OUR TEAM

President

Paul Spears, PE, SE

Paul has over 20 years of structural engineering experience, working on a variety of structures from stadiums and arenas to churches, retail, and residential. His expertise includes renovation of existing structures, fast tracked projects, nonlinear and dynamic analysis, and design for ATFP.

Paul started STAND in 2010 and has grown the business steadily each year by providing good design and great service.

Paul loves technology and has given many presentations on BIM, Revit, coding, and efficiency with electronic processes. Paul has developed several add-ins for Revit that are sold commercially. He is very much a Revit enthusiast. In graduate school, Paul developed a finite element analysis engine in C++ for wood design company. He has experience coding in VBA, C#, C++, php, javascript, and CSS.

Paul grew up in construction working for his Father in Wichita, KS. He attended K-State and received both a History degree and a Civil Engineering degree. He worked for about a year before going to Virginia Tech for graduate school. Paul received the Via Fellowship to attend Virginia Tech and received a Master’s degree.

Principal

Matt Enstrom, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Matt comes to Stand with over 15 years’ experience in building design and construction. Early in his career, Matt collaborated with Stand’s principals Paul and Brent at a national AE firm on some of the most visible and complex sports, federal, and transportation infrastructure projects in the country.

In addition to his engineering experience, Matt has worked for contractors, developers, and building owners as an estimator, project manager, and owner’s representative. This diverse background and a history of delivering large-scale fast-track and design-build projects make Matt a valuable asset on projects with unique schedule challenges and delivery methods.

A LEED Accredited Professional since 2007, Matt has participated in many sustainable building projects and is an active member of the local USGBC chapter.

Matt is a Nebraska native and attended the University of Nebraska, earning undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Architectural Engineering from the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. In his free time, Matt enjoys chasing down fly balls on the softball diamond and challenging friends and family to a board game from his extensive collection.

Principal

John Funk, PE

John has over 20 years of structural engineering experience working on a variety of project types and sizes.  His project experience includes schools, apartments, arenas, churches and commercial, with design capabilities in multiple structural materials.  Collaboration is the key to success and what John enjoys the most about building design projects.  Whether working on large or small projects, building strong relationship while interacting with architects, contractors or other engineers is essential to his accomplishments.

John received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa in Mechanical Engineering.  He continued his career experience by obtaining a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas.

In his free time, John enjoys time with his family and friends, church activities, biking and catching up on the latest sports scores.

Principal Emeritus

Brent Bonham, PE, SE, LEED AP

Brent has over 20 years of experience with both large- and small-firms, as well as with public and private entities. He has led the structural engineering design on a wide range of projects, with varying clients and delivery types. His projects have ranged from basement wall inspections and residential additions, to some of our nation’s largest and most complex projects in the sports, aviation, transportation and convention center sectors. Prior to pursuing a career in engineering, he also worked as a contractor, architect, and owner’s rep – all of which offers him a unique and varied perspective on the industry.

Brent received his BS degree from M.I.T.’s Architecture Department in 1990, where he was dually enrolled in both architecture and civil engineering. After working a bit, he later returned to school where he received a BSCiE and his MSCiE in structural engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1994 where he was named a William Gregory Fellow.

First son of parents who were both teachers, he has continued that family tradition and has served as an adjunct Professor for the advanced structural steel design classes at UMKC, and also occasionally assists his friends with the various Architectural and Engineering Studio classes at the universities in our region. He served as President and Board Member of the Structural Engineers Association of Kansas & Missouri (SEAKM), and is also a member of AISC, ASCE, ICC, and NCSEA.

He takes pride on developing creative and cost effective solutions that balance the goals and needs of owner, architect and contractor, and he looks forward to collaborating with you on your next project.

Associate Principal

Cody Gibbens, PE

Cody joined Stand in 2016 as their first intern, and came on full time soon after. He grew up in Beloit, KS and attended the University of Kansas, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering and his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering.

While in graduate school, he served as a graduate instructor for the civil engineering graphics and computer aided drafting courses, teaching AutoCAD and Revit to undergraduate students.

Cody is pretty much our jack of all trades. Some of which include: engineer, website designer, Revit guru and graphic designer.

Senior Structural Engineer

Ezra Hallman, PE, SE

Ezra joined Stand in 2021 after 8 years of experience in the education market where he worked on many schools and other structures throughout the Midwest. His experience has taught him good coordination, collaboration, and integration with his design teams.

Ezra is originally from KCMO and received his undergrad at Kansas State University in Architectural Engineering. He’s married with a young daughter and dog and enjoys spending time with his family going to parks, going on walks/runs, reading, eating, etc.

Senior Structural Engineer

Brett Herrmann, PE, SE

Brett has over 12 years of structural engineering experience. Before working at Stand he worked in the metal building industry, where he designed a wide range of commercial projects. His experience includes industrial, educational, office, religious, aircraft hangar, and retail buildings. Brett enjoys many aspects of working at STAND, including providing outstanding customer service and creative solutions to our clients, learning new skills, and mentoring other engineers. 

Brett grew up on a farm near Peoria, IL. He attended Bradley University, where he received a Bachelor and Master’s degree in civil engineering. When not working he enjoys spending time with his family, church activities, playing board games, and exercising.

Senior Structural Engineer

Philip Steed, PE

A Kansas City native, Philip first cut his teeth in construction at a young age while working for his father’s residential remodeling business. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia, he spent a year abroad in South Korea before coming home to work in the engineering field. At various engagements, he gained skills in construction inspection and designing structural improvements for industrial facilities.

Prior to joining STAND, Philip spent several years working primarily on historic and other existing structures in Kansas City and the surrounding region. He is familiar with antiquated structural systems from timber to mass masonry and understands proper repair methods. He is well versed in concrete repair, structural steel repair, waterproofing, and façade assessment. He is licensed in several states and holds an MBA from University of Missouri – Kansas City.

When he’s not way up in an aerial lift or crawling through a shallow basement, he is usually found on his bicycle or at his farm in northwest Missouri.

Structural Engineer

Sam Hovde, PE

Sam is a skilled structural engineer with a strong background in structural design across multiple markets. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

With experience spanning residential, industrial, federal, commercial, and educational projects, Sam brings a well-rounded perspective to structural engineering. His passion for the field began at a young age through hands-on exposure to construction, giving him a deep understanding of both design and build processes.

At STAND Structural Engineering, Sam applies his expertise to create safe, efficient, and tailored structural solutions for every project.

Structural Engineer

Tyler Hultgren, PE

Tyler joined Stand in 2018. Before coming to Stand, Tyler worked for a steel fabricator designing and analyzing miscellaneous metals and steel connections. He graduated from The University of Kansas in December of 2016 with his BS degree in Civil Engineering and he is currently working on his Master of Civil Engineering degree at The University of Kansas in the evenings.

Shortly after graduating high school from Osage City, KS where he grew up, Tyler enlisted into the United States Air Force where he served in the Kansas Air National Guard for 8 years. During his time in the Guard, he was an aircraft mechanic on the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

When not at work Tyler enjoys spending time with his family, helping with church activities, playing “old man” softball, aviation, and woodworking.

Structural Engineer

Clara Blauwiekel, PE

Clara joined Stand in 2020.  Clara comes to Stand after 5 years in the metal building industry where she gained valuable experience in a variety of topics including high seismic analysis, connection reinforcements. Clara has completed projects across the United States and Canada.

Clara attended the University of Kansas, earning a BS degree in Architectural Engineering in 2010 and a MS in Civil Engineering in 2012.

In her free time, Clara enjoys playing violin and piano and spending time with family and friends.

Staff Engineer

Patrick Benda, IE

Patrick graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2021. He was very involved as an undergraduate student, holding leadership positions in ASCE, concrete canoe, and Chi Epsilon. After spending a summer interning at Stand in 2021, he went on to pursue his M.S. in Civil Engineering, again at the University of Nebraska, which he completed at the end of 2022. As a graduate student, Patrick was a teaching assistant for surveying and introductory structural engineering courses.

In his free time Patrick loves to bake, play violin, and go rock climbing.

Staff Engineer

Ben Bockelman, IE

Ben Bockelman developed a passion for construction and engineering through his early experiences in his family’s remodeling business. This hands-on background led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he graduated in 2024. During his studies, Ben was an active member of Engineers Without Borders, contributing to community-driven projects, and participated in climbing, spelunking, and chess clubs, reflecting his adventurous and analytical nature.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys rock climbing, reading, and game nights with friends. His blend of practical experience, technical expertise, and creative problem-solving makes him an asset to the STAND Structural Engineering team.

Staff Engineer

Ethan Atwell, IE

Ethan is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Pensacola Christian College with a passion for structural design. His interest in the field took shape during a 2022 internship with a metal building company, where he gained hands-on experience that ultimately led him to pursue a career as a structural engineer. After graduating, he accepted a position at an AE firm, where he focused on designing multifamily structures. While his early career has centered on multifamily design, he is eager to broaden his expertise and take on new design challenges across various structural types.

When he is not working or spending time with his wife, Ethan enjoys immersing himself in new interests, often dedicating months at a time to develop both technical and hands-on skills. Some of his favorite pursuits include history, chess, engine rebuilding, PC building, coding, strength training, and watchmaking. Whether solving complex design problems or exploring new crafts, he thrives on curiosity, problem-solving, and continuous learning.

Office Manager + BIM Technician

Nicole Harrison

As a BIM Technician, Nicole assists our engineers with drawing production.  She has been working with Stand Structural Engineering since July of 2016, providing production of structural models, drawings and schedules using Autodesk Revit and Bluebeam. As a native of Kansas City, she studied Architecture and Interior Design at Johnson County Community College and worked in the creative arts field before joining the Stand team.  She enjoys collaboration and team problem solving and strives to deliver quality production for our clients.  When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and exercising.

BIM Manager

Travis Smith

Travis joined the Stand team in 2020. He has 20 years of experience in BIM/CAD between AutoCAD and Revit. His experience includes projects in commercial, metal building, K-12 and higher education.

Accountant

Lisa Fetty

Lisa joined the STAND team in 2020.  She holds a B.S. in accounting and has been a CPA for 20 years.

She is originally from Iowa.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, and their 3 sons.  She is active in their church and enjoys working out and watching almost any kind of sports.