HLA Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc. - About Our Company

Michael T. Battle, PE

President

Mike began his engineering career at HLA immediately following graduation from Washington State University in 1993.  Having developed as one of the firm’s most skilled and successful Project Engineers, he was elevated in 2006 to the position of Vice President of Municipal Engineering, and then to President of the firm in 2016.  Mike strives to provide excellent service to our varied clientele and has been instrumental in the successful completion of numerous projects for our firm.

Mike assists clients in formulating projects and cost estimates, developing funding strategies and associated applications, and successfully accomplishing their goals.  He oversees engineering design and provides full project administration of various municipal and private development projects, including arterial streets and county roads, domestic water systems, sanitary sewer systems, wastewater treatment facilities, storm drainage systems, irrigation systems, airports, and residential and commercial developments.

Benjamin A. Annen, PE

Vice President

Since joining HLA in 2009, Ben has successfully completed and actively managed a wide variety of municipal engineering and private development projects from early planning to construction closeout.  His experience spans an array of project types: state highways, city streets, railroads, commercial sites, schools, storm water, domestic water, sanitary and industrial sewers, and city-wide irrigation system improvements.  Ben’s engineering proficiencies include a strong emphasis in roadway design and geometric layout, grading and drainage, utility design and coordination, pressure pipe hydraulics, pipeline rehabilitation, construction specifications, and bid documents.

Aside from engineering project completion, Ben has an aptitude for pre-project formulation and scoping, cost estimating, and implementation strategies, including state and federal funding.  Ben has completed comprehensive planning documents such as water system plans and capital facilities plans for several municipalities in the Yakima Valley.  He has also prepared utility rate studies and assisted communities with annual budget preparation.  Through these activities, including City Council presentations, Ben has developed lasting working relationships with jurisdictional staff and elected officials throughout our Valley.

Terry D. Alapeteri, PE

Principal

Terry has been with HLA since 2000 and is responsible for project management, administration, planning, design, and preparation of plans and specifications for municipal and private development projects, including sewage lift stations, gravity sewer pipelines, domestic water systems, drainage systems, city streets, county roads, residential subdivisions, and commercial developments.  Terry is proficient in the use of AutoCAD for site design and roadway development.

Prior to joining HLA, Terry's experience includes designing and inspecting major highway, roadway, and bridge projects during his seven years as a Transportation Engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Michael R. Heit, PE

Principal

Mike joined HLA in 2013, bringing with him more than 20 years of civil engineering design and construction experience.  His background includes extensive work in civil engineering for subdivision and site design, domestic water and sewer system design and construction, as well as transportation and traffic engineering.  He has experience in preparation of WSDOT plans and APWA specifications for construction projects.  Mike specializes in the design and construction of public works facilities, including street, sewer and water improvements, and commercial civil site design.

In addition to his qualifications as a civil engineer, Mike has extensive experience in structural design, including residential, light commercial, reinforced concrete, steel, and retaining wall design.

Eric T. Herzog, PLS

Principal

Eric came to HLA in 1997, following 10 years of surveying experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Lynnwood, Washington.  He is responsible for project organization, scheduling, budget control, survey research, boundary computations, survey mapping, and quality assurance for all survey projects for the firm.

Eric has extensive experience in projects throughout the Northwest for municipal, federal, state, and private clients. He specializes in research, cadastral surveys, and preparing right-of-way exhibits, legal descriptions for right-of-way acquisition projects, and ALTA surveys.

Justin L. Bellamy, PE

Principal

Justin has been with HLA since 2005 and is responsible for design and preparation of plans and specifications of various municipal projects, including airport, city street, domestic water, sanitary sewer, water and waste water treatment facilities, storm drainage, and irrigation improvements.  He has experience in domestic water, wastewater and irrigation systems, including the design and analysis of pipelines, reservoirs, treatment facilities, pump stations, gravity sewer pipelines and wastewater treatment facilities.  

Justin is responsible for preparation of design reports for municipal and private water, wastewater, and irrigation facilities.  He is also responsible for preparation of comprehensive planning documents, including water system plans and general sewer plans for municipal distribution and collection systems.  

Michael D. Uhlman, PE

Principal

Michael has been with HLA since 2015 and is responsible for plan and specification preparation, engineering reports, and design.  He has been involved with both federal and municipal projects, including irrigation system design and airport design.  Michael has experience with developing project formulation, scope, and cost estimating. He also brings experience in contracting and managing transportation and hydroelectric construction projects varying in size from $3.7M to $23M.  Project deliveries have included both traditional and design-build methods.  Along with this project management experience, Michael also has experience in construction engineering design, including falsework, formwork, and shoring for bridge construction.

Lisa R. Adams, CPA, CFO

Principal

With an exceptional work history in business, finance, and strategic planning, Lisa R. Adams, CPA, is well versed in the A&E industry and focused on HLA Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc., producing its very best.  As Partner, Lisa's skills enhance business operations allowing our Principals to remain dedicated to client success. 

Theodore W. Pooler, PE

Principal - Retired

Ted began his civil engineering career in 1980 as an Assistant Engineer in Spokane, Washington, and came to HLA in 1989.  He is responsible for the planning, design, preparation of plans and specifications, and construction contract administration for water and wastewater facilities, residential subdivisions, drainage facilities, and streets and highways.

Ted is experienced with all facets of water system design, including system analysis and planning, water treatment facilities, pipeline design, and storage reservoirs. His wastewater-related experience includes gravity sewer pipelines, lift stations, and wastewater treatment facilities.

Taylor Denny

Director of Construction Operations

Taylor joined HLA in 2023 with over 19 years of experience, eight of those years working as a project engineer, and 12 years managing construction projects and engineering teams.  He manages HLA’s construction inspection and administration teams, providing project oversight from bid to project completion.  With a unique understanding of both the design and construction processes, he reviews plans and specifications prior to bid and coordinates construction inspection schedules and resources.  Taylor is skilled at problem solving and effectively communicates with project stakeholders, including the client, contractor, and HLA staff.

Timothy D. Fries, PLS, CFedS

Associate

Tim has been with HLA since 2001 and is responsible for project organization, survey research, construction calculations, boundary computations,  legal descriptions, and survey drafting.

Tim specializes in research, boundary surveys, short plats, long plats, boundary line adjustments, ALTA land title surveys, and preparing exhibits and legal descriptions for right-of-way acquisition projects. Tim has extensive field experience and has worked on projects throughout Central Washington.

Stephen S. Hazzard, PE

After joining HLA in 2008, Stephen has been responsible for preparation of engineering reports, cost estimates, and funding applications for project grants and loans for our clients.  His experience includes environmental processes, design, and preparation of plans and specifications for municipal projects, including sanitary sewer systems, domestic water systems, drainage systems, and city streets.

Stephen also has extensive knowledge and familiarity in construction contract management, including monitoring contractor labor requirements and compliance issues.

Stephanie J. Ray, PE

Stephanie has more than 17 years experience in civil engineering.  She is responsible for design and preparation of plans and specifications for various municipal, residential, and commercial projects, including airport facilities, city streets, domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and irrigation improvements. 

Stephanie has experience in airport planning and design for both commercial and general aviation use airports.  Her responsibilities include preparation of Capital Improvement Programs to secure funding, preparation of planning and design documents for airport improvements with close coordination with both the Federal Aviation Administration and Washington State Department of Transportation-Aviation Division, and providing assistance to airports to meet their grant assurance obligations. Stephanie's past performance includes rehabilitation and reconstruction of runways, taxiways, ramps and other airfield pavements, as well as preparation of planning documents and cost estimates for future airfield developments.

She is also responsible for planning and designing domestic water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, including analysis of pipelines, treatment facilities, gravity sewer pipelines, and stormwater facilities to meet local and state regulations.  Her planning document responsibilities include demand projections, storage analysis, system hydraulic analysis, recommendation of future improvements, estimation of project costs, and future budget analysis.

Stephanie's commercial and residential experiences have involved preparation of contract documents to construct site civil improvements for various types of commercial buildings and residential developments, including healthcare facilities, primary and secondary schools and colleges, improvements for private businesses, and single- and multi-family developments throughout Central and Western Washington.  

Dean P. Smith, PE

Dean has been with HLA since 2014 and brings extensive experience in wastewater engineering and construction management.  His experience covers a full range of project activities, including Engineering Reports, Facility Plans, and Comprehensive Sewer Plans.  Dean is proficient in detailed design of wastewater treatment processes, equipment, construction management and oversight, and operations and maintenance manuals. He assists clients with wastewater process and equipment troubleshooting, environmental reporting and permit applications.  In addition to his Washington State Professional Engineer’s License, Dean also holds a Group IV Wastewater Operator's Certificate.

Dean provides municipal engineering services to City and County staff, as well as private clients.  He performs design engineering and project services on various public works projects, including sanitary sewer, domestic water, storm drainage, and irrigation improvements.  In addition, he directs and participates in the preparation of construction plans and specifications and construction observation.

Robert J. Scott, PE

Rob joined HLA in 2022 with 17 years of experience in civil engineering.  He is responsible for design and preparation of plans and specifications, cost estimation, and preparation of funding applications.  Rob has experience in private development, domestic water, and wastewater planning and design, including analysis of treatment capacity and future deficiencies.  He is responsible for preparation of planning documents, including modeling, water system plans, wastewater facility plans, and general sewer plans for municipal distribution and collection systems.  Rob has also performed construction administration for various municipal projects. 

Jacob R. Sevigny, PE

Jacob returned to HLA in 2023 after previously having been with HLA for four years beginning in 2013. While he was away from HLA, Jacob earned his Master of Arts degree and worked for the City of Pasco Capital Improvement Projects Division as an Engineer II. Jacob is responsible for the design and preparation of plans and specifications for both municipal and industrial projects, including wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater and sewer systems, parks, streets, and sidewalks. His experience includes engineering reports and evaluations, preparation of plans and specifications, cost estimates, project management and oversight, and funding applications for project grants and loans. Additionally, he has background in grading design, on-site inspection, equipment sizing and design, and soil remediation.

Deborah L. LaCombe

Senior Planner

As our Senior Planner, Deb has more than 15 years transportation planning experience in regional and metropolitan planning organizations in the Spokane, Walla Walla, and Yakima areas.  Over seven of those metropolitan planning years have been in the Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys as Senior Planner and Manager.  She is responsible for project management, administration, and public outreach associated with municipal planning.  Her experience includes data gathering and analysis; coordination of general public, stakeholder, local government, regional, state, and federal teams; developing travel demand computer models; budgeting assistance; funding application preparation and evaluation; comprehensive planning documents; interpreting and compliance assistance with local, state, and federal regulations; and preparing environmental reports.  Deb has promoted Central Washington priorities through her involvement with the DRYVE and TRANS-Action public/private coalitions and as a team member developing the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Best Practices Guide.

Colleda H. Monick

Senior Planner

Colleda joined HLA in 2022 with more than 10 years of experience in community and business development.  Over six of those years were with the City of Yakima in planning and economic development roles.  She is responsible for project coordination in relation to comprehensive planning, land development, and environmental planning.  Colleda’s experience includes application review and processing, research and analysis of planning issues, permit preparation, and conducting presentations at various public forums.  She has a thorough knowledge of codes and development standards, zoning and annexation laws, and site planning activities.  Colleda also serves on the Yakima Planning Commission.