Jeffrey H. Pearl, P.E.

Jeff Pearl is President of Pearl Engineering and is a Principal Consultant, specializing in the Structural Engineering and Project Management of Industrial Projects.

Mr. Pearl has over 25 years of Structural and Civil Engineering and Project Management experience serving industry, including 7 years as the Principal Partner of Pearl Engineering and 11 years as a Senior Project Civil Engineer in the Corporate Engineering Department at Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.) in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. For 6 years prior to that position, Mr. Pearl worked in the Power industry as a Structural Engineer for Sargent & Lundy, LLC and as a Project Engineer for Impell Corporation, an Engineering Consulting Firm, owned by Combustion Engineering (now Framatome Engineering and Alstom Power, respectively). Mr. Pearl’s experience in this industry focused mainly on the field examination, condition assessment, retrofit and repair projects on fossil power plants.

Mr. Pearl is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Kenneth L. Pepowski, P.E.

Ken Pepowski is a Vice President of Pearl Engineering and is a Principal Consultant, specializing in the Structural Engineering and Project Management on industrial, commercial, agricultural and municipal projects.

Mr. Pepowski has over 25 years of Structural and Civil Engineering and Project Management experience including 7 years as a Partner of Pearl Engineering and 10 years as a Senior Civil Engineer in the Corporate Engineering Department at Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.) where Mr. Pepowski worked on all phases of Pulp and Paper facilities, as well as projects on the Consolidated Water Power Company’s Hydro-electric Dams and Power Houses. For 6 years prior to this position, Mr. Pepowski was a Project Structural Engineer for Howard, Needles, Tammen, and Bergendoff (HNTB) Engineers and a Structural Engineer for the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the Naval Sea System Command.

Mr. Pepowski is a graduate of Marquette University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Science Degree in Structural Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.

Julie A. Rice, P.E.

Julie Rice is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management on Industrial Facilities, with an emphasis on Pulp and Paper Mill Process Systems, Stock Prep Systems and Mill Fiber and White Water Reclaim Systems.

Ms. Rice has over 20 years of experience in industry, including 6 years at Pearl Engineering and 12 years as a Senior Staff Project Mechanical Engineer for Nekoosa Papers (Georgia-Pacific Corporation/now Domtar Industries) in Nekoosa and Port Edwards, Wisconsin, including the Project Management of Construction of a new Lime Kiln and Chlorine Dioxide Generating Plant, and 2 years as a Mechanical Project Engineer for Appleton Papers.

Ms. Rice is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.

Barry L. Jens, P.E.

Barry Jens is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management on boilers, turbines, steam and compressed air systems, ventilation and energy efficiency projects.

Mr. Jens has over 39 years of experience in industry including 5 years at Pearl Engineering and as a Power Production Engineer for Nekoosa Papers (Georgia-Pacific Corporation/now Domtar Industries) at their Nekoosa Mill and as an in-house Consultant to Stora Enso North America on the installation and startup of a turbine-generator and boiler feed water system at their Stevens Point Mill and as an Independent Consultant to the Paper Industry.

Mr. Jens is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with Bachelors and Masters of Science Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.

Brendan B. Doughty, P.E.

Brendan Doughty is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management on Paper Mill Facilities, with an emphasis on Paper Machine and Finishing Projects.

Mr. Doughty has over 41 years of professional experience on paper machine and finishing projects, including 4 years at Pearl Engineering and 37 years in the various positions of Mechanical Engineer, Project Engineer, Manager of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Manager at the Nekoosa and Port Edwards facilities of Nekoosa Papers (Georgia-Pacific Corporation/now Domtar Industries).

Mr. Doughty is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.

Kevin J. Bean

Kevin Bean is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in instrumentation and controls engineering on industrial facilities, with an emphasis on process systems.

Mr. Bean has over 23 years of experience in industry, including 2 years at Pearl Engineering, 5 years as a Senior Instrumentation Engineer in the Stora Enso (now NewPage Corp.) Wisconsin Rapids Mill and 9 years as a Senior Instrumentation Engineer in the Corporate Engineering Department for Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.) in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.  Prior to his work for Consolidated, Mr. Bean worked for EMA, Inc., an engineering consulting firm in the Minneapolis area specializing in industrial projects and municipal wastewater projects, and for Specialty Systems, Inc., a design/build contractor in the Wausau, Wisconsin area specializing in process controls.

Mr. Bean is a graduate of University of Wisconsin – Stout with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Industrial Technology.

Marlo H. Carlson

Marlo Carlson is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management on process piping and pumping systems, pulp and paper manufacturing, ASME Code pressure vessels, steam generation, non-destructive examination and welding technology.

Mr. Carlson has over 42 years of professional experience in the Pulp and Paper Industry including 12 years at Wausau Paper (formerly Wausau Mosinee Paper Company) as Senior Project Engineer at the Brokaw, WI Mill.
 
Prior to his work for Wausau Paper, Mr. Carlson worked in the Pulp and Paper Industry for Professional Welding Associates as Engineering Manager, for Nekoosa Papers (Georgia-Pacific Corporation/now Domtar Industries) as Maintenance Superintendent and Engineer at their Nekoosa Mill, for Badger Paper Mills, Inc. as Maintenance Engineer at their former Peshtigo Mill, and for Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. and Fairbanks-Morse, Inc. as an Associate Engineer.

Mr. Carlson is a graduate of the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.  His application to become a Licensed Professional Engineer is in Progress.  

Robin E. Schmit, E.I.T.

Robin Schmit is a Project Engineer with Pearl Engineering, specializing in the Structural Engineering Design and Analysis of Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Projects.

Prior to joining Pearl Engineering, Ms. Schmit worked as a Structural Engineering Intern at Computerized Structural Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she performed Structural Steel Connection Design, Examination and Evaluation of existing structures, and Structural Engineering Design of concrete structures. Prior to this position, Ms. Schmit was a Structural Engineering Intern for Triad Engineering, Incorporated/TEI (recently renamed Symbiont) where she worked on new and existing construction projects in the preparation of structural design calculations, details and drawings, specifications, bid packages and bid reviews; interacted with bidders and subcontractors, and maintained project documentation.

Ms. Schmit is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelors of Science in Physics, Milwaukee School of Engineering with a Bachelors of Science in Architectural Engineering and a Masters of Science in Structural Engineering and is a Licensed Engineer in Training in Wisconsin.

John P. Bushmaker

John Bushmaker is a Senior Equipment Consultant, specializing in Paper Machine Equipment Design and Modification.  Mr. Bushmaker combines his insights gained from years as a manufacturer and field service provider in the Paper Industry to effectively interface with equipment manufacturers in providing solutions to our clients’ problems.

Mr. Bushmaker has over 33 years of experience in Paper Machines, Coaters, Supercalenders, and Winders.  Previous work includes 17 years at Nekoosa Corporation as a Sales Engineer in the Manufacturing Division and 15 years in the R&D Department at Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.) as a Project Physicist, working on Coaters, Supercalenders and Winders.

Mr. Bushmaker is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physics.

James R. Kuester 

James Kuester is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Industrial Engineering and Project Management on Process Design, Continuous Improvement, and Business Profitability Projects.

Mr. Kuester has over 19 years of professional experience serving a variety of industries, including:  industrial and consumer goods manufacturing, paper and pulp, feed processing, hospitality, warehousing, non-profit, and insurance.  This includes 2 years at Emerson Electric Co.’s Specialty Motor Division, where he reduced their cost of operations by $20+ million annually.  Mr. Kuester spent 12 years as owner of Allied Metal Products & Engineering Corp headquartered in Indianapolis, IN providing a wide variety of fabrication and engineering projects throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.  He sold Allied to launch SEGCO and develop the SEG™, a patented vertical racking protection device.  Most recently Mr. Kuester has provided innovative Business and Process Improvement solutions to firms in the US and Canada.

Mr. Kuester is a graduate of the Krannert School of Management with a Master of Science in Industrial Administration and Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering.

Franklin J. Lila

Frank Lila is a Safety Consultant with over 33 years of professional experience in the Pulp and Paper Industry including 11 years for Nekoosa Papers (Georgia-Pacific Corporation/now Domtar Industries) at their Nekoosa Mill as the Safety Supervisor and 3 years as the Superintendent of Finishing, Shipping and Production Control.

During this time, the Nekoosa Mill attained numerous awards for safety performance including a period of 3 years, or 4,500,000 labor hours, without a lost time injury.

Mr. Lila was awarded the Advanced Safety Certificate by the National Safety Council for completing courses in Occupational Safety, Safety Training Methods, Safety Management Techniques, and Industrial Hygiene.

Richard J. Faust

Rick Faust is a Senior Design Technician, Senior Design Consultant and a Project Manager at Pearl Engineering, specializing in Roofing Condition Assessment and Specification, parking lot, pavement and area drainage design, office design and remodeling projects, landfill construction and abandonment, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Mr. Faust has over 28 years of experience in industry including 4 years at Pearl Engineering.  Prior to this, Mr. Faust was Facilities Coordinator in the Corporate Maintenance Department at Stora Enso North America (now NewPage Corp.) and previously as a Project Civil Engineering Associate in the Corporate Engineering Department at Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.).  In these roles Mr. Faust Managed the Roofing and Pavement replacement, repair and monitoring program of those corporations facilities, Construction and Abandonment of Industrial Landfills, as well as Project Management and Design of Building Projects.

Mr. Faust is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Construction Technology. He is a Certified Asbestos Building Inspector and has affiliations with the Better Understanding of Roofing Systems Institute “BURSI”.

Daniel J. Reents

Dan Reents is a Senior Design Technician and Project Manager at Pearl Engineering. Mr. Reents has over 12 years of experience in industry including as a partner in the consulting firm of KLR Engineers for seven years, which specialized in projects in the Food Process Industry and as an employee in other consulting firms prior to that. 

Mr. Reents is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Environmental Design.

Joseph M. Erdmann

Joe Erdmann is a Senior Design Technician and Project Manager at Pearl Engineering providing Mechanical Process, Electrical, and Structural Design and Drafting expertise.

Mr. Erdmann has over 26 years of experience in industry including as Civil Drafter in the Corporate Engineering Department at Consolidated Papers, Inc. (now NewPage Corp.), as a Mechanical Designer at the Biron Paper Mill at Stora Enso North America and as a Design Drafter at Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. in Plover, Wisconsin. Previous to these positions, Mr. Erdmann worked for Northern Technical Services, Aero-Metric, Inc., Sterling Engineered Products, Inc., and Telsmith Division-Barber Greene Company in various Designer, Drafting and Surveying Roles.

Mr. Erdmann is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associates Degree in Civil Engineering Technology.

Alison Ellious is an Intermediate Design Technician at Pearl Engineering. Ms. Ellious has over 5 years of experience in Architecture and Industry including positions at KLR Engineers,
R.W. Bruner, O’Keefe, Inc., Spectrum Industries, and K&K Cad Designs. 

Ms. Ellious is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associates Degree in Mechanical Design Technology.

Nathan P. Roach

Nathan Roach is Design Technician at Pearl Engineering.  Mr. Roach is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design Technology.

Phillip J. Lepak

Phil Lepak is Design Technician at Pearl Engineering.  Mr. Lepak is a graduate of Mid-State Technical College with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design Technology.

Karen G. Kraemer

Karen Kraemer is the Office Manager of Pearl Engineering. Ms. Kraemer has over 12 years of experience in clerical and office management.

Patricia D. Barton

Patricia Barton is a Contract Administrator at Pearl Engineering and has twenty years experience in the paper industry beginning as Marketing Computer Coordinator for Nekoosa Papers in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. Based in Chicago, Ms. Barton traveled throughout the Midwest as a Sales Representative for Nekoosa Papers before joining Georgia Pacific as Pricing Coordinator at their headquarters in Atlanta.  Most recently Ms. Barton was the Printing Department Manager for Domtar Industries in Port Edwards.

Margaret V. Klingforth

Margaret Klingforth is a Senior Design Consultant, Contract Administrator and Assistant Office Manager at Pearl Engineering. Mrs. Klingforth has twenty years of experience in the IT environment starting as a Programmer/Analyst with Great Northern Nekoosa (Georgia Pacific) in Connecticut.  She transferred to the Port Edwards, Wisconsin and became Operations Supervisor of the Corporate Data Center.  She then moved into the Data Communications and Telecommunications arena as a Telecommunications Analyst.  Mrs. Klingforth also worked in that same capacity at Stora Enso North America in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

Mrs. Klingforth is a graduate of the University of New Haven with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration.

David A. Thiel, Ph.D.

Dave Thiel is a Senior Environmental Scientist at Pearl Engineering, specializing in Wastewater Treatment, Air Pollution Control, Sludge Landspreading, Environmental Toxins (Dioxin, PCBs), and Process Measurement (i.e. sampling, analysis, and flow determinations in both liquid and gaseous streams).

Dr. Thiel has over 27 years of Environmental Experience including: 15 years as Manager of Environmental Research for Nekoosa Papers, Inc. /Georgia Pacific; 5 years as an Environmental Consultant for Envirogen, Inc. in the Pulp and Paper, Wood Products, and Polyurethane Manufacturing Industries; and 4 years as Environmental Coordinator/Research Services Manager for the Research Department at Stora Enso North America.  He was also a Pulping and Bleaching Scientist at Nekoosa Papers for 3 years. 

Dr. Thiel holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemistry from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

In addition to working at Pearl Engineering, Dr. Thiel is also a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

James E. Maier, P.E.

James Maier is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Engineering and Project Management on Industrial Facilities, with an emphasis on Insurance Perils and Fire Protection Systems and Loss Investigation.

Mr. Maier has over 34 years of professional experience on Insurance and Fire Protection Systems as an Engineering Specialist at FM Global (formerly Factory Mutual).

Mr. Maier is a graduate of Saint Norbert College with a Bachelors of Science Degree in General Science and of Marquette University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.

Additional Resources

Pearl Engineering also has resource sharing alliances with Building Consultants, Inc. in Rothschild, Wisconsin and with Bracket Engineering Consulting, LLC in Green Bay, Wisconsin to be able to provide more engineering staff and broader or specialized experience our clients’ projects. Their staffs are as follows.

Bruce W. Abbott, P.E.

Bruce Abbott is a Senior Project Consultant specializing in Structural Engineering and has over 42 years of experience in Structural Engineering on commercial, municipal, and industrial projects, with specific emphasis in industry.

Mr. Abbott is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Civil Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin, New York, and Alberta, Canada.

Herb Bestul

Herb Bestul is a Senior Design Technician and has over 35 years of experience in the layout, design, and drafting of work in commercial, municipal, and industrial projects, with specific emphasis in industry.

Mr. Bestul is a graduate of North Central Technical Institute with an Associates Degree in Civil Design. 

Michael D. Bracket, P.E.

Mike Bracket is a Senior Project Consultant, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management with specialties in Site Utility Design, Plumbing, Fire Protection, HVAC, Building Utilities for Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities, Mechanical Commissioning Services
Preventative Maintenance Programs and Energy Management Studies.

Mr. Bracket has over 27 years of professional experience in the Mechanical Systems Industry including 14 years in Mechanical Engineering Consulting with his own firm, as well as with Lang Associates, Inc., Raasch Associates, Inc., Sikora Engineering, and Central Consulting and 13 years in Mechanical Contracting and Fabrication with Franklin Sheetmetal and Bracket Plumbing and Heating.

Mr. Bracket is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.