Expert Profile
Dr. ***** is an accomplished, hands-on, result-oriented civil/environmental engineer with over 20 years of experience managing complex engineering and environmental programs and projects serving customers in private sector, public sector, Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE). She is a visionary leader and strategic thinker with demonstrated record to identify and develop new business; manage and maintain clients; and trend and analyze market opportunities. Dr. ***** is an experienced people manager with skills/insight to identify and develop key talents and lead multidisciplinary teams and organizations. She has a demonstrated record of implementing state-of-the-art technologies customized to meet clients’ requirements. Dr. ***** is a team player and has a demonstrated record of working successfully with multiple stakeholders and accomplishing the organization goals by promoting teamwork, creating open lines of communications and establishing trust. She has demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills in delivering formal and informal presentations to customers, regulatory agencies, and multiple levels of corporate management, peers and subordinates. She has authored and supervised preparation of numerous technical papers and reports.
Dr. ***** earned her doctoral degree at University of California at Davis in 1987. Her doctoral dissertation, “The Laboratory and Numerical Study of Mud and Debris Flow” resulted in development of fluid mechanic theories defining the unique properties of fluid mud and transport mechanisms governing its movement. The project was funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Northwest Division. The results of her thesis were used in design of a retention dam built on Snake River (a tributary of Columbia River) to contain the mud and debris flow that would be resulted from potential volcanic eruptions at Mt. Saint Helen. Since then the theories developed during her dissertation have formed the basis of numerous studies around the world especially in countries such as Japan and China where volcanic eruptions and mudslides frequently take place.
Since 1980 while employed at Bechtel Corporation and beyond, Dr. ***** has worked on numerous significant environmental and infrastructure projects for public and private sector customers. Her projects have included some of the most significant sites for DOD and DOE including National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Waste Vitrification Facility (WVF) at Hanford Washington. NIF is a key component of National Nuclear Safety Administration whose mission is the safety, reliability and effectiveness of the nations’ stockpile without underground nuclear testing. WVF handles the vitrification and processing of high and low level nuclear wastes currently stored in various waste depositories around the nation. Another significant environmental program includes the environmental restoration at the former McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California which required assessment and remediation of significant environmental contaminations (including solvents, heavy metals and radiological isotopes) resulting from the Base maintenance mission from 1950s until its closure in 1995.
Dr. Vida ***** founded ***** Group, ***** (Veidico) , a small woman-owned business in 2007. ***** is specialized in Program Management, Environmental Services and Water Resources Engineering. ***** ’s mission is to provide environmentally sustainable and economically feasible engineering solutions for water resources and environmental challenges facing public and private sector customers. Clients include major engineering and construction firms. Currently, ***** is involved in two major projects including the CALFED Levee Stability Program for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District and North of the Delta Offsite Storage Feasibility Study for US Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region.
PRINCIPAL
***** GROUP, ***** 2007 – Present
Principal and founder of ***** Group, *****, a small woman-owned business specialized in Program Management, Environmental Services and Water Resources Engineering. *****’s mission is to provide environmentally sustainable and economically feasible engineering solutions for water resources and environmental challenges facing public and private sector customers. Clients include major engineering and construction firms. Currently, ***** is involved in two major projects including the CALFED Levee Stability Program for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District and North of the Delta Offsite Storage Feasibility Study for US Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
ERM 2004 – 2007
Program Director and co-leader for development of federal sector market for ERM at a global level. She successfully developed several proposals for Department of Defense clients including Army, Navy and Air National Guard. Provided senior technical review and oversight for environmental engineering and restoration projects.
MANAGER OF PROJECTS
JACOBS 1993 – 2004
As a senior manager, Dr. ***** managed multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental projects and teams at various DOE and DOD sites. She served as Engineering Services Manager at LANL and Manager of Projects at LLNL and Hanford Reservation. Dr. ***** was a member of the management team for start-up activities of National Ignition Facility at LLNL and Waste Vitrification Facility at Hanford. She served as Program Manager and Technical Manager for projects at McClellan Air Force Base, Castle Air Force Base, Travis Air Force Base and several Army sites. Dr. ***** managed a staff size ranging from 15 to more than 85. She was a key contributor and presenter for several major DOD and DOE proposals and procurements.
PROGRAM MANAGER
METCALF & EDDY, ***** 1991 – 1993
As the Program Manager for Western Region, she managed the cleanup of several superfund sites for the State of California and maintenance and operation of two major treatment facilities at McClellan Air Force Base. Dr. ***** participated as an initiator, contributor and presenter in various private and public sector business development efforts.
MANAGING PRINCIPAL-IN-CHARGE
DAMES & MOORE *****
As the Managing Principal-in Charge of the Sacramento office, she managed a multi-disciplinary office of 75 engineers, scientists and administrative professionals. Developed and grew the environmental engineering group from 3 to 18 with revenue of more than $2 millions in less than two years. Dr. ***** also managed several major projects for clients who included developers, law firms, Shell Oil, Beazer Mining Corporation and Bonzi Landfill. She participated as an initiator, contributor and presenter in various business development efforts.
ENGINEERING/PROJECT MANAGER
HARDING LAWSON ASSOCIATES *****
Dr. ***** managed several complex engineering projects for clients who included developers, law firms, Univar, Southern Pacific and Port of Oakland. She participated as an initiator, contributor and presenter in various business development efforts.
SENIOR ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
URS CORPORATION 1987 – 1989
As a senior engineer, she contributed and performed as task manager for several major projects for clients who included insurance companies, law firms, Lockheed Martin, Micro Systems and County of San Bernardino.
RESEARCH ENGINEER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA *****
While working on her doctoral degree at UC Davis, Dr. ***** also worked as a Research Engineer on several major research projects funded by National Science Foundation and her doctoral dissertation which was funded by US Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Northwest Division. She also instructed upper level and graduate courses in Hydraulic Engineering at UC Davis and Sacramento State University.
SENIOR ENGINEER
BECHTEL CORPORATION *****
As a senior engineer, she contributed to several major and complex projects for clients who included US Borax, Pacific Power and Light Company, Montana Power Company, ARCO and Governments of Chile, New Zealand and Brunie. Example projects include:
• Mining projects included Quartz Hill in Alaska, Ok Tedi in New Guinea and El Teniente in Chile.
• Nuclear power plant projects included Hope Creek in New Jersey, Arizona Power Plant, Limerick Nuclear Power Plant and Susquehanna in Maryland.
• Hydroelectric projects included Swift Dam in Washington, Priest Rapid Expansion in Washington and Colbun Chiborgo in Chile.
• Gasification projects included Colstrip in Montana and New Zealand Gas.
• Oil exploration projects included Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.
• Community development projects included building an entire community for Sultan of Brunie.
EDUCATION & REGISTRATIONS
Ph.D., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis
M.Sc., Civil/Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing
B.Sc., Irrigation Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran
Professional Engineer, California (# C*****)
Professional Engineer, New Mexico (# *****)
AFFILIATIONS:
Society of American Military Engineers:
Southwest Region Vice President (*****)
Member of the Executive Committee (*****)
Invested as SAME Fellow in May 2009
Society of American Military Engineers, Sacramento Post:
Director and Membership Chair (*****)
First Vice President and Membership Chair (*****)
Disaster Service Worker Volunteer, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (*****).
SPECIAL TRAINING
USGBC – LEED professional training
Management & Leadership Trainer
Covey Leadership and Executive Training
Leadership and Management Skills
Project Management
Risk Management
Relationship Based Sales Training
Understanding Paradigm Shift
Get to Know Your Clients
Design-Build Strategies
Construction Claims – Strategies for Prevention & Resolution
Presentation Skills
Total Quality Management
Total Quality Management Trainer
Radioactive Waste Management
Strategic Environmental Management
40-hour OSHA Training
Safety as a Value