SIMMIE GRAVES JR
President / Sr. Civil Designer
Roseville,CA
Summary
Highly motivated and driven project manager. Laser focused on delivering timely and cost-effective permit design and construction documents. Proven abilities to generate packages from concept to construction. Embraces strategic approaches to drive profitability and sales. Recognized for performance excellence in presentations, and customer care.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
2025
2025
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Drafter / Designer
GEI Consultants Inc.
01.2024 - Current
- Assist Civil, Structural Engineers, Geologists, Landscape Planners and Designers with production of design packages for bidding and construction.
- Produce conceptual visualizations of Levee, Dams, Pipe / Tunnel upgrade projects.
- Increased team productivity by providing guidance and mentorship to junior drafters, improving their technical skills and understanding of company standards.
- Revised existing designs based on client feedback, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Implemented standardized templates for common drawing types, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks while maintaining consistency across projects.
- Use Civil 3D, Revit to prepare CAD drawings and schematics. Use InfraWorks, 3D Studio and D5 Render to produce visualizations. Competent with the use of MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite and Bluebeam Revu.
- Provide input and feedback on software evaluations and recommendations.
Applications Expert
IMAGINiT Technologies
04.2022 - 11.2023
- Provide Civil 3D and AutoCAD training, prepare Civil 3D implementations / configurations, troubleshoot technical design issues and assist with on-call support resolutions of software issues
- Currently providing support services to the FAA, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and East Bay Municipal
Plant Architect Manager
RRC Companies, Inc
06.2021 - 01.2022
- Work in the Project Development Engineering (PDE) group and assist in developing Utility Scale Solar Tracker Layouts
- Performed GIS analysis, identify terrain slopes and site constraints
- Obtain publicly available GIS data to assist in early validation of site capacity
- Generate preliminary 10% plans for project review and approval
- Construction Documents includes civil roads, trenching, site fencing, wetland and flood area delineations, quantities, and related details.
Senior Civil Designer
TAIT & Associates, Inc
03.2020 - 04.2021
- Work under direction of Civil Engineers to generate Civil packages for commercial developments in Northern California
- Clients included 7-Eleven Corporation, Dutch Bros Coffee, and Safeway Stores ADA improvements
- GIS data import for enhancing preliminary and conceptual plans
- Generate coordinate translations for AHJ submittal requirements
- Develop Horizontal Control / Site Plans, Grading Plans, Utility Plans, Vehicle Swept Path Analysis, Erosion Control Plans, Profiles, Sections and Details
President / Computer Design Solutions
dba Creative Design Solutions
01.2010 - 03.2020
- Marketing, business development, proposal development and design production
- Create presentations to creatively communicate design intent
- Managed invoicing, payroll, taxes, and equipment procurement
- Proactively identify and solve complex problems impacting operations management and business direction
- Provided onsite training for client staff when requested
- Provide GIS analysis and Database Population / Maintenance for optimizing site developments
- Develop 3D terrain models from Survey data and generate topo maps
- Provided hands-on technical support, advice and mentoring to all levels of personnel
- Collaborated with other contractors for successful project completion, including project base plans and project revision levels and versioning
- Design floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspective views for both in-house review and presentation to client creating "wow effect."
TECI GIS Specialist, Senior Civil Designer
Telamon Engineering Consultants Inc.
01.2017 - 12.2019
- SFO Shoreline Protection System Evaluation Project - Geocoded site photos in SFO-B coordinates to document existing conditions using the USACE rating system the GIS data was used for determining the highest priority areas needing improvements
- Delivered mapping and database in ESRI ARC GIS
- TECI GIS Specialist for SF Port Seawall Study - Identified and produced data for validation of existing utilities in a system developed for analysis to feed into project reports for design and upgrade of "Critical Facilities" to be protected in event of major Earthquakes / Floods
- Worked with AECOM and SF Bureau of Engineering to generate As-Built drawings for the Calaveras Dam project once procedures were established, provided training, and handed off to support staff to finish
- Technical resource providing hands-on support, advice and mentoring to all levels of personnel
Engineering Manager
Talesun Solar
09.2012 - 04.2013
- Created customer proposals and closed business deals. Collaborated with Sales Managers to assess project technical requirements and viability
- Assisted sales with technical information and generated referrals for new business
- Identified and implemented most efficient and acceptable resolutions to complex engineering problems
- Oversaw USA revisions and releases of product manuals for Solar Modules manufactured for USA market
- Generated concept designs collaborated with customers to gain feedback and directed entire design process
- Supervised team of project Application Engineers and CAD technicians throughout duration of project
- Expanded technical skills through continuing education courses and outside seminars and webinars.
Manager
First Solar Inc
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Managed Engineers and designers to produce preliminary site designs for some of the world's largest Utility Scale Solar PV projects in the USA, Canada, France, Australia. Sites ranged from 10 Megawatts to 1 Gigawatt
- Successfully led engineering designs for key projects resulting in Permit approvals from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), local government agencies and municipalities
- Assisted in review and contributed to First Solar' s "Continuous Improvement" strategies
- Provided onsite training of staff
- Created communication exhibits and suggested strategies to meet client objectives used by Business Development Directors
Manager
GIS, Optisolar, Inc
04.2007 - 12.2009
- Led GIS / Engineering team; produced site designs for dozens of Utility Scale Solar PV projects in the USA Canada, France
- Notable sites: Desert Topaz (550MW), Desert Sunlight/Center (550MW)
- Successfully led dozens of projects that won permit approvals from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), local government agencies and municipalities
- Create CAD and Design standards and implement for startup company
- Integrated GIS data into the design process for early site validation
- Created communication exhibits and suggested strategies to meet client objectives used by Business Development Directors
Education
M.I.T. Open courseware, Architecture - Cambridge, Ma (Self-Study - No Credits: School of Architecture - AEC
Cleantech Institute
Fremont2028
Continuing Education For AutoDesk Products - Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
AutoDesk University
Virtual 09.2023 - 11.2023
Associate of Science - Architectural Technology
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 01.1977 - 06.1981
Skills
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Geospatial Information Systems – (GIS) site
Constraints analysis
Civil Engineering Site Design
Architectural Concepts and Design
3D Visualization, 3D Scanning, 3D Printing
Staff development & Training
Performance improvements via Dynamo scripting
Batch files, Lisp routines for repetitive task
Automation
Quantity takeoffs & volume calculations
Certification
AutoDesk Certified Professional in Civil 3D for Infrastructure Design
Timeline
Senior Drafter / Designer
GEI Consultants Inc.
01.2024 - Current
Continuing Education For AutoDesk Products - Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
AutoDesk University
09.2023 - 11.2023
AutoDesk Certified Professional in Civil 3D for Infrastructure Design
05-2022
Applications Expert
IMAGINiT Technologies
04.2022 - 11.2023
Plant Architect Manager
RRC Companies, Inc
06.2021 - 01.2022
Senior Civil Designer
TAIT & Associates, Inc
03.2020 - 04.2021
TECI GIS Specialist, Senior Civil Designer
Telamon Engineering Consultants Inc.
01.2017 - 12.2019
Engineering Manager
Talesun Solar
09.2012 - 04.2013
President / Computer Design Solutions
dba Creative Design Solutions
01.2010 - 03.2020
Manager
First Solar Inc
01.2009 - 01.2010
Manager
GIS, Optisolar, Inc
04.2007 - 12.2009
Associate of Science - Architectural Technology
City College of San Francisco
01.1977 - 06.1981
M.I.T. Open courseware, Architecture - Cambridge, Ma (Self-Study - No Credits: School of Architecture - AEC
Cleantech Institute