PND Engineers Adds Five New Hires to Anchorage Office

Claire Ellis, EIT, has worked in the engineering field since she was in high school and completed her bachelor of science in civil engineering from UAA earlier this month. She joined PND part-time in March and is now a full-time status staff engineer focused on general civil engineering. She has previous intern experience with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, reviewing submittals for public and community drinking water systems, and with Holler Engineering, working on a range of water, wastewater, and soils testing and design elements. Ellis lists interests including hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She also plays classical violin and piano with a number of community groups in the Mat-Su Valley.

Colton Jessup, LSIT, earned a bachelor of science in geomatics from the University of Alaska Anchorage in May 2017, and brings fresh enthusiasm and a growing slate of experience to PND’s survey department. Jessup is a lifelong Alaskan from Kotzebue who previously worked for Red Dog Mine Operations as a technical intern and later as a full-time mine/survey technician. In that role, he provided survey services for mining activities, support for GPS systems, and construction monitoring. Most recently, Jessup worked for Bell & Associates on the North Slope. His next goal is to obtain his professional land surveyor license, and he has also begun work toward a master’s degree in project management and project management professional certification. In his free time, Jessup enjoys hiking camping, fishing, and mountain biking. “I grew up playing basketball and was eventually part of the team here at UAA,” he says. “I believe a good attitude is crucial to being part of any successful team. I am excited to be here with PND!”

Justin Lobdell, EIT, was born in Alaska, spent his teenage years in the west and southwest states, and returned to Alaska as an adult. He currently resides in Wasilla and brings several years of experience in residential construction to back up his bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage, which he earned this spring. Lobdell started working part-time for PND in April and has since joined our Palmer office full-time, supporting our structural team. While this is Lobdell’s first engineering job, he has worked in construction most of his life. His previous job was with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Civil Rights Office, performing ADA compliance inspections. “I had the opportunity to help write the current DOT&PF ADA transition plans,” he says, and created an ArcGIS database that is currently used to inventory all pedestrian facilities controlled by the Department statewide—a system that has achieved national recognition. In his spare time, Lobdell enjoys cooking, anime, and video games.

Kannon Lee, EIT, has joined PND’s geotechnical group. He is originally from New Mexico, earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and is currently completing a master’s in geotechnical engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He came to Alaska in 2012 to work as grants administrator for the Igiugig Village Council.  More recently, he worked for Jacobs Engineering in Anchorage. “The only fun I have been having for the last year involves my master’s thesis and home renovations,” Lee says, although he enjoys watching Game of Thrones with a pepperoni roll from Flattop and a great cup of coffee. Lee also spent a summer in St. Petersburg studying Russian.