Explore unparalleled technical prowess as we introduce Kiefner's elite team of seasoned engineers and consultants. They are committed to safeguarding and enhancing the integrity of high-risk energy, utility, and infrastructure projects.
Kiefner and Associates, Inc. Experts
Trae J. Miller III, ESQ, PE, P.Eng., CSP, PgMP, PMP
President & Chief Engineer
Dr. Trae Miller III is the current Chief Engineer and President of Kiefner and Associates, Inc. He was appointed in October 2018. Dr. Miller studied electrical engineering at the United States Naval Academy and was honorably discharged from the Naval Service. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He subsequently graduated with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence from Loyola University, New Orleans.
Dyke Hicks
Director of Operations
Mr. Dyke Hicks earned a BS in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Iowa and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State. He joined Kiefner in 2015 after nearly seven years with Koch Pipeline, LLC, and 13 years with Baker Hughes. His career began with working in the energy sector, recording and interpreting information from oil and gas wells, on land and offshore.
Amy Fotenos
Business Development Director
Ms. Amy Fotenos assumed the role of Business Development Director at Kiefner in June 2023. Commencing her career in the Oil and Gas Sector in 2011, she has progressively held various leadership positions in engineering and construction. Demonstrating a consistent ability to foster growth and enhance profitability, she boasts a successful track record with startup ventures and established enterprises in various industries.
Kelly Lucas
Sales Strategy Manager / Commercial
Jessica Quach, EdD
Technical Communications Administrator
David Bloedorn
Project Manager / Project Controls
Mr. David Bloedorn is an Engineering Project Manager known for cultivating strong team relationships through credibility and trust. With demonstrated strengths in accountability, organization, and leadership, he excels in innovative problem-solving and conceptualization. Mr. Bloedorn's client-focused approach and superior communication skills ensure that every project is executed seamlessly, aligning with client needs and project goals.
Michiel Brongers, PE, PMP, Fellow ASME
Principal Engineer
Mr. Michiel Brongers has over 25 years of professional experience in materials and corrosion engineering, asset integrity management, failure investigations, metallurgical forensic analyses, fitness-for-service reviews, and engineering critical assessments. Major clients served include pipelines, chemical and petrochemical processes, oil and gas, power generation, and manufacturing companies. He holds a Master's in Materials Science and Engineering from Delft University in the Netherlands.
Craig Chaney
Technical Authority
Mr. Craig Chaney is a metallurgical engineer with over 40 years of experience in the energy industry, conducting various failure analyses, material selection, structural mechanics, corrosion studies, and corrosion mitigation projects. Over the last 22 years, he has worked on integrating his engineering expertise to assist oil and gas operators with the compliance of federal integrity management rules.
Alex Distel
Engineer II
Mr. Alex Distel earned his BS in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University. After graduating, he worked as a materials engineer in the steel casting industry for four years. During this time, he gained experience in lost-wax investment and sand casting processes. He was also heavily involved with heat treatment, chemical and mechanical testing, and metallography of castings.
Zhicao Feng, PhD, PE
Senior Principal Engineer
Dr. Zhicao Feng earned his PhD Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Ohio State University. His PhD thesis topic was galvanic corrosion of coated Aluminum alloy and bare stainless steel. During his graduate school years, Dr. Feng published over 10 technical papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Brian Hart
Technical Authority
Mr. Brian Hart is a mechanical engineer with over 28 years of experience in the Oil and Gas industry. His primary focus has been on NDE, welding, materials evaluation, failure analysis, third-party vendor surveillance, and external audits. Mr. Hart holds API 510, API 570, and API 653 certifications and has been an AWS Certified Welding Inspector since 1999. As an ASNT Level III, he develops NDE procedures, qualifies personnel within Kiefner, and assists clients with their NDE programs. Over the last ten years, he has been involved in several sub-committees and training courses for ASNT.
Larry Lilly, PhD
Engineering Consultant and Technical Authority
Dr. Larry Lilly is a Technical Authority Engineer with extensive expertise in process engineering, pipeline simulation, corrosion management, and operation procedures. His career is marked by a series of impactful projects, including evaluating and reviewing complex pipeline and facility operating conditions, corrosion condition predictions, mitigation strategies, mechanical integrity, and leak detection. Dr. Lilly's profound knowledge is further demonstrated through his authorship and co-authorship of over 50 papers, three technical books, and numerous operations and training manuals within the oil and gas industry, with a particular focus on gas processing.
Zahra Lotfian, PhD, PE
Senior Engineer II
Dr. Zahra Lotfian earned her PhD degree in Computational Mechanics and her MS degree in Structural Engineering both from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Before joining Kiefner in 2019, she worked for ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in Spring, TX and Princeton University as a Research Associate. Dr. Lotfian has more than nine years of experience modeling and analyzing various new and existing assets, covering stress and pressure analyses, fitness-for-service and ECA, pipe-soil interactions, fatigue analysis, and fracture mechanics.
Tristan MacLeod
Engineer II
Mr. Tristan MacLeod is a dedicated engineer at Kiefner and has been a valuable team member since 2019. His academic journey began at Iowa State University, where he earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering in 2011. Mr. MacLeod's professional career kicked off in 2012 at Applus RTD, where he honed his skills as a field engineer specializing in pipeline integrity field evaluations.
Benny Mumme
Technical Authority
Mr. Benny Mumme is a NACE-certified Corrosion Specialist (#3742) with 42 years of experience in oil and gas pipelines, station integrity, corrosion control, operations, and construction. He has conducted numerous Integrity Assessments, ILI, ECDA, cathodic protection, and close interval survey projects. He has also developed, implemented, and managed several internal corrosion programs.
Paul Sinclair
Technical Authority
Mr. Paul Sinclair graduated with a BS from Texas A&M University in Electrical Engineering. He has a versatile engineering background with more than 36 years of experience in pipeline integrity, corrosion control, cathodic protection, and integrity management. Mr. Sinclair has in depth knowledge and understanding of pipeline and corrosion engineering principals and application to comply with state and federal regulatory requirements.
Lucinda Smart, MS
Senior Engineer II
Mrs. Lucinda Smart earned her BS and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University. While at Iowa State University, she supported a student-led competitive academic agreement program (CAAP) research project with PHMSA. This led to a better understanding of the principal relationships associated with material properties for nondestructive evaluations.
Rick Sugden
Principal Engineer
Mr. Rick Sugden is a Principal Engineer with over ten years of Integrity Management experience working for small, mid-sized, and large operators. Mr. Sugden joined Kiefner and Associates in 2022. He has extensive hands-on experience with hydrostatic testing and in-line inspections of natural gas, hazardous liquids, and HVL pipelines of both legacy and modern design. He has been Vice Chair and Chair of the API Pipeline Integrity Group and has contributed significantly to developing Recommended Practices for the pipeline industry since 2014.
Leslie Ward
Senior Principal Engineer
Ms. Leslie Ward is a multi-certified API Inspector and AMPP Technologist. She started with Kiefner in June 2024. She received her Civil Engineering degree from Auburn University. Ms. Ward started her career in refining her craft of inspection and mechanical integrity. Most recently, she worked for Enbridge in the Gas Transmission and Midstream business, helping create a new Facility Integrity program. Ms. Ward is active in the industry, having been a voting member of the API CRE SCIMI since 2012. She is the founder and president of the non-profit Women in Mechanical Integrity.
Benjamin Wright, PMP
Engineer II
Mr. Benjamin Wright earned his BS in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University. He joined Kiefner in 2013 and focuses on pipeline integrity management, including ILI evaluation and performance validation, reassessment interval determination, assessment planning and execution, pipeline integrity, and corrosion growth assessment on corroded pipe. Mr. Wright also holds credentials as a Project Management Professional. He has previously published and presented a paper at PPIM on Validating ILI Accuracy Using Spatial In-Ditch Scanning Measurements.