Phil Taylor, Structural Design Engineer II
Phil is a Structural Design Engineer II based in the Denver office. Phil has worked for JVA for three years and previously worked as a journalist for an environmental trade publication based in Washington, D.C. After several years in the news business, Phil decided to return to school to follow his lifelong passion for structural design. Phil developed an appreciation for structural engineering at a young age after visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral during a family trip to London.
Phil joined JVA as an intern in summer 2018 and quickly fell in love with the company’s culture. His favorite thing about JVA is the friendliness and professionalism of its staff. In addition, Phil enjoys participating in JVA’s cultural events, including its annual company ski day and rafting trip down the Colorado River. JVA is full of talented, hard-working, and thoughtful people, and Phil is honored to be part of the team. One of his favorite assignments at JVA is advising clients on the installation of rooftop and ground-mounted solar panels. Phil enjoys helping clients find solutions to transition to more sustainable energy.
Outside of work, Phil enjoys xeriscaping and gardening in his backyard in northwest Denver. A native Hoosier, Phil moved to Colorado with his wife in 2013 to be closer to the mountains. He enjoys backpacking Colorado’s wilderness areas, climbing and whitewater kayaking.
Kelsey Traxinger, Environmental Project Engineer
Kelsey Traxinger is an Environmental Project Engineer in our Denver office. She’s been at JVA for four years and has five years in the industry. Kelsey decided to become a civil engineer because she’s always loved math and science but also wanted a career where she felt like she was helping people. “I felt that if I could provide clean water to communities then I was doing my part to help out where I could,” she said.
One project Kelsey is really proud of is the pump station, pipeline, and water treatment plant improvements for Mt. Crested Butte. “It’s a project that has a little bit of everything and is located in one of the most beautiful places in the State! It’s been really fun to ski Crested Butte with my friends and be able to point out the water plant project that I was a part of from the slopes!”
Kelsey says it’s evident how much JVA cares about their employees. She considers many of her coworkers some of her close friends and knows that has been possible through the continued community that the company promotes. JVA challenges her which allows her to grow as an engineer and everyone is an amazing resource and always willing to help. Kelsey also thinks the cultural events are fun to attend and it feels good to be part of a company that cares just as much about having a good time with your coworkers as they do about the quality and quantity of work that’s getting done.
When she’s not at work, Kelsey enjoys doing anything outside. In the winter, she skis almost every weekend. In the summer she enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and sometimes climbing. She likes to take her pup on walks and enjoys time spent with friends at a brewery or staying in and playing board games and cards. Something people might not know about Kelsey is that she went on a solo backpacking trip for a week around Catalina Island in California. It was such an amazing and life changing experience that she will cherish forever.
Robin Kriss, Civil Project Manager
Robin Kriss is a Civil Project Manager and Regional Civil Engineering Manager in our Denver Office. She’s been at JVA for 15 years and in the industry for 17 years. Robin enjoys civil engineering because it’s a perfect blend of everything that “enchanted her in college and continues to fascinate her today” including math, science, creativity, and to some extent, sociology. Robin enjoys her fun and down to earth coworkers.
Robin’s favorite project at JVA was a site maintenance project at a High School in Douglas County. She was an engineer on the original construction in 2002 and is proud to report that her design is enduring the test of time. Robin believes that every project we finish will be something to be proud of for years and years. JVA’s civil engineering work is valuable and enduring.
Robin enjoys how JVA works with each staff member as individuals. She believes the officers truly care about our work-life balance and takes measures to support it. In her free time, Robin loves to sing and belongs to a community choir. Her favorite local lunch spot is Blue Agave Grill in Denver – it’s nearby and the seafood tacos are delicious. Robin loves everything about Denver – it’s vibrant, energetic, inclusive, full of culture, the arts, and world class museums.
