Mr. Birch has over 25 years experience in the Civil Engineering field with a wide variety of past experiences that have given him a well-rounded background in this challenging field. Those experiences have included construction inspection, draftsman, survey party chief, materials testing, construction estimator, construction site superintendent, design engineer, project manager, sports fields and recreational projects.
Presently, Mr. Birch’s responsibilities as a Principal with Austin Engineering include design engineer, project manager, client manager, plan quality control/assurance, marketing, and business development. Mr. Birch has direct project experience in the design of residential subdivisions, apartment complexes, retail and commercial site plans, sanitary sewers, lift stations, water mains, road rehabilitation, erosion control plans, sport fields, and golf entertainment facilities. These projects require Mr. Birch to coordinate with Local and State Officials, Utility Companies, and General Contractors to ensure their successful completion.
Mr. Cochran has over 20 years experience in the Land Surveying industry. In that time, he has completed numerous property and ALTA surveys as well as right-of-way and topographic surveys, construction layouts and related FEMA reports. In his tenure at AECI he has also gained valuable experience as a designer preparing civil design plans on a variety of land development plans. Mr. Cochran’s experiences in the field as well as in the office offer him the ability to be uniquely efficient and well versed in the completion of both land survey documents and civil site plans. This results in economically & efficiently completed surveys and plan drawings in which AECI is able to pass along the value and savings to their valued clients.
Presently, Mr. Cochran’s responsibilities as Principal include working as both a Professional Land Surveyor and Civil Engineering Design Project Manager with Austin Engineering. His responsibilities include the coordination of field crew scheduling, plat preparation & review, field safety manager, client management for both survey and civil design, and direct oversight of technical staff. He is also responsible for coordinating survey document research for both land surveying and civil engineering projects. Mr. Cochran also manages and prepares civil design construction plans from start to finish under the direct supervision of one of AECI’s Professional Engineers. Mr. Cochran prepares project proposals for AECI clients and assists with other administrative tasks as well. He is active in the local IPLSA chapter and serves on the WWW, Marketing, and Public Information Committee.
Mr. Muhs began his career working as an intern for the U.S. Geological Society while attending the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduation in 1996, Austin Engineering welcomed Mr. Muhs as an Engineer Intern where he would quickly transition to a leadership role by the time he secured his professional engineering license in 2000. Mr. Muhs has extensive land development experience and is a subject matter expert in the fields of site layout, grading and storm water management. Mr. Muhs also has extensive experience in public utility design and roadway design.
In 2015, Mr. Muhs relocated to the Chattanooga, TN area where he gained additional experience in the civil-aviation industry as well as making new client relationships in the land development field. In the fall of 2021, Austin Engineering welcomed Mr. Muhs back as a full-time employee and manager of the newly established Chattanooga, TN branch office. Mr. Muhs brings seasoned experience and expertise to Austin Engineering and he is a true leader in the field of land development engineering.
Mr. Rennau has over 15 years of combined experience in the Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture fields. His employment with traditional design-build firms has garnered experience on a variety of Civic and Residential projects from across the Midwest. His understanding of the design process and experience in the construction industry has honed his abilities to listen to project owners and work with Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in the optimal development of exterior spaces and habitats. Mr. Rennau’s diverse background provides the means to better understand the scientific and aesthetic principles of Civil Engineering projects.
Since joining the AECI Team in early 2015, Mr. Rennau has worked on a variety of projects for commercial sites, multi-family developments, residential subdivisions, and public streets. As a part of those projects Mr. Rennau has been directly responsible for site layout, storm sewer design and calculations, landscape design, sanitary sewer design, water main design, and local and state permitting. Mr. Rennau’s education and experience in both Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture make him a valuable asset for AECI and it allows him to offer a more comprehensive ability to exercise his passion for improving the human condition in tandem with our natural environment.
Mr. LaHood first started working for Austin Engineering as a summer intern in 2015 and returned for a second internship in the summer of 2016. Upon graduating from the University of Southern Illinois – Edwardsville, Austin Engineering welcomed Sam as a full-time Engineer Intern. Since joining Austin Engineering, Sam has gained experience with subdivision design, land planning, site planning, utility design, stormwater management and recreational site design. Currently Mr. LaHood takes on the role of project manager for all types of land development projects that Austin Engineering works on. Mr. LaHood is fast becoming an expert in civil land development and he consistently exceeds client expectations.
Mr. Ullrich is a Design Engineer and licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) at Austin Engineering Company Inc. in Peoria, Illinois. Hayden is also a Land Surveyor Intern (S.I.), and he is pursuing Professional Land Surveyor (P.L.S.) licensure. Hayden focuses on site design, stormwater management, utility systems, construction oversight, and regulatory compliance, securing permits from Illinois municipal, state, and regional authorities. He manages projects from start to finish, ensuring timely delivery and meeting client needs.
Mr. Bulfer has been in the design consultant industry for over 30 years and has a diverse background in the land surveying and geospatial services industry. His experience includes extensive work in boundary and topographic surveys, construction staking, ALTA/NSPS surveys, subdivision layout, and utility mapping. He has also gained hands-on expertise with modern GPS, robotic total stations, and drone photogrammetry, providing him with a well-rounded skillset that bridges traditional surveying methods with cutting-edge technology.
As the Survey Department Manager, Mr. Bulfer is responsible for overseeing all survey operations, coordinating with design professionals, managing field crews, and ensuring quality control on deliverables. He works directly with clients to understand project needs and provides solutions that balance precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. His current project portfolio includes residential subdivisions, commercial site plans, transportation improvements, and geospatial data collection for engineering design. His leadership emphasizes client service, clear communication, and long-term professional relationships.
Mr. Reber has over 25 years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Surveying industry. His experience includes boundary and topographic surveys, construction staking, ALTA/NSPS surveys, construction inspection, site design, utility system design, sports fields, and golf entertainment facilities.
Mr. Reber’s responsibilities at Austin Engineering include project management, designer, construction observation, and client management. Mr. Reber works closely with clients to ensure that all their needs are met. Mr. Reber works with area contractors while working for clients to ensure that they are left with a quality product.
