Inside JBW

How we Remove Barriers one by one.

Our Values

The Pillars of Our Practice

Relationships

Whether it's a coworker, vendor, design partner, or contractor, we treat every individual with the same standard as we would a valued client.

Communication

We promise to always provide open, honest and clear communication at all levels of JBW.

Solutions

Every problem has a solution. When identifying a problem internally or externally, we will always make an effort to help bring ideas for a potential solution.

Technical Proficiency and Quality

We have a continuous focus on technical training, the selection of projects that fit our skillsets, and the smallest details to always bring the highest quality work to our coworkers and clients.

Responsiveness

We will always strive to understand urgency and provide timely responses to our coworkers and clients.

Our Culture

More Than Just Engineering

Team Engagement: Our annual picnic is more than just an event; it's a celebration of our team's camaraderie and collective spirit, reinforcing the supportive culture at JBW.

Work-Life Balance: We encourage activities like disc golf and surfing, recognizing the importance of relaxation and personal interests in fostering a creative and productive work environment.

Diverse Interests: JBW celebrates the unique hobbies and community contributions of our team, believing that diverse passions enrich our company culture.

Professional Development: We prioritize continuous learning and growth, providing opportunities for our team to excel both personally and professionally within the industry.

Our Team

The team at JBW is comprised of experienced professionals who show their pride through their work and believe in long-lasting relationships.

Bryn Johnston, PE

President/CEO

Bryn has been a part of the JBW team since he founded it in 2018...

He holds more than 10 years of experience in the engineering industry and enjoys working with our great client partners every day.

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Nick Johnston, PE

Chief Operations Officer

Nick is a detail oriented Professional Mechanical Engineer with...

Nick is a detail oriented Professional Mechanical Engineer with over 10 years of design engineering, project management, and group management experience. His experience includes a variety of maintenance and capital improvement projects for heavy industrial industries, primarily in projects including material handling, and machine design. He also has several years’ experience in plant engineering, reliability, and development of capital budgets and project management for a blown film extrusion manufacturer.

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Thomas Johnson, PE, SE, PMP

Director of Infrastructure

Thomas brings more than 18 years of experience in structural analysis and...

Thomas brings more than 15 years of experience in structural analysis and design to the JBW team. He possesses extensive knowledge in the design of concrete, steel, timber, and masonry. Thomas enjoys being part of a high-caliber team that is helping to remove barriers.

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Jared Massie

Design Manager

Jared's experience includes years as an API 510, 570, and 653 certified inspect...

Jared's experience includes years as an API 510, 570, and 653 certified inspector as well as over 3 years experience in design. Jared enjoys the high levels of teamwork and camaraderie within the JBW team.

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Gary Johnston

Director of Oil and Gas

Gary has over 30 years' experience in equipment integrity. From design to...

Gary has over 30 years' experience in equipment integrity. From design to fitness analysis and reliability to replacements and modifications, Gary brings a wealth of experience to every project. In his free time, Gary enjoys fishing, boating, and mountain biking. He was drawn to JBW because of the energy and enthusiasm of everyone working here.

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Jamie Lepage, PE

Director of Industrial Projects

Jamie has a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering and is a graduate...

Jamie has a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering and is a graduate of the US Navy Nuclear Propulsion program. His background includes work in the fields of both military and commercial nuclear energy, commercial power industry, mining, chemical and refining industry, and forest/paper products. In his free time, he volunteers as Assistant Fire Chief for the Hermantown Volunteer Fire Department. He chose to join JBW for the opportunity to work with Industrial design teams to design and then build large industrial projects.

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Miles Wittlief, PE

Mechanical Engineering Manager

Miles is a Professional Mechanical Engineer with over a decade...

Miles is a Professional Mechanical Engineer with over a decade of experience in project engineering and management success. His experience includes a variety of maintenance and capital improvement projects for the heavy industrial industries focusing on material handling and processing. When not at work Miles enjoys being out in the woods on his sxs or snowmobile.

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Brock Johnston

CAD Technician

Brock has more than 4 years of experience as a Mechanical Designer...

Brock has more than 4 years of experience as a Mechanical Designer. Brock appreciates the positive atmosphere the JBW team creates and everyone's willingness to own their work and help out whoever is in need.

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Kyle Levanen

Mechanical Engineer

Kyle has over 10 years of experience spread between the automotive and...

Kyle has over 10 years of experience spread between the automotive and industrial fields. He brings more than 5 years of instrumentation and controls experience to the JBW team and specializes in process design, instrumentation and controls, and dust hazard analysis studies. Kyle enjoys the flexible work schedule that JBW provides.

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Cassandra Johnson

Structural Lead Designer

Cassie has over 18 years of experience in the Structural Design industry with a focus...

Cassie has over 18 years of experience in the Structural Design industry with a focus on Industrial steel access platforms, duct supports and concrete support and slab design. Cassie enjoys taking on complex multi discipline projects working alongside her team of designers and drafters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time boating and fishing with her husband and dog & cruising the water with her friends and family. 

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Connor Abens

Electrical & Controls Engineer

Connor has a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. His background...

Connor has a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. His background includes woodworking, project management, and automation application development for end-users and OEMs. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, rafting, and cooking. He was drawn to JBW for its complimentary skillsets in other engineering disciplines and its strong momentum in business growth.

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Kurt Schwartzbauer, PE

Civil Engineer II

Kurt has over 7 years of experience in the Civil Engineering industry with a...

Kurt has over 7 years of experience in the Civil Engineering industry with a focus on environmental, slope stability, and construction site design. Kurt enjoys solving practical problems within a team of engineers and like-minded individuals. In his free time, he enjoys board games, camping, and cooking with his wife.

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Steve Bruckelmeyer

Project Manager

Steve has over 8 years of project management experience and more than...

Steve has over 8 years of project management experience and more than 20 years in the client service industry. He enjoys working with like-minded, energetic individuals who strive to provide value for our team and our client partners.

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Hunter Roberts

Survey Technician

Hunter has previous experience in the HVAC-R mechanical field, as well...

Hunter has previous experience in the HVAC-R mechanical field, as well as surveying and Civil design and currently assists with design of all disciplines, with a focus on Structural. Coming to JBW from a law enforcement career, Hunter enjoys implementing the same problem-solving and interactive skills when working with clients and team members to find solutions to best serve their clients. Hunter spends his free time pursuing a wide range of hobbies  and side projects, from 3D printing design and computer building to serving Northeast Wyoming as a licensed Realtor(TM).

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Tyler Travis

Structural Designer

With over 9 years of experience in Revit and structural drafting, Tyler brings a wealth of expertise to our team.

With over 9 years of experience in Revit and structural drafting, Tyler brings a wealth of expertise to our team.

As a new dad, he finds joy in spending time with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing board games, and engaging in fun activities with his daughter and wife.

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Calvin Koestler

Mechanical Engineer I

Calvin recently graduated from UMD with a Bachelor of Science...

Calvin recently graduated from UMD with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Calvin finds problem-solving and assisting his colleagues the most rewarding parts of his job, and we are looking forward to the impact he will make. Outside of work, Calvin enjoys riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, and fishing, making him a great fit for our adventurous team.

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Ben Gilbert

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Ben is currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at UMD

Ben is currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at UMD and brings a strong passion for both engineering and sports to our team. Outside of his academic commitments, Ben enjoys mountain biking, downhill skiing, and playing hockey. He is also enthusiastic about sports, technology, and auto racing.

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Shelly Johnston

Controller

Shelly has a bachelor's degree in accounting and a MBA. She has work...

Shelly has a bachelor's degree in accounting and a MBA. She has worked in a variety of settings from small business to large corporations. In her free time, Shelly likes to garden, exercise, read, DIY, and spend time with friends and family. She enjoys JBW's ethical and driven leadership.

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Aimee Kaufmann

Administrative Assistant

Aimee brings to us over 15 years of experience in administrative roles with companies...

Aimee brings to us over 15 years of experience in administrative roles with companies throughout the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions. She is also a Licensed Real Estate agent in both Minnesota & Wisconsin and shares JBW's commitment to serving the community. Aimee enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, snowmobiling, and exploring the Midwest’s ATV trails with her Newfoundland, SweetPea.

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John Graf

Electrical & Controls Engineer

John graduated from North Dakota State College of Science with a degree in Electrical Technology...

John graduated from North Dakota State College of Science with a degree in Electrical Technology while playing football on an athletic scholarship. He has over fifteen years of experience in the industrial manufacturing sector, specializing in power distribution, electrical planning, automation engineering, machine controls, and Human Machine Interface creation. John focuses on uptime and modernizing equipment controls while leading an Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance team. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing, hunting, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with friends and family.

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Our Locations

Reaching Out, Branching Out

Duluth, MN

Nestled in the heart of industry and innovation, our Duluth office stands as a beacon of engineering excellence.

     Gillette, WY

From the frontier of innovation, our Gillette office brings cutting-edge engineering solutions to the energy sector.

Remote Employees

Our remote team members provide engineering services to our clients while being able to live in locations of their choice.