Professional Staff

“Being an engineer at Kleinschmidt I have enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in a variety of meaningful projects that have had a positive benefit on our society and our environment. Working in the fields of Hydropower Renewable Energy and Fisheries provides a sense of accomplishment knowing we are helping to provide the power needed for our communities to thrive while minimizing the impact we are having.”

Jesse is a Principal Consultant at Kleinschmidt. He has a background in civil engineering and structural design and more than fifteen years of experience in the planning and design of fish passage facilities. He routinely works closely with hydro licensees and state and federal fishery agencies on all stages of fish passage projects from conceptual design to construction and testing.

Jesse’s engineering expertise includes the design, inspection, evaluation, and rehabilitation of steel, concrete, and wood structures primarily relating to fish passage and protection at dams and hydropower facilities. His experiences include working with biologists, engineers, and regulators on all phases of fish passage projects from feasibility studies and alternatives analysis, through conceptual and final design, into bidding and construction support, and finally monitoring and effectiveness testing.

Jesse has been involved in a wide array of fish passage projects including steeppass fishways, Denil ladder fishways, pool and weir fishways, vertical slot fishways, fish elevators, nature-like fishways, eel ladders, and downstream fish passage facilities. Some of his highlighted projects include Innovative Downstream Fish Passage Design; Gate and Spillway Life Extension Project; Nature Like Fish Passage Assessment; Conceptual Design and Agency Support for Upstream Shad Passage; Conceptual Design and Agency Support for Upstream American Eel Passage.

He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Alabama. He is an active member of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). Jesse also currently serves on the Kleinschmidt Board of Directors.