Our Team – DB Engineering

Who We Are

We are innovators, catalysts, essential partners for success.

Our partners value us because we not only help them navigate change, we’re constantly evolving ourselves. Two decades ago, we were a dedicated mechanical engineering firm serving one of the world’s largest companies. Our commitment to ever-better solutions for our clients has allowed us to leverage that mechanical engineering foundation with emerging, data-driven breakthroughs, becoming a solution maker across engineering disciplines and industries.

We are pioneering what the engineering industry will embrace in time: a disruptor of traditional categories, a partner with some of the world’s most powerful companies, helping not just revolutionize the built environment, but the use of data, the Internet of Things and the speed of change itself.

ABIGAIL GARCIA

Bookkeeper

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Abigail Garcia

Bookkeeper

I’m the bookkeeper at DB, which is something like being the “Alexa” of the team: any question people might have, I will likely have an answer. I enjoy working with a fast-growing, innovative company that recognizes how employees’ wellbeing and mental health contribute to efficiency. I’ve travelled to five countries and plan to see the rest. In the meantime, I love time at home with my dog, Dante.

ART SMITH

Vice President – Smart Building Services

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Art Smith

Vice President – Smart Building Services

As vice president at DB, I bring a “system thinking” approach to problem solving. I try to think about all of the reasons why things are the way they are and apply solutions that address the complete system, not just one part of it. I’ve helped our team merge engineering disciplines and work experiences to solve big problems. Heterogeneity. Something new every day. I love working with the many talented people we’ve attracted to continue to evolve our client partnerships. Outside of work, I love to golf, play tennis, sail, and walk on warm, sandy ocean beaches. I’m also Canadian.

Douglas Blome

President

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Douglas Blome

President

As President of DB, it’s my job to earn the trust of our clients so that we can provide the solutions they value. I bring a complete understanding of mechanical, electrical, IT, AV, lighting, and other systems used in commercial office buildings. I help clients make sure their mechanical infrastructure meets standards and guidelines, and I work with the facilities team to get infrastructure data collected and analyzed for optimal system performance. At DB, we drive change through this continuous feedback loop of using data analytics to recommend design improvements on future projects. I enjoy playing golf, traveling, and carry a private pilot’s license.

Chris Quill

Senior Consultant – Lab Services

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Norm Kirby

Vice President

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Norm Kirby

Vice President

As VP and a mechanical engineer, I manage HVAC and plumbing engineering solutions to client challenges such as existing building design, energy efficiency, and equipment lifecycle. DB integrates directly with building operators, sustainability teams, and developer teams to provide better awareness of their needs for new construction and major TI projects. We combine data analysis and engineering expertise with younger engineer training to create cost-effective customer solutions and energy savings. Outside of work, I enjoy home building projects, especially the challenge of designing details and making projects come to life. I also like motorcycle riding and golf. As a youth, I was a naïve jock, but as I became aware of the environmental impact of society’s enormous energy appetite, I dedicated myself to learning what we need to do to build a brighter future.

Brendan Bryant

Engineering Analyst

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Brendan Bryant

Engineering Analyst

As an engineering analyst at DB, I manage energy smart building (ESB) deployment on the Microsoft campus. My team and I make sure Microsoft operates buildings as efficiently and comfortably as possible using data. I’m excited about doing my part to reduce climate change and helping big companies meet their climate goals. I’m a good listener and that helps me understand client needs. I’m a fan of Liverpool Football Club and enjoy woodworking. I’m also a survivor of cancer and can tell you: the DB team is there for each other.

Claire Stirdivant

Mechanical Engineer

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Claire Stirdivant

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineering analyst, I work with teams at Google to create dynamic visual tools that help make the most of their building data. My favorite part about working at DB is closely collaborating with our clients to meet their energy and sustainability goals; it is a hands-on approach where we dive in and learn together. Outside of work, you can find me skiing, hiking, cheering on the Colorado Avalanche, and hopefully one day fulfilling my number-one bucket list item: cage diving with sharks!

Hunter Hamilton

Commissioning Engineer

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Hunter Hamilton

Commissioning Engineer

As a commissioning engineer at DB, I divide my time between analysis of physical operations through commissioning and analysis of data. My current client partners include Google and Walmart. We’re leveraging data together to analyze and create informed design decisions. I love focusing on responsible energy usage and having the opportunity to simplify tasks so that we work as quickly and efficiently as possible. When I’m not working with our team, you’ll find me on the mountain, mountain biking or skiing.

Gareth Henderson

Mechanical Engineer

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Gareth Henderson

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer at DB, I create and optimize plans to proactively monitor and resolve alarms as well as offline data for our federal team. The size and complexity of the system requires a lot of creativity and cooperation, and DB isn’t limited to one strategy. We have a wide variety of skills and tools solve challenging problems. Pushing the limits is not just encouraged, it’s required. For me, it’s rewarding when the result is a more reliable and efficient system. I enjoy absorbing information from my peers and learning new things. I also enjoy rugby, traveling with my wife, playing Xbox with my friends, and listening to Taylor Swift. You got that right: I’m her biggest fan.

Zach Dinger

Mechanical Engineer

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Zach Dinger

Mechanical Engineer

I have a passion for mechanical things. As a mechanical engineer at DB, I create energy smart building dashboards and PowerBI reports to optimize building energy use and operation. I love getting to know a new project and diving into drawings and schedules to understand how the building operates. Being a part of a project from beginning to end is a great feeling. When I’m not at work I’m in my garage wrenching on a project, in the mountains skiing, or out fishing in the Puget Sound. One time I caught a shark!

Ivan Zhao

Commissioning Engineer

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Ivan Zhao

Commissioning Engineer

As a commissioning engineer at DB, I support and assist DB managers and teams at Google with commissioning, lab services, and decarbonization needs. DB gives me the opportunity to work on a number of diverse projects and helps me to grow in multiple industries. Outside of work, I tend to spend most of my time hiking, biking, traveling, and doing automotive repairs.

Jacob So

Senior Mechanical Engineer

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Jacob So

Senior Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer at DB, I provide programming support on Microsoft projects, including identifying limitations of existing mechanical systems and providing cost-effective solutions for customer consideration. My team and I work with teams at Microsoft and CBRE to develop mechanical recommendations so that they can make the best possible decisions. Detailed system design and installation experience helps us identify potential problems in advance. I also enjoy hiking, skiing and music.

Jane Dickson

Engineering Analyst

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Jane Dickson

Engineering Analyst

As an engineering analyst at DB, I help build data infrastructure and pipelines to ensure data flows from device to storage, where it can be accessed and utilized to build insightful visualizations. Data is an extremely powerful source of insights that drive decision-making, and that’s what makes me so passionate about it. With rapidly growing and evolving technology, we are now able to collect IoT data in real-time and leverage it to find opportunities to make buildings more energy efficient. I’m an enthusiastic traveler and enjoy bike riding, hiking, camping, nature and architecture photography. If I’m not on a trail, you’ll most likely find me editing pictures, playing guitar or eating poke.

Jeremy Richmond

Director of Business Development

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Jeremy Richmond

Director of Business Development

As Director of Business Development, I pursue solutions for clients to solve their pains, the DB way. That means using the best new technology to advance proven engineering principles. We’re not satisfied with the status quo. I’m able to put myself in the client’s shoes and guide them in their choices in a way they find valuable. I enjoy life, both fast and slow. I worked in a stock car pit crew, I skydive, and I also love time with my family camping, hiking, biking, and scout trips.

Nick Lima

Engineering Analyst

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Nick Lima

Engineering Analyst

At DB, we drive change through dedicated and curious employees constantly looking to improve themselves. As an engineering analytics consultant, I connect the hardware side of HVAC to the software side by studying smart building systems through data science and engineering analysis. I love finding patterns in things and discovering how things work, which allows me to approach a wide variety of problems and find answers to the problems I cannot solve. I really enjoy playing music, driving fast cars, and bouldering — but not all at the same time.

Kristina Sing

Director of Engineering

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Kristina Sing

Director of Engineering

As Director of Engineering at DB, I provide context to the data. Through my 25+ years of experience troubleshooting existing HVAC systems, I know what goes wrong, what to look for and how to fix it. DB leverages data to define actionable steps to solve our clients’ problems and create systems that allow our clients to be self-sufficient. There’s a huge gap between the design and construction of buildings and building operations. A sustainable design requires sustainable operations. Facility engineers often lack time, resources, and systems knowledge to effectively and efficiently operate their buildings. DB helps them leverage their own data to be proactive to increase efficiency and improve occupant comfort. I love to coach, guide and mentor our people to help them find their passion and grow both in their personal and professional lives. Away from work, I like to plant flowers in my garden, hike, and go trail running. Fun fact, I’ve even run on the Great Wall.

Rebecca Cottrell

Engineering Analyst

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Rebecca Cottrell

Engineering Analyst

I’m an engineering analyst at DB. I analyze large-scale data sets to find energy savings opportunities across thousands of buildings. I also provide guidance from a business perspective to developers. I love to learn. Being able to work with large sets of data gives me insight into systems and potential complications with them. My ability to pick up on how pieces of the process function together generates value across multiple layers of the application development process. I love the outdoors, including hiking, camping, and dirt biking. Right now, I’m learning the drums.

Max Harshman

Vice President – Operations

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Max Harshman

Vice President – Operations

My role as vice president of operations is to build strong DB Engineering teams and processes to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. We believe every opportunity is a chance to improve the way we do things. We are always asking ourselves, “can we do better?” With emerging technologies, we believe we are changing the way buildings are operated by empowering people to make informed decisions. When I am not working, I like to relax by spending time with family and friends, golfing and listening to music.

Emily Bergman

Mechanical Engineer

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Emily Bergman

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer at DB, I’m focused on working with client teams at the Pentagon to drive data infrastructure and visibility improvements. My favorite parts about working at DB are the strong team environment and our tenacity for exceeding goals. When I’m not at the office you can find me hiking, kayaking or running. I love spending as much time outside as possible!

Shamber Goldstein

Engineering Analyst

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Shamber Goldstein

Engineering Analyst

As an engineering analyst, I help identify ways to improve equipment and data quality at Walmart, the largest retailer in the world. I love exploring data, solving problems, and making improvements. DB is the place to do it, because we deeply value working together and working hard until the client is completely satisfied. When I’m not with my team, I love spending time in the sun, camping and going out on the water with my family and dog. I’m also a classically trained ballet dancer! In years past you may have seen me perform in the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker.

Shane Spencer

Software Engineer

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Shane Spencer

Software Engineer

I’m a software engineer at DB Engineering. That means I live in that place between concept and final product; assisting our team in creating a vision that meets client needs. My specialty is building tools to analyze big data, conducting analysis, then deriving the map that connects the dots. I like to move fast, whether it’s by skateboard, surfboard, snowboard, gym, go-kart, or cars. I also love graphs, music, art, poetry, memes, and pretty lights.

Sheridan Allen

Senior Engineering Analyst

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Sheridan Allen

Senior Engineering Analyst

I’m an engineering analyst, and I often say: “we’re saving the world one kilowatt hour at a time.” We solve new problems in new ways every day. We share a passion with our clients for pushing boundaries. We work within their environments and their data as partners for better solutions. DB Engineering is on the leading edge of change, and in some cases, pulling the industry with us to new heights. I encourage my team to be creative, share goals, and consider all ramifications of a decision. I’m also a highly committed fantasy football commissioner, over-engineering league statistics and demonstrating the bad beats Blake Bortles delivered me in the league championship. I’m also a founding member of Hike-and-Hops, earning that IPA on a snowcapped vista overlooking the North Cascades.

Steve Ng

Engineering Analyst

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Steve Ng

Engineering Analyst

I’m an engineering analyst at DB, working on clever ways to solve data and data connectivity problems with the Department of Defense. I like working in a company that understands how to use data to drive change and help clients do better. I also enjoy home improvement, being a dog daddy, and ultimate frisbee. I was recently a national champion in ultimate.

Taylor Prince

Mechanical Engineer

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Taylor Prince

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer at DB, my job is big data analysis and engineering with Microsoft/CBRE commercial buildings. DB fills a niche that combines both IT/OT through big data analysis, engineering principles, and practices. I love to physically work on things and problem solve. On my own time, I relax by pushing myself physically. I’ve totaled 1,340 lb lifted, between squat, bench, and deadlifts at the 198 lb weight class. I also enjoy motorsports, skiing and snowboarding.

Tom Skoczylas

Mechanical Engineer

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Tom Skoczylas

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer at DB, I support and assist the teams at Google with bringing new smart buildings online, improving data connectivity, and reducing energy use of existing systems to shrink their carbon footprint. Working at DB means we are reducing energy consumption in buildings, thereby saving the Earth, which is pretty cool. Outside of work, I tend to spend most of my time with my two pet rabbits, hiking, going to the gym, bouldering, and finishing up my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the UW.

Tom Williams

Engineering Analyst

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Tom Williams

Engineering Analyst

As an engineering analyst, I help clients organize, understand, and leverage their data. From there, we work together to make meaningful changes that help them save money, operate more efficiently, and improve comfort within their buildings. Our tools make our clients jobs easier and allow them to focus more on big picture items, like reducing their environmental impact. What drives me is curiosity and a desire to keep growing my skillset. I like to deep-dive client challenges and figure out powerful solutions. When I’m not partnering with clients, I’m often at Marymoor Park with my two dogs, Mickey and Pepper.

Travis Welch

Software Engineer

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Travis Welch

Software Engineer

As a software engineer at DB, I work to improve data architecture by writing software to automate data transformation and maintain cloud infrastructure. My goal is to build a framework where analysts don’t ever have to touch raw data or think about where it’s coming from, so they can focus 100% on what they do best: deriving insights. I also climb rocks, backpack through Washington’s public lands and fish its many streams, sometimes all at the same time.

Trevor Sodorff

Director of Engineering Analytics

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Trevor Sodorff

Director of Engineering Analytics

As director of engineering analytics at DB, I help drive the company’s technical capabilities for getting and using data. Access to data and understanding how to use it enables us to help improve the entire industry beyond traditional engineering alone. I want to upend our industry, and free people from mundane tasks that machines can and should be taught to do for us. Given a whiteboard, I can explain almost anything to anyone, and you won’t see a whiteboard in our office without one of my schematics or diagrams on it. I enjoy skiing, writing and producing music, and I like burritos. A lot.

Yang Yue

Engineering Analyst

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Yang Yue

Engineering Analyst

As an engineering analyst at DB, I help evaluate and troubleshoot the performance of clients’ IoT systems. I also help product owners coordinate team effort for a smooth project rollout. Our entire team has an excellent understanding of both building systems and data. We use data to provide a more efficient and insightful view towards the building’s systems. I enjoy big projects, like working with Walmart, that offer great opportunities to understand a full stack of a data and communicate with teams with different backgrounds and roles: hardware, software, data engineers, site technicians, and project managers. It inspires me when I see how different people think about the same project. Away from work, I enjoy tennis, karaoke, and cooking.