New PEs Promoted at PND Engineers
Photo Credit: PND Engineers
Two freshly licensed members of the PND Engineers team earned promotions.
Wade Kamkoff recently passed his Principles and Practice of Engineering exam to become a professionally licensed engineer in Alaska, so the firm promotes him to Senior Engineer. Kamkoff graduated from UAA in 2022 and was soon hired at PND. His focus is designing civil infrastructure on the North Slope. Kamkoff has also contributed to PND’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area project in Juneau, barge landings like Diamond Point in Cook Inlet, boat launches like Susitna Landing in Willow, and bridge replacements like Ward Creek Bridge in Ketchikan.
Wade Kamkoff
Photo Credit: PND Engineers
Current Issue
September 2026
Ben VanderHart is promoted to Senior Engineer after passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam to become a professionally licensed engineer in Alaska. VanderHart graduated from UAA in 2022 and was soon hired at PND, specializing in structural engineering and rope-access inspection of bridges, docks, and marine structures statewide. VanderHart is a Federal Highway Administration-certified Bridge Inspection Team Leader, a certified Level I rope-access technician, and certified for nonredundant steel tension members and the safety inspection of in-service bridges. He regularly manages logistics, personnel, and scheduling for PND’s structural inspection work.
Ben VanderHart
Photo Credit: PND Engineers
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.