Our Leadership


David L. Peeler
David has served as WK Dickson's CEO since he acquired the firm in 1984. In addition, he continues to serve aviation clients throughout the southeast. David has more than 40 years of progressive management experience within the aviation and military sectors. A majority of his career has been as a project manager that has included supervising technical design teams of engineers and planners for projects ranging from general aviation airport expansions, major air carrier projects and military base improvements.
Academic Background:
BS & MS in Civil Engineering; Purdue University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC, SC, GA, TN, FL, & VA


David L. Pond
David joined WK Dickson as Executive VP and COO in 1985 and transitioned into the President's role in 2019. With the retirement of David Peeler in 2020, David assumed the dual role of President and CEO. Much of David's early career was spent as a project manager in the environmental field, which included water storage facilities, water distribution systems, water and waste water pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems, and stormwater drainage improvements.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, & VA


Scott Whalen
Scott began his career in public service with the NC Department of Transportation where he progressed to an engineering manager with a focus on transportation design projects. Today he specializes in water resources with a focus on stormwater management and hydrology. Scott was also responsible for managing WK Dickson’s Raleigh, NC office. He founded the company’s watershed services practice and still actively participates in that group’s management. In 2019, Scott became COO and will oversee day to day operations of the firm's branch offices.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering Technology; Bluefield State College
MS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
MBA in Business Administration; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC, GA, & VA


Chris Nugent
Prior to assuming the duties of CFO, Chris had been the Director of Information Technology with WK Dickson for nearly 10 years and has held a wide range of other technical and management positions. In 2005 he was responsible for developing the intricate accounting and financial systems the firm still uses today. As CFO, Chris' primary responsibilities include management of both the operating and capital budgets, and leading the accounting, financial management and information technology departments.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; Texas A&M University


Kraig Kern
Kraig joined WK Dickson in 2001 as the Corporate Marketing Coordinator, and was later promoted to Director of Marketing in 2003 and named a Vice President in 2013. He is the firm's executive responsible for all marketing, public relations and corporate communications functions as they relate to broad-based development for the firm. His duties involve strategic planning; corporate branding; firm-wide data coordination; development of the firm's online presence; special event planning; skills training; and multi-level market research. Kraig has been very active in the engineering industry having founded the Climb for Water organization as well as serving on the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina (ACEC/NC).
Academic Background:
BA in Corporate Communications; Indiana State University
BA in Journalism; University of Florida
Licenses/Certifications:
Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM)


Lisa Eggert
Lisa is an experienced human resources executive with a demonstrated history of working in the service industries. With nearly 30 years in HR, she is skilled with benefit administration, compensation administration, recruitment and retention, strategic planning, training and development and employee relations.
Academic Background:
BS in HR Management; St. Mary's University


Ken Saunders
With over 40 years of management experience in the A/E/C industry, Ken has proven success in operations, construction, and project management. Most recently, he was a senior program manager for the water business line of a national firm in the Midwest region where he was responsible for both program management and construction management. Ken also has a successful track record directing major environmental and infrastructure programs including work as the program director for DeKalb County Government where he was responsible for directing the county’s $1.35 billion Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) Program for the Department of Watershed Management.
Academic Background:
BS in Engineering; Tulane University


Paul Smith
Paul is WK Dickson’s aviation practice leader. With decades of experience in airport planning, engineering, programming and construction management, he provides advice, leadership, and oversight to the firm’s airside planning/engineering, and landside planning/engineering task leaders. He also serves as a liaison between clients and the FAA as it relates to project development, funding, project advocacy and positioning, and overall communication with state and federal agencies. Paul has spent a majority of his career serving commercial air-carrier airports.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC


Bryan Odom
Bryan is the firm's practice leader for the water resources group which includes water, wastewater, stormwater, and watershed sciences. His expertise is in the design and construction of major municipal water and wastewater capital improvement projects. Bryan has responsibility for providing business development and general oversight to the firm’s water resources design and engineering teams and plays a large part in directing much of the development of WK Dickson’s water resources group.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil & Environmental Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC, SC, GA, TN & LA


Angie Mettlen
Angie has over 28 years in the water industry and has become a recognized leader in state and federal infrastructure funding and regulatory programs. To date, she has been instrumental in securing well over $150 million in funding for clients and developing strategies, such as utilizing peracetic acid for wastewater treatment, to meet the ever-changing regulatory environment. Angie values giving back to this industry and her community. She is a past chair and current secretary of the SC Section of AWWA and was recently appointed to the Clemson University Board of Visitors.
Academic Background:
BS in BioScience/Bioengineering; Clemson University
Licenses/Certifications:
AWWA Risk & Resiliency Assessment/Emergency Response Planning Certification
NASSCO PACP/MACP/LACP Certification


Brian Tripp
Brian is an industry leader in the environmental field related to water resources. His knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations with regard to water resources engineering is a tremendous asset to the firm. He has overseen all aspects of environmental projects including project assessment and development, funding, design, permitting, startup operation and maintenance.
Academic Background:
BS in Biosystems Engineering; Clemson University
ME in Civil & Environmental Engineering; University of South Carolina
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC & SC
Diplomate Environmental Engineer


Lisa Wells
With more than 19 years of experience in the civil and environmental field, Lisa brings a broad perspective and knowledge of both public infrastructure and private industry projects. Her public experience includes stormwater utility and program management, capital planning and project management for gray and green infrastructure, asset management for stormwater systems and wastewater collection, watershed master planning, floodplain management, and sewer collection system operations and project implementation.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; Clemson University
MS in Civil Engineering; Clemson University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC, SC
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) in SC


Terry Macaluso
Terry has over 30 years of experience in the consulting engineering field and is the manager of WK Dickson’s Columbia, SC office. His primary technical expertise is in the areas of aviation, highways, land development, public works, and various aspects of economic development programs.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; Louisiana State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in SC & AL


Bill Young
Bill has more than two decades of experience in all facets of the planning, design, permitting, construction and management of civil engineering projects related primarily to water and wastewater treatment facilities and conveyance systems. As branch manager of WK Dickson’s Charleston office, Bill oversees complex utility projects throughout the low country and coastal regions.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; University of Connecticut
MS in Civil Engineering; State University of New York
MBA in Business Administration; Georgia State
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in SC


Trey Wingate
Trey has spent the entirety of his professional engineering career with WK Dickson. When he is not managing the operations of the Augusta, GA office, he serves as a senior project manager utilizing a hands-on approach to assist clients in getting their projects from preliminary design through construction. He has experience in municipal water and sewer design along with a broad expertise in most aspects of the civil design practice. The bulk of his experience over the last decade has been in assisting local governments and various public service districts solve their water and wastewater needs.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in GA, SC & NC
Level II Certified Design Professional - GSWCC


Ryan D. Blake
Ryan is a civil engineer with a focus on water resources. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Ryan specializes in management for water and wastewater rehabilitation projects as well as pipelines and pump stations.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; University of Tennessee
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in TN


Scott Sigmon
Scott has been with WK Dickson since 1999 and his engineering background is on projects related to stormwater management and design for urban watersheds. He began his career with stormwater modeling and quickly rose as the primary lead for all of WK Dickson’s North Carolina stormwater program. Scott is a strong mentor who trains his people to eventually take leadership roles. He brings demonstrated reliability, a solid work ethic, and a collaborative spirit to WK Dickson.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC & SC


Bryan Thomas
Bryan is experienced in a wide variety of civil engineering and land development projects including higher education and institutional development, commercial and industrial sites, and urban infrastructure projects for municipalities. His work also includes natural gas and solar facilities; and residential, transportation and railway developments. His specialty is project oversight, managing resources, and providing an exceptional client experience. Bryan is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the SC Economic Developers Association, the SC Association of Stormwater Managers, and the SC Urban Land Institute.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; University of South Carolina
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in SC, NC & GA


Carter Hubard
Carter began his career at WK Dickson in 2001 and has served as program and project manager for a diverse list of municipal clients along the east coast. He has water and wastewater engineering experience spanning water line planning and permitting, hydraulic analysis, route analysis, and construction, sewer system assessment and rehabilitation, wastewater treatment high rate infiltration and water supply wells. Carter is one of the firms most knowledgeable water and wastewater treatment engineers.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil Engineering; Virginia Military Institute
MS in Civil Engineering; Villanova University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in NC & SC


Jeremy Brashears
Jeremy, as a regional water/wastewater practice leader, leads WK Dickson’s growth in the South Carolina region. He has over 14 years of project and program management experience throughout the Carolinas which includes traditional water and sewer infrastructure design and construction, as well as asset management program development and implementation. He has overseen numerous EPA regulatory consent efforts including the separation of combined sewer systems, emergency responses to curtail overflows, and systematic development for capacity, management, operations and maintenance (CMOM) programs.
Academic Background:
BS in Information Management; University of South Carolina
BS in Civil Engineering; The Citadel
MS in Civil Engineering; North Carolina State University
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in SC, NC
NASSCO PACP/MACP/LACP Certification


Phil Cannon
With over 30 years of federal service in aviation, Phil
offers an unparalleled array of experience in the planning and development of
airports ranging from large commercial hubs to non-primary general aviation
airports. Prior to joining WK Dickson in 2015, Phil served as the Manager of
Airport Programs for the Atlanta Airports District Office (ATL-ADO) where he
managed an annual $80 million discretionary planning budget and served as the
State Block Grant liaison where he was responsible for the funding, planning,
technical assistance and program oversight of all general aviation airports in
Georgia.
Academic Background:
BS in Electrical Engineering; Clemson University


David Reece
David’s 43 years of experience includes environmental
engineering, utility operations, information systems management, TDEC
regulations, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). As a regional practice
manager in Knoxville, TN, David works to match client needs with WK Dickson’s expertise.
Academic Background:
BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering; University of Tennessee
MS in Environmental Engineering; University of Tennessee
Licenses/Certifications:
Professional Engineer (PE) in TN