TEAM
Hamid Afghan, P.E., S.E.
Principal - Structural Engineer
Hamid Afghan is the founding and managing Principal of AAI Engineering. Hamid is licensed to practice in several states including Oregon, Washington and Hawaii amongst others. He has 40 years of structural experience and holds a Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering and Applied Science from Portland State University.
Hamid possesses a unique quality that resonates with many AAI clients. His ability to calmly address any project issue or constraint has proved invaluable. He routinely takes a difficult situation or problem, breaks it down into digestible pieces and produces a creative and economic solution without deviating from his calm demeanor. Hamid often develops a close working relationships with his clients which allows him to streamline and personalize a project.
Derek Larsen, P.E., S.E.
Associate - Structural Engineer
Derek Larsen has been an integral and solid member of the AAI Structural Department since 2003. Another native Oregonian, Derek grew up in Sweet Home, before calling Portland home. He attended Oregon State University and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Derek is amazingly proficient at organizing drawings and calculations into concise and easily understood packages. Clients working with Derek are often surprised to find that they gain a comprehensive understanding of the work, process and intricacies of their project and jurisdictional review staff are thankful to see Derek’s stamp on a drawing.
Chemelle Stark, P.E., S.E.
Associate - Structural Engineer
Chemelle was born in California, but found her home in Oregon. She attended Pacific Northwest College of Art and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She also graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Science. Chemelle has 14 years of experience in the field of structural engineering and is licensed in the states of Oregon, Missouri, Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Montana.
Chemelle is one of those people who can take a project from concept to permits without a hitch. Her structural understanding is comprehensive. Her ability to work independently is surpassed only by the organizational skills she uses to do so. Her clients find her very accessible and responsive. She also possesses the valuable skill of identifying and understanding clients’ individual/project specific needs.
Ugo Costa, P.E., S.E.
Associate - Structural Engineer
Ugo comes to the Pacific Northwest via Buffalo, New York. He attended the State University of New York, Buffalo, earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and the University of California, Berkley, earning a masters degree in Structural Engineering. Ugo is licensed Structural Engineer in the states of Oregon and California, with 21 years of experience in the field.
Ugo has been with AAI since 2010. During that time he has established a reputation for reliable, on schedule, project delivery and consistent quick response to client questions and needs.
Norm Scheg
Associate - Project Manager
Norm is an east coaster, originally from Rochester, NY. He attended Monroe Community College and graduated with an Associate of Science degree with a Landscape Architecture emphasis. Norm has been with AAI since 2004 and has 19 years of experience in the field of civil engineering.
Norm understands and is willing to do what it takes to get a project done, on time. His focus on the end result eliminates missteps and revisions and his ability to work through or avoid road blocks is unsurpassed. Norm ‘s projects are always managed with the utmost foresight and efficiency.
Beth Zauner, P.L.A.
Project Manager – Land Use Planner
Beth attended Auburn University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture and Louisiana State University, earning a Masters of Landscape Architecture. Beth been in Portland since the mid 1990s and has been working with AAI since 2005. She is a licensed Landscape Architect in Oregon and Louisiana.
Beth has a diverse background with experience in Site and Master Planning, Landscape and Urban Design, and Land Use Feasibility and Application preparation.This unique skill set allows her to understand and present complicated pieces of a project in a comprehensive manner.
Teresa Long, P.L.A.
Associate - Project Manager – Landscape Architect
Teresa attended Virginia Tech University, attaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree. After practicing Architecture in northern Virginia for 14 years, Teresa’s interest in Landscape Architecture led her to pursue a Certificate in Horticulture from the USDA Graduate School in Washington DC. Upon arriving in the Pacific Northwest, she obtained her license to practice Landscape Architecture, and completed course work at PSU in Project Management, Environmental Permitting, and Wetland / Watershed Development.
Teresa is a licensed Landscape Architect in Oregon and Washington, bringing over 20 years of Architecture and Landscape Architecture experience to her position. AAI enjoys and fully utilizes the diversity that her background and experience allows.
Clinton Cogswell
BIM Manager
Clinton is another of AAI’s born and raised Oregonians. He attended the ITT Technical Institute and holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science. A long time AAI employee, Clinton has witnessed the technological revolution first hand and does his best to makes sure AAI is at its forefront.
Clinton’s ability to problem solve is what holds AAI together. His calm response to employees’ occasional state of panic is one of his greatest assets. Another is his ability to resolve technological issues quickly and efficiently. He also provides CAD support for the Structural Department.
Erik Olson
CAD Technician II
Erik is a native Oregonian, with more than 20 years of experience in his field. He has been with AAI since 2004.
Erik is a versatile employee, working with both the Structural and Civil Engineering Departments of AAI. His time is always in demand here at AAI because the turn around is always swift and his work is spot-on.
Jenna Sparrowgrove, E.I.T.
Project Manager - Civil
Mary Kate Flugum
Structural Designer
Mary Kate is originally from Bodega Bay, California and moved north to attend Oregon State University and live closer to family. She graduated cum laude from OSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Writing.
When not working, she can be found rollerblading, doing arts and crafts, or watching scary movies.
Halliet Danel, E.I.T., C.F.M.
Senior Civil Designer
Halliet is a Louisiana Creole from the heart of Acadiana. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UL Lafayette, in 2017. After college, Halliet spent four years in Austin, Texas, working in stormwater modeling, drainage, and water quality design.
Halliet recently achieved his long-time personal goal of moving to the Pacific Northwest and is happy to call Portland home. Outside of work he enjoys all that Oregon has to offer, including hiking, fishing, and being on the water. He also enjoys cooking, gardening, playing music, and is an amateur craftsman.
Erin Evans, E.I.T.
Senior Civil Designer
Erin is originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, but came to the Pacific Northwest for college and grew to love it. A few months after graduating from the University of Portland in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, she joined the AAI team. Erin is currently working on getting a master’s degree in water resources engineering from Portland State University, and is a licensed E.I.T. in the state of Oregon.
In her free time, Erin enjoys taking her dog for hikes and spending time outdoors, especially playing soccer, snowboarding, or skateboarding. When in Hawaii, she frequents Kona’s surf spots, often finds herself at waterfalls, and spends a lot of mornings in the corral with her horse.
Avi Singh, E.I.T.
Project Manager - Structural
Avi is originally from Fiji. He spent 10 years in Portland, attending Portland State University, obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Structural Engineering. Due to family affairs, Avi works remotely. He is however, an irreplaceable member of the AAI family and we simply refuse to let him go. Avi intends to return to the office full-time in the near future.
AAI clients love working with Avi. His work ethic, sense of responsibly and humor allow him to provide a refreshing project management style, as well as deliver an exemplary project.
Mary Ryan, E.I.T.
Structural Designer
Mary comes to us via Chicago, and has been in the Pacific Northwest since 2005. Mary attended the University of Portland and holds a degree in Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a focus on Structural/Geotechnical. Her experience and interests are wide ranged, including Geotechnical, Structural and Construction Engineering. One of Mary’s favorite parts of her job is working and problem solving with Contractors. Her understanding of the final product and the best way to get there routinely catches contractors by surprise and then results in her number being entered on their speed dial.
Matt Yosefani, P.E.
Structural Engineer
Born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, Matt is a valuable member of the structural department. After earning a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Science from the University of Technology – Baghdad, Matt moved in 2012 to the United States. After landing in Portland, Matt also earned a Masters of Engineering and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Portland State University, specializing in research regarding design provisions for reinforced concrete beams made with high-strength concrete and high-strength reinforcement.
Outside of work, Matt has a passion for travel. His favorite sport is soccer. He is a real fanatic, watches soccer games and plays soccer both on the pitch outside and online with friends. Matt is a piano hobbyist and enjoys playing Arabic songs on his keyboard.
Christopher Thornton, P.E.
Project Manager - Civil Engineer
Chris is originally from Panama, and moved to New Jersey where he earned a Civil Engineering Degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology. After spending almost 3 years cultivating his land development career, Chris and his wife moved to Florida where he gained valuable engineering experience with stormwater modeling, utility design, and site development. Chris is licensed as a professional engineer in the states of Oregon, Washington and Florida.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing and watching soccer, playing table tennis, volunteering in the community, and hitting the trails with his wife and dogs.
Serena Smith
Office Manager
Serena has lived in Southern California most of her life where she attended the University of California, Riverside. She recently moved to Oregon looking for a slower pace and more opportunities for a better quality of life. Serena’s experience has focused on the management of small to medium size companies for over fifteen years, so she is a perfect fit for AAI. She is very family focused, loves to spend time outdoors, and travels as much as possible.
Serena is dedicated to the AAI company culture and our employees’ success. She works diligently to improve workplace organization and efficiency while maintaining a fun atmosphere. Her experience in accounting and human resources, as well as her formidable multi-tasking abilities, keep the company running smoothly on a daily basis.
Alison Baker
Administrative Assistant
Alison is from Columbus, Ohio and has been a Portlander since 2009. She attended Portland State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Alison has been a dynamic part of the AAI team since 2018.
In her free time, Alison enjoys swimming, snowboarding and spending time with her dog, Jelly.
Craig Harris, P.E.
Consultant - Civil Engineer
Craig Harris is a professional Civil Engineer licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington, with more than 25 years of experience in the land development field. Craig, previously the principal in charge of the civil department at AAI, will continue to assist AAI as a consultant as needed.
