Kenneth Tait

Chairman Emeritus, P.E.

Kenneth E. Tait founded TAIT & Associates in 1964.  Throughout the 1960s, he managed the design and construction of hundreds of gasoline stations throughout California, while building the small consultancy. As time went on, Mr. Tait developed additional design services, including airport fueling systems, fuel bulk plant design, and military facility design. Mr. Tait was an early innovator in air pollution control, holding several patents for  gasoline vapor recovery and containment. Many of the technologies he developed are currently employed on a global scale. He has designed and/or developed several commercial and industrial projects throughout the western U.S. In the 1980s and 1990s he founded and grew TAIT Environmental Services (TES) and TAIT Environmental Management (TEM). TES specializes in fuel containment construction, maintenance and regulatory compliance, while TEM specializes in the assessment and remediation of groundwater, soil, and asbestos contamination.  In 1957, prior to the founding of TAIT & Associates, Mr. Tait was the primary engineer working with a group that located  El Gattar #1, the first oil well in Libya. Though currently retired from most daily business operations, Mr. Tait is very active in Legatus, Knights of Malta, and other charitable organizations. He achieved his bachelors and doctorate degrees from Montana State University.

Thomas F. Tait

Chief Executive Officer, Principal

Tom Tait is CEO of TAIT & Associates (www.TAIT.com), a national engineering and environmental company. In November 2010, Tom was elected Mayor of Anaheim and re-elected to his second term in November 2014. He was termed out of office in December of 2018. Tom ran on a platform of bringing the values of kindness and freedom to the culture of the city. He was inspired to run on this platform by a 6 year old girl and her father, a holistic doctor, who believed that, like a body, a city can heal holistically, as opposed to simply treating the symptoms. As mayor, Tom promoted Anaheim as a City of Kindness. Under his Kindness Initiative, Anaheim Elementary School District students fulfilled a pledge to complete 1 million acts of kindness. Inspired by Anaheim’s “million acts of kindness”, Mayor’s throughout the country have committed to fostering a culture of kindness in their cities to build social infrastructure and stronger more resilient communities. Tom has been invited to discuss his Anaheim kindness initiative at United States Congress, The White House, The Yale School of Management CEO Leadership Institute, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and The Strong Cities Network International Combatting Violent Extremism.  He is the founder of cityofkindness.org – a non-profit platform that is the growing center of the kind movement – a coalition of organizations working to inspire kindness in our world. Tait received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wyoming and an M.B.A and Law degree from Vanderbilt University. Tait and his wife Julie have four grown children and 5 grandchildren. They have been married for 37 years.

Rich Tait

President, Principal

With over 25 years of property development, environmental compliance, and business management experience, Mr. Tait is the current President of TAIT.  His experience is in project management and program management in multi-site construction and retrofit projects.  Additionally, he has managed the design and environmental compliance on hundreds of hazardous materials’ projects. He also has vast entitlement and zoning management experience, as well as field experience with surveying, on-site fuel storage tank and piping installation.  He has worked extensively for clients such as Texaco, Safeway, Unocal, Walmart, Exxon, Shell, Carl’s Jr., and numerous private developers in the areas of commercial and residential development.  He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Building Industry Association, among other organizations. Mr. Tait  obtained a B.A. from the University of Southern California and then went on to earn an MBA from Chapman University. He lives in Newport Beach with Kathryn, his wife of 29 years, and they have two grown children. In his free time, Rich enjoys golf, boating, and time with family.

Trevor Tait

Managing Director, Principal

Trevor Tait currently serves as Managing Director of TAIT & Associates and TAIT Environmental Services.  He is responsible for overseeing the performance, strategy, and vision of the companies.  Before joining TAIT, he worked as a project manager for large public infrastructure projects throughout the east coast.   He is an active member of The Urban Land Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and is a member of the Impact Collective Fund with the Orange County Community Foundation.  He is also a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO) in the Cal Coast Chapter of Orange County.   Trevor received his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University.  He lives in Dana Point with his wife Tori and they have two small children.

Colin Tait

Senior Associate

Colin Tait is a Senior Associate at TAIT & Associates and TAIT Environmental Services, where he contributes to the growth of the company’s commercial real estate (CRE) development arm and supports recruitment and strategic initiatives. With a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and Engineering Management from Vanderbilt University, Colin has a strong foundation in both technical and managerial aspects. Previously, he was a Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities and Commercial Real Estate Analyst at DoubleLine Capital, where he played a pivotal role in managing over $1.7 billion in CRE loans across 26 states. His experience includes performing due diligence, underwriting, and analyzing market trends for various asset types. Colin is an active member of NAIOP and serves on the board of Giving Children Hope. Married to his wife Hannah, they have one small child and live in Dana Point. Passionate about the outdoors, Colin enjoys backpacking, camping, mountain biking, and surfing.

Jason Jones

Chief Financial Officer

Jason Jones currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of TAIT & Associates, Inc. and Tait Environmental Services, Inc.  He is responsible for overseeing the day to day financial operations for all TAIT Divisions.  These activities include cash flow management, budget management, and financial reporting.  He has 15 years of experience with TAIT in multiple roles.  He brings an operations perspective to the company’s financial management having served in a construction project manager role before taking over his current duties.   In addition to having a B.S. in Finance and Business Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead, he also belongs to several industry financial organizations.

Jacob Vandervis

Chief Operating Officer, P.E.

Mr. Vandervis currently serves as a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in TAIT’s Corporate Office in Santa Ana.  In addition to his management duties, he acts as the primary point of contact for several national retail and residential developers.  With over 20 years of experience he has the knowledge to take on all of the challenges presented to him.  In addition to having a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Long Beach California State University, he is also a Registered Professional Engineer in California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Alaska.

Mike Silvey

Vice President, P.E.

Working as the Vice President of the Civil Engineering department in corporate headquarters, Mr. Silvey has extensive experience in project management and civil engineering design of commercial and industrial projects.  He is in charge of managing projects from planning through construction. This includes sewer design and analysis, grading, drainage, flatwork, wet and dry utilities, retaining wall design, street improvements and hydrology and hydraulic calculations. As a certified Professional Engineer of California and Qualified Storm Water Developer in California he is able to oversee every facet of a job from start to finish.  He is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Building Industry Association, and International Council of Shopping Centers, along with having a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

David Sloan

Vice President, P.E.

David is Vice President and Director of Engineering at TAIT and is responsible for engineering staff management in the Santa Ana Office, as well as managing public and private development engineering design and construction management projects throughout the Southern California region. David’s broad background of engineering and construction projects prior to joining TAIT has given him unique experience in roles such as Design and Construction Management, Public Relations and Coordination, CAD Management and Development, as well as Marketing and Proposal Writing. David obtained his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Southern California and also obtained an Engineering Focused Physical Science degree and a Minor in Bible from Biola University. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of California and  a member of the American Public Works Association (APWA). When David is not furiously typing away at the office, you will find him happily at home with his wife while working together to keep track of their three active little children, and spending any other spare time they may have catching up on favorite shows, cooking and baking dishes, and enjoying local breweries.

Dennis Postler

Director of Public Infrastructure

Dennis Postler, P.E., is the Director of Public Infrastructure at TAIT & Associates’ Engineering Division in Santa Ana, CA. With a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota and over 36 years of experience, Dennis supervises staff and manages projects in preparing public infrastructure projects primarily for municipal clients. He holds professional engineering licenses in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Dennis’s extensive experience includes managing local roadway designs, federally funded arterial roadways, public utility designs, traffic designs, and park developments. He has served as a consulting city engineer and has provided general city engineering services, plan reviews, budgeting assistance, facility planning, and construction management. Prior roles include leadership positions at several other engineering consulting firms, as well as beginning his career with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

Kaveh Haghighi

Vice President - Engineering

Kaveh Haghighi is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of professional experience in project management and civil engineering design of commercial, industrial, golf course and residential master planned projects. His expertise includes land planning, drainage infrastructure design, grading, hydrology and hydraulic calculations, and public and private infrastructure design. His work across various sectors has allowed him to gain a deep understanding of unique requirements of both the public and private sectors. His responsibilities include acting as the direct point of contact for clients and agencies, managing project design, finances and budgets, supervising design staff, and coordinating with public agencies and construction crews. Mr. Haghighi holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada.

Dan Hinson

Vice President, Architect

Dan Hinson currently serves as Vice President of TAIT Architecture. While majoring in Architectural Engineering at the California State University of Fullerton, he concurrently worked for Architects and Contractors and received his License to Practice Architecture in 1998. His extensive development background from conceptual design to general contracting sets him apart from other Architects. With an extensive architectural and construction background, he has the ability to create architecturally sensitive, highly efficient designs. It is this understanding that gives clientele confidence that their projects will meet budgets and be completed on time, a value that brings vision into reality.

Susan Dillingham

Vice President, NCARB

Susan Dillingham is a Vice President of Architecture for TAIT & Associates. She currently shares responsibility for diversifying TAIT’s project portfolio, growing the architecture team, and leading key client accounts. Bringing over 28 years of experience in the design and construction industry, with significant expertise in grocery retail, her passion for quality, focus on client satisfaction and creativity help take TAIT Architecture to the next level. Prior to joining TAIT, she worked for a major grocery retailer serving in several different capacities, most recently as a Director of Store Development responsible for real estate and project management software systems. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Idaho and is NCARB Certified, with architectural licenses in Idaho, Texas and Oklahoma. Outside of work she spends time volunteering at the Idaho State Veteran’s Home, and enjoying the Idaho outdoors with her family.

Drew Ericsen

Director of Architecture

Drew Ericsen, NCARB, is a Director at TAIT with over seven years of experience in architecture. He holds a Master’s in Architecture from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of San Diego. Drew has achieved certification with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is a LEED Green Associate. Since joining TAIT, Drew has worked on a variety of public service, restaurant, commercial, and residential projects across the United States. He has recently served as Project Manager for several feasibility studies and development projects. Drew is known for his commitment to providing kind and responsible service to his clients.

Alex Hoime

Vice President, P.E.

Alex Hoime currently serves as Vice President overseeing Engineering, Survey, and Development Consulting Services in TAIT’s Colorado office. He has designed and managed a variety of commercial, residential, industrial, office and transportation projects throughout the Western US since joining TAIT in 2004. Alex received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering as well as his Master of Engineering from the University of North Dakota. He holds professional engineering registrations in several states and is involved with NCEES and ASCE. When not hard at work, he enjoys heading up to the mountains with his wife and two boys.

Tim Uhrik

Vice President - Engineering (Colorado)

Tim Uhrik is a Vice President out of TAIT’s Colorado office. He started his career as an intern with TES in 2010. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 2012 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, he decided to focus on Civil Engineering and Land Development. He holds several professional engineering registrations throughout the western US and maintains an NCEES Record. Tim oversees and continues to develop TAIT’s Programmatic and Private Clients providing full service from initial site feasibility through construction consulting. It is a diverse work load and new opportunities that keep him rising to the challenge. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and dog.

Jon Romaguera

Vice President - Engineering (Northern CA)

Mr. Romaguera currently serves as Vice President of Engineering for the regional office located in the greater Sacramento area. He is well-versed with land development project management and civil engineering design throughout the State of California. He is experienced with entitlements preparation and permit processing, street improvement plans, survey management, ADA accessibility, electric vehicle charging stations, utility infrastructure, grading design, retaining wall / screen wall design, hydrology studies, water quality management plans, storm water pollution prevention plans (certified QSD/P), erosion & sediment control plans, striping and signage plans, vehicle circulation / queueing analysis, and cost estimation. Jon received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California – Davis in 2004. He joined TAIT in 2006 as a Design Engineer and obtained his license as a Civil Engineering Professional Engineer in 2008. Over the years, Jon has continued to take on more responsibility and rise to the challenge.

Kim Barnett

Vice President - Program Management

Kim has more than 20+ years of experience in the Design & Construction Industry.  A graduate of Portland Stat University with a degree in Architecture, Kim began her career at a A/E firm in Portland, Oregon.  Kim managed several project types from property acquisition through design, permitting and construction.  Project types included retail shopping centers, food processing, distribution warehouses, and speculative office buildings.

Today, Kim is the VP of the Tait Program Management team, providing Program and Construction Management for clients nationwide.  Kim drives the Tait team to collaborate with our clients, to define, prioritize and develop successful projects.

John Killen

Vice President – Director of Development Management

Mr. Killen brings expertise to TAIT and Associates where he shares management duties and oversees project development from conception to completion. With 30 years’ experience in executive – level real estate positions and 14 years prior experience in senior architectural positions.  He has an established background in design, entitlement, construction, real estate development related matters and practices. Prior to joining TAIT, he held the position of Executive Vice President at Xebec Building Company. His responsibilities included management of project development operations and staff from conceptual design and pre – development planning through construction. Mr. Killen has held senior management positions with Accretive Realty Advisors and Polygon Development where he oversaw acquisitions, entitlements, and development of more than 4 million square feet of property throughout Orange County. From 1988 to 1998, he was owner and founding Principal of Development DesignSource (DDS), a real estate consulting Development Management Services company with offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He established his architectural background as a Partner with Architects Orange in Orange, California from 1980 to 1988. Mr. Killen has 4 grown children and has been married since 1975.

Sylvia Tran

Director – Development Management

Sylvia Tran is Director of Development Management services at TAIT & Associates, where she oversees the entire project life cycle from due-diligence and entitlements through construction. She has extensive experience in providing end-to-end project management, maintaining on-time and within-budget delivery. Prior to joining TAIT, she played a key role in a leading full-service Design-Build firm managing complex development projects for landowners and developers. She has over 15 years of experience in architecture and development project management with a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Western Australia. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, whether it be exploring new outdoor destinations or enjoying meals.

Mike MacFarland

Vice President

Mike MacFarland currently serves as Vice President of TAIT & Associates’ Land Development Division. He is responsible for overseeing several Retail Programs from Lease Negotiations, Entitlements, Construction Documents, and Store Openings. Mike received a Bachelors degree from San Diego State University in Public Administration and has over 20 years of experience in Retail Project Management. He is a golfing enthusiast and enjoys traveling with his wife, Diana.

Eric Hammer

Chief Operating Officer - TAIT Environmental Services

Mr. Hammer has over 30 years of experience with commercial, emergency power and retail fueling systems, construction management and environmental work. He joined TAIT in 2016 as a Construction Manager, was appointed Director of the Texas/National group then to Vice President. His experience includes field testing, repairs and construction. Mr. Hammer is active with state and national trade associations and has a B.S. degree from Howard Payne University.

Erin Langford

Vice President - Head of California TIR Group

Ms. Langford leads TAIT’s compliance testing, repair programs and associated construction nationwide. She has 19 years of experience in the petroleum storage tank industry, including managing and coordinating many facets of AST/UST compliance programs involving Vapor Recovery Systems Testing, Monitor Systems Certifications, and general construction programs including Enhanced Vapor Recovery/In-Station Diagnostics. Ms. Langford possesses excellent communication and exceptional organization skills special for managing high volume programs.

Billy Bob Bates

Vice President - Texas National Operations

Bill Bob Bates started at TAIT in 2017 as a Project Manager for National Operations overseeing multiple accounts, was promoted to Director for Texas National Operations, and then to Vice President for Texas National Operations in March 2023. He has an extensive background in power reliability including generator, tanks, ATG’s, and AC/DC power plants, site installation and maintenance. Billy was an Operator for five years in multiple states and was a Texas A/B Onsite Supervisor. He is also the Co-Owner of ZTSB Consulting which provides ATG installation & repair and UST maintenance & repair. He has his Associate Technical Degree in Telecommunications and studied Electrical Engineering for three years. Billy and his wife Susie have two beautiful children, Tori and Zachary.

Randy Novak

Vice President

Randy Novak has been the heart and soul of TES for 35 years. He started as a laborer and quickly worked his way up in the construction department overseeing the field technicians and managed all operations of the construction department. He works closely with the staff on all bids and job executions to meet deadlines and keep his department moving forward and sustainable. Randy is originally from Minot, ND where he was a Dairy Farmer before relocating to CA. Randy has been married for 19 years, has twin sons and 2 dogs that keep him busy and happy at home.

Kristin Reynolds

Director

Kristin Reynolds started with TAIT in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant while she was completing her Bachelor’s Degree at Sacramento State University. While she was finishing school, she saw a future here at TAIT, and have worked hard to grow her knowledge and responsibilities. It is very important to Kristin to work for such a family friendly company that allows her to be a working mom with great flexibility. Everyday is a challenge waiting to be tackled!

Dillon Bain

Director of Fuel Polishing & Hazardous Waste Management

Dillon Bain is the Director for TAIT’s Fuel Polishing & Hazardous Waste Hauling Program. With over 10 years of experience in the petroleum storage tank industry, Dillon oversees all facets of fuel polishing, hazardous waste hauling, and lab analysis procurement services. He has managed projects for a diverse clientele, including hospitals, retail gas stations, California counties and cities, water districts, utility companies, school districts, and universities. Dillon joined the TAIT team in 2023 and holds a Master of Arts in Criminology from the University of Essex, England, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. His extensive experience includes managing hazardous waste programs for national clients and services hundreds of public and private clients annually. Prior roles include Project Manager at California Hazardous Services and various positions in the transportation and maintenance divisions, where he gained hands-on experience in fuel tank maintenance and safety standards.

Dennis Tweedy

Vice President

Mr. Tweedy joined TAIT 11 years ago as a Senior Project Manager and he could not imagine a better place to continue his career. He has worked on many projects throughout his career with lots of different challenges but loves the challenge.

Alan Throckmorton

Director

Mr. Throckmorton joined TES shortly after the inception in late 1984. He helped begin the TES National operations, first in Texas with Andy Tait having been established in Richardson. A natural progression to further service our clients. He is extremely proud of where he is at 14 years later.

Kristine Castillo

Director - Human Resources

Ms. Kristine Castillo currently serves as the Director of Human Resources of TAIT & Associates, Inc. and TAIT Environmental Services, Inc.  She is responsible for the day to day activities of the HR department as well as identifying top talent acquisition & retention strategies, benefits administration, and legal compliance. Kristine received a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Human Resources from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She has a combined 9 years of experience within industries such as aerospace manufacturing, warehousing & distribution, and engineering consulting. The diversity in industry experience helps her to manage and undertake challenges that may arise. After work, you can find Kristine at Target or with her family at the baseball & softball fields.

Brian Harmon

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Brian Harmon started out as a UST Tank Tester in 1983, before the EPA released the federal regulations. He has been able to see and meet the UST regulatory testing and monitoring requirements as they have developed on a state and federal level. Brian has performed the testing of Underground Storage Tanks in underfill/overfill mode, precision product line testing, various component replacements such as, drybreaks, leak detectors, and check valves.  Brian was also responsible for the installation of overfill protection valves to help fueling stations conform to all regulations. Brian is well versed in all aspects of Underground and Aboveground fuel systems with regard to the monitoring, testing and meeting all of the paperwork requirements. Brian has helped clients develop and implement compliance programs for Aboveground Aviation Fueling systems,  ensuring that they meet the local and FAA inspection and testing requirements. Mr. Harmon has worked with local and state regulators ensuring compliance with the local air districts requirements for gasoline facilities. As Director of Regulatory Affairs, Brian contributes to and comments on regulatory issues throughout the country. He recently helped author the newly published PEI Recommended Practice 1200 – Recommended Practices for the Testing and Verification of Spill, Overfill, Leak Detection and Secondary Containment Equipment at UST Facilities.