Employee Spotlight: Kevin Eldridge, Lead Mechanical Engineer
A member of the firm since 2016, Kevin Eldridge was recently promoted to Lead Mechanical Engineer after passing his licensure exam to become a registered Professional Engineer (PE). His expertise includes waste and vent systems, water supply, natural and propane gas, compressed air, medical gas and sprinkler systems.
Kevin is an active member of the Columbus BIM User Group (COBUG), as well as local chapters of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE). He is also a 2020 graduate of the inaugural class of Elevate Cbus, a program created by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to help elevate business professionals.
Congratulations on obtaining your PE license and being promoted to Lead Mechanical Engineer. What are you most excited about in this new role?
While most of my project design over the years has been plumbing system focused, I decided to take the HVAC and Refrigeration PE exam. I think I am most excited about building on my HVAC system design knowledge and experience, while also providing added value to KLH as a project engineer.
What inspired you to pursue your PE license?
Obtaining my PE license has been a personal goal since graduating college after passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Apart from that, in the engineering consulting industry, passing the PE exam is viewed as a career milestone and a great opportunity to challenge your technical understanding!
You will be presenting at Prefab CONNECT with KLH and its partners in the Demain consortium on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Can you tell us a little bit about the presentation and your role in Demain?
The presentation will focus on three examples of how the Demain consortium—a partnership between KLH Engineers, Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Inc., Construction Innovations, DPMG Corporation and RexMoore—has leveraged data to improve the construction process. I will be copresenting with Chris Hronek, Fabrication Database Manager of Tweet/Garot, on a unique workflow that was implemented between our firms to complete the plumbing and HVAC construction scope of a surgery center. Having a mechanical background, my primary role in Demain is continued collaboration and problem solving with Tweet/Garot to improve our processes and how we can execute future projects better.
What do you enjoy most about working at KLH?
In addition to the diversity of project types I get to work on, my favorite thing about working at KLH is the firm’s dedication to technical innovation. There is opportunity for every employee to find an initiative within that speaks to their interests and get involved.
What kind of technical innovations have you been involved with?
I am most excited about a tool currently in process, which is a collaboration between KLH and Tweet/Garot. The end goal is a comprehensive and efficient workflow that manages native Revit elements created in design all the way through to fabrication and installation. I have previously been involved in Revit tools which helped improve drawing and design clarity as well such as our pipe material and legend tool, which clearly communicates to the contractor the exact material type for every piping system directly on drawings. This information traditionally lived within multiple specification sections, which was not efficient for a contractor’s review.
Do you have any advice for others who want to pursue a PE license?
My advice would be to develop a study plan and stick to it. Leveraging the past experiences and study materials of your peers who have also taken the test can serve as a great jumping off point! I would also put the focus on completion of practice problems over strictly reading of reference materials. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) produces sample exams that can serve as a great starting point.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I spend most of my free time with my wife, Abby, and two children, Jack and Amelia. I also enjoy tackling projects around our house and exercising when I can find the time!
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