About Antero Group

Antero Group is a holistic civil engineering, urban planning, and strategic consulting firm with offices in Chicago, South Bend, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth. We leverage interdisciplinary teams, creative thinking, and collaborative processes to design innovative and effective solutions. Our team believes that authentic, long-term partnerships are the best way to deliver projects that create lasting value.

Vision + Mission

We envision a world where sustainability, resilience, and equity is business as usual. Our mission is to help our clients thrive by designing projects, policies, and programs that transform the built environment.

Antero Group is more than just a consulting firm. Founded in the wake of the Great Recession, the firm recognizes that while resources in both public and private sectors continue to be stretched, it is important that your consulting needs are as consolidated and efficient as possible. With this in mind, we formed Antero Group to function as a project partner that anticipates our clients’ needs, working with them to create plans, designs, and identify funding sources that solve problems and transform ideas into reality.

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Civil Engineering

Site Development
Construction Engineering and Management
Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering
Municipal Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Logistics Engineering
Stormwater Management
Regulatory and Compliance Services
Permitting and Cost Estimating

Planning + Design

Land Use & Zoning
Comprehensive Planning
GIS Analysis and Visualization
Complete Streets and Active Transportation
Green Infrastructure Planning
Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Planning
Community Outreach and Education
Smart and Connected Communities

Strategic Consulting

Grant Writing
Owner Representative Services
Economic and Workforce Analysis
Government Advisory Services
Project Funding Strategies
Project Management
Stakeholder Outreach and Facilitation

Branding + Marketing

Marketing Strategies
Branding and Visual Identity
Website Development & Design

OUR CORE VALUES

  • Responsiveness

    Antero Group’s commitment is to respond with information, requests, and analysis as quickly as possible. We recognize decisions depend on quality information, presented in a timely manner. Responding to client queries within 24 hours is part of who we are.

  • Sustainability

    Antero Group is committed to sustainable approaches in its many forms. This means our projects are reviewed to maximize their lifespan, while minimizing costs and impact to the environment.

  • Value

    Antero Group seeks to add value to our clients by seeking resources, partnerships, and ideas that help to advance their initiatives. We regularly connect clients to grants, communities, developers, and local, state, and federal partners that expedite projects and transform ideas into realities.

  • Equity

    Antero Group believes in equitable practices both within and without. The built environment can and should be a vehicle for shared prosperity. Our philanthropic efforts support communities in need, while our internal practices aim to create a diverse and open work environment.

  • Pragmatic

    Antero Group leverages tools and resources that are cost-effective, advanced, and useful. We recognize projects must be both exciting and practical. As such, we seek to advance our clients’ initiatives by recognizing capacities, context, and community to determine how best to advance a pragmatic solution to a problem or opportunity.

  • Collaboration

    Antero Group believes that trust and effective collaboration is key to the success of any project. We are a resource for questions, ideas, and support whatever the project or need. Our goal is to blur the line between consultant and client, creating a partnership that is project- and mission-driven for everyone involved.

Our Team

Eric Neagu<small>, <em>P.E., LEED AP, AICP</em></small>

Eric Neagu, P.E., LEED AP, AICP

Managing Principal

Eric Neagu, PE, LEED AP, AICP is the managing Principal of Antero Group. Mr. Neagu’s 20 years of experience spans public, private, and institutional clients. With a background that encompasses civil engineering, urban planning, and economic development, Mr. Neagu applies a holistic approach to solving client problems. This results in optimized project costs and efficiencies, saving time and money for our clients. He holds degrees and certifications from Purdue University; Hamburg University; The University of Chicago; and Università Bocconi.

Mr. Neagu‘s project roles include infrastructure design; economic development analysis; owner’s representative; master planning; and cost benefits analysis. His interests include economic development; project finance; land use planning; and more.

Jeffrey Ekegren<small>, <em>CFM</em></small>

Jeffrey Ekegren, CFM

Principal / Chief Operations Officer

Jeffrey Ekegren is Chief Operations Officer and a Senior Project Manager with Antero Group. He is responsible for the firm‘s civil engineering projects. His team’s work includes a broad range of project types, ranging from small scale private site development to significant transportation infrastructure projects. Mr. Ekegren’s skills includes stormwater management planning; site plan development; site grading; and value engineering. He is a certified floodplain manager. He holds a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Mr. Ekegren has a strong background in residential, commercial, and industrial projects. His interests include site planning; stormwater management.

Michael Schmitz

Michael Schmitz

Principal

Michael Schmitz is a Principal for Antero Group. Mr. Schmitz has ten years of GIS; zoning; grant writing; and planning experience with clients in the public and private sectors. Michael focuses on providing innovative, strategic and visioning planning solutions for small, mid-sized and large cities experiencing challenges related to growth. His degree is from the University of North Texas.

Michael has been the lead GIS consultant on projects ranging from asset and infrastructure planning, to enterprise GIS and public safety solutions for next generation 9-1-1 systems. He manages Antero Group’s Dallas-Fort Worth office.

Rob Buchhoz

Rob Buchhoz

Project Engineer

Rob Buchholz has over 20 years of engineering design experience in
multiple disciplines through a career working for both small and large firms during which he has gained significant knowledge in civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical/network engineering design. Rob also brings airport
runway and aviation building design projects, having worked on military projects with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon while following strict government design criteria. He is proficient in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, and survey information processing through Trimble. Rob holds a degree from Northwest Kansas Technical College.

Molly Delaney

Molly Delaney

Planner

Molly Delaney is a Planner with Antero Group who brings experience in community engagement, economic development, and spatial design to the firm. She holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.A. from The Ohio State University. Ms. Delaney is passionate about creating sustainable and equitable communities through innovative design and thoughtful collaboration.

Jackson Dye

Jackson Dye

Staff Engineer

Jackson Dye is a Staff Engineer at Antero Group. From decorating the Denver office to his eccentric personality, his other skills include programming in MATLAB, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Microsoft VBA with certifications in CPR and HAZWHOPER. Prior jobs / projects entail landfill, solar, wind farm design; oil spill water treatment; field technician; plant and microorganism bio-productivity; construction management; and waste generalization. Outside of crushing it in the office, Jackson participates in skiing, bouldering, horror movies, and creating music and art. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.

Emily Eng<small>, <em>EIT</em></small>

Emily Eng, EIT

Staff Engineer

Emily is a staff engineer with Antero Group. Her work experience in civil engineering consists of transportation and civil site design, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and ADA compliance. Emily is interested in water resources engineering and is passionate about developing safe and equitable infrastructure for our clients and communities.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ken Gurtowski<small>, <em>AIA</em></small>

Ken Gurtowski, AIA

Director of Building Services

Mr. Gurtowski’s experience in Architecture Design and Construction spans over four decades and encompasses project program analysis and definition, schematic and preliminary design, budget and financial analysis, contract documents, drawings and specifications, coordination of project disciplines, bidding, contract administration and project observation, and project closeout. As a licensed architect, he held the positions of Project Architect, Project Manager, and was Principal in Charge on several projects. His experience covers Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, Commercial, Government, Aviation, Multi-Family/Residential, and Industrial sectors. Prior to joining the Antero Group, Mr. Gurtowski was a principal with VOA, a prestigious Chicago-based design firm. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois.

Mr. Gurtowski brings a wealth of knowledge and a diverse work history which offers a unique perspective for tailored solutions that fit our client’s needs.

Ben Jenkins<small>, <em>PE</em></small>

Ben Jenkins, PE

Director of Engineering

Ben Jenkins has 25 years of experience in Civil Engineering & Land Development—21 years as a consultant and 4 years as an engineer and project manager in local government—resulting in a broad professional background in both the private and public sectors. Mr. Jenkins’ expertise encompasses all aspects of civil design and construction from commercial and residential developments to roadways, utility networks, and large open space projects.

Mr. Jenkins has a strong background in site planning, feasibility analysis, storm water and drainage, low impact development, utility network design, and construction management and inspections. As a project manager, Mr. Jenkins provides comprehensive civil engineering and land development services from initial concept to final acceptance.

Soyeon Jang

Soyeon Jang

Planner

Soyeon Jang is a Planner with Antero Group. Originally from South Korea, Soyeon holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Korea National University of Arts. She also holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago with a Geospatial Analysis and Visualization (GSAV) certificate. Soyeon is passionate about promoting climate resilience and sustainability in communities, as well as generating interactive and innovative data visualizations by utilizing her skills in data analysis and visualization, research, and spatial design.

Brady Lane

Brady Lane

Project Engineer

Brady is a project engineer with Antero Group. He has knowledge and experience with civil engineering projects including general utility design, water/wastewater distribution, overhead to underground electric conversion, roadway reconstruction, and construction management services. He is passionate about delivering sustainable solutions and improving the lives of people in the communities he serves. Brady holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University.

Mariana Madison<small>, <em>PE</em></small>

Mariana Madison, PE

Senior Project Engineer

Mariana Madison is a professional engineer with considerable experience in site development and design. Ms. Madison has contributed to a range of projects, spanning mixed-use developments, student housing, commercial and industrial ventures, as well as single-family residential subdivisions. Mariana effectively leverages her skills in site design, grading and drainage, stormwater management design, and utility design to guide projects from the conceptual and planning stages to successful construction completion.

Ms. Madison holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Georgia and is interested in using her skills to create meaningful, sustainable, and equitable communities.

Sean Norton

Sean Norton

Project Manager

Sean Norton is a Planner & Creative Specialist with Antero Group. With over 15 years experience in both public and private sectors, Mr. Norton possesses hands-on expertise that uniquely positions him to contribute to a diverse range of projects involving public engagement, strategic planning, regional development, organization support, and technical applications. Furthermore, his background in graphic design provides Antero Group the opportunity to expand its array of business lines with enhanced branding and marketing services. With his eye for design, Sean is able to distill and illustrate complex data in an easily digestible format, adding a valuable perspective to the team of highly qualified experts at Antero Group.

Rosa Ruiz-Cuadros

Rosa Ruiz-Cuadros

Accounting Manager

Rosa Ruiz-Cuadros is the Accounting Manager with Antero Group. She brings an extensive background in comprehensive accounting operations, annual budget development and coordination, financial reporting, and process management to the firm. She is a firm believer in the power of collaboration and communication and has led a rewarding career in accounting and bookkeeping.

Originally from Peru, Ms. Ruiz-Cuadros earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Universidad Ricardo Palma.

Julia Rumely

Julia Rumely

Staff Engineer

Julia Rumely is a staff engineer with Antero Group. Her experience in the civil/environmental engineering field includes stormwater management design, drainage evaluation and design, environmental permitting, asset management, and municipal structural inspection. Julia is very interested in water resources engineering and has a passion for developing environmentally sustainable designs through innovation and collaboration.

Julia is originally from Michigan (Go Lions!), and she obtained her B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Michigan State University in December 2022.

Jonathan Sherman<small>, <em>AICP</em></small>

Jonathan Sherman, AICP

Senior Planner

Jonathan Sherman is a Senior Planner with Antero Group and brings a diversity of planning experience to the team. Jonathan is interested in fostering a holistic approach to planning that encourages participation and creative solutions. Jonathan utilizes his skills in plan development, mapping, and grant writing to create effective planning tools for clients and communities. Jonathan is enthusiastic about collaboration, urban design, and environmental justice promoting a sustainable and prosperous future. Jonathan holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mindy Smith

Mindy Smith

Senior Planner

Mindy Smith is a senior planner with Antero Group who utilizes her skills in research, mapping, and writing to innovate and create effective solutions. Mindy holds bachelor’s degrees in theology and earth science from North Park and Northeastern Illinois University and recently completed a master’s degree in environmental science from DePaul University. She is passionate about mitigating environmental hazards for communities as well as creating interactive maps specific to client needs.

Mike Sneed<small>, <em>PE</em></small>

Mike Sneed, PE

Project Manager

Mike Sneed is a Senior Project Engineer for Antero Group. Mr. Sneed has worked specifically in traffic engineering design for ten years where he focused on driveway, intersection, and traffic signal design for both private and public sector clients. His past projects include isolated intersections to larger pedestrian safety corridor improvements. He was also a lecturer at Missouri University of Science and Technology where he taught the transportation engineering course in the civil curriculum.

Mr. Sneed is a Professional Engineer and earned his degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Tallulah Tshisau

Tallulah Tshisau

Staff Engineer

Tallulah Tshisau is a Staff Engineer with Antero Group. Ms. Tshisau brings a solid educational foundation to her role and aims to contribute to the success of diverse projects. Her dedication to professional growth drives her to continually seek opportunities to enhance her knowledge in civil engineering. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Ms. Tshisau’s experience spans both office and field work, showcasing versatility in her skill set. Outside the office, Tallulah engages in activities that foster creativity, such as playing the ukulele or video editing. She finds relaxation in playing Sudoku and enjoys taking trips, cherishing the opportunity to make meaningful memories with her loved ones.

Arron Wallace

Arron Wallace

Senior Project Engineer

Arron K. Wallace serves as a Senior Project Engineer for the Antero Group. Mr. Wallace has over twenty-one years of civil engineering experience with a rich history of work ranging from housing, roadway, a multitude of grading, mining, waterway, to green infrastructure projects.

Mr. Wallace enjoys a diverse work history and particularly specializes in site layouts, grading, and utility design.

Emily Woodworth

Emily Woodworth

Office Manager

Emily Woodworth is the office manager at Antero Group whose professional interests span the divide between art and science and include ecological conservation, native seed cultivation, and scientific illustration. She holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she focused on natural history illustration and 16mm filmmaking, and also recently received an MS in Plant Biology and Conservation from a joint program between Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Zephyr

Zephyr

Chief Purr-ganizer

Zephyr oversees our purr-ganizaton efforts, and ensures our office remains a harmonious and relaxing environment.

Toad

Toad

Pawject Manager

Toad provides strategic direction for our pawjects; helping us navigate the complexities of urban planning and civil engineering.

Chicago, Illinois
South Bend, Indiana
Denver, Colorado
Dallas, Texas