JACKSON, Miss. – Neel-Schaffer is pleased to announce the promotion of 14 employees to the role of Senior Vice President or Vice President.

“These leaders have been instrumental in driving the strategic growth our firm has achieved over the past four years,” said Robert Walker, PE, Neel-Schaffer’s Chief Operating Officer. “Their commitment reflects the dedication of our entire team to upholding our core values of Care, Service, and Excellence, as we work to enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve.”

New Senior Vice Presidents

Matt Lifsey, PE, DBIA, Columbia, SC

Matt joined Neel-Schaffer in 2016 to lead our South Carolina operations and now serves as Senior Vice President for Business Development for South Carolina and as the East Region Pursuit Manager. Matt has more than 30 years of experience, including 24 years in various leadership positions with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). He has been instrumental in expanding our operations in the Carolinas and Georgia.

Philip Sandel, PE, DBIA, Columbia, SC

Philip joined the firm in 2021 and serves as Senior VP for our South Carolina Operations. Along with Matt Lifsey, Philip has helped drive the expansion of our Columbia and Atlanta (GA) offices. Philip has more than 20 years of experience overall, including 13 as a design engineer and manager for the SCDOT.

Kevin Stafford, PE, Columbus, MS

Kevin joined Neel-Schaffer in 1999 and has taken on a variety of roles throughout his 25-year career, including designer, senior project manager, City Engineer for the City of Columbus, and area manager. He was instrumental in Neel-Schaffer’s acquisition of Calvert-Spradling Engineers, Inc., in 2023, which strengthened the firm’s resources and capabilities in the Golden Triangle region of northeast Mississippi. Kevin now serves as the North Mississippi Operations Manager, overseeing Neel-Schaffer’s offices in Columbus, Starkville, West Point, and DeSoto County.

Richard Sullivan, PE, Assoc. DBIA, Nashville, TN

Richard joined Neel-Schaffer as Tennessee Operations Manager in 2017 and last year transitioned into a new role as Business Development Lead for Tennessee. He has been instrumental in expanding Neel-Schaffer’s services across the state and played a key role in establishing the firm’s Chattanooga office. He has more than 25 years of experience, including 14 years with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, where he held a variety of positions.

Lance Taylor, PE, Birmingham, AL

Lance joined Neel-Schaffer in 2018 and serves as our Alabama Operations Manager, overseeing our Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile offices. He has more than 30 years of experience, including 26 with the Alabama Department of Transportation. His duties include business development and oversight of CEI and design projects across the state, such as the $750 million West Alabama Highway project.

New Vice Presidents

Chad Edwards, PE, Brandon, MS

Chad joined the firm in 2020 and currently serves as an Engineering Manager in Central Mississippi. He plays a key role in a variety of projects across the region, with significant

involvement in Warren County, the City of Brandon, and Rankin County. Chad develops and leads projects from conception to completion, supporting the growing needs throughout the area, including infrastructure, community development, and recreational projects. With 20 years of diverse engineering experience, Chad brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm.

Gabe Faggard, PE, Gautier, MS

Gabe joined Neel-Schaffer in 2022 with more than 25 years of experience. He successfully re-established the firm’s Meridian (MS) office while growing the South Mississippi Construction Management team. In his role as South Mississippi CEI Manager, Gabe focuses on construction oversight and assists MDOT with the development of its alternative delivery program. Based in Neel-Schaffer’s Vancleave (MS) project office, he strategically assembled and leads the team managing the firm’s largest CEI project to date – the $212 million MDOT State Route 57 Improvements project.

Phillip Gibson, PE, Jackson, MS

Phillip re-joined the firm in 2018 and serves as the Senior Engineer Manager of the Central Mississippi Water/Wastewater Department. He has extensive experience in designing and managing large-scale water and wastewater distribution projects, including those with construction costs exceeding $100 million. He has more than 30 years of experience, including 20 total with Neel-Schaffer.

Sarah McEwen, PE, CFM, Jackson, MS

Sarah joined the firm in 2023 and serves as the Central Region Hydrology and Hydraulics Lead, responsible for all H&H and drainage projects in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. She has extensive experience managing projects for multiple departments of transportation. With a strong background in floodplain mapping and over 10 years of experience, Sarah is also a Certified Floodplain Manager.

Wes Nelson, PE, Birmingham, AL

Wes joined Neel-Schaffer in 2021 and brings nearly 25 years of experience to his role. He serves as our Alabama CEI Manager, overseeing all aspects of the firm’s CEI program throughout the state of Alabama. He also assists Lance Taylor and plays a major role in Business Development efforts throughout the state. Wes has led significant growth in the Alabama CEI program, expanding the team from 10 employees to 39 while overseeing major projects such as the $52 million ALDOT US-11 project and the $32 million ALDOT I-10 widening.

Becky Rogers, PE, PTP, RSP1, Birmingham, AL

Becky joined the firm in 2006 and is a Senior Project Manager specializing in Transportation Planning projects. With 25 years of experience in roadway planning and design, she is certified as a Professional Transportation Planner and Road Safety Professional. Becky has been a dedicated representative of Neel-Schaffer within the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), serving as President of the Alabama Section ITE in 2013 and the Southern District ITE in 2020. In 2024, she began a three-year term on ITE’s 16-member International Board of Direction, which sets policies for the organization, representing over 17,000 members across 78 countries.

Josh Stump, PE, Birmingham, AL

Josh joined Neel-Schaffer in 1999 and has held several roles, including Senior Project Manager and Aviation Engineer. Currently, he serves as the Alabama-Tennessee Aviation Lead, managing a diverse portfolio of projects at general aviation airports throughout our footprint. Josh has played a pivotal role in expanding Neel-Schaffer’s aviation services and spearheading key design initiatives, such as taxiway strengthening and relocation projects. Notably, he served as the project manager for Mississippi’s first electric aircraft charging station at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, a milestone in advancing aviation technology.

Justin Wood, PE, DBIA, Atlanta, GA

Justin joined the firm in 2009 and was recently promoted from Georgia Structural Lead to Georgia Engineering Manager, focused on operations and business development throughout the state. Justin has over 20 years of experience in designing a wide variety of bridge styles and has extensive expertise in bridge inspection and construction monitoring. As a DBIA-certified professional, Justin leverages the design-build industry’s highest designation to deliver innovative and efficient alternative delivery project solutions, enabling us to better serve our clients by streamlining project delivery and improving collaboration.

Craig Wyatt, PE, Chipley, FL

Craig joined Neel-Schaffer in 2019 and currently serves as the Florida Panhandle Area Manager. With nearly 20 years of experience in Transportation Engineering and Construction Management, Craig has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Panhandle CEI Group, expanding it from a single employee to a team of 15 over the past five years. This growth has enabled Neel-Schaffer to broaden its service offerings and strengthen its presence in the Panhandle region.

About Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Neel-Schaffer is a multi-disciplined engineering, planning, and construction management firm with offices throughout the South. Founded in 1983, the firm was ranked 202nd on Engineering News-Record’s list of the nation’s Top 500 Design Firms for 2024.