Hole Montes Project Manager Kevin Dowty, P.E., was among three individuals who accepted a Collier County proclamation in honor of engineers across the region. The Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation designating Feb. 20-26 as National Engineers Week in Collier County. Joining Dowty in accepting the proclamation were Alison Bickett, P.E., a traffic engineer with the City of Naples, and Kellie Fissinger, P.E., a project manager at Agnoli, Barber & Brundage. Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, National Engineers Week is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of an interest in engineering and technology careers. “The theme of Engineering Week this year was ‘Reimagining the Possible,’ which engineers do on a daily basis by combining technology, science, mathematics and other fields of study to solve problems,” said Hole Montes President Bob Mulhere. “Engineers make our roadways, public utilities, airports and buildings safer, so we’re grateful the Board of County Commissioners recognizes the roles, responsibilities and impact of engineers in Southwest Florida.” The City of Fort Myers issued a similar proclamation honoring local engineers through the Calusa Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society.

Hole Montes hires Eglantin Dashi as aviation project manager Eglantin Dashi has joined Hole Montes as an aviation project manager spearheading improvement projects at commercial and general aviation airports across Southwest Florida.  A trained military helicopter pilot, Dashi’s experience includes nearly two decades as project manager and aviation consultant at some of the world’s largest commercial airports, including Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Venice Marco Polo International Airport and others. His work has included airport master plans, airport layout plans, terminal expansion studies, airfield upgrades and multimodal transportation systems studies.  Dashi is a firm believer of sustainable, innovative transportation modes to improve the transportation needs of today and the future. He has developed a keen interest in the urban air mobility industry and has worked closely with the Uber Elevate team to plan and design the urban Mega-Skyport of the future for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.  “As the aviation industry evolves, airports in Southwest Florida will continue to need new designs and construction management services to stay current with federal regulations and aviation standards,” said Bob Mulhere, president of Hole Montes. “Eglantin brings a wealth of project planning and design experience to our growing Aviation Division, and we’re excited to tap into his expertise as we help position the region’s network of airports for future growth.”  Since establishing its initial partnership with the Lee County Port Authority in 1998, Hole Montes has successfully completed hundreds of projects at the region’s three largest airports – Southwest Florida International Airport, Page Field and Naples Airport – as well as Everglades Airpark, Immokalee Regional Airport and Marco Island Executive Airport. Aviation services include designs and construction management for terminal and hangar buildings, airfield pavement, lighting, signage, navigation aids and landside improvements.  Dashi earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications engineering from the Turkish Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in airport management from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. He received a military helicopter pilot’s license through the Italian Air Force.  Dashi has served on Airports Council International-North America’s Operations, Planning, Safety, Infrastructure & Development steering committee. He is fluent

Hole Montes’ Austin Brown earns engineering licensure Austin Brown, a project manager at Hole Montes, has passed the PE Civil Transportation licensure exam through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The Principles & Practices of Engineering exam is the second of two tests certifying an individual meets specific qualifications in education, work experience and knowledge. Licensure is an important verification of expertise for engineers that is critical in safeguarding the public. Brown joined Hole Montes in 2016 and works on the firm’s aviation team. Some of his notable experience includes managing runway, taxiway, ramp and hangar projects at Page Field, a runway rehabilitation project at Everglades Airpark, and taxiway extension and runway rehabilitation projects at Immokalee Regional Airport. “Aviation engineering is a highly specific sector within the engineering field, and Hole Montes is the only Southwest Florida-based firm currently offering that service,” said Bob Mulhere, president of Hole Montes. “Having Austin on our aviation team is a tremendous asset, and anyone who has traveled by air in recent years – commercially and privately – has probably landed on a runway or walked through a hangar that Austin has designed.” In addition to aviation, transportation and environmental engineering, Hole Montes’ services include landscape architecture, site development, land planning, permitting, zoning, storm water management design, surveying and mapping. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida.