Building Envelope Consultants: 12

Jeffrey Phillip Weinstein, AIA, a California licensed Architect and Construction Project Manager since 1982, with a Masters Degree in Real Estate Development from USC, is actively involved with development, design and construction management. Mr. Weinstein provides preconstruction (entitlements, plans, permits) through on-site construction administration services (change order analysis, cost evaluation) on a wide range of building types.

Expertise: Mr. Weinstein has extensive experience in real estate development, acquiring government approvals, entitlements and permits, architect's standard of care, construction management, claims & defects, and A/E/C agreements. His expertise includes scope of services and design fees, zoning and building codes, errors/omissions, construction defects, destructive testing and repairs. Previous positions include Director of Operations, Preconstruction Director, Senior Project Manager, Construction Manager and Administrator for Nadel and Callison Architects, Tishman Construction, Trammel Crow Company, California State University and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

Project Experience: Jeff's project experience includes high-rise residential and mixed-use developments, multi-family residential podium-type apartments and condominiums, retail, big box, neighborhood shopping centers and regional malls, corporate and tenant improvements, hospitality including wineries and breweries, themed resorts and casinos, K-12 and university buildings, hospitals and medical facilities, custom and production homes.

Professional Licenses / Certifications / Affiliations:

• California Registered Architect, License #12822
• AIA Certified in Construction Management, Contract Administration and Specifications
• Member, American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, Construction Specification Institute
• Member, North Santa Barbara County Board of Architectural Review

Professional Services Include:

• Architectural, Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) Project Management
• Owner’s Representative / Real Estate Development / LEED Design-Build
• Director of Operations and Pre-Construction Services / Construction Administrator
• Forensic Architect / Construction Expert Witness

View Jeffrey Weinstein's Expert Witness Profile.

Toossi and Associates, Inc. (TAI) is a full-service General Contracting, Construction Management, and Consulting firm with expertise in high-profile, complex projects for both public and private sector customers.

Headquartered in the Washington metropolitan area, TAI specializes in providing Construction and Consulting Services in connection with new facilities as well as additions, renovations, restorations and modernizations of small and large-scale commercial, institutional, and government buildings.

TAI's specialization and in-depth experience in consulting and construction enable them to value engineer a project from start to finish providing client's the opportunity to identify potential savings and avoid costly delays.

Building & Construction Services:

• Best Practices
• Preconstruction and Bidding
• Construction Phases

Construction Management:

CQC Compliance and Consulting Forensic Engineering and Analysis Critical Path Method (CPM) Scheduling Construction Monitoring, Testing, and Inspection

Value Engineering Constructability / Feasibility Review Program / Construction Oversight Assistance Quantity Take-off and Cost Estimating Services

Hamid K. Toossi, BSCE, MBA, EIT, M ASCE, TAI's founder and CEO, has over 35 years of academic and hands-on experience in the design, build, and management of heavy Civil and Commercial Construction projects.

Mr. Toossi's experience includes Critical Path Method (CPM) Scheduling, Engineering, Construction Management, Contract Administration, Cost Estimating, Value Engineering, Claims Analysis, and Expert Services for Construction Claims and Contract Disputes, in the United States as well as overseas.

Mr. Toossi has participated in numerous Continuing Professional Education courses, both as an instructor, and as an auditor, in Contract Law, Construction Law, Business Law, Leadership, Management, Engineering, Construction Management, and Construction Claims. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the founding member of the American Society of MBA Executives.

View Hamid K. Toossi's Expert Witness Profile.

Mark C. Vanderslice has been actively involved in virtually all phases of the Roofing and Waterproofing industries since 1978. Mr. Vanderslice is an active member of RCI, Inc. (formerly The Roof Consultants Institute). In 1984 Mr. Vanderslice was the 16th (to receive certification) of currently 426 nationally recognized Registered Roof Consultants in the United States from a professional membership of over 2,800.

Roofing & Waterproofing Forensics, Inc. has investigated over 5,000 roofing or waterproofing systems over the past 25 years. They specialize in finding leaks and making recommendations for permanent repair. Because of his reputation for accuracy, fairness, and truthfulness, Mr. Vanderslice is often called for the more “challenging” projects, investigating literally hundreds of wind and earthquake damage claims as it relates to roofing. He is also called on to solve long-term problems that have confounded others and have not been fixed. His clients are building owners, facility and property managers, major universities, architects, general contractors, insurance claims adjusters, and attorneys.

Mr. Vanderslice's commitment is to provide thorough and factual information utilizing state-of-the art technology as well as years of experience, education and success. He uses state-of-the-art equipment for leak investigation and documentation, including moisture meters, boroscope, digital still cameras, etc. His Consulting Services Include:

Existing Properties:

• Leak investigation
• Failure analysis
• Wind, earthquake and water intrusion damage claims investigation
• Roofing and waterproofing system evaluation
• Budgetary estimates
• Roofing and waterproofing system evaluation for commercial property acquisitions
• Development of roofing and waterproofing maintenance programs

New Construction and Re-roofing/Waterproofing Project Management:

• Specification development
• Review of existing construction documents
• Project Management
• Bid Administration – Bid review, contractor evaluation and reference check, submittal review
• Pre-Bid Meeting with prospective Contractors
• Pre-Job Meeting with Construction Team
• In-field, full-time or periodic inspections of virtually all types of roofing and waterproofing systems material application
• Final Inspection
• Verification of Completion of Final Punch List

View Expert Witness Profile.

Rieser Building Group, Inc. is a leading builder, engineer, architect, and forensic team with over 25 years of experience in management, design, and construction of over 4,000 units. These units range from custom homes, commercial buildings, and developments, to public works like Caltrans and BART construction, and roadway improvements (over 500 miles). With a full breadth of professional development services, they manage all aspects of a project, from entitlements to design to warranty.

Building Services - Design in-house, or, as licensed engineering and construction professionals, Rieser Building Group can manage an outside team of architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, and landscape architects.

Engineering and Design Services - Spearheaded by a professional Engineering & Architectural team, Rieser provides innovative designs and timely approvals in custom homes, commercial buildings, apartments, large developments, structures, topo-mapping, hydraulics, traffic engineering, and transportation engineering.

Development Services - Developing single custom-built home or a multiphase project, Rieser will expedite the development process, establish a joint venture to share costs, or purchase the project. In addition to flexible management, they conduct property feasibility studies to calculate the right mix of homes and maximize ROI.

Mark E. Rieser, II, MS, PE, AIA, GBC, GEC, has over 30 years of experience in the Construction and Building Design industry. He provides his clients with a comprehensive knowledge of Construction Technology and Construction Standards of Professional Practice.

Background Experience - President of an active Design / Build company, Mr. Rieser has managed, designed, and constructed over 4,000 units to include high-rise, single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, podiums, apartments, and commercial buildings, His experience includes construction, management, and design of over 500 miles of asphalt and roadway improvements, tunnels, San Francisco Airport, Santa Clara Light Rail, Southern Pacific Railroad, Caltrain, and BART.

Mr. Rieser has an insightful understanding of Civil / Structural Engineering, Soil Engineering, Transportation / Traffic Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Architectural Design, Asphalt Design, Cost Estimation, Public Works Design Bidding and Estimation, General Engineering, General Building, and an Accident Reconstruction expert.

NorCal Headquarters San Jose Office 2033 Gateway Pl Suite 500 San Jose, CA 95110	San Francisco Office 425 Market St Suite 2200 San Francisco, CA 94105	SoCal Headquarters Los Angeles Office 10100 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90067	Sacramento Office 777 Campus Commons Rd Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95825

View Mark Rieser's Expert Witness Profile.

Summary

Trusted by clients since 2001, Rauch Safety & Engineering specializes in guiding private and public clients through Complex Fall Protection and Confined Spaces Infrastructure Access and Maintenance projects across specific industry sectors and markets utilizing our global network of resources to provide comprehensive world class advisory and management services.

Infrastructure designs for newly built or modernization projects are becoming increasingly complex, presenting a challenge for future inspections and maintenance. The ability to safely, efficiently and cost effectively perform these critical services is an important component in maximizing investment and stakeholder expectations over the long term, while remaining true to the original design intent.

Rauch provides a value not currently available in the market, our scope of work is comprehensive, providing world class advisory and management services that run concurrently from the early design phase, through to vendor selection, equipment turnover, commissioning and training and if required, unbiased and impartial mediation in the event of dispute.

With methods and principles that reflect that of our architectural, engineering and contractor clients, who combine creative investigation, strong technical integration and long-range vision with conscientious adherence to a project’s goals and objectives, Rauch since 2001, has delivered over 1000 projects worldwide and we look forward to continuing to partner with our existing and new clients to deliver successful projects in the future.

Principal Areas of Specialization Include:

Design Engineering Retrofit Upgrades Commissioning Installation Service Training Inspections Auditing Evaluation of Corporate Fall Protection Programs and Confined Space Programs

Risk Analysis Infrastructure Access Observation Program (IAOP trade;) Structural & Façade Maintenance Human Factors Engineering Ladders & Scaffolds Horizontal/Vertical Lifelines Safety Engineering Safety Equipment Walking & Working Surfaces OSHA / International / Consensus Standards and Recommendations from other Professional Organizations

• Building Maintenance Units (BMU)
  • Installation & Commissioning – Specialized in commissioning BMUs, site testing, and hand over
  • Upgrades – Upgrades mechanical, electrical and controls to meet regulations and ensure equipment safety
  • Retrofit – Complete refurbishment, replace platform, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control system or Complete replacement
  • Service & Maintenance – Perform required 30 days service & inspection, 6 months, and 12 months service as per OEM specification
  • Training - Train on how to use BMU and operate under an agreement with OEM
  • Loading testing as per OSHA and/or in country and local Standards & Recertification
• Custom Access Equipment
  • Installation & Commissioning – Commission, site testing, and hand over. Rauch can commission any equipment under the guidance of manufacture
  • Upgrades – Upgrades mechanical, electrical and controls to meet regulation and ensure equipment safety
  • Retrofit – Complete refurbishment or Complete replacement
• Lifeline Systems
  • Installation of Hands-Free system or dog lines as per OEM specification
  • Loading testing as per OSHA and/or in country and local Standards & Recertification

Infrastructure Applications Include:

Airports Bridges Buildings Dam Mining

Industrial Facilities Plants Power Supply & Transmission Shipping Towers

Current and Past Memberships & Affiliations

• Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC)
• Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)
• The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
• National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP ASE)
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
• India Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association

View Rauch Safety and Engineering's Expert Witness Profile.

Legal Eagle Contractors, Co. is an award-winning full-service Residential Remodeling Company serving Southwest Houston since 1978. They offer professional design and construction services ranging from:

Room Additions Kitchen Remodeling Bathroom Remodeling Replacement Windows Garage Conversions Attic Conversions

Siding Interior Sheetrock Repair / Painting Exterior Carpentry and Painting Garage Doors and Fancy Front Doors Countertops Lighting Design

Principal, Daniel D. Bawden, GMB, CAPS, CGR, CGP, JD, has over 35 years of experience in the Construction Industry. He is a Graduate Master Builder, Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and a Certified Green Building Professional.

Mr. Bawden serves as an accredited Instructor for the National Association of Home Builders, certifying other builders in his own specialties. He earned both his Bachelor’s degree and Law degree from Baylor University. He is currently serving as Vice Chair of the NAHB Remodelers Council, on track to be the national spokesman for the remodeling industry in 2017.

Mr. Bawden has been quoted and regularly appear in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Money Magazine, Consumer Reports, Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, and many more consumer publications. He has made regular appearances on HGTV, and local TV live call-in radio shows in Houston. Mr. Bawden is the only builder who sits on the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Better Business Bureau. He speaks at senior groups and support groups around town on Aging in Place design.

View Dan Bawden's Expert Witness Profile.

Indian River Construction Services, Inc., offers many services to Home Owners, Home Owner Associations, Property Managers, and Building Owners. The most licensed construction firm in the state of Florida, they consult on project and building plans to help determine suitability, feasibility and cost controls for:

New Construction - Construction Repairs - Construction Additions - Construction Remodeling - Real Estate Improvements

Indian River Construction also has extensive experience in performing Insurance Adjusting Services as Florida Licensed Public Insurance Adjusters. This means they work for you and not for the insurance company, allowing them to get the best possible insurance settlement from insurance claims, whether that be a fire, flood, or hurricane. 

Andrew Allocco, PE, Principal at Indian River Construction Services is a leading Construction Consultant, Florida Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, and Real Estate Broker. With over 45 years of experience in his fields of expertise, Mr. Allocco's services are sought by individuals, corporations, developers, and law firms to oversee and advise on construction projects. He is the current owner of construction, real estate, and engineering consulting firms.

Background Experience - Mr. Allocco is the President of Indian River Construction Services, Inc. Prior to his current role, he served as the President of Better Homes Construction Services, Inc. of Miami, Florida, which performed in excess of 40,000 Building Inspections. A Forensic Consulting Engineer, he inspects Commercial, Residential, and Industrial Facilities before, during, and after construction. He assists property owners with complex insurance claims, some of which involve significant and lengthy litigation

Mr. Allocco is not only licensed in the State of Florida as a Professional Engineer and Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, he holds more licenses both presently active and past than any other individual in the State, including:

BA, SUNY Maritime College, Marine Nuclear Engineering Florida Licensed Professional Engineer Florida Certified General Contractor Florida Certified Mechanical Contractor Florida Certified Air Conditioning Contractor Florida Certified Roofing Contractor

Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor Florida Certified Electrical Contractor Florida Certified Commercial Swimming Pool & Spa Contractor Florida Licensed Home Inspector Florida Licensed Solar Contractor Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker

View Andrew Allocco's Expert Witness Profile.

Gene Farmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP, is president of Gene Farmer and Associates, Architects and Planners an award winning architecture firm. He has over thirty years of experience in the Design of numerous Residential and Commercial Projects in Florida, Texas, Illinois and Minnesota. His work has been published both locally and nationally and he has received numerous awards including two F.A.M.E. awards and the prestigious Price Waterhouse South Florida Business Journal "Up and Comer Award for 1990."

Mr. Farmer holds a license to practice architecture in the State of Florida, an N.C.A.R.B. Certification, and a Dade County Sub-Builder Certificate. He is also a certified Florida Building Inspector, a certified Florida Building Plans Examiner, a certified International Code Council ICC Commercial Building Inspector and a certified International Code Council ICC Building Plans Examiner. Mr. Farmer currently holds an OSHA 30 hour certification and has been a certified OSHA 500 instructor.

Mr. Farmer has served as an Expert Witness in numerous cases ranging from Construction Defects to Construction Claims Analysis.

Gene Farmer is a Professor Emeritus in the Moss School of Construction, in the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University. His teaching specialties include Principles of Construction Management, Building Construction Materials, Sustainable Construction, Building Codes, Quality Control in Construction, and Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems in Buildings.

In addition to his book entitled Architectural Detailing for Commercial Construction, published by McGraw Hill in 1991, he has a book entitled “A Contractor’s Guide to LEED Certified Construction” which was published in 2013 by Delmar-Cengage.

Drebelbis Engineering is an Architectural and Engineering firm specializing in Forensic Engineering. Their combined background in architecture, engineering, and business make Drebelbis Engineering uniquely qualified to address the complexities found in forensic engineering assignments.

A Dallas-based company founded in 1996, their focus is structural, architectural and civil engineering as applied to buildings and site systems. They bring technical engineering knowledge, testimony, and remedy when construction fails to perform and when construction processes derail.

Principal, James R. Drebelbis, AIA, PE, is an Architect and Structural Engineer with over 40 years of experience in all phases of building construction and performance, project management, and producing documents for building construction (drawings, specifications, change orders).

Litigation Support - Mr. Drebelbis specializes in Forensic Engineering for attorneys and insurance companies. His understanding of building types and construction systems includes site construction and earth retaining structures as well as residential, commercial, manufacturing, and institutional buildings.

Mr. Drebelbis is retained for Cause and Origin of Structural Failures and disputes about construction performance that often emphasize the obvious (leaks, cracks, collapses). His expertise is available to attorneys representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. Services include engineering investigation, documentation, testimony, and preparation of Certificates of Merit.

Education/Licenses: - BS Arch. Engineering, MBA, Professional Engineer (Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico), Architect (Texas)

Areas of Technical Experience and Expertise:

Construction Technology Building Codes Forensic Engineering Fire, Weather, Disaster Related Damage Roofing & Waterproofing Systems Water and Moisture Intrusion Stair Construction Performance of Building Materials Retaining Structures Application of Building Materials

Selection of Building Materials Structural Engineering Site and Building Drainage Foundation Design Soil Behavior Concrete Workmanship and Design Contract Documents Professional Ethics Slip, Trip, Fall Corrective Construction

DM Bekus Construction is a New Jersey Home Design, Construction, and Remodeling Contractor. For over 30 years they've been helping homeowners throughout the area improve properties and build homes. DM Bekus Construction delivers high quality, reliable construction services that help homeowners get more pleasure and enjoyment from their homes and buildings.

Services Include:

New Home Construction Interior Remodeling Exterior Remodeling

Construction Project Management Homeowner Association Construction Expert Witness Services

Principal, David M. Bekus has over 35 years in the Construction Industry specializing in home design, construction, and remodeling. He offers services to homeowner associations, housing communities, townhome complexes, property managers, and individuals.

Mr. Bekus is licensed by the State of New Jersey as a building inspector (RCS, ICS, and HHS), a licensed home remodeler, and a licensed new home builder. He is also certified in Project Management, Cost Estimating, Construction Methods, Construction Site Safety, and is a EPA Lead Safe Certified Contractor.

Mr. Bekus has been a project manager, overseeing all aspects of construction from conception and approvals to final sales for single homes and developments. He has designed and built over 100 custom homes.

View David Bekus' Expert Witness Profile.

The Diehl Group Architects, Inc. is a full-service design and consulting firm specializing in Forensic Architecture, quality assurance, and expert witness testimony. Their services `include:

• Architectural Design - With years of traditional architectural design experience includes residential, commercial, and institutional projects, they focus on unusually challenging building types, including aviation aircraft and pilot support facilities, a contemporary single family home, and support services for a subterranean wine cellar
• Quality Assurance - Identifying potential shortcomings of construction documents prior to breaking ground which allows them to review drawings before construction even begins and continue to monitor building techniques and processes to provide compliance and ensure construction accountability
• Construction Administration - Monitor construction schedules, cost, progress and quality while providing support services such as instruction or clarification to contractors as required
• Reconstruction Services - Reconstruction designs and building details solve existing problems while addressing future needs. By evaluating a range of building methods and materials through their forensic engagements, their team possesses a unique advantage over traditional architecture firms
• Forensic Architecture - The Diehl Group Architects, Inc. goes beyond standard investigative methods and procedures with state of the art technologies to ensure accurate reporting, lower costs, and side-step unnecessary intrusive testing methods
• Expert Witness Testimony - Diehl has a broad range of experience as designated architectural experts for plaintiff parties and developers in defense of plaintiff parties, in addition to a host of sub contractor disciplines

President, John (Jack) P. Diehl, AIA NCARB LEED AP, has over 40 years of experience as an Architect. Mr. Diehl currently specializes in Forensic Architecture and Construction Defects. He is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Mr. Diehl is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the International Code Council (ICC). He is also a LEED AP Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, Construction Document Technician, and General Contractor California, "B" License.

View Jack Diehl's Expert Witness Profile.

Daroff Design Inc. + DDI Architects PC, Architects, Planners, Interior Designers, and Consultants, partner with their clients such as Comcast, NBCUniversal, Disney, Marriott International, Hilton, and Ritz Carlton to create innovative environments that thoughtfully respond to their strategic branding, cultural, and operational objectives. They specialize in ground-up, renovation and historic adaptive reuse projects for office facilities, hotels, resorts, restaurants, meeting, conference and training facilities, aviation terminals and entertainment projects throughout the USA and Internationally.

James Rappoport, AIA, NCARB, Principal and Architect of Record at Daroff, has provided technical consultations for hundreds of clients. He is the author of several professional text books and trade journal articles, has been awarded multiple copy rights and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the International Code Council (ICC), and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). He is certified by the National Council of Architectural Review Boards (NCARB) and licensed to practice in 31 states.

Areas of Expertise:

Architecture Architectural Codes / Design & Standards Architectural Design Architectural Practice ADA - Accessibility Compliance ADA - Accessibility Design Building Codes & Ordinances Construction & Architecture Construction Claims Construction Disputes Facility Programming Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment Specifications Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment Failures

Hotel & Resort Design & Planning Interior Design & Planning Office Building Design & Planning Owner – Architect Agreements Owner – Contractor Agreements Professional Liability (Architecture & Design) Project Planning Slip – Fall Accident (Causes) Site Assessment & Development Site Planning & Design Standard of Care (Architecture & Design) Urban Design Urban Development & Planning

View James Rappoport's Expert Witness Profile.