Every month, the E&A leadership team recognizes employees who have been nominated by their co-workers for going the extra mile and embodying E&A’s core values: Our People, Our Customers, and Our Company. The award, for both the nominee and nominator, includes a prime parking spot for the month, along with a full-service car detail.
FEBRUARY: Heather Czerwinski, Project Coordinator, and Stacey Wood, Assistant Project Coordinator
I would like to give a shout out to Heather and Stacy Wood. I have been trying to complete an audit of missing as built files within our SID Intranet system since 2017. Heather offered her team member Stacy to help scour part of the system for error codes. This required opening and looking at over 1,000 record files! Stacy stepped right up, did a thorough job (completing this task within 1 month-Kudos!) and now I can spend the time placing the missing files back into the system correctly. The vitality of our records being complete, for all users and historical the value, is so important. Very grateful for this help from both Heather and Stacy.
*Submitted by Holly Baty, Construction Administration Technician
MARCH: Shanna Kaufmann, Administrative Assistant
In December, Shanna Kaufman lived our Core Values. Matt (Project Manager) and I were in Lincoln to deliver client holiday gifts. The Lincoln office had re-arranged their boxes for their clients and they had some leftover supplies. After reviewing the boxes and knowing our NDOT clients tend to share with the entire office, we determined some re-boxing was required. Shanna saw Matt and me working on this and not only found us a cart to use but helped us re-package and beautify the display. She stepped up and helped Matt and me get our gifts fully prepared. She even helped load and drive the now much larger boxes to NDOT’s offices for delivery. She stepped up to help Our People, in a way that directly impacted relationships with Our Customers. All of this was above and beyond her roles and responsibilities and was greatly appreciated.
*Submitted by Taylor Eman, PE, Assistant Project Manager
APRIL: Eric Schaben, PLS, Land Surveying Assistant Department Manager, and Rich Skarin, PLS, Land Surveying Technician
I’d like to mention both Eric Schaben & Richard Skarin for living out E&A’s Core Values.
Since I started, Eric has been excellent about teaching me the ins and outs of surveying and
explaining everything to me in a clear and concise way. He has never belittled me and, if I don’t
understand something, he patiently explains it again and understands that there is much to learn and
that it takes time.
As for Rich, I lean on him nearly every day. I’m always bugging him for assistance and he always
comes through for me. Even though he is very busy, Rich makes time for me. I appreciate everything
that Eric & Rich have done for me so far.
*Submitted by CJ Umberger, CST I, Land Surveying Technician
What sets this example apart?
Eric & Rich are great examples of providing a learning environment in a professional manner. It is our internal brand promise to all entry level employees that E&A will provide knowledgeable mentors who will provide assistance & training to support professional & career development.
JUNE: David Harvey, Land Planning, Planner
I would like to nominate David Harvey for recognition under our Core Values. David went out of his way to guide me through the process of setting up an aerial drawing with parcels and contours after I encountered several challenges. He consistently demonstrates what it means to be a supportive and reliable team member—especially while I’ve been working remotely.
From assisting with submittals and facilitating internal communication with other teams to proactively resolving zoning-related questions, David continually goes the extra mile. His patience, helpfulness, and dedication to serving both his colleagues and our customers truly embody the spirit of our Core Values.
*Submitted by Nickie Napierala, Planning Specialist
What sets this example apart?
This recognition stands out because it highlights a key pillar of trust: asking for help. Nickie didn’t hesitate to reach out when she hit roadblocks—and David showed up in every way. His willingness to guide, communicate, and collaborate reflects the kind of trust and support we talk about often. It’s not just about solving problems—it’s about showing up for each other.
JULY: Kyle Vohl, PE, Project Manager
With one of our survey managers on vacation, I took a call from a superintendent asking if we’d be staking that day. I knew we hadn’t received building plans yet, and with the short holiday week, I couldn’t track any down. I told the superintendent that if he could get us plans by Monday, we could stake on Tuesday. I thought we were good—but I was wrong. Later that afternoon, while Kyle Vohl and I were out, he started getting texts from the superintendent’s boss, upset and threatening to fire E&A over false claims. Kyle immediately contacted the project engineer, who sent the survey team the plans. They were able to compute the layout on Saturday and be ready to stake on Monday. Kyle also made a personal call to the superintendent’s boss, calmed things down, and helped protect both our relationship and reputation.
*Submitted by Eric Schaben, PLS, Land Surveying Assistant Department Manager
What sets this example apart?
What sets this core value sighting apart is that the clients involved weren’t directly Kyle’s—but that didn’t stop him from stepping in. He saw a teammate in a tough spot and a customer relationship on the line, and he took action. By taking initiative, finding a solution, and personally reaching out to calm the situation, Kyle showed true dedication to both our people and our clients. It’s a clear example of what it means to live out “Our Company.”
AUGUST: Kailynn Eichhorst, Receptionist
Recently, I was in the break room. Kai was looking for something to ice a soda down for a client who comes in every Wednesday. I showed her something that may work. She let me know that this particular soda was not something they usually carry up front in the hospitality area, but that she got it specially for this client who is going through chemo.
I thought this was incredibly thoughtful and kind and deserved a shout out for taking the time to be so helpful to our clients. It may be a little thing, but I am sure that client will remember how Kai made them feel. Thanks Kai!
*Submitted by Teresa Wooten, PE, Municipal Services Project Engineer
What sets this example apart?
What sets this sighting apart is the level of intentionality and care Kai showed—going out of her way to get a specific soda for a client going through chemo, simply because it’s something that makes his visit a little better. It’s a small gesture on the surface, but it reflects a deep commitment to creating a positive experience that goes well beyond her job description.
NOVEMBER: Brock Walla, PE, Project Engineer
While I was out of the office for the strategic planning meetings, an issue came up on an apartment site I had designed with an employee who is no longer at E&A. The client requested a site visit to check if some grading worked on the sidewalks around the building. I called Brock Walla and forwarded him the client’s email, asking him to look into and meet the client on site. Brock had never worked on this project but he reviewed the plans and the email. After a phone call during one of my breaks, we located a topo survey of the area and Brock headed to the site. Brock spoke with the client and sent me pictures, following by a detailed email with his recommendations. After one final phone call after my meeting, which was after Brock had headed home for the day, I detailed a solution for the client, enabling the concrete to be poured the next day so that progress on the site work was not delayed.
*Submitted by Caleb Beasley, PE, Project Manager
What sets this example apart?
This core value sighting stands out because Brock demonstrated full ownership and initiative beyond what was expected. He proactively learned the project background so he could speak confidently with the client, offer solutions and recommendations, and prevent disruption to Caleb’s strategic work. What makes it exceptional is that Brock didn’t rely on excuses or prior involvement—he simply stepped up, took accountability, and delivered results. His actions built trust and reliability, showing true leadership and commitment to the team’s success.
DECEMBER: Dillon Reese, SIT, Land Surveying Technician, and Taylor Lander, CST I, Surveyor
Due to weather conditions, we were required to acquire a drone topo on a Saturday. Moreover, due to technical difficulties with the new drone, this topo was already late. Unfortunately, I was not familiar with the new drone and Dillon Reese was going to out of town. On Friday, Taylor Lander worked with Dillion to program the drone and Dillon reviewed the flight procedures with both Taylor and me. On Saturday, Taylor brought the drone to Omaha, got it flight-ready and went out with me to fly the topo. Throughout the morning, Dillon took our calls and walked us through the issues that we were encountering. Thanks to both of them, we were able to complete the job and get the topo delivered to Our Customer.
*Submitted by Frank Elder, PLS, SIT, CST III, Senior Land Surveying Technician
What sets this example apart?
The dedication from all three team members truly stands out. From Taylor volunteering to work on Saturday, transporting equipment to Omaha, and flying the topo with Frank, to Dillon making himself available for calls on his day off, and to Frank for ensuring the topo was delivered to Our Customer—excellent work all around!
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