Janelle Thomas
Reno,NV
Summary
Civil Engineer with 25+ years in public agency. Effective at solving complex technical issues with speed and accuracy and excellent communicator accustomed to leading and working in teams. Goal-driven engineer leader with dynamic management skills.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Licensed Engineer
Washoe County Community Services Department
04.2023 - Current
- Supervision of five direct reporting employees, including two Licensed Engineers, one Environmental Engineer, one Civil Engineer II, and one Engineering Technician.
- Oversight of the development services department, including, but not necessarily limited to, subdivision review, building permit review, entitlement application review, and customer inquiries.
- Responsible for refinement of processes and procedures, dissemination of processes and procedures information to internal and external customers, providing engineering support at public meetings, and providing collaboration with external agencies and internal Washoe County departments regarding ordinances, regulations, and standards of the industry.
Civil Engineer Senior
City Of Sparks Community Services Department
01.2019 - 04.2023
- Review of new development permit applications, improvement plans, associated hydrology, traffic, and geotechnical reports, and storm water pollution prevention plans as well as the constructability of each project.
- Provide construction support including value engineering, quality control, design modification review, and general coordination of inspectors, consultants, contractors, and subcontractors to maintain the construction schedule and timeliness and cost effectiveness of each project.
- Manage timelines of review of all new development projects that require engineering review. Review, comment, and participate in all entitlement application processing.
- Coordinate field revisions with consultants and inspection personnel.
- Maintain accurate tracking of project schedules and accuracy of construction as it relates to the final improvement plans.
- Review, comment, accept, and process all securities for all construction including subdivisions, roadway dedication, various permits, landscaping improvements, etc. Additionally, review, comment, and process all requests for security reductions and/or releases.
- Effectively communicate with potential customers and community members regarding upcoming projects. Inform customers of municipal, state, and federal regulations that apply to each individual project.
- Coordinate communication between customers and other departments or division representatives.
- Attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings in order to present projects for review and possible approval.
- Provide accurate and unbiased presentation of projects with supporting exhibits, displays, etc.
- Participate as a voting member of the Truckee River Flood Management Association Technical Advisory Committee (TRFMA TAC).
Senior Civil Engineer
City Of Reno Community Development Department
05.2017 - 01.2019
- Review of new development improvement plans, associated hydrology, traffic, and geotechnical reports, and storm water pollution prevention plans as well as the constructability of each project.
- Provide construction support including value engineering, quality control, design modification review, and general coordination of inspectors, consultants, contractors, and subcontractors to maintain the construction schedule and timeliness and cost effectiveness.
- Manage timelines of review of all new development projects that require engineering review.
- Management of staff, including two associate engineers, two field inspectors, and two plan review technicians.
- Coordinate field revisions with consultants and inspection personnel as well as plan review revisions with plan review technicians.
- Maintain accurate tracking of project schedules and accuracy of construction as it relates to the final improvement plans and all other engineering permits. Effectively communicate with potential customers and community members regarding upcoming projects. Inform customers of municipal, state, and federal regulations that apply to each individual project.
- Coordinate communication between customers and other departments or division representatives, as well as other jurisdictional entities with a vested interest in each project.
- Attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings in order to present projects for review and possible approval.
- Provide accurate and unbiased presentation of projects with supporting exhibits, displays, etc.
- Participate as a voting member of the Truckee Meadows Regional Stormwater Quality Management Program.
Associate Civil Engineer
City Of Reno Community Development Department
04.2016 - 05.2017
- Review of new development improvement plans, associated hydrology, traffic, and geotechnical reports, and storm water pollution prevention plans as well as the constructability of each project.
- Provide construction support including value engineering, quality control, design modification review, and general coordination of consultants, contractors, and subcontractors to maintain the construction schedule and timeliness and cost effectiveness.
- Manage timelines of review of all new development projects that require engineering review.
- Management of staff, including two inspectors.
- Coordinate field revisions with consultants and inspection personnel.
- Maintain accurate tracking of project schedules and accuracy of construction as it relates to the final improvement plans.
- Effectively communicate with potential customers and community members regarding upcoming projects. Inform customers of municipal, state, and federal regulations that apply to each individual project. Coordinate communication between customers and other departments or division representatives.
- Attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings in order to present projects for review and possible approval. Provide accurate and unbiased presentation of projects with supporting exhibits, displays, etc.
- Participate as a voting member of the Truckee Meadows Regional Stormwater Quality Management Program.
Engineering Services Manager
Nevada Department Of Transportation
11.2013 - 03.2016
- Manage District II (DII) Engineering programs including the DII Road Operations Center program, DII Encroachment Permit program, DII Traffic Engineering program, and DII Utility Coordination program.
- Responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing the programs listed above. These programs are broad and complex requiring interpretation of rules and regulations and the assessment of conflicting situations, divergent views and data that is complex, and administering complex activities.
- Responsible for performing engineering functions requiring analysis involving the application of advanced principals and abstract concepts in the development of unique solutions to solve difficult problems and development of policies, procedures, and long and short range goals.
Local Public Agency Coordinator
Nevada Department Of Transportation
02.2012 - 11.2013
- Plan, organize, and coordinate assigned Local Public Agency (LPA) Projects with internal staff, Public agencies, consultants, and Federal agencies.
- Generate LPA Agreements between NDOT and the appropriate LPA, State agency, or Federal agency to outline the roles and responsibilities of each party.
- Ensure current policies, procedures, and standards are followed and the necessary approvals are acquired in order to obligate funding for projects.
- Review and approve engineering construction plans, specifications, estimates, and bid documents of LPAs and consultants to ensure compliance with standards as established in the LPA agreement and Federal requirements.
- Review and approve invoices from local agencies throughout the life of a given project to ensure eligibility of costs.
- Keep supervisor informed of project budget, schedule, and other significant issues.
- Communicate clearly and effectively with project teams, individuals, and/or groups within and outside of the organization.
- Provide timely, efficient, and accurate responses to all customers in both written and verbal formats.
- Plans work activities to meet project/task schedules, budgets, costs, and baselines with timely resolution of issues and/or conflicts.
- Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard. Fosters positive relationships with coworkers.
Water Engineer
Public Utilities Commission Of Nevada
01.2010 - 02.2012
- Responsibilities included evaluating and providing written and oral testimony for water and wastewater resource plans, depreciation cases, general rate cases, avoided cost cases and UEPA applications.
- Evaluate and provide technical support regarding rule-making dockets and numerous other applications filed with the PUCN.
- Supervised and oversaw the duties performed by the other water and wastewater staff working within the Engineering Division of the Regulatory Operations Staff.
Civil Engineer II
City Of Sparks Public Works
12.2007 - 01.2010
- Management of the operations and maintenance of the City-owned effluent distribution system.
- Review and approval of improvement plans for new effluent projects.
- Coordination of new effluent customer accounts and verification of permit compliance on new and existing sites served with effluent.
- Project management of public works and capital improvement projects; analysis of public works and capital improvement construction projects.
- Water rights manager including purchasing ability, negotiation with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA), and accounting and tracking of current water rights owned by the City of Sparks.
- Participation as a voting member of the Storm Water Permit Coordinating Committee.
- Contributor to the analysis of the proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) revision for the Truckee Meadows Wastewater Reclamation Facility (TMWRF).
Engineering Division Manager/Community Development
City Of Sparks Community Development Department
10.2006 - 12.2007
- Review of new development improvement plans and associated hydrology, traffic and geotechnical reports.
- Management of staff including one surveyor, one engineer, and four inspectors.
- Effectively communicating with potential customers and community members regarding upcoming projects.
- Managing timeliness of review of all new development projects that require engineering review.
- Coordinating field revisions with consultants and inspection personnel.
Civil Engineer II
City Of Sparks Community Development Department
02.2005 - 10.2006
- Review and tracking of new development improvement plans and associated hydrology, traffic, and geotechnical reports.
- Communication with potential customers and community members regarding new development projects.
- Attendance at Planning Commission and City Council in order to present projects for approval.
Registered Engineer
Washoe County Engineering Division
03.1998 - 02.2005
- Design of public works projects; analysis of public works construction projects with respect to time, material, and cost estimates.
- Production of bidding and boiler plate specifications.
- Project management of public works projects.
- On-site inspection of public works projects.
- Subdivision review.
Project Engineer
Pyramid Engineers
12.1995 - 03.1998
- Design of subdivisions, roadways, commercial and private sites.
- Project coordination with design team members, clients, and governing agencies.
- Civil design including grading, earthwork calculations, utility design and research, hydraulic analysis, and cost estimating.
Project Designer
Osgood Engineers
01.1994 - 12.1995
- Design of subdivisions, roadways, commercial and private sites; coordination with clients, governing agencies.
- Civil design including grading, earthwork calculations, utility research and design, hydraulic analysis, and cost estimating.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD05.1992
Skills
- Reviewer of Permit Applications and Regulations
- Reviewer of Hydrologic and Hydraulic Design
- Certified Floodplain Manager
- Reviewer of Drainage Design and Stormwater Management
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Development Code Compliance
- Staff Management
Certification
- ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager, issued by Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc., Certification Board of Regents - November 2021 to present.
- Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Nevada, issued by Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors - July 1997 to present.
Timeline
Senior Licensed Engineer
Washoe County Community Services Department
04.2023 - Current
Civil Engineer Senior
City Of Sparks Community Services Department
01.2019 - 04.2023
Senior Civil Engineer
City Of Reno Community Development Department
05.2017 - 01.2019
Associate Civil Engineer
City Of Reno Community Development Department
04.2016 - 05.2017
Engineering Services Manager
Nevada Department Of Transportation
11.2013 - 03.2016
Local Public Agency Coordinator
Nevada Department Of Transportation
02.2012 - 11.2013
Water Engineer
Public Utilities Commission Of Nevada
01.2010 - 02.2012
Civil Engineer II
City Of Sparks Public Works
12.2007 - 01.2010
Engineering Division Manager/Community Development
City Of Sparks Community Development Department
10.2006 - 12.2007
Civil Engineer II
City Of Sparks Community Development Department
02.2005 - 10.2006
Registered Engineer
Washoe County Engineering Division
03.1998 - 02.2005
Project Engineer
Pyramid Engineers
12.1995 - 03.1998
Project Designer
Osgood Engineers
01.1994 - 12.1995
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering
Johns Hopkins University
Similar Profiles
Christopher SmyczekChristopher Smyczek
Park Ranger at Washoe County Department of Parks and Open SpacePark Ranger at Washoe County Department of Parks and Open Space
Alia MinolettiAlia Minoletti
Substitute Teacher, K-12 at Washoe County Department Of EducationSubstitute Teacher, K-12 at Washoe County Department Of Education
Kasdi WellsKasdi Wells
Homemaker at Washoe County Human Services AgencyHomemaker at Washoe County Human Services Agency
Naveed AzimNaveed Azim
Financial Services Analyst at Unitek CollegeFinancial Services Analyst at Unitek College
Robert CurfmanRobert Curfman
Teacher/ Department Head at Coral Academy Of Science Reno- High SchoolTeacher/ Department Head at Coral Academy Of Science Reno- High School