
“When you’re part of a community, you have more of a vested interest in local development,” Rob Mann, LS (licensed land surveyor), Newport News resident and survey group leader at Timmons Group’s Oyster Point office, says. “I’m not going to work on this project and never see it again.”
J.K. Timmons started the firm with land surveying in 1953. His small practice won a big project: the Petersburg Turnpike, which became I-95. Originally based in Richmond, today the firm boasts 18 offices in eight states with 800 employees around the country.
Mark Richardson, principal in charge of the Virginia Beach, Elizabeth City and Newport News offices, has been with Timmons for eight years.
“I’ve known Rob since 2001 as we’ve worked together for a long time,” Richardson says of their time together at AES Consulting in Williamsburg and Chesapeake. “When the opportunity came for him to come to Timmons, I knew he lived in the target market where we were looking to expand.”
In March, Mann joined Timmons in Newport News. His career in land surveying began as a summer associate in Virginia Beach. Subsequently, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering technologies from Old Dominion University.
“I stuck with my land surveying career for 38 years,” Mann says. “I’m licensed in Virginia and North Carolina.”
Timmons, a multi-disciplined engineering and technology firm, already had a portfolio of work on the Peninsula from Williamsburg to the Southside.
“I’m coming in to the current Peninsula workload but also bringing projects and clients along,” Mann says, noting that Tech Center is one of its larger projects.
The local group works with the Discovery STEM Academy, has an on-call civil engineering contract at Christopher Newport University and provides consulting services for Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.
Dan Ruby, professional engineer, is the engineering group leader and senior project manager for Newport News and Virginia Beach. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from the University of Maryland – College Park and a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. With more than 20 years of experience, Ruby is responsible for managing land development and planning projects. His experience includes master planning and design development, as well as a broad range of experience, solving land development and construction issues.
“I look forward to being a part of a team that serves the Peninsula development community.” Ruby says. “We eagerly anticipate serving our current clients and developing new relationships as a local presence.” Currently, the local office is manned by six land surveying employees, three employees in engineering and one Virginia Tech engineering intern.
“We have offerings open for at least three positions and are steadily looking for talent,” Mann says.
The company’s primary local focus is commercial and residential development. It is also heavily involved in alternative energy solutions through extensive projects for Dominion Energy, including wind and solar.
“I am interested in teaching younger people the craft of land surveying,” Mann says. “One of my proudest achievements is working with the Department of Labor to establish two land surveying apprenticeship positions. Land surveying is more than a person standing on the roadside looking through equipment. There are a myriad of positions in the field and different technologies/innovations with potential for a six-figure income.”
Mann is also interested in land surveying innovations including aerial drones. “We’re planning to push that technology further than Timmons has previously,” Mann says.
Mann sits on the Design Review Committee of the Newport News Economic Development Authority and is second vice president of the Virginia Association of Surveyors. He is actively involved in the Christopher Newport University (CNU) area where he resides.
“I can’t tell you how much of an impact the development around CNU and all the changes along Warwick Boulevard have improved the quality of my family’s life,” he says. “I’m motivated to contribute to the work in Newport News. Knowing we’re going to experience it personally, we want it to reflect quality.”
Mann spent summers as a youth at Smith Mountain Lake. He enjoys vacationing in Nags Head, sailing, jet skiing and water skiing.
Timmons Group has been recognized for more than 25 years as one of Engineering News Record’s Top 500 U.S. design firms.
“We’re currently looking for opportunities to get involved with community service, a major focus of our firm as a whole,” Mann says. “Timmons compensates employees for an additional eight hours of annual leave for community involvement.
“Our dedication to responsive service and high quality deliverables will continue to be the hallmark of our business as we establish and grow the Newport News practice,” Ruby says.
TO THE POINT:
Timmons Group
Address: 11832 Rock Landing Rd., Ste. 306, Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: Office 757-782-3041
Website: www.timmons.com
Email: robert.mann@timmons.com
Email: dan.ruby@timmons.com
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