FHU President Holly Buck's 2025 Message
A Year to Remember
2024 marked a special milestone for FHU—our 40th anniversary. It was a year filled with gratitude for our founders Bob Felsburg, Steve Holt, and Arnie Ullevig, whose vision established a culture of excellence. Their commitment to putting clients first, connecting and enhancing communities, and having a little fun along the way has shaped the foundation of everything we do.
We are proud to carry their work forward and nurture the culture they built. In 2024 we advanced more than 660 projects in 27 communities across 9 states—each project making a lasting impact. From enhancing safety and reliability to improving everyday convenience, our work directly benefits the people who rely on these connections. These projects do more than move people; they strengthen communities—fuel local economies, expand access to jobs and essential services, and create seamless links to schools, retail, and recreation. By designing infrastructure that serves its users, we are building a future where mobility is safer, smarter, and more connected.
The Best is Yet to Come
As we move into 2025, we are building on the momentum of an extraordinary year. Our priorities for the year ahead are clear:
- Growing and Building Talent: We’re focusing on providing training, defining career paths, and adding talent to meet the evolving mobility needs of our communities. Investing in our employees ensures we continue delivering exceptional client service—a hallmark of FHU’s success.
- Promoting Work-Life Balance: We’re reinforcing initiatives that support the well-being of our team. By encouraging meaningful time off and cultivating a workplace where people thrive both professionally and personally, we support a well-rested, inspired team that is ready to bring innovation and passion to work every day.
Exciting Leadership Updates at FHU
We continue to be guided by a tremendous group of individuals with passion and commitment to transportation and community service. I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Patrick Stein to Executive Vice President of FHU and Jenny Young to Director of the Mountain West Region. Both Patrick and Jenny are strategic, visionary leaders who bring inspiration and joy to our work.
In addition, we welcome four new Principals and three new shareholders to our exceptional leadership team. Please join me in congratulating Adam Denney, Josh Palik, Alivia Plankis, and Malinda Reese on their promotions to Principal. Each exemplifies the mission and vision of FHU, demonstrates outstanding leadership and technical expertise, and shares a deep commitment to our clients and communities.
We also welcome Chad Jenkins, Kevan Kuhnel, and Greg Youell as FHU’s newest shareholders. These emerging leaders bring fresh perspectives and will drive innovation to support the evolving transportation needs of our communities for years to come.
We are incredibly grateful for the trust our clients place in us. Transportation and mobility remain the foundation of thriving communities and our exclusive focus. We look forward to continuing our collaborative work with each of you in 2025; it promises to be a year of innovation, growth, and strength.
From college intern to Principal, Adam Denney, PE, PTOE, has fueled his career at FHU through his devotion to traffic engineering. Based in Omaha, Adam leads the Great Plains Traffic team, bringing over 18 years of experience dedicated to creating safer and more efficient transportation systems.
Adam’s expertise encompasses traffic operations and safety studies, signal roadway design, and traffic systems. His hands-on project management style and contagious enthusiasm resonate with clients and colleagues alike. Whether navigating complex projects or mentoring aspiring engineers, Adam consistently brings energy and innovation to every endeavor.
Josh Palik’s 18-year engineering journey began in western Nebraska, winding through Wyoming and the Omaha metro before taking him to Iowa in 2021 as FHU’s Des Moines Office Leader. Along the way, Josh has helped municipalities, counties, and states overcome the region’s toughest transportation challenges to bring critical infrastructure projects to life.
Rooted in small-town values, Josh builds lasting relationships through honesty, integrity, and a commitment to doing what’s right. He goes beyond the technical, focusing on understanding his clients’ vision and exceeding their expectations to earn trust and foster long-term partnerships.
With more than 12 years of experience, Alivia Plankis, PE, delivers transportation solutions that connect communities through safe, reliable infrastructure. As FHU’s Structures Group Leader, she excels in managing complex projects, from multimodal corridors with box culverts and retaining walls to large-scale interchanges featuring multiple bridges.
Alivia’s collaborative approach and focus on quality, connectivity, and long-term resilience elevate FHU’s structural design process. Beyond her technical expertise, she is passionate about mentoring future engineers, volunteering within FHU and for STEM programs in the Denver community.
Since joining FHU in 2023, Malinda Reese, PE, has led the Transit Design & Operations and Advanced Mobility teams within our National Services group, bringing more than 15 years of expertise in transit, traffic, roadway, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) design.
A respected industry expert, Malinda has the unique ability to span planning and engineering to craft solutions that optimize transit systems, whether through quick operational improvements or long-term strategies. As an avid transit rider, she is passionate about creating accessible, sustainable, and safe transit systems that connect communities, reduce environmental impacts, and foster economic growth.
Chad Jenkins, CPA, serves as FHU’s Chief Financial Officer. With 20 years of diverse industry experience, Chad brings a proven track record of helping companies achieve their financial goals and grow sustainably. As CFO, Chad plays a vital role in shaping FHU’s future.
He works closely with the executive team to lead financial planning, economic strategy, and compliance, ensuring our efforts align with FHU’s strategic vision. His expertise as a Certified Public Accountant and experience as a consultant and financial executive provide a solid foundation for driving financial success and fostering long-term stability.
With 21 years of experience in water resources and roadway engineering, Kevan Kuhnel, PE, is a trusted leader at FHU. Serving as a project manager and water resources design lead, he has spent 18 years delivering meaningful projects for Colorado Department of Transportation, the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and other Front Range communities.
Kevan leads FHU’s Colorado Springs Water group, specializing in hydrology and hydraulics, detention and water quality pond design, drainage studies, stormwater management plans, and grading and erosion control plans. His recent role as project manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-25 Operational Improvements – Fillmore to Garden of the Gods showcases his ability to tackle complex challenges and provide innovative solutions.
Greg Youell, AICP, is a dynamic team leader and relationship builder with more than 22 years of experience in transportation and city planning. As the former executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, the Omaha region’s six-county transportation and community development district, he spent nine years leading long-range collaborative planning initiatives that engaged public and private stakeholders.
In his role as FHU’s Great Plains Transportation Planning Leader, Greg excels at building effective teams, managing budgets, and navigating projects from development to successful implementation. His in-depth knowledge of project funding opportunities is invaluable to clients pursuing state, federal, and foundation grants. Greg’s broad experience, big-picture perspective, and dedication to enhancing communities make him an essential part of FHU’s leadership team.