RS Engineering to Clark Dietz: One Year Later

In April 2024, RS Engineering joined Clark Dietz, one of the Midwest’s leading consulting engineering firms. By January 2025, our team fully transitioned under the Clark Dietz name. While our logo and email addresses may look different, one thing hasn’t changed — the same trusted Michigan team is here, continuing to serve our clients with dedication and expertise.

Over the past year, we’ve had many conversations with clients, partners, and colleagues who wanted to know: What does this mean for us? What has changed, and what hasn’t? We’d like to take a moment to answer those questions and share what this new chapter means for Michigan.

MI attending Lansing Lugnuts Baseball Game

What Hasn’t Changed

Our Michigan team remains intact and stronger than ever. The engineers, project managers, and staff you’ve always known are still the ones leading your projects today.

Robert Rayl, PE – Michigan Regional Director and Clark Dietz Board Member
Thomas D. Sereseroz, PE – Structural Group Practice Leader
Leigh Burgess, PE, PTOE – East Michigan Area Manager
Brian Smith, PE – Central Michigan Area Manager
Shawn Kraus, PE – Team Lead, Construction Engineering and Roadway Lighting
Kevin Jones, PE– Team Lead, Transportation Engineering
Brandon Hasso, PE – Team Lead, Transportation Engineering
Ron Pretty, PE, PTOE – Team Lead, Traffic Engineering
Michael Miller, PE – Team Lead, Civil Engineering
Allison Cummings – Communications Manager
Sarah Gustafson – Controller
Nicole Rindlisbacher – HR Generalist
Maggie Walsh, MBA – Sr. Marketing Coordinator

Many of our other team members continue to provide the same exceptional attention to detail and technical expertise that our clients have always relied on. From construction inspection to roadway design, traffic operations to civil and environmental support, our professionals remain deeply committed to delivering high-quality work. Their dedication ensures that clients across Michigan — and throughout the Midwest — continue to receive innovative solutions, responsive service, and trusted partnerships on every project.

RS Engineering had a strong Department of Transportation focus, and by joining Clark Dietz, the Michigan team now benefits from expanded municipal engineering capabilities. Together, this combination allows us to continue our established work while also broadening our services and project opportunities throughout the region.

What’s New

Joining Clark Dietz has given us expanded services and greater capacity to serve our clients. Beyond our expertise in traffic, safety, and transportation engineering, we now offer:

MI Inspector, Devin Rayl on project site.

MI Inspector, Devin Rayl, on the project site.

Water, wastewater, and stormwater engineering
Municipal engineering services
Expanded transportation and structural capabilities
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering beyond roadway lighting and photometric analysis to include arc flash analysis and renewable energy
Comprehensive GIS services

This growth means we can now support local agencies and state partners with broader solutions, from complex emergency projects like sinkhole remediation, to long-planned transportation improvements, to innovative stormwater systems. We’re also equipped to deliver larger-scale improvements such as interchange reconstruction projects, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, municipal planning initiatives, and the design of multi-use trail systems that connect and enhance communities.

It’s not just about services. Clark Dietz has also expanded our culture and opportunities: mentorship programs, paid volunteer time off, active committees for Research & Development, Learning & Development, and Culture, plus Communities of Practice that connect disciplines across offices to share best practices and training.

Bob Briggs, Sr. Design Technician, reflected on the cultural transition:

“When we first heard about the acquisition, many of us wondered what the culture of a larger firm would be like. My experience at Clark Dietz has been remarkable — the leadership makes every employee feel valued, and the culture is truly employee-centered.”

We have also added new employees to our Michigan region, such as Paul Izzo, PE, Adam Ross, PE, Allen Van Den Boom, PE, and Sean Marzano, SE, PE. Paul was a new addition, and the others were prior employees who now call the Michigan offices home.

Michigan at a fowling event.

How the Transition Went

Transitions always come with questions and challenges — from new systems and technology to data migration and AI integration. Clark Dietz approached the process with careful planning, pairing each RS Engineering employee with a “transition ambassador” and creating a clear roadmap for onboarding.

Brian Smith, PE, Area Manager, shared:

“The incorporation of RS Engineering into Clark Dietz’s Michigan Region has gone as good as I could have hoped. My peers throughout the company have all been very helpful and patient with my questions.”

This thoughtful process ensured that while technology and systems changed, our ability to serve clients remained seamless.

Looking Ahead

For Michigan, the future is bright. We remain leaders in traffic and safety engineering, while expanding into municipal and multidisciplinary services through the strength of Clark Dietz. Together, we are committed to Engineering Quality of Life — providing technical excellence while improving the communities where we live and work.

Bob Rayl’s lecture for the MSU Capstone class on Consultant Engineering.

It’s been over a year since we joined Clark Dietz, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come. The same trusted people are here, with more tools, resources, and opportunities to serve our clients and communities.

We’re here. We’re Clark Dietz. And we’re excited for what’s ahead in Michigan. Reach out to our Michigan leadership team to learn how we can support your next project.

Contact:
Thomas D. Sereseroz
Robert D. Rayl
Brian Smith
Leigh Burgess

Learn more about projects across our region: News