Meet the Team
Staff Info
Andy Ratkewicz received a Bachelor’s Degree in Math in 1969 from the Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas; a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Science in 1975 from the University of Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Architectural Engineering in 1977 from the University of Illinois. Andy has been with Norton & Schmidt Consulting Engineers since 1977. During that period, he has gained experience in engineering design and analysis and during the last 20 years, structural restoration engineering experience. Andy’s involvement in over 1,800 building projects ranging in size from $50,000 to $32 million has generated awareness and sensitivity to cost effective design and value engineering. Additionally, special experience has been gained through involvement in the investigation of numerous existing buildings relative to durability of appropriate construction materials offering extended service life with low maintenance. Andy has extensive background in restoration engineering (prime consultant to the owner) for over 100 major restoration projects in Kansas City, as well as, out of state. These project costs range from $100,000 to $3.5 million. This experience has provided a unique understanding of problems created by poor design and inferior construction techniques. As a result, he has developed extensive knowledge of restoration design and effective detailing for such concrete structures with an emphasis on a long-term, low maintenance service life. This knowledge is applied to both new and restored facilities.
Andy is qualified to oversee and manage all phases of construction/restoration administration to include evaluation and analysis, design, development of contract documents, assistance during the bidding process and site observation and administration during construction.
Andy is a member of the International Concrete Repair Institute, the American Concrete Institute and the International Conference of Building Officials. He has attended numerous seminars related to building materials, current technology of design techniques and deterioration and corrective measures for concrete structures. He has lectured to contractors and product manufacturers regarding the identification procedures and repairs related deterioration in concrete structures.
Staff Info
Warren Schwabauer received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering in 1982 from Kansas State University and is licensed in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas. Barney has been with Norton & Schmidt Consulting Engineers since June of 1986. Barney came to Norton & Schmidt experienced in the structural design of all types of low-rise buildings, engineering plan reviews and building inspections. He has experience with various building materials including wood, cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete, steel and masonry for a variety of structures. An example of his experience includes churches, office buildings, pre-engineered metal buildings, industrial buildings, single and multi-family dwellings from single-story to low high-rise construction. Since joining Norton & Schmidt, Barney has become an expert in inspections of single and multi-family dwellings and commercial buildings. Barney has served as an expert witness in numerous cases and is experienced in Forensic Engineering. He serves a varied market which includes architects, contractors, homeowners, home buyers, real estate agents, relocation personnel, attorneys, property management companies, as well as, building owners.
Barney is a member of the following organizations: National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers; National Society of Professional Engineers; Missouri Society of Professional Engineers.
Staff Info
Bill was a structural engineer at the Corps for 30 years during which time he was lead structural engineer on numerous civil works type projects (i.e. pumping plants, flood walls, retaining walls, drainage structures) and military type projects (i.e. barracks, administration buildings, warehouses, gymnasiums) at military installations such as Ft. Riley, Ft. Leonard Wood, Ft. Leavenworth, Whiteman AFB, McConnell AFT and Grand Forks AFB. Bill was lead structural engineer on a $60 million barracks project in 1997 that successfully proceeded from concepts to final plans in nine months. Upon leaving the Corps in December 1997, he received the Commanders Award for Civilian Service for dedication, service, creative thinking and highly comprehensive and professional structural engineering design.
The following is a summary of Bill’s experience on civil works-type levee projects during employment with the Kansas City District Corps of Engineers: A) Design structural features (plans and specifications) including L-246 (Parts I thru III ), L-408, South Topeka, KC Levee Projects (Armourdale, Argentine, CID), Lawrence (Mud Creek) and MO River Mitigation Project; B) Review structural features including Bannister Federal Complex, Turkey Creek, L-385 (also worked on this project since planning inception stages in mid-1970s), L-445/R471/460, as well as numerous reviews (100+) of local sponsors plans such as Station Casino, Kemper Arena upgrade, Gateway, etc.; C) Feasibility studies design including L-142 and Wears Creek; D) Prepare structural input and helped formulate the following COE documents: EM1110-2-2705 (Structural Design of Closure Structures for Local Flood Protection Projects) and KCDCOE Guidance for Work Proposed Near or Within Federally Constructed Flood Control Project.
Since joining Norton & Schmidt in May 1998, Bill has completed a diverse array of projects and has met the clientele needs in a timely manner. He has the design experience for projects of all sizes. Bill provided structural design for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Project at Riverside, Missouri (L-385) and has worked on several Blue River KCMO projects such as the Utility Corridor at Blue Parkway Bridge, Dodson Phase 3 Flood Protection Project, Blue River Channel Modifications (Brush Creek to 53rd Street), and design work for the Turkey Creek Walled Channel Flood Protection project and the Turkey Creek Restored Channel, Phase 3 project. Bill also designed exterior modifications on a large residential project such as temporary shoring for porch columns, composite deck/pile foundation, detached garage and site retaining walls. Bill is currently working on the Swope Park Industrial Area Bank Stabilization project.
Staff Info
Brandon Schwabauer received his Bachelor’s Degree & Master’s Degree in Architectural Engineering in 2010 from the Kansas State University and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the State of Kansas. Brandon has been associated with Norton & Schmidt since 2005.
Brandon has structural design experience in a wide variety of projects. In addition to the residential and commercial design of single and multi-story buildings, these projects include retaining walls, hotels, pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) foundations and frame analysis, carports, steel connections, greenhouse design, and scaffolding/shoring design. These designs include the use of all major construction materials (masonry, steel, concrete, wood, etc.) and different types of construction methods (standard, metal building, etc.).
Brandon also has experience in many types of field observations. These include commercial and industrial building inspections, reinforcing and concrete special inspections, residential inspections, and structural steel inspections.
Staff Info
Clark Kelly received his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University in 1978. Clark is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of California, Kansas and Missouri.
Clark joined Norton & Schmidt in July, 1999. Clark brings to Norton & Schmidt an additional resource for structural design, project management, plan review and inspection services to architects, building owners, developers, manufacturers, building managers, real estate companies, lending institutions, engineers, contractors and homeowners. He also brings materials knowledge utilizing all types of construction materials including wood, cast-in-place, tilt-up and precast concrete, mill steel, plate and cold formed steel, masonry and aluminum. Clark will provide structural design, plan review and construction inspection services for new and existing commercial buildings and structures. Other areas of experience include storage tanks for grain, concrete and water, petrochemical structural facilities, industrial buildings and equipment supporting structures, pre-engineered metal buildings, auto dealerships, multi-story office and apartment buildings, mini storage facilities and custom wood concrete and steel homes. Clark has a unique talent in that he has a structural major and a ground water hydrology minor.
Staff Info
Dave Dorau received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1981 from Iowa State University and his Master’s Degree in Technology and Policy in 1987 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dave has been a registered engineer since 1989 and is licensed in Kansas and Missouri. He joined Norton & Schmidt in 1996.
Dave’s primary area of practice is the design of buildings. His commercial design projects include single- and multi-story office and medical buildings, convenience and retail stores, multi-plex theatres, restaurants, loft condominiums, apartments, school additions, car dealerships, banks, and pre-engineered buildings. His residential projects include numerous new house designs and remodel projects. His industrial projects includes warehouse, concrete storage tanks and miscellaneous projects for manufacturing facilities. Dave has designed buildings utilizing all common structural materials – structural and light gage steel; wood; heavy timber; masonry; and cast-in-place, tilt-up and precast concrete.
Dave strives to provide timely and accurate services to all his clients. He enjoys a wide range of satisfied clients including architects, contractors, building owners, developers, homeowners and manufacturers.
Dave also provides plan review services, building inspections, and construction administration services including shop drawing review, on-site inspections and special inspections.
Dave designs and draws with AutoCAD and uses RISA-2d and RISA-3d software routinely for structural analyses and design.
Staff Info
Ed Hutson is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, N Carolina, N Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, S Carolina, S Dakota, New Hampshire, Texas, Utah, Virginia, W Virginia and Wisconsin. He is a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers Association of Kansas and Missouri, and Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities. Ed has been a practicing engineer since 1976 and has been associated with Norton & Schmidt Consulting Engineers since August of 1983. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Degree (cum laude) from the University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri S&T) in 1974, Ed furthered his education by pursuing a Master of Science Degree, specializing in the area of Structural Engineering, at Purdue University and graduating in 1976.
As an undergraduate, Ed was a cooperative training student with the Missouri State Highway Department with varied experience as survey rodman and chainman, drafter, as well as construction and materials inspector. He then served with the United States Peace Corps in the Middle East for two years while providing civil engineering design for municipal infrastructure projects. Upon his return, he worked for Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company in Kansas City on a variety of projects that included steel mills and aircraft hangers.
Currently, Ed serves the needs of architects, contractors and fabricators along with individual homeowners and business owners. He has design experience in projects of all sizes and has performed over 7,000 residential structural inspections and 300 commercial building reviews.
Staff Info
Eddie graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1997. He is licensed in the state of Missouri.
Eddie has a wide variety of experience in structural design and project management, starting at the schematic/design documents phase and throughout the construction documents, bidding and construction administration phases. He has worked on a variety of facilities to include schools, churches, local government structures, office buildings, warehouses and residential. These designs include the use of all major construction materials (masonry, steel, concrete, wood, etc.) and different types of construction methods (standard, metal building, precast, etc.).
In addition to new construction, Eddie has also been involved with numerous restoration projects involving the restoration of parking garages and of older buildings within the downtown Kansas City and St. Lois areas from warehouse/office facilities into lofts. These services include surveying existing structures, completing written specifications for repairs and project management/construction administration.
Staff Info
In 2018 Emmett created his own firm, Togail Engineering, LLC and partners with Norton & Schmidt, LLC. Emmett has more than 23 years of engineering, construction, and leadership experience in the USAF and at AECOM, formerly Morrison and Knudsen, Washington Group, and URS. Emmett has experience in concrete and steel engineering for heavy infrastructure including coal and nuclear power plants. He has large infrastructure project management experience on dams and airports in USAF and Russia. He is knowledgeable on concrete and masonry renovation projects and historic building restoration, is accomplished in facility assessments, estimating, and scheduling, and is skilled in government contracting both as a government representative and as a contractor.
Emmett is also an Air Force civil engineer officer in the Missouri Air National Guard with an active secret security clearance. He is the unit liaison to Southern Command and Air Force South for engineering and project management services to the Central and South American Regions. He has worked on projects in Honduras, Dominican Republic, and Guyana. His active duty Air Force experience included projects in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Guam, and England.
In 2012 he deployed to Afghanistan to be a US Army Corps of Engineers Area Office Engineer at Tarin Kot. He has completed Federal Government FEMA Incident Command System ICS-100, 200, 700, and 800 courses and is STS certified (dormant). He is trained in Builder SMS data base for facility assessments.
Emmett was a volunteer project manager and engineer with a Catholic Diocese for a year in southern Jamaica. He was responsible for building and repairing schools along with supporting the Diocese home construction program in partnership with Food for the Poor.
Emmett graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He has a P.E. license in Missouri and Kansas.
Staff Info
Garth Durre received his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering degree in 1982 from Kansas State University. Garth is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Garth has provided structural design, and construction inspection services for new and existing retail centers and commercial facilities. Other areas of expertise include industrial buildings, warehouse structures and conveyor support, pre-engineered metal building foundations, schools, banks, churches, multi-family dwellings and single and multi-story office buildings. Garth has designed projects utilizing all types of building materials including structural and light gage steel, wood, masonry, cast-in-place, tilt-up and precast concrete. Garth joined Norton & Schmidt in July, 2004. Since that time, he has provided structural design and inspection services on a variety of projects.
Staff Info
Larry Fehner received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University in 1981 and is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. An experienced structural engineer and designer, he joined Norton & Schmidt in 1987. He is experienced with all major building materials and has been involved with all forms of low rise construction including residential, agricultural and light to heavy commercial and industrial buildings.
Since joining Norton & Schmidt, Larry has performed many thousands of building inspections and forensic investigations. These have been performed for building and homeowners, real estate professionals, contractors, insurance companies and lawyers on a first come, first serve basis. Reviewing, correcting, and repairing problems with existing structures, roofing, and building envelope systems is a regular part of his work load. Forensic investigations include determining the cause, type and extent of damages and any underlying problems or defects. Included are damages/problems related to storms, hail, wind, fire, explosions, blasting, vehicle impact, mechanical defects and improper construction. Larry is also an EDI Certified Inspector for exterior wall cladding systems including stucco and EIFS exterior finishes. Catastrophic to small losses are all handled with professionalism and care.
Staff Info
Grant has years of experience in consulting, structural design, expert witness & construction defect litigation, building diagnostics, and site observation as a structural engineer. He has been involved with all stages of design and construction ranging from pre-schematic design, detailed design engineering to performing punchlists for large projects.
Grant has worked on a variety of projects from small residential to multi-million-dollar high-profile facilities. These projects consist of new facility design and existing facility retrofits. His designs take advantage of all major construction materials; masonry, steel, concrete, wood, precast, and looks to new materials for innovative projects.
Grant deals with several restoration projects involving commercial, multifamily and parking garages. His experience includes surveying existing structures, completing written specifications for repairs and project management/construction administration.
Grant also has experience working with Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP). FRP can be designed as carbon fibers or glass fibers. This design works on a majority of existing concrete structures, bridges, walls, tanks, buildings, etc.
Staff Info
Rod Sommer received his Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1978 and his Masters Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 1987 from the University of Missouri. Rod is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wyoming.
Rod joined Norton & Schmidt in September, 1981. Since that time, Rod has provided structural design, project management, plan review, expert testimony and inspection services to architects, building owners and managers, developers, municipalities, real estate companies, lending institutions, attorneys, plant managers and engineers, contractors, steel fabricators, homeowners and product manufacturers for all types of projects utilizing all types of building materials including wood, cast-in-place, tilt-up and precast concrete, structural steel, cold formed metal framing, masonry, and aluminum. Rod has provided structural design, plan review and construction inspection services for new and existing commercial facilities and retail centers from New York to California and from Michigan to Texas to Florida. Other areas of expertise include banks, schools, parking structures (both new and renovation to existing), churches, police and fire stations, theatres, single and multi-story office buildings, historic buildings, industrial buildings and equipment support, pre-engineered metal buildings, single and multi-family dwellings, grain and feed handling facilities, communication towers and foundations, cofferdam design, and others.