About Us

Civil Engineering Professionals

Our Beliefs

We are an extension of your services.

Whether you are a representative of a public agency or private developer, we are dedicated to principals focused on public safety, sound design with consideration of long-term maintenance costs, communication through listening, budget awareness, and disciplined to achieve schedules. CEP’s staff are our most valued resources and we invest in their long-term growth and development so our clients can reap the benefits of their knowledge and experience.

Company Certifications

CEP holds certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) with:
  • Wisconsin Department of Transportation
  • Dane County, WI
  • City of Madison, WI (Also as MBE)
  • City of Milwaukee, WI
  • Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (Also as MBE)
  • Illinois Department of Transportation
  • The City of Chicago
  • The Chicago Transit Authority
  • Metra
  • Pace

Company Experience

CEP staff have worked for a variety of federal, state, county, municipal, and private clients, providing multi-disciplined services. Some of those clients include:

  • USDA – Forest Service, Region 9
  • Wisconsin Department of Transportation
  • Wisconsin County Highway Departments
  • Municipal Department of Public Works
  • Villages and Towns
  • Private Developers

Our Team

Najim Heidari, PE
CEO/President

– Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1983

 Former owner and CEO of CORRE, Inc. for 11 years

– 2015 Secretary of Transportation Golden Shovel Award Winner for exemplary performance as a DBE consultant

 2017 Marketplace Awards by Governor presented to Najim Heidari for a Rising Star Minority-owned Business Development.

– 20 years of experience as a project engineer and project manager working on WisDOT design and construction projects including several high profile projects and local agencies’ rural and urban projects of various size and complexity

Bob Lex, PE
Project Manager

– Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 
University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1992

– 27 years project management experience with Wisconsin Department of Transportation

– Construction project manager providing construction oversite for numerous constructions projects of all types including interstate, freeway, expressways, rural STHs, bridge replacements/ rehabs, and urban reconstructs and rehabilitations, with both in-house and consultant staffs

– Negotiation and management of consultant contracts, budget, schedule, and staff

– Resolving contractor disputes, coordination with property and business owners, local municipalities, counties and other outside agencies

– Determination of contract change orders, evaluate and coordinate with FHWA on CRI’s and larger change orders

– Design project manager for numerous design projects of all types from complex freeway expansion and interstate reconstruction projects to single span bridge replacements and HSIP safety improvementsc

Ameer Khan Headshot

Ameer Khan
Asst. Construction Manager

– Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 
– Diploma in Construction Management 1987
University of Osmania –  Hyderabad, India 1986

– Structural Design in Bridges, Highways & Railroads, 
University of Wisconsin – Madison – 2007

26 years of Professional Civil Engineering experience with specialized capabilities in construction inspections of the Bridges, roadways, highways, railway tracks, local roads, and street construction.

– Acted in the capacity of Assistant Resident Engineer, Assistant Construction Manager, and Senior Construction Inspector on Illinois Tollway and Illinois DOT Construction Projects.

Duties include construction supervision, documentation of contract quantities, coordination with clients/contractor, observation of the work, progress meetings and pay estimates.

Clients include IDOT, ISTHA, CDOT, VILLAGE and various Counties.

Richard E. Cowsert, PE
Resident Engineer

– Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
Valparaiso University, 1992

– 25 years of experience managing transportation infrastructure construction projects for public agencies including the Chicago Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, and the Indiana Department of Transportation

– Senior Resident Engineer for the realignment of US 41 from Harbor Avenue to 79th Street at the former United States Steel brownfield site on Chicago’s far south side

– Senior Resident Engineer for the $124 M rebuilding and widening of I-294 from 75th Street to the I-55 Ramps for ISTHA

Art Johnston, PE
Senior Structural Engineer

– Bachelor of Science – Civil Engineering
Michigan Technological University, 1989, summa cum laude

– Over 27 years of structural design experience on roadway and federal lands structures including Timber bridges

– USDA Forest Service employee, Region 9 (eastern US) for 22 years

– Experienced in highway bridges, buildings, and dam design as well as inspection and evaluation

Matt Murphy
Senior Structural Manager

– Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
Chicago Technical College, 1977

– Wisconsin Department of Transportation, SW Region Structural Engineer for 20 years; responsible for 855 bridges and $2 million annual bridge rehabilitation program

– USDA Forest Service, Region 9 Transportation Program Manager and Bridge/Structures Program Manager for 5 years

– More than 25 structure design and inspection related certifications and training courses

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