On a mission to provide services while creating strong relationships along the way
We are devoted to providing services that are delivered on time and on budget. We believe that exceptional communication is the key to crafting the highest quality work product.
Our Team
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Who We Are
Meet the Team
At Columbia West, our expert team of engineers, technicians, and inspectors brings a wealth of local insights and specialized skills. We collaborate closely with regulatory agencies, architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, contractors, and all project stakeholders to ensure professional, timely, and cost-efficient services.
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
BRETT SHIPTON, PE, GE
President and Principal Engineer
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
JASON ORDWAY, PE
LANCE LEHTO, PE, GE
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Shawn Dimke, PE, GE
Daniel Lehto, PE, GE
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
NAJIB KALAS, PE
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Nick Paveglio, PE
Senior Project Manager- Special Inspections,
RSO (Oregon)
Mike Boronat
Laboratory Manager
RSO (WAshington)
Project Engineer
Mike King, PE
Office Manager/Controller
Jeff Maruca
Project Manager - Special Inspections
Jeff Mersereau
Senior Project Engineer
Jason MerritT, PE
Environmental Services Project Manager
Terry Rice
Senior Project Manager
Alan Rutherford
Senior Project Engineer
Greg Williamson, PE
JARED COMASTRO
President and Principal Engineer
LANCE V. LEHTO, PE, GE
Lance V. Lehto is the founder and president of Columbia West. Mr. Lehto has more than 25 years of experience in the geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, materials testing and special inspection fields. After obtaining his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University, Mr. Lehto worked in the private geotechnical consulting field as a field engineer, project engineer, and project manager. Since initial opening of operations in 1999, Mr. Lehto has guided Columbia West to consistent sustained growth while developing the company’s reputation for providing quality reliable professional services. Under Mr. Lehto’s direction, Columbia West has successfully provided geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, construction materials testing and special inspection services for thousands of projects in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Lehto is a licensed professional and geotechnical engineer, and serves as the company’s special inspection technical director.
Years of Experience:
25+
Education:
BS - Civil Engineering - Montana State University 1993
MS - Civil Engineering - Montana State University 1995
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - WA, OR
Geotechnical Engineer - OR
WABO - Technical Director
40-Hour OSHA Training (29 CFFR 1910.120)
40-Hour Surface, Underground, Metal and Nonmetal MSHA Training (30 CFR)
Daniel LEHTO, PE, GE
Years of Experience:
22
Education:
BS Civil Engineering - Portland State University, 2006
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - WA, OR
Geotechnical Engineer - OR
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Daniel Lehto is a principal engineer at Columbia West. Licensed as both a professional and geotechnical engineer, he has accumulated over 22 years of experience in the field, becoming a cornerstone of our engineering team. Daniel has played a significant role in Columbia West's ongoing development and growth. His aptitude for integrating innovative plans and efficient management practices has contributed to the expansion of our operations and improvement of our services. Among his responsibilities are geotechnical design and reports, retaining wall design, staff engineer training and development, and organizational oversight. During his time with Columbia West over the past 20 years he has managed a notable number of geotechnical projects. His extensive knowledge of local soil conditions and tailored engineering solutions assists projects in all stages of development and construction. Although Daniel’s contributions have significantly impacted our company’s growth, he remains a humble and focused professional. His balanced approach to leadership and dedication to the profession supports Columbia West’s commitment to delivering quality geotechnical engineering services to our clients, while also contributing to the broader engineering community.
Jason Ordway, PE
Years of Experience:
20
Education:
BS Civil Engineering - Portland State University, 2004
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - WA, OR
WABO - Technical Director, Reinforced Concrete
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Jason L. Ordway is a Principal Engineer at Columbia West. Mr. Ordway is a licensed professional engineer with 20 years of experience in the geotechnical engineering field. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Portland State University in 2004, Mr. Ordway began work in the private geotechnical consulting field as a staff and project engineer. Mr. Ordway interned at Columbia West during portions of his undergraduate work performing laboratory testing and construction monitoring. Mr. Ordway currently manages geotechnical engineering and construction monitoring projects, and serves as the company’s quality manager. Mr. Ordway holds ICC special inspection certification, manages special inspection projects, and oversees scheduling.
SHAWN DIMKE, PE, GE
Shawn Dimke brings a wealth of geotechnical engineering experience spanning over 21 years across the Pacific Northwest and urban landscapes in California. Shawn received his Master of Science in geotechnical Engineering from Oregon State University in 2004 and is a licensed professional engineer in California, Oregon, and Washington. His project portfolio encompasses a wide spectrum including water infrastructure, industrial, institutional, commercial, public, mixed-use, and large-tract residential projects. Before joining Columbia West in the summer of 2023, Shawn led a team of senior geotechnical project engineers at a prominent Pacific Northwest engineering firm. Shawn’s experience includes foundation design for difficult soil, shoring and retaining wall design, seismic hazard evaluations, seismic design for liquefaction and lateral spread hazards, slope stability, finite element modeling, geotechnical instrumentation, and landslide evaluation and mitigation. At Columbia West, Shawn is part of the senior management and ownership group and manages and collaborates with a talented team of professionals to provide geotechnical services. Client-focused and results driven, Shawn’s satisfaction lies in delivering quality, reliable, everyday geotechnical services and collaborating with clients and design and construction teams to provide practical solutions and options to complex geotechnical challenges.
Years of Experience:
21
Education:
BS Civil Engineering - Oregon State University 2000
MS Geotechnical Engineering - Oregon State University 2004
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - CA, OR, WA
Geotechnical Engineer - OR
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
NAJIB A. KALAS, PE
Najib A. Kalas is a Principal Engineer at Columbia West and has been practicing geotechnical engineering for over 23 years. During his career, Mr. Kalas has worked in the private geotechnical consulting field as a field engineer, project engineer, and project manager. He specializes in foundation design, earth retention, and geotechnical and geologic hazard evaluations. Mr. Kalas has provided geotechnical engineering services for transportation, residential, and commercial developments, parking structures, interchange and infrastructure improvements, landslides, and slope/embankment stabilization. Prior to joining Columbia West in 2022, Mr. Kalas oversaw field operations and training of field personnel for the geotechnical department of a prominent Pacific Northwest engineering firm. Mr. Kalas received his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Al Baath University in 1993 and is a licensed professional engineer in Oregon, Washington, and Utah.
Years of Experience:
23
Education:
BS - Civil Engineering - Al Baath University 1993
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - OR, WA, UT
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Nick Paveglio, PE
Nick Paveglio is a Principal Engineer at Columbia West and has been practicing geotechnical engineering in western United States for over 18 years. Nick completed his Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Washington State University in 2004 and 2005 and is a die-hard Coug! Nick has provided geotechnical engineering services for infrastructure, commercial, residential, manufacturing, and energy developments and specializes in geotechnical earthquake engineering; liquefaction and lateral spread mitigation; tall building design; and earth retention. Nick is an advocate for his clients and a true problem solver.
Years of Experience:
18
Education:
BS Civil Engineering - Washington State University, 2004
MS Civil Engineering - Washington State University, 2005
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - OR, WA
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
BRETT A. SHIPTON, PE, GE
Brett A. Shipton is a Principal Engineer at Columbia West and has been practicing geotechnical engineering in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years. Mr. Shipton received his Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering from Oregon State University in 1997 and is a licensed professional engineer in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Idaho. Mr. Shipton is also a registered Geotechnical Engineer in the state of Oregon. Throughout his career, Mr. Shipton has provided geotechnical engineering services for a variety of projects, including utility infrastructure, transportation, residential, and commercial developments where he specializes in seismic hazard assessments, geotechnical earthquake engineering, and foundation design. Mr. Shipton joined Columbia West’s geotechnical engineering team in 2022 where he manages a group of engineers, engineering staff, and technicians. Mr. Shipton is also part of the senior management team where he develops business growth strategies and actively participates in the firm’s hiring practices.
Years of Experience:
26
Education:
BEng Civil Engineering - University of Pretoria, 1994
MS Geotechnical Engineering - Oregon State University, 1997
Certifications:
Professional Engineer - OR, WA, ID, UT
Geotechnical Engineer - OR
Mike Boronat
Years of Experience:
27
Certifications:
ACI: Concrete field Testing Technician - Grade 1
WABO: Reinforced Concrete (RC),
WABO: Structural Masonry (SM) (Supervisor)
WABO: Structural Bolting (SSB) (Supervisor),
WABO: Proprietary Anchors (PA)
WAQTC/ ODOT: Certified Density Technichian (CDT)
WAQTC/ ODOT: Certified Aggregate Technician (CAgT)
WAQTC/ ODOT: Quality Control Technician (QCT)
APNGA: Radiation Safety Officer Training
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER,
RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER
Jared Comastro
Years of Experience:
23
Certifications:
ACI – Aggregate Testing Technician – Level 1
ACI – Concrete Laboratory Testing Technician – Level 1
ACI – Concrete Strength Testing Technician
ACI – Masonry Laboratory Testing Technician
WABO – Supervising Laboratory Technician
WAQTC/ODOT – Certified Aggregate Technician (CAgT)
WAQTC/ODOT – Certified Asphalt Technician (CAT1)
WAQTC/ODOT – Certified Embankment and Base Technician (CEBT)
WAQTC/ODOT – Concrete Strength Testing Technician (CSTT)
NICET – Level III Construction Materials Testing, Soils
NICET – Level II Construction Materials Testing, Concrete
NICET – Level I Construction Materials Testing, Asphalt
NICET – Level III Geotechnical Engineering Technology, Laboratory
NICET – Level II Geotechnical Engineering Technology, Generalist
NICET – Level I Geotechnical Engineering Technology, Construction
Troxler – Nuclear Gauge Training Certification
Troxler – Radiation Safety Officer Training Certification
Materials Testing Training in WFLHD Field Test Methods, 2008
Excavation and Confined Space Safety (Competent Person Training)
Laboratory Manager
Multi-Disciplinary Service Profile
12
25
55
Offices
EXPERIENCED TEAM MEMBERS
Professional Engineers
Washington & Oregon
Years in Operation
Contact Us
We want to work with you.
Providing exceptional geotechnical engineering, structural special inspections, construction materials testing, and environmental consulting services across the Pacific Northwest.
