Ozarks Profile

Senior engineer and principal, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Architects and Engineers. Butler, Rosenbury & Partners was founded in 1978 as Geoffrey Butler, AIA. By 1986, the firm had grown enough to develop a diversified client base, and the name was changed to Butler Group-AIA. In 1990, BRP acquired Matthews Kahman Jackson Inc., a Springfield architectural and engineering firm in business since 1953. The firm then became Butler, Rosenbury & Partners. BRP now has 57 employees specializing in architecture, structural engineering, planning and development, construction management and interior design. Bergmann joined BRP in 1987 as the firm's first structural engineer, and was named partner in 1990. Bergmann is a licensed engineer in 17 states, Alberta, Canada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, Professional Engineers in Private Practice, the American Concrete Institute, the Portland Cement Association, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Springfield Contractors Association. Bergmann also serves on the Board of Directors of the Ozarks Science and Engineering Fair Foundation.

Age: 44

No. of years in Springfield/area: 36

Education: Bergmann graduated from Parkview High School and received his bachelor of science degree in civil and structural engineering from the University of MissouriÐRolla in 1982.

Early career: After high school, Bergmann worked various jobs in the construction industry, including painting, remodeling and working on highway improvements in Jonesboro, Ark. Bergmann worked both part-time and full-time jobs while attending Southwest Missouri State University and pursuing a degree in physics. "I was 17 credits away from graduating from SMS with a degree in physics when I realized the job opportunities for physicists were limited. It was then that I decided to change directions and focus on an engineering career." Bergmann transferred to UMR and finished his engineering requirements in 1982. After graduating from UMR, Bergmann went to work for a local architecture and engineering firm as a structural engineer in training. In 1986, Bergmann obtained his Missouri professional engineering license and joined Butler, Rosenbury & Partners in 1987.

Current projects: Bergmann's current projects include architectural and engineering work on hotels in North Carolina, Tennessee, Nebraska, Texas and Michigan, and Bass Pro Shops in Texas and Michigan. Work in Springfield includes new Staples stores, a new Michael's store, the First and Calvary Church, Holy Trinity Church and Our Lady of the Lake Church additions in Branson, the Seville Hotel remodeling, First USA addition and others.

Management philosophy: "Hire the best and brightest you can find, teach them all you know, give them what they need to do the job and let them do it. Also, make sure you have some fun along the way."

Spare-time pursuits: "Spending as much time as I can with my family, 'laking it' in the summer, playing golf, water skiing, snow skiing, and relaxing."

Family data: "I have two great children, Ben, 12, and Kathryn, 9, and a wonderful wife, Becky. She tells me she's 29."

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