Jesse holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a registered Professional Engineer in multiple states.

At his previous company, Jesse was responsible for various leadership and business development roles, growing the team significantly and increasing annual revenue.

At DEA, he’ll lead efforts to expand our presence and provide multidisciplinary services for medium and high voltage power facilities and infrastructure.

A strategic partnership agreement has been signed with AtkinsRéalis, under which they will acquire a 70% stake in David Evans Enterprises, Inc. (DEEI). The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

DEEI is the parent company of David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA), its original subsidiary. DEA has been providing exceptional services for over 48 years and is renowned for its innovative design services for transportation, water, land, energy, and marine infrastructure. This partnership aims to invest in enhancing DEA’s capabilities, deliver long-term value to clients and communities, and establish a significant leadership position in the Western US. DEEI and its subsidiaries, including DEA, will maintain their current leadership, company structure, and brands.

“The partnership between DEEI and AtkinsRéalis aligns with our strategic vision and enhances our professional services in the Western US and beyond,” said Al Barkouli, Chairman and CEO of DEEI.

In alignment with National Engineers Week’s “Design Your Future” theme, our dedicated team—Benjamin Hert, Joel Tubbs, Jenna Hori, and Travis Kinney—was recognized on January 30th in Portland for their outstanding work. The project’s remarkable 56-hour road closure minimized costs and enhanced worker safety, showcasing the power of engineering innovation.

This prestigious award propels us to the ACEC National EEA competition, with results expected in May. Congratulations to the entire team and all our partners for their commitment to excellence.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our partners at the Oregon Department of Transportation for the opportunity to collaborate on this exceptional project.

Additionally, we are proud to share that this project also won the Precast Concrete Institute’s national design award in the category of Transportation – Bridges with a Main Span Under 75 ft. Such accolades underscore our unwavering dedication to superior engineering and innovative solutions.

February 3, 2025 – Portland, OR – David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA), a nationally recognized professional services consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, announces the acquisition of Elcon Associates, Inc., an electrical and systems engineering firm with offices in Oregon and Washington.

Elcon has built a strong reputation over nearly five decades, specializing in energy, water and wastewater instrumentation and control systems, aviation and port facility systems, and rail systems engineering, including traction power, overhead contact systems, signals, and systems integration. This strategic acquisition will enhance DEA’s expertise in the energy market and strengthen its presence throughout the Pacific Northwest.

As part of this integration, Elcon’s offices in Beaverton, OR, and Tukwila and Lynnwood, WA, will become part of DEA, adding approximately 30 Elcon employees to DEA’s workforce. This expansion will increase DEA’s total workforce to approximately 1,050 employees.

Al Barkouli, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman and CEO of DEA, commented on the acquisition: “The acquisition of Elcon Associates, Inc. aligns with our strategic goal to bolster our presence in the Pacific Northwest and strengthen our expertise in the rapidly growing energy market. We are thrilled to welcome the employees of Elcon Associates, Inc. to DEA.”

Kinh D. Pham, PE, President at Elcon, stated, “I’m very proud that Elcon’s 50-year legacy of excellence will continue as part of DEA. Elcon’s electrical engineering expertise in the sectors of Energy, Transit, Marine, Airports, and Water/Wastewater combined with DEA’s resources and staff mentorship will strengthen and enhance our capabilities to provide superior services to our clients. We look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead.”

DEA, with over 48 years of exceptional service, prides itself on providing unique and innovative design services for transportation, water, land, energy, and marine infrastructure. The firm’s staff includes engineers, surveyors, hydrographers, planners, landscape architects, and natural resources scientists. DEA, an employee-owned firm, consistently ranks among ENR’s “Top 100 Pure Design Firms” in the United States.

This transformative project, completed for the Idaho Department of Transportation, reconstructed and lowered US-2 at the BNSF underpass between mileposts 475.1 and 475.67 in Sandpoint, ID.

Key upgrades included:
• Increasing vertical clearance at the underpass from 15’-7” to 17’-6”.
• Expanding the roadway to a four-lane section with two lanes in each direction.

DEA prepared the engineering design and provided construction engineering and inspection services, ensuring the project’s success from start to finish.

With over 30 years of consulting experience, including 20 years with DEA, Debra has delivered major infrastructure projects across Washington and Oregon. For the past six years, she has successfully led the Puget Sound Region Roads and Highways Group, building a dynamic and versatile team that has delivered a range of projects for local agencies, transit agencies, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

We are thrilled to welcome Joel Theodore to the DEA team as our National Transit Engineering Service Leader for Transit and Rail.

Joel holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University and brings over 25 years of engineering and senior project management experience. His extensive knowledge will be valuable as we strengthen our Transit Engineering Services in the Pacific Northwest and expand nationally.

Greg, with 28 years of experience, has led our Roads and Highways Practice for the last six years, during which the team grew by 50 members. He has successfully managed high-profile projects such as UDOT’s 1800 N New Interchange and Widening Project and twice earned UDOT’s Project of the Year award. In his new role, he’ll oversee company programs, ensuring client satisfaction, top-notch project delivery and quality, maintaining industry-leading safety standards while continuing his project work.

Greg will succeed Glenn Roberts, who will be retiring after an outstanding career where he made transformative improvements and established a high level of excellence. Glenn will assist Greg with the transition and work on special projects part-time until next Spring.