Dewberry has announced six promotions in its consulting services practice area.

Fairfax, VA – Dewberry, a nationally recognized consulting firm based in Fairfax, Virginia, has announced the following six promotions in its consulting services practice area:  

Theodore C. Van Kirk, PE, has been promoted to executive vice president in the Fairfax office. In his new position, Van Kirk serves as deputy practice area manager, establishing strategic direction and providing operational management for Dewberry’s nationwide consulting services practice. The practice area includes disaster response and recovery, hazard engineering, geospatial and program integration, emergency management and homeland security, hazard mitigation, and climate change services. Dewberry’s consultants in these areas support multiple project management and professional services contracts for federal, state, and municipal-level clients.  

For nearly 30 years, Van Kirk has worked with the Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) and other clients on mitigation, hazard identification, flood mapping, and disaster assistance programs, managing or performing work on over 60 disaster declarations in 35 states. He is a recognized leader in the evaluation and development of multi-hazard mitigation measures for private and public facilities nationwide and the primary author of several FEMA publications. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Disasters Roundtable steering committee, and served on the American Society of Civil Engineers standards committee that developed ASCE Standard 24-98 Flood Resistant Design and Construction.  

Van Kirk holds a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bucknell University.  

Jerry Sparks, PE, CFM, branch manager in Dewberry’s Fairfax office, has been promoted to vice president. A 20-year veteran of natural hazard studies, with an emphasis in flood hazard studies and risk assessments, Sparks is serving as Dewberry’s first climate change service line leader. He is currently managing a Sea Level Rise Risk Management Study for the state of North Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University.  

Jeff Poplin, GIS, business unit manager, geospatial and program integration services, in Dewberry’s Fairfax office, has been promoted to associate vice president. With 25 years of industry experience, Poplin holds a bachelor’s degree in economic geography from Western Carolina University and is a member of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association, ESRI Mid-Atlantic User Group, and the South Carolina Board of Engineers and Surveyors.  

Jean Huang, PE, CFM, department manager in the Fairfax office, has been promoted to senior associate. Huang holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has more than 11 years’ experience supporting FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program in water resources engineering and GIS mapping.  

Maggie Mathis, CFM, department manager within the Hazard Engineering Services Division in the Fairfax office, has been promoted to associate vice president. With 26 years of industry experience, Mathis holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Maryland and is a member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers.  

Shane Engel, GISP, project manager for geospatial integration services in Dewberry’s Fairfax office, has been promoted to associate. He holds a master’s degree in geography from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in GIS and remote sensing from James Madison University.  


About Dewberry
Dewberry is a leading professional services firm with a proven history of providing architecture, engineering, and management and consulting services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clients’ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 40 locations and 1,800+ professionals nationwide. To learn more, visitwww.dewberry.com.