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RECENT News Releases

WLG Opens Northern California Branch Office

WLG is excited to announce that it has opened another branch office location in 2023 in Northern California at 1765 Challenge Way, Suite 115, Sacramento, CA 95815. The newly renovated office space between Exposition Boulevard and Arden Way encompasses approximately 1,220 square feet and will house up to 10 WLG team members providing geospatial support services to new and existing clients in Northern California. “WLG’s Sacramento office is key to providing services to utility clients up north,” said President and Principal Matthew H. Okubo. “We are excited be able to offer further staff and local deployment in this new, geographic location in California for existing clients while expanding and building new-forged relationships with other private companies and public agencies in the area.”

 

 

WLG Expands Core Services - Utility Locating

WLG has expanded its company core services to provide above and below ground utility locating and detecting services by combining conventional surveying, LiDAR, and aerial photogrammetry (UAV) with advanced ground penetrating radar (GPR) and video inspection (CCTV). WLG’s advanced, state-of-the-art mobile data collection platforms are equipped with high-speed, 3D, GPR array that can collect data at speeds of up to 80 miles an hour. Utilizing tomography software, it takes mere minutes to process the field collected data allowing data review and analysis to begin prior to returning to the office. WLG’s new Utility Locating Department (pictured) will enable the firm to provide valued utility, municipal, and private clients with complete in-house services for faster project completion and will provide direct support and advisement for other departments within WLG.

WLG Expands Operations Out of State

WLG is excited to announce that it has opened its first out-of-state, branch office located in Duncan, Oklahoma at 45 N 9th Street, Suite B-2, Duncan, OK 73533 . The newly renovated office space in east Oklahoma near the Kansas border encompasses approximately 3,000 square feet and will house as many as 20 WLG team members providing support services. “WLG’s Oklahoma office is the company’s first branch office outside of California,” said President and Principal Matthew H. Okubo. “We are really proud to be able to offer expanded services and staff in new
geographic areas while maintaining quality relationships with existing and future clients.”

 

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WLG Appoints Loye Peternell as Vice President, Finance

WLG is pleased to announce the well-deserved promotion of Loye Peternell to Vice President of Finance. In this partnering role, Ms. Peternell will continue to serve within the firm’s Senior Leadership Team helping with strategic business development, growth, and planning initiatives for the firm. She also oversees the Accounting Department that provides cash flow/management, financial budgeting and statements, variance reporting, contract review and risk management, project billing, cost control, and project performance and review services. Ms. Peternell brings 49 years of experience working within A/E/C industries providing financial and administrative services. Prior to joining WLG, Ms. Peternell held positions as CFO, Vice President, Financial Director, Senior Financial Analyst, Business Manager, and Controller at various A/E/C firms. She holds a BS degree with honors in business administration from California State University, Long Beach.

 

 

WLG Announces Director Promotions

WLG announced that Siara MacKinney, PE, ENV SP has been promoted at the firm as Director of Land Development; Scott Bennett, PLS has been promoted to Director of Geospatial Mapping; and Frank Vargas is the newly appointed Director of Energy Distribution. Directors are based out of the firm’s corporate headquarters in Ontario, California and will be responsible for acting as a liaison on clients/agencies behalf, QA/QC, overseeing and mentoring staff, as well as developing strategic business development/planning initiatives to further expand the firm and their departments.

 

Ms. MacKinney has over 10 years of experience providing engineering and oversight for industrial and retail projects within Southern California. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California with a master’s degree in structural engineering and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California State University, Northridge. Her expertise includes preparation of bidding and construction documents including site layout, grading, and utility design; precise grading, stormwater, street improvement, erosion/sediment control, and underground utility plans; as well as the creation of technical reports. She is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and directs/mentors land development staff providing internal checkpoints and communicating directly with clients.

 

Mr. Bennett is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of California and brings 20 years of experience providing geospatial and civil engineering services for public and private clients throughout California and Arizona. He directs the geospatial mapping team that provides field surveys, boundary retracements, legal descriptions, base mapping, and 3D subsurface utility mapping services on a variety of projects. He is well versed in the requirements and submittal processes for electric, gas, and alternative energy providers; freight and passenger railways; and a multitude of municipalities. He acts as a liaison to provide cost effective and innovative solutions and is a leader who encourages others, keeps his team motivated, and deals with colleagues and clients in a professional matter.

 

Mr. Vargas has over 37 years of gas utility experience including high pressure pipeline welding, gas handling, installation, project planning, emergency response, field operations, and training/development. Mr. Vargas’ energy distribution team works on gas pipelines and associated facilities providing engineering and reconciliation/closeout services for various natural gas agencies throughout California. Mr Vargas coordinates directly with the client and internal managers to facilitate QA/QC and meeting timelines and cost projects on the client’s behalf.

 

 

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WLG Expands its Pipeline Engineering Department

WLG has expanded its Pipeline Engineering Department to enable near and long-term growth of the firm’s natural gas services. This expansion is led by Director of Pipeline Engineering Renato Villareal who has more than 38 years of experience providing team oversight, project management, engineering, and estimating services. Mr. Villarreal has brought in a seasoned team of professionals, along with the firm’s existing Department personnel, for well-rounded coverage of services. Based out of Ontario, team members will be providing direct support and advisement for existing and new projects for SoCalGas within their GTSR and PSEP Departments as well as supporting other natural gas projects for the firm’s clients. Collectively, these team members have worked on hundreds of natural gas pipeline projects.

 

 

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WLG Grows Its California Presence

WLG has opened a branch office in San Diego County located in the same building as San Marcos’ City Hall at 1 Civic Center Drive, Suite 260 in San Marcos, CA. The office is centrally located to provide continued support services for local utility and regulatory agencies within San Diego County and will enable the firm to expand its geographic reach and better serve other private companies and cities/counties in the area. Founded in 2000, WLG has grown exponentially from one office of less than six employees to four offices and over 160 employees providing civil engineering, geospatial (surveying/mapping/GIS), and land planning/development services to diverse clients throughout California.




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WIRE NEWSLETTER

Issue 1, Spring 2021

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