Stephen Nichols

Experience

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  Sverdrup Corporation

  Mar 1984 - May 1990

  Project Manager

  Joined Nashville office as a Structural Engineer and designed barge loading/unloading facilities for steel coils and other related products. I developed a system using overhead bridge cranes that ran on runways cantilevered over the barges. In 1986, I was relocated to the Orlando office to manage the bridge design of the Eastern Extension of the East-West Expressway. Bridges consisted of AASHTO girder superstructures and concrete multicolumn substructures. Structures within the interchange required complex geometry to join with roadway segments. I oversaw a design team of six people to handle the 11 bridge sites. Relocated to Tallahassee to manage bridge replacement design projects within the Florida Bridge Replacement Program. Ten projects involving 15 bridges were developed, designed, and prepared for bidding simultaneously. Bridges included river crossings, overpasses, and ramp structures. Several bridges were coastal structures, which called for special design solutions for the severe environment. Show less

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  PBSJ, Inc.

  May 1990 - May 1997

  Project Manager

  As a member of the General Consultant team for Florida’s Turnpike, initial assignment was to manage the design of Veterans Expressway, a $360 million, 14.7-mile limited access toll road in the northwest portion of Tampa, Florida. Ten design firms were assigned sections of the project with oversight, coordination, review, and schedules provided by Mr. Nichols and support staff. Project was delivered on time and within budget. After completion of Veterans Expressway, other projects were assigned such as interchanges, roadway widening, toll facilities, bridge replacements, landscaping, and service plaza renovations. Project management included writing scopes, negotiations, design oversight, coordination with affected departments and agencies, plans review, permit coordination, bidding, and construction assistance. Appointed Turnpike District Structures Engineer to implement design policy and resolve structural issues in the development of projects. Show less

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  Baskerville Donovan, Inc.

  Jun 1997 - May 2001

  Transportation Manager

  Recruited to manage and direct Transportation group for firm. Group included seven engineers and five technicians. Projects varied from gravel roads built by County forces to a multilevel interchange using alternate bridge structures and complex traffic control plans. As Transportation Manager, I instituted a formal Quality Control Plan to reverse the trend in substandard plans production quality. Within two years, our plan sets were being shared as examples of what the client is expecting. Duties included proposal writing, scheduling, manpower forecasting, invoicing, client negotiations and coordination, production monitoring and distribution of manpower, project design review, quality control and assurance, and staff recruiting. In addition to management functions, I guided the engineers through roadway and bridge design procedures and documentation. I personally provided design for coastal structures such as fishing piers, revetments, and retaining structures. Show less

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  Reynolds Smith and Hills, Inc.

  Jun 2001 - Apr 2004

  Senior Project Manager

  Joined firm to work on the Better Jacksonville Plan, a sales tax funded, ten-year infrastructure program including a courthouse, library, baseball stadium, coliseum, parks, and over 60 roadway improvement projects in Duval County. Managed eleven major roadway projects from concept to concrete including, utility coordination, right-of-way acquisition, public involvement, bid evaluation, construction oversight and closeout. Moved to the Tallahassee office to market FDOT District 3 for the firm. After a few months I was successful in securing first design contract from FDOT District 3 for the company in 15 years. Show less

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  LPA Group, Inc.

  Apr 2004 - May 2007

  Director of Production

  Lead Design Production for Tallahassee, Florida office and updated Quality Control procedures. Appointed Program Manager for Blueprint 2000, a sales tax funded infrastructure program consisting of roadway projects to rebuild a loop around Tallahassee, parks, drainage improvements, and land conservation.

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  Reynolds Smith and Hills, Inc.

  Jun 2007 - Sept 2010

  Senior Project Manager

  Managed several multimillion dollar road/bridge projects for Osceola County, Florida. Used Construction Manager at Risk delivery method to shorten time to construction.Developed Design Manuals, Filing System, and Project Development Protocols to standardize designs and procedures.

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  Inovia Consulting Group

  Jan 2011 - May 2011

  Senior Engineer

  Design of a variety of civil/structural projects including docks, retaining walls, building foundations, drainage structures, etc.

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  Florida Turnpike Enterprise

  May 2011 - Jan 2017

  Manage Roadway Design of Turnpike projects through review of Phase Submittals. Coordinate policy issues through Central Office in Tallahassee. Develop staff through mentoring and design criteria guidance. Serve as member of Technical Review Committee for Design-Build proposals and Consultant Design Services contracts. Review and approval of Plans Specifications and Estimates prior to delivery to Contracts for Advertisement. Also manage Errors and Omissions program and Quality Control/Quality Assurance audits. I participate regularly on Technical Review Committees on Design and Design-Build selections.

  • Turnpike Roadway Design Engineer

    May 2013 - Jan 2017

  • Turnpike Plans Processing Engineer

    May 2011 - May 2013
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  Stantec

  Feb 2017 - now

  Manage Quality Control activities for Transportation projects statewide. Provide consistent level of detailed review and verification of documents produced for our clients. Assist with proposals and Business Development activities. Coordinate work tasks and project schedules to provide timely review and control plan revision process.

  • Quality Control Manager

    Feb 2017 - now

  • Quality Assurance Quality Control Manager

    Feb 2017 - now