal attention of members of the Athena leadership team, all professionally licensed in their fields of expertise.

Our Leadership Team

Featured

Julie Oliphant, PE

PRESIDENT

Julie Oliphant, PE cut her teeth in geotechnical engineering starting as a designer with the USACE New Orleans District, where she gained invaluable experience in foundation design for hurricane and storm levee, floodwall, and coastal and wetland protection and restoration projects. Julie made the move to the private sector in 2017 when she joined woman-owned small business K.S. Ware and Associates, LLC in Nashville, Tennessee, where she served as principal engineer for the firm’s geotechnical and environmental contracts. When the time was right, Julie forged her own path by purchasing the firm and has made her mark with a fresh rebrand and growth strategy as President of Athena Engineering & Environmental, LLC, a Small Business Administration (SBA) certified woman-owned small business. On her watch, the firm has grown exponentially in both headcount and service lines which today include those most sought after in a premier teaming partner—geotechnical, HTRW, ecological, water resources, surveying, value engineering, and expert technical review. In addition, Julie has positioned her firm for continued success by expanding their portfolio of work to include prime IDIQ contracts with USACE, NASA, NRCS, and other government agencies.

Email Julie

Dusty Barrett, PE, PMP

VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

Dusty Barrett has 18 years of experience in the management and execution of geotechnical investigations, studies, and engineering tasks. He has served clients in the government (federal, state, and local), industrial, energy, transportation, and water sectors. His expertise encompasses civil works infrastructure including locks, dams, levees, and river structures as well as military construction projects. Dusty has an MS degree in civil engineering, is a licensed professional engineer in ten states, and a project management professional.

Email Dusty

Jimmy Waddle, PE

VICE PRESIDENT, DAM SAFETY

Jimmy Waddle is a former USACE Chief of Engineering and Construction (E&C) Division with more than 34 years experience in civil/structural and construction management. Experience includes Chief of E&C of the Mississippi Valley Division during the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts; Nashville District E&C Chief overseeing dam safety modification construction of Wolf Creek and Center Hill Dams; and E&C Chief for Mosul Dam in Iraq, where he managed an International Team to stabilize the dam through an extensive emergency drilling and grouting program during the liberation of the city of Mosul. He received Silver and Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medals. He is a licensed professional engineer and has a BS degree in civil engineering and an MS degree in construction management.

Email Jimmy

Heidi Wilbarger, PG, PMP

VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND COMPLIANCE

Heidi Wilbarger is a professional geologist and certified Project Management Professional with over 29 years of environmental consulting experience. Her experience includes providing management, technical oversight, and implementation for a wide range of projects, including hazardous material surveys and abatement; water quality sampling and analysis; phase I and II environmental site assessments; brownfields; landfills; groundwater monitoring networks; industrial sites containing contaminated soils, surface water and groundwater; groundwater testing; Superfund sites; and CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies. She has BS and MS degrees in geology.

Email Heidi

Derek Hodnett, PE, PG

VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING

Derek Hodnett has 33 years of experience in the geotechnical engineering field and has worked on a wide range projects, including dams and levees, highway infrastructure, riverfront facilities, landfills, and industrial facilities. He has authored multiple publications. Mr. Hodnett manages Athena’s Chattanooga office. He is a licensed professional engineer and professional geologist and he has a BS degree in geological engineering.

Email Derek

Nathan Long, PE, PG

VICE PRESIDENT, GEOTECHNICAL AND FIELD SERVICES

Nathan Long has 17 years of geotechnical engineering experience in a variety of geologic and geographic settings across the U.S. He has led geotechnical investigations and construction materials testing on a variety of projects, including highways, bridges and retaining walls; levee and dam embankments; airport runways and taxiways; and building foundations. He is a licensed professional engineer and professional geologist and he has a BS degree in geological engineering.

Email Nathan

Brad Kouchoukos, PE, VMA

DIRECTOR OF VALUE ENGINEERING

Brad Kouchoukos leads Athena’s Value Engineering practice, coordinating the efforts of the firm’s large staff of in-house Certified Value Specialist (CVS) facilitators and multidisciplinary Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) promoting the SAVE International Value Methodology on civil infrastructure and military construction VE studies. By trade, Brad is a geotechnical engineer experienced in subsurface explorations with soil and bedrock sampling, laboratory testing, and geotechnical analyses. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University.

Email Brad

Caleb Smith, PLS

DIRECTOR OF GEOSPATIAL SERVICES

Caleb Smith is experienced in the full complement of geospatial services. He has performed 3D laser scan surveys and utility locating in addition to traditional boundary, topographic, control, bathymetric, UAV, and land title surveys for public and private clients. Caleb has a BS from Western Kentucky University and is a registered land surveyor in multiple states across the US.

Email Caleb

Kelley Spence, PMP

DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Kelley Spence has a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and over 20 years’ experience in due diligence assessments, hazardous materials investigations, monitoring and corrective action plans, and remediation for industrial and government clients. She has managed environmental regulatory compliance programs for 70+ manufacturing facilities across the US, overseeing stormwater, air, hazardous waste, and drinking water programs.

Email Kelley

Ivan Maldonado

DIRECTOR OF ECOLOGICAL SERVICES

Ivan Maldonado brings expertise in federal and state environmental permitting, environmental assessments, SWPPP preparation, and BMP consultation. He provides insight on wetland and threatened/endangered species assessments and conducts stream assessments as a Qualified Hydrologic Professional. His experience supports projects in the transportation, energy, and local government sectors.