Colby Hietbrink

P.E.

Senior Project Manager

Biography

Colby Hietbrink began his career working with a lumber supplier and several prominent residential and commercial builders around the Charlotte, NC area before ultimately starting his general contracting company performing repairs, remodels, and additions. Working in various roles, Colby has performed structural design for residential and small commercial buildings and nuclear power plants. For the past five years, Colby has worked as an engineering consultant specializing in forensic investigations with insurance companies, attorneys, and business owners. With an extensive knowledge of building envelope construction methods, construction materials, and their material properties, Colby has helped resolve several claims, serving as an expert witness in legal matters.

Credentials

  • P.E. | Professional Engineer
  • Certified General Contractor

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Equestrian Facility | Evaluation of storm damage to clay tile roof | $500K
  • Residential Home | Conducted structural assessment of a residential home subjected to multiple tree impacts due to an EF-1 tornado | $250K
  • AM Radio Tower Collapse | Evaluation of 400-foot guyed AM radio tower collapse | $250K
  • Manufacturing Facility | Evaluation of storm damage to TPO roof membrane of a 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility | $1.5M
  • Residential Home | Conducted flood evaluations in accordance with FEMA guidelines of an elevated single family home | $250K
  • Hotel | Conducted an assessment of a failed 8" pipe coupling within a fire suppression test header at a high-rise hotel | $250K
  • Commercial Building | Evaluation of water intrusion at multiple locations throughout a 35,000 sq. ft. commercial and warehouse building | $500K
  • Residential Home | Structural evaluation of a fire damaged 6,500 sq. ft. two residential home | $1M

Professional Experience

  • 2023 - Current | Senior Project Manager | YA Engineering Services
  • 2018 - 2023 | Senior Forensic Engineer | EFI Global
  • 2017 - 2018 | Structural Design Engineer | K@M Design, Inc.
  • 2012 - 2017 | Structural Engineer III | AECOM

Area of Practice

  • Building Code Upgrade Review
  • Building Envelope
  • Condition Assessment
  • Damage Assessment
  • Failure Analysis
  • Repair and Rehabilitation Design
  • Roofing
  • Structural Analysis

Publications and Presentations

  • Whelan, M.J. and Hietbrink, C., “Wireless Sensor Network Deployments for Structural Identification in a Tied Arch Bridge,” NDE/NDT for Highways and Bridges: Structural Materials Technology, New York, NY

Education

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Bachelors of Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering - Charlotte - North Carolina
  • Oklahoma State University - Bachelors of Business Management - Business Management - Stillwater - Oklahoma

Affiliations

  • IIBEC - Member

Licenses

  • 35346 - South Carolina - Professional Engineer
  • 059138 - Virginia - Professional Engineer
  • 84781 - Florida - Professional Engineer
  • 127113 - Tennessee - Professional Engineer
  • PE049383 - Georgia - Professional Engineer
  • 045304 - North Carolina - Professional Engineer
  • 76285 - North Carolina - Limited General Contractors License