WELCOME
THE REGION’S PREMIER
CIVIL ENGINEERING AND LAND SURVEYING FIRM
Civil Design Inc is a full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm located in Brookings, South Dakota. Our specialties include transportation engineering with an emphasis in railroads, structural engineering, residential, commercial, industrial, athletic site design and land surveying.
LET’S GET IN TOUCH!
CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN AND LAND SURVEYING FIRM
Aden Parker, EIT
Civil Engineering Intern
A graduate of South Dakota State University, Aden performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining extensive engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Cole Bungarden, PE
Project Engineer
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Cole performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Nick Antony, PE
Project Engineer
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Nick performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Stevie Van Hill
Technical Support Engineer
As a 2013 graduate of South Dakota State University, Stevie performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. She is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Carey Bretsch, PE
President & Co-Founder
As Civil Design Inc’s co-founder and President, Carey holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from South Dakota State University. He is predominantly involved in marketing for the company and mentoring the Engineers in Training. Carey’s tenacious career has established innovation and understanding in his work with successful projects in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and Minnesota. His diverse project expertise includes roads, bridges, subdivisions, sports complexes, parking lots, commercial sites, drainage, hydraulic analysis, and river stabilization.
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Professional Involvement:
– Section representative to the Region 7 Board of Governors
– Past SD Section President
– Past Practitioner Advisor for the SDSU Student Chapter.
– Recipient of “Friend of ASCE” by SDSU Student Chapter in 2011
– Recipient of Outstanding Service awards in 1986, 1988, and 1989.
– Past President of the Section and Eastern Branch.
– Chosen “Outstanding Young Civil Engineer” by the Eastern Branch of the South Dakota Section of ASCE in 1989.
Joe Gilsdorf
Project Manager – Rail
Joe brings extensive experience in railroad operations, asphalt construction, and industrial development, managing complex projects from concept to completion. As a seasoned Project Manager, he leads planning, budgeting, and execution with a focus on safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Joe conducts preliminary engineering assessments, prepares feasibility studies and cost estimates, and oversees on-site inspections to ensure quality and adherence to project plans. Known for his clear communication and resource management, Joe consistently delivers projects on time and within budget while maintaining strong coordination across teams and contractors.
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Jeffrey Cooley, PE
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Jeffrey Cooley oversees and manages every facet of business operations within Civil Design Inc. At the helm of project development, he performs engineering calculations, prepares plans, and writes specifications as well as conducts construction administration and tracks budgets for in-progress construction projects. Driven by the visceral need to do things right, Jeff is a creative and incisive problem solver with illustrated talent in track layout and site design. Jeff motivates, mentors, and leads a team of talented professionals by maintaining a culture of constant open communication that extends to clients alike.
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Chris Brozik, PE
VP Structural Engineering
Chris obtained his PE License in 2014, after completing his Master’s Degree at SDSU and gaining years of experience at CDI. He has a thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering and has a proven track record of successfully completed projects. Chris is responsible for performing design calculations for numerous projects, including the design of highway and railroad structures. He prepares CAD drawings and correspondence, plan sheets, specifications, quantity estimates, cost estimation, and technical reports. He conducts research and assures compliance with local, state, and federal standards for design elements, safety, and permitting requirements, and works with survey crews and is a seasoned on-site construction engineer.
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Andrew Kangas, PE/LS
Vice President
Andrew, as Vice President, serves as a project engineer and land surveyor. After completing his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Andrew obtained his PE license in 2011 and LS certification in 2016, making him a versatile asset to the Civil Design team. He has a comprehensive understanding of standards for design elements and demonstrates strong project coordination abilities. In addition to overseeing all of CDI’s field data collection, drafting, construction staking, and survey crews; Andrew designs, drafts, and plans for road, railroad, drainage, utilities, and various other projects.
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Jason Petersen, PE
Project Engineer
Jason obtained his professional engineer’s experience at CDI as an engineer intern, and has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He performs a wide range of duties, including research, concept, and alternative development, and is licensed in SD and MN. He coordinates clients, subcontractors, agencies, and other staff. Jason provides diverse experience in the civil engineering field, including site design, streets, utilities, drainage projects, railroads, and bridge inspections.
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Brian Ruppelt, PE
Project Engineer
As a 2014 civil engineering graduate of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Brian performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff, including research, concept, and alternative development. He is gaining engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
Brian is responsible for performing engineering design calculations for numerous projects, including the design of sanitary sewer, storm sewer, roadways, railroads, bridges, retaining walls, athletic fields, and storm water modeling for urban drainage. He also prepares CAD drawings and correspondence, plan sheets, specifications, quantity and construction cost estimation, and technical reports. He conducts research and assures compliance with local, state, and national standards for design elements and safety and permitting requirements.
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John Schinkel, LS
Licensed Land Surveyor
John has been a key member of CDI’s design staff since 2010. He assists engineering staff and surveyors with drafting, design, and plan inspection using AutoCAD Civil3D software. CDI colleagues rely on him to process preliminary survey data and make necessary calculations for plan and specification preparation. John’s strengths include clear and concise communication with clients and staff.
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Deanna Vaske
Office Manager
Deanna started at Civil Design Inc in 2002 and is responsible for the coordination and communication of all office operations. Deanna works with the entire CDI team and with clients under the direction of the managing partners, and also maintains general ledgers, processes payroll and benefits, and performs other clerical duties.
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Elizabeth Bauer, EIT
Civil Engineering Intern
As a 2022 graduate of South Dakota State University, Elizabeth performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. She is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Jesse Ulvestad
CAD Technician
Jesse joined the Civil Design team in 2022 and is a key member of CDI’s design staff. He assists engineering staff and surveyors with drafting, design, and plan development using AutoCAD Civil3D software. With 20 years of experience in the civil engineering field his knowledge in processing preliminary survey data and make necessary calculations for plan and specification preparation is a valuable asset.
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Cade Marttinen
Survey Technician
Cade is part of CDI’s surveying team with knowledge of principles, practices, and equipment necessary for conducting civil surveys. Using various robotic and GPS equipment and serving as part of the survey crew, Cade performs preliminary surveys, topographic and boundary surveys, construction staking, hydraulic surveys, ALTA surveys, As-Built surveys, cross sectioning, and site layouts.
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Andrew Klinger, LSIT
Survey Technician
Andrew is part of CDI’s surveying team with knowledge of principles, practices, and equipment necessary for conducting civil surveys. Using various robotic and GPS equipment and serving as part of the survey crew, Andrew performs preliminary surveys, topographic and boundary surveys, construction staking, hydraulic surveys, ALTA surveys, As-Built surveys, cross sectioning, and site layouts.
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Colin Potts, LSIT
Survey Technician
Colin is part of CDI’s surveying team with knowledge of principles, practices, and equipment necessary for conducting civil surveys. Using various robotic and GPS equipment and serving as part of the survey crew, Colin performs preliminary surveys, topographic and boundary surveys, construction staking, hydraulic surveys, ALTA surveys, As-Built surveys, cross sectioning, and site layouts.
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Nick Van Wyhe, PE
Project Engineer
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Nick performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Jackie Toft
Director of Projects
Jackie leads project operations with precision and strategic insight, working closely with managing partners, project managers, and clients to ensure seamless execution. She oversees project schedules, budgets, scopes, and contracts, while also managing client communications and team coordination. Known for her proactive communication and problem-solving skills, Jackie brings product knowledge and a clear project vision to every initiative. She supports business development, contributes to marketing and recruitment efforts, and consistently drives operational excellence through adaptability, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
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Samuel McCarty
Chief Survey Technician
Sam is the Chief Survey Technician with considerable knowledge of principles, practices, and instruments used in surveying and civil engineering, including drafting, designing, and inspecting. He ensures that design data is transferred accurately between design drawings and field staking. Using various robotic and GPS equipment and serving as survey crew chief, Sam performs preliminary surveys, topographic and location surveys, construction staking, hydraulic surveys, boundary surveys, blue topping, cross sectioning, and site layouts.
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Mandi Prinsen
Office Manager
Mandi coordinates and communicates all aspects of office operations, working closely with the CDI team and clients. She manages general ledgers, payroll, benefits, and a range of clerical responsibilities with precision and professionalism. In addition to her operational expertise, Mandi brings a strong background in sales leadership, with a proven ability to enhance the customer experience and drive team performance. She builds strong relationships, collaborates seamlessly across departments, and communicates with clarity and impact. Exceptionally organized and tech-savvy, Mandi is proficient in Excel, Salesforce, QuickBooks, and Word.
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Khloe Burge
Railroad Specialist
Khloe serves as a Railroad Specialist, supporting track inspections, maintenance planning, and construction coordination with precision and technical expertise. She conducts feasibility studies, cost analyses, and site inspections to ensure projects meet design standards, safety regulations, and construction deadlines. Khloe collaborates closely with engineering and construction teams to maintain quality and efficiency. With a strong background in production planning, logistics, and ERP implementation, she brings a systems-oriented mindset, analytical skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement—making her a valuable asset to every project she supports.
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Evan Rumrill, EIT
Civil Engineering Intern
Evan is a graduate of South Dakota State University and performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Todd Veldhuizen
Director of Railroad Operations
Mr. Veldhuizen has a strong background in railroad operations, track construction, and industrial development. During his time with BNSF, he supervised the Twin City Division main line and rural track lines. Roadmaster at the Argentine Yard in Kansas City which included track maintenance and inspection, proved training to new hires, and maintained financial accounts regarding yard budget.
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Trace Villbrandt
Engineer in Training
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Trace performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff, and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets and serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Tyson Mitzel
Engineer in Training
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Tyson performs duties under the direction of the professional engineering staff and is responsible for creating site layouts and detail sheets in addition to serving as a field engineer on specific projects. He is gaining preliminary engineering experience in a wide variety of civil engineering projects.
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Tim Brezina
Chief Survey Technician
As part of the CDI team since 2007, Tim is an expert in the principles, practices, and instruments used in surveying and civil engineering. CDI relies on Tim for all topographic and construction staking duties. He has an associate’s degree from St. Cloud Technical College in Minnesota.
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Shayne Arrowood
Civil Engineering Technician
Shayne joined CDI’s design staff in 2019. He assists engineering staff and surveyors with drafting, design, and plan inspection using AutoCAD Civil3D software. Using robotic and GPS equipment, he also conducts various jobs in the field under the supervision of the Chief Survey Technician. With help from the staff, he is gaining experience in a variety of engineering and surveying projects.
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Drew Roskam
Civil Engineering Technician
Drew joined CDI’s design staff in 2019. He assists engineering staff and surveyors with drafting, design, and plan inspection using AutoCAD Civil3D software. Using robotic and GPS equipment, he also conducts various jobs in the field under the supervision of the Chief Survey Technician. With help from the staff, he is gaining experience in a variety of engineering and surveying projects.
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Neil Rolf
Civil Engineering Technician
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in architecture at South Dakota State University, Neil joined the CDI team in 2016 and assists engineering staff with AutoCAD and architectural drafting. He also edits and maintains CDI’s marketing and promotional materials, such as project descriptions, employee resumes, our website, and firm literature for future bid proposals.
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