Executive Management
CP&Y's leaders bring decades of diverse experience and a history of proven success. Combining business acumen with technical savvy, these executives help guide the more than 250 talented employees to create innovative civil engineering and environmentally sound designs and solutions.
Our exceptional team of leadership professionals offer industry leadership and business expertise in areas such as Water/Wastewater, Transportation, Transit, Aviation, and Environmental Remediation and have helped CP&Y deliver extraordinary results for some of America’s best-known companies.
W. Walter Chiang, PE (Board of Directors & Principal) |
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On October 1, 1980, Mr. Chiang started his own firm, Chiang and Associates, Inc., in Arlington, Texas. In August 1986, he moved his company to the Dallas area where it became Chiang, Patel, & Yerby and is known today as CP&Y, Inc. Under Mr. Chiang's leadership, CP&Y has earned a reputation for performing high quality work, on-schedule, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the client.
Mr. Chiang is a member of the Board of Directors of CP&Y, Inc., and has more than thirty-eight years of design and project management experience in both environmental and civil engineering projects. His experience includes both water and wastewater treatment plants.
Mr. Chiang is highly regarded in the community and professional circles for his knowledge and expertise in water and wastewater treatment processes and operations.
Wen-Jo “Walter” Chiang was born in China and his family relocated to Hong Kong in the late 1940s and then later to Taiwan. In 1967, he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Chung Yuan Christian College in Taiwan. He came to the Texas area in 1968 where he was an Engineering Research Assistant at the University of Texas at Austin from 1968 to 1971 under Dr. Wes Eckenfelder. He received his Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering in 1970 from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1974, he became a Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.
Mr. Chiang has been an adjunct faculty member of the Civil Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington since 1975, and has taught water and wastewater treatment design and industrial wastewater treatment courses at UTA since that time. In addition, Mr. Chiang conducts lectures and has authored/coauthored numerous technical papers and books.
EDUCATION:
B.S., Civil Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian College, 1967
M.S., Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1970
Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Texas at Arlington, since 1975
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 37110, 1974
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Pete K. Patel, PE (Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer) |
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Pete K. Patel, P.E., joined CP&Y, Inc. in October 1982, and is Chief Executive Officer of the firm. Mr. Patel is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and has more than 37 years experience in evaluation and design of electrical, instrumentation, and telemetering, and HVAC systems for water projects for municipalities, river authorities, and private industries. He has been involved in major projects from the beginning of the study phase to construction and startup phases. Mr. Patel’s experience transcends borders and includes projects in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Puerto Rico and internationally in China, India, Taiwan and Latin America.
Mr. Patel graduated in 1973 with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Mr. Patel is active in several professional engineering societies including IEEE, ASCE, ACEC, AWWA, and WEF. Mr. Patel is also a member of the Department of Commerce’s District Export Council of North Texas, the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and an advisory board member for the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Patel and his wife have three children and reside in Coppell.
EDUCATION:
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, 1973
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 44712, 1979
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Arnold A. Cohen, PE (Board of Directors & President) |
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Arnold A. Cohen joined CP&Y in 2000 and assumed the role of President in February 2008 and has worked tirelessly to further CP&Y’s legacy of providing exceptional client focused engineering services. Mr. Cohen is adamant that by continuing to listen to our clients, and providing thoughtful and intelligent solutions to allow them to achieve their goals, that CP&Y can achieve our goals of continued growth and success. Using a balance of strong technical, managerial and leadership skills, along with a career long dedication to learning, he has built a personal legacy to match that of our company's.
Born in New York and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Mr. Cohen had what he refers to as “a decidedly blue-collar upbringing." This is readily evident in his work ethic and his commitment to open, honest communication. Through dedication and hard work he graduated with honors from the University of Maryland at College Park with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and then went on to the University of California at Berkeley where he obtained a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering.
Mr. Cohen’s career has included both public and private sector engagements, which allow him the unusual ability to relate to the needs and challenges of the widest variety of clients. He joined CP&Y over a decade ago to start our highly regarded bridge practice and has risen through the ranks ever since. Mr. Cohen is committed to growing a company whose deep rooted culture is easily recognizable and respected by clients, colleagues and co-workers alike. A culture built on five basic tenets; accountability, teamwork, enthusiasm, trust in the organization and having an attitude of accomplishment. He is an integral part of the CP&Y story and his leadership and vision are why we are all very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
EDUCATION:
M.S., Civil Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1984
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Maryland at College Park, 1983
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 80085, 1995
Professional Engineer: Oklahoma # 20266, 2001
Professional Engineer: Maryland #16092, 1988
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David Hays, (Board of Directors & Chief Financial Officer) |
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David Hays has served as the Chief Financial Officer for CP&Y, Inc. since 2003, after joining the company in 1999 as the Director of Finance and Human Resources. David is a registered Certified Public Accountant in Texas.
Prior to coming to CP&Y he worked in finance and accounting capacities in the Oil & Gas and public accounting sectors with a combined total work experience of over 30 years. His areas of focus have included Corporate Finance, Treasury Management, SEC Reporting and Benefits Design & Management.
Mr. Hays was born in Kansas and attended school in England through the 2nd grade when his family moved to North Texas. His collegiate background is comprised of graduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington and undergraduate work at Midwestern State University. Mr. Hays is a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s, has completed the CMBA program of the University of Texas McCombs School of Business and serves as Finance Director for his church.
Mr. Hays and his wife live in Arlington and have two children.
EDUCATION:
B.B.A. Accounting, Midwestern State University, 1976
M.P.A. Candidate, University of Texas Arlington, 1979
REGISTRATION:
Certified Public Accountant, Texas #22847
Member, Texas Society of CPAs
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William E. Carroll, PE (Vice President) |
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Bill Carroll joined CP&Y, Inc. in October 1999 as Director of Engineering of Design-Build Projects. Prior to joining CP&Y, he was Director of Engineering at Paterson Candy Ltd. in London, England where he managed the estimating, engineering, and construction services departments. Paterson Candy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black & Veatch specializing in design-build of water and wastewater facilities. His responsibilities included managing the Estimating Department, Engineering Department, and Construction Site Services Department. He has 35+ years of experience in planning, design, and construction of water, wastewater facilities, and solid waste projects.
Mr. Carroll has also taken on the responsibility of CP&Y University, a program dedicated to enriching the lives of CP&Y employees through continued education on topics ranging from personal finance and time management to additional training for specific on-the-job related functions. Mr. Carroll’s commitment to the success of CP&Y University is a testament to his caring nature and to desire to help CP&Y prosper through cultivating our current talent and providing our staff with the foundations necessary to succeed in both their personal and professional lives.
Mr. Carroll and his wife are residents of Carrolton, Texas.
EDUCATION:
M.S., Environmental Health Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1972
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1970
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 38888, 1975
Professional Engineer: Arkansas # 5969, 1984
Professional Engineer: Ohio # E57607, 1993
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Michael S. Hartzler, PE (Board of Directors & Vice President-Aviation Division) |
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Michael Hartzler joined CP&Y in 1990 and has been with CP&Y his entire career. He is the Aviation Division Manager which includes the Aviation, Transit, Construction Management, and Design-Build departments. He has developed the Aviation Department which has been successful in participating in a broad range of projects including $300M 17L/34R Runway system, $60M Deicing system, $850M Skylink Automated People Mover, the $30M SW Perimeter Taxiway as well as many more at DFW International Airport.
The Transit Department he supervises is part of a Joint Venture Partnership GEC contract for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) which is responsible for coordinating multi-billion dollar programs for miles of public Transit transportation in the Dallas Metropolitan Area.
The Construction Management Department manages construction projects in all disciplines. Not only can they manage projects throughout this Division, they have managed projects in the Water/Wastewater, Highway, and Electrical disciplines as well.
Mr. Hartzler also created the Design-Build Department in 1996 at CP&Y. His first assignment was the Water Control in Garland Texas. The project was completed on time and within budget and won the Engineering Excellence Award, 1st Place, awarded by the Texas Council of Engineering Companies. With the civil design-build project delivery method becoming more popular in Texas, CP&Y looks forward to more opportunities to deliver projects to our clients with this approach.
Mr. Hartzler received a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1990.
EDUCATION:
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, 1990
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 83281, 1998
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William R. Hindman, PE (Vice President) |
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Mr. William R. Hindman joined CP&Y in 2002 and serves as Vice President. As a managing principal, he has served as liaison between clients and planning and design teams; established policy control procedures, design criteria and project goals; has ensured appropriate project staffing is available; and has served as quality control program officer for review of project work.
During Mr. Hindman’s 40-year career, he has been responsible for business operations, personnel supervision, project execution, and business development. He has developed extensive Strategic Business Development Plans to effectively utilize the coordinated efforts of key personnel and provide leadership in the implementation of various projects.
His experience in project management and coordination has been utilized in a broad range of civil, environmental, and solid waste projects. Mr. Hindman’s personal involvement in significant projects and client relationships includes review of work performed and support of project team members in the performance of their tasks. Under his direction, professional engineering services have been provided to public and private clients in all areas of transportation, waste management and water/wastewater facilities. Mr. Hindman has supervised and coordinated the work of professional engineers and architects in maintaining quality control and time and budget schedules.
A native of Terrell, Texas, Mr. Hindman was an Eagle Scout and earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, a university known for its heritage, traditions and service.
Mr. Hindman’s proven leadership abilities are apparent in his professional affiliation appointments which include serving for 12 years on the Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Advisory Council of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), including two years as Chair. Mr. Hindman has also served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Solid Waste Association of North America since the inception of the TxSWANA chapter in the early 1980s. Mr. Hindman has also served as the President of the Dallas chapter of the Council of Engineering Companies (CEC) and served as a Vice President at the state level.
Mr. Hindman and his wife reside in Garland and have two children who are a Professional Engineer and an Architect by trade, as well as four grandchildren.
EDUCATION:
M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1969
B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1968
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 33929, 1972
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James J. (J.J.) Roohms, PE (Board of Directors & Vice President-Transportation Division) |
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James J. Roohms, also known as J.J., is the Vice President of the Transportation Division at CP&Y, Inc. and the Director of the Austin office. J.J. Roohms has 17 years of progressive engineering experience on a wide variety of roadway and highway design projects. He has served as Project Manager on multiple urban freeway, urban street, rural highway, freeway interchange and toll road projects.
Mr. Roohms joined CP&Y in 1994 as a roadway engineer and, in large part due to his attention to detail and can-do attitude, quickly rose through the ranks to Production Manager in 1996 and later became the Dallas/Fort Worth Transportation Department Manager. Mr. Roohms continued to play an integral role in the Transportation Division over the next several years. In December 1999, he moved to Austin to help build the Transportation practice and became the youngest Principal in CP&Y’s history when he was promoted to Vice President and Director of the Austin office in late 2005. Just over two years later, J.J. Roohms took the reins of the entire CP&Y Transportation Division and continues to blaze new paths for the Company.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas and raised in Abilene, Texas, Mr. Roohms learned the values of hard work, leadership and integrity early on in his life through his participation in Boy Scouts of America where he earned his badge as an Eagle Scout. After high school, J.J. made the trip to College Station, Texas, to study at Texas A&M University – a university known for its core values of Excellence, Integrity, Loyalty, Leadership, Respect, and Selfless Service – where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1993. Currently J.J. resides in Round Rock, Texas with his beautiful wife and two children where they are active in hunting and various sports activities.
Mr. Roohms is licensed as a professional engineer in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Mr. Roohms has received numerous commendations from both clients and industry colleagues for his work and leadership, particularly for the quality and thoroughness of his work and a record of under budget project completions. His zest for life, leadership, spirit and vision are not only contagious, but also provide momentum for the future growth CP&Y and the enthusiasm shared amongst its employees.
EDUCATION:
B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1993
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 83383, 1998
Professional Engineer: Oklahoma #24253, 2009
Professional Engineer: Arkansas, #9906, 1999
Professional Engineer: Kansas, #21094, 2010
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Randel L. West, PE (Board of Directors & Vice President-Environmental Division) |
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Randel L. West joined CP&Y in 2001 and is a Vice President and Principal with CP&Y based in our Dallas, Texas office. A registered professional engineer in the state of Texas, he received his B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1987 and 1990, respectively, and has been working in the environmental engineering field for over 20 years. He has served as a technical advisor, principal in charge, project manager, construction manager, or project engineer on small- and large-scale wastewater treatment and collection systems, water treatment and distribution systems, water/wastewater solids management, and reclaimed wastewater reuse projects.
Throughout his career, Mr. West has been recognized for his unique ability to develop and apply creative solutions to the challenges faced by municipalities and industries. He has pioneered many new technologies in the water and wastewater arena and has championed energy efficiency and sustainability efforts in the practice. Mr. West has established a reputation for developing innovative integrated process design while reducing capital expenditures. For example, Mr. West developed an approach for the Trinity River Authority at the Central Regional Wastewater System for the 240-mgd grit removal facility that not only increased the capacity of the system to 350-mgd and reduced overall odor emissions, but resulted in a $5 million capital savings to the client as well as long-term O&M costs savings. For the city of Norman, he optimized the process system allowing previously identified construction to be eliminated, resulting in a savings of approximately $12 million to the city.
From the field to the Board Room, Mr. West has been involved in every facet of engineering management and his diverse experience has provided him with unique insight into the industry from multiple view points. He has directed large-scale business development activities and high-profile project pursuits around the country and has managed the planning, design and construction of projects ranging in size from $50,000 to over $100 million. He is currently serving as principal in charge or technical advisor on multiple large, strategic and high-profile municipal projects throughout the state of Texas.
EDUCATION:
M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University, 1990
B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University, 1987
REGISTRATION:
Professional Engineer: Texas # 72452, 1992 |
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