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GTA is pleased to announce the promotion of five team members to Associate.
This advancement recognizes five dedicated professionals across GTA’s York, Pennsylvania; Sterling, Virginia; and Little Ferry, New Jersey offices, each of whom has spent years building expertise, leading teams, and earning the trust of GTA’s clients. Their promotions reflect the firm’s commitment to growing leadership from within, and they strengthen the depth of senior technical talent GTA brings to every project.
Together, these promotions reflect the long-term growth, mentorship, and technical depth that define GTA. By advancing professionals who have built their careers and client relationships within the firm, GTA continues to strengthen its position as a trusted source of industry-leading expertise and to ensure every client has access to some of the best experts in the field. GTA congratulates Eric, Tim, Doug, Michael, and Ben on this well-earned recognition!
Eric Alvarez, Associate
York, PA Office
Roadway and Oil and Gas Engineering
With 21 years at GTA, Eric Alvarez has built one of the most versatile careers in the firm, beginning in the York office in 2005 as a graduate of Shippensburg University and advancing from technician to leader. Today he leads two York groups: a roadway group focused on full depth reclamation (FDR) and cold-in-place recycling (CIR) and an oil and gas engineering group preparing reports for well pads and landslides. His earlier work building GTA’s oil and gas services in northern Pennsylvania helped establish the firm’s presence in Ohio and West Virginia, and he is now expanding GTA into solar, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and new oil and gas markets.
Tim Koppenhaver, PE, Associate
York, PA Office
Construction Observation and Materials Testing
Tim Koppenhaver graduated from Penn State University in 2004 with a degree in structural engineering and designed steel and concrete buildings before joining GTA in 2021. A Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) with extensive experience in complex steel inspections, Tim is also GTA’s only Registered Roof Observer (RRO) and is regularly consulted by other GTA offices for structural, roofing, and forensic engineering work throughout the region. Since taking leadership of York’s COT group in 2023, he has grown the team to 20 employees while continuing to manage the firm’s most complex and high-profile projects, bringing in both new clients and new services.
Michael Sirull, Associate
Little Ferry, NJ (NYC Metro) Office
Construction Observation and Materials Testing
With 20 years of experience in construction observation and testing, Michael Sirull leads business development, project management, proposals, contract execution, and day-to-day COT operations for commercial, institutional, and industrial projects across New Jersey and New York. His technical command covers shallow and deep foundations, controlled compacted fill, masonry and concrete observation, structural steel connections, cold formed steel, wood framing, retaining walls, and underground utilities, backed by certifications through the American Concrete Institute and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. He is currently managing several major developments, including a six-story, 137-unit apartment building in Essex County, New Jersey; a 14.5-acre mixed-use development in Middlesex County, New Jersey; and a four-story assisted living facility in Westchester County, New York.
Ben Madison, Associate
Sterling, VA Office
Environmental Services
Since joining GTA in 2011, Ben Madison has built a 15-year career defined by technical expertise, leadership, and trusted client relationships. A Licensed Remediation Specialist (LRS) in West Virginia and an ASTM Qualified Environmental Professional, Ben manages environmental due diligence and remediation projects throughout Virginia and West Virginia, including Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Transaction Screens, building renovation and decommissioning surveys, and remediation oversight involving petroleum products, solvents, PCBs, metals, pesticides, mold, asbestos, and lead-based paint. His project work spans agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, government and military, and telecommunications properties, with decision-making grounded in regulatory requirements, field conditions, and risk management. As a leader within the Sterling and Richmond environmental groups, Ben oversees project execution, staff development, workload coordination, and safety culture, contributing to GTA’s long-term growth and excellence in client service.
Doug Fernandez, PE, Associate
Little Ferry, NJ (NYC Metro) Office
Geotechnical Engineering
Since joining GTA in 2013 as an engineering technician, Doug Fernandez has become a driving force behind the growth of the firm’s NYC Metro office. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in New Jersey and New York. Doug oversees the day-to-day operations of the NYC Metro geotechnical department, from client development and proposals to subsurface exploration, analysis, and reporting. His technical work spans settlement and bearing capacity analysis, pile and underpinning design, liquefaction analysis, and support of excavation across retail, commercial, and residential projects throughout the New York metropolitan area. His ability to manage intricate projects and build trusted client partnerships has made him a vital asset to the firm.
GTA has 30 offices located throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, and Texas regions.
Headquarters: 3445-A Box Hill Corporate Center Drive, Abingdon, MD 21009
(410) 515-9446 www.gtaeng.com