From our employees to serving clients and our community, we put people first.

Michael Case, PLS

Associate | Charlotte Survey Department Manager

Michael has extensive knowledge and over 45 years of experience in various areas of land surveying services. His areas of practice include transportation, environmental, residential land development, water/waste water resources, and telecommunications.

His responsibilities include project management, budgetary control, and overall QA/QC for a variety of boundary, topographic, construction, control, and GPS survey projects for private, public, and federal clients. His expertise also encompasses planning studies, mapping, and construction layout as well as review of numerous large and complex public, municipal, land development, commercial, and industrial projects.

Michael holds an AAS in Civil Engineering from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and is a member of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors.

Michelle Suverkrubbe, AICP

Associate | Senior Planner

Michelle has over 30 years of local government and consulting experience managing and preparing feasibility studies, land use plans, multi-modal plans, environmental plans, and EIS/EA/CE documents under NEPA/SEPA for DOT transportation projects, as well as many other types of public and private projects.

She is certified in conflict resolution and is experienced with leading public involvement programs including agency and local officials’ meetings, facilitating public meetings, and generating project newsletters and website text.

Michelle holds a BS in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University and has earned certification granted by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Mike Tackett, PLS

Wilmington Survey Department Manager

Mike has over 29 years of experience in the land surveying and engineering field. He is extremely knowledgeable and proficient in using conventional and GPS equipment as well as providing GIS deliverables to government and municipal clients. His extensive knowledge in land surveying stretches from wetlands, boundary, topographic, control, and construction staking to ALTA/ACSM surveys.

Mike manages the Wilmington survey department where his responsibilities include coordination and oversight of field crews, easement surveys, boundary surveys, construction staking calculations, deed research, producing maps for permitting and recordation, and client relations.

Mike studied Geodetic Survey at the Defense Mapping School for the US Army at Ft. Bragg, NC. Upon exiting the Army, he began further pursuing his career by performing various surveying tasks for municipal, private, commercial, and industrial clients. Mike has earned his Professional Land Surveying certification.

Mike Taylor, PE, LEED AP

Roadway Department Manager

Mike is a civil engineering professional with over 22 years of experience in the North Carolina market. His experience in leading and designing public and private transportation projects includes design-build, interstate, roadway widening, intersection upgrades, multi-use paths, cycle tracks, protected bike lanes, and streetscape design.

He specializes in project management, technical design aspects, client support, complete bid packages, and LAPP project delivery. He also has experience with project design, scheduling, permitting, project estimating, QA/QC, bidding/contractor selection, constructability review, and construction support. Additionally, he has developed excellent working relationships with the NCDOT, USFWS, NCDEQ, and local governments.

Mike holds a BS of Civil Engineering (BCE), Construction Management from North Carolina State University and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Monique Colberg

Associate Planner

Monique offers exceptional planning experience and has provided technical support and policy guidance to transportation-related clients including state departments of transportation, municipal governments, and regional planning organizations.

Monique holds a master’s degree in Religion, and bachelor’s degrees in both Biochemistry and Religion from Florida State University.

Nick Ellis, CMA

President

As President Nick leads financial and operational strategy and performance across all practice areas within the organization, in close collaboration with Steve Thomas – SVP/Chief Operating Officer and Rick Edwards – SVP/Chief Financial Officer.  Nick  develops, implements, and executes short and long term actionable strategies to improve operations, develop markets, grow revenue, improve profitability, and improve relevant key performance indicators while supporting the culture of the firm.

Nick previously served as the Raleigh/Durham Managing Director of Savills, a 160-year-old leading commercial real estate service firm. An expert in his field for over 25 years, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge in local and national market research, financial forecasting and modeling, commercial real estate transaction management, and lease negotiations.

Prior to joining Savills in 2016, Nick was employed by Kimley-Horn and Associates for 21 years where he served in various capacities. During his tenure, the firm experienced significant growth in geographic and market expansion. Nick served as a principal and senior vice president for 15 years, 13 of which he was Chief Financial Officer and treasurer.

Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UNC Chapel Hill. In addition, he is a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Broker and a Certified Management Accountant.

Paul R. Newton

Board of Advisors

Paul currently serves as a Republican Senator in District 36 of North Carolina. Previously, Paul spent over 26 years at Duke Energy where he served in a variety of roles. He retired as President of Duke Energy’s Utility Operations in North Carolina, serving approximately 3.2 million electric retail customers.

Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the North Carolina Chamber and is a member of its foundation board. He is also a member of the CEO Advisory Council for the N.C. Center for Nonprofits and has served on many other boards in the past.

In addition, Paul is a member of the state bars of the District of Columbia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Mexico. Paul and his wife, Melanie, have been married 29 years and have three daughters and a son.

Peng Zhu, PhD, PE, PTOE

Traffic Practice Director

Peng brings over 15 years of experience working closely with state, county, municipal agencies and metropolitan planning organizations on a variety of transportation initiatives. He has expertise in traffic operations analysis, such as intersection, corridor and network analyses, traffic impact studies, and safety studies.  His simulation modeling experience ranges from traffic to transit, from freeways to arterials, and from corridors to grid networks. He has also completed numerous planning projects, including ITS master plans, growth management studies, corridor and network analyses, traffic forecasts, concept developments, interchange access documents, multimodal Level of Service analyses, mobility performance measures, and big data analyses.

Peng has also participated in various traffic engineering, general planning, congestion management, and transit program enhancements throughout south Florida. With proven working relationship with state DOT’s and local municipal clients, Peng will be integral in growing our client satisfaction throughout our various markets.

Peng is a registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Texas and Minnesota. He has also recently obtained his Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) lincensure. Peng holds a Ph. D in Transportation Engineering from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering from Southeast University in China.

Rajit Ramkumar, PE, LEED AP

VP | Transportation, Planning, + Environmental Director

Rajit has 15 years of transportation planning and engineering experience and has managed more than 100 projects of varying complexity for clients statewide. He is proficient in state and federal policies and procedures and has completed numerous projects involving Complete Streets, multimodal design, streetscapes, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements utilizing AASHTO and NACTO guidelines.

Additionally, Rajit’s expertise spans greenway facilities, feasibility studies, SEPA/NEPA, urban planning, environmental screening, permitting, parking, traffic noise analysis, and grant assistance. A proven project engineer, he leads multi-disciplinary teams with a focus on planning, collaboration, and engaging project stakeholders effectively.

Rajit holds a MS in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Technology Civil Engineering from the University of Kerala. He also holds a NCDOT Complete Streets Certification.

Randy McKinney, PE, CPM

Asheville Practice Leader

Randy contributes an impressive 30-year transportation infrastructure history and talent to the existing strength and vision of the SEPI leadership team, most recently serving as NCDOT Division 13 Construction Engineer.

Randy knows what it takes to build successful teams and deliver quality infrastructure projects from conception through final design and construction. His wide range of project experience includes utilities, roadways, bridges, greenways, ADA compliance projects and traffic management projects.

Randy is a North Carolina registered Professional Engineer and Certified Public Manager and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Rick Edwards, CGMA

SVP | Chief Financial Officer

Rick has over 35 years of financial and management experience. His areas of expertise include processes and procedures, compliance, managing core financial activities, and implementing accounting best practices. He is also knowledgeable about mergers and acquisitions, equity raising, IPO & SEC, and e-commerce.

Before joining SEPI, Rick served as CFO for Trust Atlantic Bank, as well as other well-known local financial institutions including over 12 years at Bank of America and 10 years with Ernest & Young.

Rick holds a BS in Accountancy from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and passed the CPA exam. He is a member of the AICPA and Board of Directors-Beacon Title Agency. Rick also served on the Board of Directors/Chair Audit Committee-Hemagen Diagnostics, Inc. from 2003-2009.

Rob McFee, PE

SC Lowcountry Practice Leader

Rob brings over 30 years of experience in administration and management of transportation and public works infrastructure projects. He is responsible for growing our practice across all services within the South Carolina Lowcountry markets.

Rob began his career with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) as a construction inspector in Dorchester County and also served as Project Coordinator in the Charleston Bridge Construction Office where he was responsible for construction coordination on major projects including the SC 30 James Island Expressway, the I-526 Don N. Holt Bridge, the SC 517 Isle of Palms Connector Bridge, and the I-526 James B. Edwards Bridge. He was promoted to Resident Engineer for Beaufort Maintenance in 1994 and served as Resident Construction Engineer for Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper Counties beginning in 1999.

In 2008 he took a position with Beaufort County as Director of Public Services where he supervised all operations of Public Works including engineering, disaster recovery, airports, solid waste, facilities, storm water utility and the County’s One Cent Transportation Referendum Program for one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Rob was later promoted to Division Director of Engineering, Construction and Facilities serving on a dynamic executive management team responsible for strategic planning and programming for the County and Lowcountry area.

Rob is a licensed Professional Engineer in South Carolina and has served as chairman on numerous Boards and Committees including Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association, Beaufort Jasper Utility Committee, Technical Advisory Committee for the Technical College of the Lowcountry, Lowcountry Council of Governments Technical Advisory Committee, and Fallen Officers Memorial Beaufort County.

Rob is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and he also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management.

Roman Cook, EI

Civil Analyst

bio coming soon

Scott Allen, PE

Associate | Construction Services Manager

Scott has over 32 years of experience in transportation construction management including maintenance operations. He has construction management oversight experience with large signature transportation projects, as well as smaller scale projects, and is very familiar with the NCDOT’s Standard Specifications and Roadway Standard Drawings, and he is experienced in contract administration.

Prior to joining SEPI, Scott was employed by the NCDOT where he served as Division Construction Engineer in Division 10 for over three years. He also spent over 10 years in Division 10 as a Resident Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, and County Maintenance Engineer. He also spent 14 years in the NCDOT Central Construction Unit as the Roadway Construction Engineer for Divisions 10 and 12.

Scott holds a BS in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Sepi Saidi, PE

Chief Executive Officer

Sepi is a visionary leader who founded SEPI in 2001 and has led the company to become a premier multi-disciplinary firm focused on exploring complex challenges for today’s built environment.

Prior to forming SEPI, she spent over 16 years in the field of transportation engineering design and management. Her current daily responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s projects across the Southeast, financial and administrative management, business development, and inspiring/motivating staff.

Sepi is passionate about giving back to the community and is currently serving, or has served, on the following:

FMI – Board of Directors
Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority – Board of Directors Secretary
NC Chamber of Commerce – Executive Board 1st Vice Chair
North Carolina State Banking Commission – Board Member appointed by Governor Cooper, 2017
Dogwood State Bank – Board of Directors
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond – Charlotte Board of Directors
Duke Raleigh Hospital – Past Board Chair 2018-2020
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce – Past Board Chair 2009-2010

Her recent professional awards include:
Business Person of the Year, Triangle Business Journal – 2018
North Carolina Business Hall of Fame Laureate, Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas – 2016
Outstanding Alumni Award, NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) – 2016
Top 20 CEOs of the Year, Triangle Business Journal – 2015

Sepi holds a BS in Civil Engineering and a BS in Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University and is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Stephen Rigo, EI

Land Development Civil Analyst

Stephen’s role and experience as a Land Development Civil Analyst includes utilizing AutoCAD for drafting and performing engineering calculations. He also assists professional engineers with additional engineering work on various tasks and projects.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Mathematics minor from Florida Gulf Coast University.