Principals
Tim Fitzpatrick
Mr. Fitzpatrick is a licensed California general contractor, License Number 679164. He obtained his B License in 1993. Mr. Fitzpatrick's involvement with the California construction industry began in 1987. In 1996 he started providing construction consulting services on single family homes, multi-unit construction and commercial developments. In 2007, Mr. Fitzpatrick started Axis Consulting with Bizhan Mahallati and in 2010 became a principal of the company.
Mr. Fitzpatrick has vast experience representing the construction industry as well as consumers and commercial building owners. He has represented a number of the largest California developers and general contractors. Mr. Fitzpatrick has provided expert deposition testimony in over 100 litigated cases and has testified in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. He has also testified as an expert for both plaintiff and defense on personal injury matters.
Bizhan Mahallati
Mr. Mahallati is a licensed general contractor in California, License Number 00617681. Bizhan received his license in 1991.
Besides a principal in Axis Consulting, Bizhan is the owner of Axis Construction, a 100+ person general contracting firm. Axis Construction's primary focus is serving homeowner associations, developers, property managers, apartment and commercial building owners with reconstruction and post litigation repairs as well as general maintenance. Axis also provides litigation support by providing destructive testing services and repair bids. With their extensive repair history of occupied structures, Axis has developed cost-effective repair methods and provides timely, experienced customer service support.
Mr. Mahallati has and continues to provide expert services and testimony.
Conor Meyers
Mr. Meyers is a licensed California attorney and has practiced exclusively in the areas of construction litigation and construction law, entity formation and governance and real estate. He was licensed in California to practice law in 1992. Conor graduated from Notre Dame Law School and received his undergraduate degree from UC Davis. Conor is also the principal of Meyers & Associates.
Prior to beginning his law career, Conor was active in construction having worked for contractors in the framing, sheetrock, painting and grading trades. As an attorney, continues to remain active in the construction law field including litigated and non-litigated matters. Conor has represented a number of large developers and contractors, as well as counsel representing subcontractor trades. He handled construction defect claims totaling over $10 million claims where his office was lead defense for the general contractor.
In addition to the representation of contractors and developers, Conor represents commercial building owners, HOA's, homeowners and business owners in litigated and non-litigated matters. Conor has participated in over 500 depositions and has tried jury and bench trials, as well as arbitrations.
Associates
Harlan Krusemark, AIA - Senior Architect
Mr. Krusemark is a licensed California architect and is LEED GA certified for green building design and provides innovative designs and recommendations for green building construction.
Harlan embarked on a long and successful architecture career in California. After receiving his degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln School of Architecture, he obtained his architect license in 1993. Prior to joining ACCI, Harlan distinguished himself for fifteen years at his own firm HKA Architects, which focused on the design of K-12 schools. Immediately before coming to ACCI, he was a Senior Architect with a large design-build public works construction firm.
His vast experience and knowledge base ranges from single-family homes; private multi-unit residential; apartment complexes; public works; and schools and commercial projects, including numerous restaurants. He provides both design and construction oversight at ACCI's design services division, as well as provide investigation and consulting services for construction defect and design matters.
James Naftzger
Mr. Naftzger is a California licensed architect who specializes in field investigation, code compliance review of existing conditions and contract documents, preparation of new design and repairs. Mr. Naftzger is a 1977 graduate of California Polytechnic State University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in architecture.
Mr. Naftzger is highly experienced and skilled, serving as a project architect at several design and construction firms as well as partner and principal of many construction management-consulting firms throughout the bay area. He also consults on construction-related defect claims and lawsuits. As an experienced expert regarding building design, he is a highly sought-after expert in bodily injury matters.
Fred Walovich
Mr. Walovich brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ACCI. He is a licensed architect and California licensed general contractor. He has over 20 years in construction litigation representing developers, general contractors, subcontractors and architects; as well as residential and commercial building owners in hundreds of construction defect and personal injury cases.
His backgrounds includes extensive work in the design and construction of new commercial & retail buildings, schools, churches, single and multi-family housing as well as the post-litigation repair and reconstruction of buildings. He has also been retained as an expert by both plaintiff and defense counsel on personal injury matters. His experience also includes ADA and handicap compliance reviews for existing building reconstruction and site improvement.
Mr. Walovich was previously a principal with Walovich + Associates.
Hatem Bedair, Ph.D., P.E. - Senior Structural Engineer
Dr. Bedair is responsible for Axis' Engineering Practice. He specializes in the analysis and design of structures, including the evaluation of the performance of buildings structural and earthquake engineering. He has provided seismic designs for educational buildings and hospitals and has designed superstructure and foundations for public, industrial, and residential buildings. Dr. Bedair's expertise in structural and earthquake engineering includes design for new and rehabilitated bridges; analysis and design of concrete and steel structures and nonstructural components; modeling and analysis of substructures; earthquake resistance design of buildings, friction damping systems and soil-structure interaction.
Dr. Bedair has directed and supervised the work of structural design engineers, engineering technicians and reviewed all structural design, fabrication, and erection procedures assigned the design team. He has played an integral role in project management, preparing project proposals, contract negotiations and coordination of the bidding process. He has thorough knowledge of a wide range of design standards, including the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO), International Building Code (IBC), American Concrete Institute (ACI), and American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).
Dr. Bedair is a graduate of Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt in Civil Engineering; received his M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Bedair is a Professional Engineer in California and Illinois.
Ronald Timmsen, P.E. - Senior Engineer
Mr. Timmsen is a consulting Civil Engineer who specializes in performing engineers estimates, design constructability reviews, and consulting for numerous engineering contractors, engineers and public agencies. He is particularly experienced in providing engineering analysis for grading, earthmoving, slide repair, structural concrete, pier retaining walls, and underground projects. His work spans several years as a chief estimator and project manager for several multi-million dollar infrastructure contracts.Mr. Timmsen graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.
Chris Durkin - Senior Engineer
Mr. Durkin is a licensed California professional engineer, License Number 71064. Chris is a graduate of Cornell University and has a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California in Real Estate. He is LEED AP certified for green building practices.
Chris' focus is structural engineering. Chris provides litigation support to contractors, developers, building owners and design professionals. As a practicing engineer, Chris analyzes and designs repair protocols for Axis Construction and other clients.
Jay Carey - Senior Consultant
Mr. Carey obtained his California general contractor's license in 1992. He holds two specialty contractor licenses (C-36 Plumbing and C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile) and is a licensed Nevada general contractor. Mr. Carey is a graduate of the University of California at Davis.
Mr. Carey entered the construction consulting arena in 2001. Prior to that, he owned and operated his own construction business working on new residential and light commercial projects.
Jay provides consulting services for contractors, developers and building owners with an emphasis on building envelope design, residential sheet metal flashing and waterproofing, foundation construction, plumbing and tile/stone installation. Jay has provided expert deposition, trial and arbitration testimony.
Jay is an approved MCLE instructor and continues to conduct seminars on construction related matters to attorneys, contractors and insurance representatives.
Paul Arnold - Associate Consultant
Mr. Arnold is a California licensed general contractor. He obtained his license in 1991 and is ICBO certified.
Prior to becoming a construction consultant, Mr. Arnold was a project supervisor for Axis Construction. He formerly owned and operated his own construction company. Paul provides litigation support to contractors, developers and building owners.
Tom Brumbaugh - Associate Consultant
Mr. Brumbaugh is an experienced construction consultant with more than 10 years of consulting experience, as well as more than 20 years of construction experience. Tom is a California licensed contractor and is ICBO certified.
Prior to becoming a construction consultant for Axis Consulting, Mr. Brumbaugh was a project supervisor for Axis Construction. Mr. Brumbaugh provides litigation support to contractors, developers and building owners.
James Ultsch - Associate Consultant
Mr. Ultsch has over 25 years of construction and construction materials experience. He is a journeyman carpenter spending extensive time as a project manager with significant client interaction and is currently working on obtaining his B license.
Mr. Ultsch spent 11 years with Home Depot rising to assistant store manager. In his management role, he gained vast knowledge in construction materials, including application and installation procedures. He often led classes for employees and customers on proper use of materials and product installation.
Since 2005, Mr. Ultsch has been active in construction consulting working for both roofing and general contractor consulting firms. Mr. Ultsch provides litigation support for contractors, developers and building owners from our Sacramento Regional Office.
Lynn Scheld
Ms. Scheld is a California licensed contractor who has worked for several years as a project manager. She brings many years of experience to our team as a construction consultant, providing litigation support that includes field investigation and code compliance review.
Ms. Scheld is a graduate of San Jose State University. Her credentials also include a Master Certificate in Concrete Repair and memberships with ACI and ICRI.
Elisabeth Morris - Assoc. General Counsel & Vice President, Business Development
Ms. Morris is a licensed California attorney with over 12 years of experience in construction and business matters. She has represented developers, general contractors, subcontractors, building owners and private equity firms in litigated matters and advised on complex transactional issues.
Ms. Morris also brings a wealth of business and advocacy experience, previously lobbying for a Fortune 100 corporation and several trade organizations in Washington D.C. and Sacramento. Ms. Morris graduated with Honors from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis where she was a coxswain for the rowing team.
Ms. Morris leads ACCI's business development and marketing, continuing to expand its depth of knowledge and services, as well as expanding to a greater geographic area.