Local engineer coordinates multidisciplinary projects

by Maria G. Hoover

SBJ Contributing Writer

Kevin Skibiski, professional engineer and registered land surveyor, has worked in the Springfield area for 16 years. He now serves as department head of special projects and land development, and as a project manager for Scott Consulting Engineers PC.

He said what he actually does is manage projects and people, and he also does some structural design.

"As department head of the special projects group, I work with multidiscipline projects, which need architects, mechanical and electrical engineers ... a lot of people, and I basically handle the coordination of those efforts," he said.

Skibiski holds both a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering structural and a master's degree in civil engineering project management from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

He has been a professional engineer since 1976.

Skibiski said he's been lucky to have been involved with several high-profile projects throughout his career, including several in this area.

"One of my favorites was the Waterboggan Ride at Silver Dollar City. I did the design of the structural support for that," he said.

Skibiski also did the structural design for the Main Post Office building on Chestnut Expressway.

Skibiski is the primary engineering contact for Scott Consulting Engineers in the cities of West Plains, Waynesville and Hollister.

Recent projects he has worked on include a $2 million park renovation in West Plains, which was completed this past summer.

"That included an aquatic center, a new eight-lane swimming pool and construction of a new 5,000-square-foot park pavilion," he said. The addition of walking trails and more parking were also included in the project.

Skibiski also did the structural design for the new Nixa High School, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2000.

He said with all of his projects, he's involved from start to finish.

"I visit the site, check construction, do shop drawings and look at the structure," he said.

Skibiski added that it's also important to him that the owners or developers of projects he works on are involved with the planning process.

"They need to be part of the team deciding the project and options, not just me telling them," he said.

Skibiski added that each project has several stages: conceptual, preliminary and final, and he's involved in making them work.

"My philosophy is basically to be organized enough to make sure the process flows smoothly and gets done on time and on budget," he said.

In addition to his work, Skibiski holds a variety of professional memberships. He is vice president of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, and he serves as chair of the Professional Development Council of the National Society of Engineers-Professional Engineers in Private Practice.

He said he feels his involvement with the organization at both the state and national levels is important.

"The goal of the organization is to promote licensure of professional engineers. The responsibility of the engineer is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, and the national committee I chair is involved with continuing education to maintain licensure," he said. "The state position is a leadership position in the group to promote licensure in the state."

Skibiski said he's been able to implement continuing education a major goal of the National Society of Professional Engineers at work.

"One thing I'm proud of is that Dick Scott (owner and president of Scott Consulting Engineers) pays for a weekly professional development lunch, when as many as 15 engineers may attend, and we go over things that will help us become better engineers," he said.

"It's a roundtable discussion where we can share engineering experience. I see myself as kind of a mentor or teacher to the younger engineers, and I try to share things that could make (them) better."

Skibiski has written several papers and given many presentations throughout his career on field-related issues.

He is registered as a professional engineer in 27 states, and as a land surveyor in two.