Meet PEPM Leadership
Yi Zhang, P.E., S.E., MSCE
President, Principal Engineer, Mechanical
Yi has over 25 years of experience in engineering design and project and construction management. She currently works in diverse industries including food and meat processing, oil and gas, energy, power, refinery and petrochemical sectors, manufacturing, processing facilities and EPC services. She has experience in Mechanical, Civil and Structural Engineering and Construction Management including Greenfield and Brownfield food processing facilities, thermal oxidization, combustion system and waste heat boilers; petroleum tank terminals and tank farms; pressure vessels and crude pipelines, energy and ISO auditing. Yi has further experience in boiler/steam generation/heat exchanger systems; blower/compressed air/vacuum systems and HVAC systems, power, process, hydraulic, utility and wastewater piping systems and facility due-diligence surveys. She is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in 40+ states. and an S.E. in Oklahoma. Yi is also a RETA Certificated Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration Operator I.
F. Lee Greeson, P.E.
Manager, Mechanical Engineering
Lee brings more than 20 years of hands-on engineering and project management experience, with a strong background in mechanical engineering, building systems, and industrial facility design. Throughout his career, he has contributed to projects ranging from small facility improvements to large-scale greenfield and brownfield developments, particularly within the food processing and paper mill industries. In his previous role, Lee led mechanical engineering teams on numerous EPCM projects, providing technical leadership while coordinating complex designs and supporting projects from concept through execution. His combination of field experience, engineering design expertise, and understanding of industrial facilities will be a tremendous asset as PEPM continues to expand our mechanical engineering capabilities.
Jeff Cartwright, P.E.
Lead Electrical Engineer
Jeff Cartwright is a licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Arkansas Tech University. With years of experience delivering excellence on complex commercial and industrial projects, he refined his skills while working for a Fortune 500 company, where he worked on assignments in the commercial and food processing industries.
Dainer Smith, PMP
Lead Project Engineer
Dainer is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Within the oil and gas industry, Dainer has led and managed technical projects at all levels, from upstream to midstream to downstream. He is a licensed Project Management Professional with skills in construction, project control and documentation, piping and instrumentation drawing, mechanical engineering, and refinery operations.
Eric Kunkel, CPA
CFO & Director of Business
Eric has many years of experience working in the public accounting industry including as a business founder, owner and managing partner. He has worked extensively with entrepreneurs with middle-market and smaller companies in the manufacturing and distribution, upstream and midstream oil and gas, real estate development and construction, and professional services sectors, including work with multi-national companies resulting in recognition from the U.S. Commercial Service, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Oklahoma Governor. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified in Financial Forensics, Accredited in Business Valuation, and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, with a Bachelor of Science degree and, a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
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Barry Jones
Senior Process Engineer / Senior Project Engineer
Barry brings over 30 years of experience in F&B process engineering and design especially in poultry and RTE, and project engineering, capital project management, and industrial operations across the food and manufacturing sectors. Throughout his career, he has led process design for complex projects, provided and managed start up services, managed cross-functional teams, and driven successful plant and process improvements. Barry has managed contractors, developed project scopes, and coordinated production schedules alongside major capital installations, giving him a well-rounded perspective on delivering efficient, high-impact process design and engineering solutions. Barry holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas and brings strong expertise in F&B process design, capital project execution, and industrial systems.
Ashton Murphy
Senior Project Engineer
Ashton brings 10 years of experience as a project manager for a Fortune 50 F&B company. He has worked on major capital and engineering projects and has managed large-scale, complex initiatives. Throughout his career, Ashton has led major deployments, developed automation solutions, and helped teams improve operational performance. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Mississippi State University and has received several industry awards recognizing his work in efficiency and innovation.
Kelley Flanagan
Project Engineer
Kelley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and will hold a B.S. in Interior Architecture and Design. She has 10 years of experience in the construction industry ranging from being a safety specialist, project engineer, drafter, and designer. She is skilled in AutoCAD, Revit, 3D modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination, digital printing, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and Adobe CC software. Kelley is originally from San Diego, CA but has called Northwest Arkansas her home for the last 5 years.
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Patrick Campbell
Procurement Manager
Patrick brings more than 20 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, operations, sales, strategic sourcing, supplier development, and contract management. Before joining PEPM, Patrick served for more than 10 years as Procurement Manager for a global aerospace and defense company. A seasoned procurement and sourcing professional, Patrick has a proven ability to deliver cost savings, strengthen supplier partnerships, and improve project schedules and on-time delivery. His experience managing complex supplier portfolios and large-scale purchasing activities, combined with his collaborative and results-driven approach, will help PEPM deliver meaningful value and successful outcomes for our clients.
Steve Chromy PE, SE, P.Eng
Senior Structural Engineer
Steve has a BS in Civil Engineering, and a Certificate in Construction Administration. He will be the senior structural engineering checker for the CSA team and is part of PEPM’s continuous quality control effort. Steve is a licensed structural engineer and a licensed professional engineer in both the US and Canada. Steve has many years of engineering experience in process facilities, industrial, commercial, and municipal buildings, as well as wastewater treatment structures.
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Alan Caster, P.E.
Senior Civil Engineer
Alan brings a strong background in civil engineering, site development, stormwater management, roadway design, and land surveying. He also has extensive experience in leading design engineering efforts, project management, and supporting both public and private sector clients. Before joining PEPM group, Alan led the Civil engineering team at a global engineering firm. His combination of engineering, design and surveying, and project delivery experience will strengthen our growing civil team and support the continued expansion of PEPM’s civil capabilities and full engineering services.
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Kolby Kirk
Senior Structural Engineer
Kolby holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Alabama and brings over six years of expertise in structural and civil engineering across industrial and commercial buildings, as well as steel and concrete structures.
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Hernan Bonsembiante Jr., P.E., S.E.
Senior Structural Engineer
Hernan brings more than 12 years of structural engineering experience, with a background spanning structural analysis and design, special inspections, construction management, and project management. His technical expertise includes data centers, seismic and wind design, reinforced concrete and masonry, structural steel, and other complex structural systems. Hernan holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech and is licensed as both a Structural Engineer (SE) and a Professional Engineer (PE). Throughout his career, Hernan has served as Engineer of Record and contributed to a wide range of large-scale projects, including data centers, industrial facilities, infrastructure, wastewater systems and other complex structures. He also brings extensive experience in construction oversight, quality assurance, and multidisciplinary project coordination.
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Steven Hryniewicz, P.E.
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Steven joins us as an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer with more than 15 years of engineering and project experience including Fortune 500 consumer product company and a food processing company supporting industrial and manufacturing facilities. His background includes facility engineering, plant expansions, capital improvements, process piping, utility systems, HVAC, and industrial controls and data integration. Throughout his career, Steven has led and supported complex engineering projects involving steam and condensate systems, chilled and process water, wastewater, compressed air, pumps, cooling towers, thermal fluid systems, ventilation, and other critical plant utilities. He also brings extensive experience in facility engineering and layout, along with a strong background in capital project execution and facility modernization. His combination of technical expertise, project leadership, and hands-on industrial experience will be a great addition to our growing team.
Taylor Mikles
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Taylor is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He has extensive experience in industrial ammonia refrigeration engineering, supporting large-scale capital projects for food processing facilities from concept through commissioning. Taylor has managed refrigeration projects ranging from small facility upgrades to multi-million-dollar capital investments, providing design engineering, project management, equipment selection, construction oversight, and technical support. His expertise includes industrial refrigeration systems, process safety management (PSM), P&ID development, mechanical system design, project estimating, construction documentation, and multidisciplinary project coordination. Taylor is an Engineer in Training (EIT) and is an active member of IIAR and ASHRAE, with experience developing engineering standards and supporting complex industrial utility systems.
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Brian Banuelos, PE
Senior Electrical Engineer
Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in electrical engineering with over 6 years of engineering and design experience. He brings a strong background in delivering high-quality design solutions for Fortune 500 company projects, along with deep expertise in tools like Revit and AutoCAD. He has executed electrical design for remodel and new construction projects, including power distribution systems, lighting layouts, and equipment coordination. Brian graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. His experience leading electrical design, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring code-compliant, efficient systems makes him a valuable addition to our organization.
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David Joseph
Senior Instrumentation Control Engineer
David brings over 12 years of experience in industrial automation, controls, and electrical engineering, with an extensive background in engineering design, project management, and commissioning of complex industrial systems. Throughout his career, David has led and supported major projects across the food and beverage, manufacturing, agricultural, and industrial sectors, including large-scale facility expansions and advanced automation installations. His expertise includes PLC programming, robotics, electrical and controls system design, material handling, process controls, and industrial automation integration. David has a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, coordinating complex projects, and delivering innovative solutions that improve operational efficiency and reliability. His hands-on technical experience, combined with his leadership and project management skills, will be a valuable asset to our growing engineering team.
Rodney Carter
Lead Designer / Project Engineer
Rodney holds a BS in Industrial management and brings more than 24 years of engineering design and project leadership experience, with a strong background in EPC project execution, gas processing facilities, energy infrastructure, and multidisciplinary engineering. Throughout his career, he has successfully led complex projects from concept design through commissioning, coordinated global engineering teams, and supported every phase of design, fabrication, construction, and startup. His expertise spans mechanical and piping systems, instrumentation and electrical, plant layout, construction support, cross-functional collaboration and project management. Rodney's technical and design knowledge, leadership, and commitment to delivering quality solutions make him a valuable addition to our team.
David Rash
Senior Designer
With over 25 years of experience in design, fabrication, and engineering systems, David brings expertise in civil, structural, architectural, and industrial design. Prior to joining PEPM, David worked at Tyson Foods drafting/design team as the lead and mentor, as well as the lead designer for general contractors. David has a deep understanding of the food industry and is an expert on construction and fabrication drawings and details. We’re thrilled to have David on board and look forward to the experiences and leadership he’ll bring to our projects and clients!
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Arzell Cole Wilson
Lead Designer
Cole joins us with a strong background in design and project development, with extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. He is a multi-disciplined MEP lead designer well versed in BIM coordination and 2D & 3D modeling. His design experience and practical industry perspective will be valuable additions to our team as we continue delivering effective solutions for our customers.
Rama Reddy
Project Mechanical Lead, Design
Rama holds a B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from J.N.T University. He is experienced in managing team operations, developing and directing project plans, working with foreign experts, design quality, technical accuracy of drawings, calculating pipe wall thickness, piping system head loss, pipe span, project management, piping and layout methodologies, 3D model reviews, and design changes. Rama's skills include piping design, leading design projects, CADWorx, Aveva PDMS, Autodesk Plant 3D, ASME, ASTM, API, NORSOK, SHELL, and general piping standards.