Favorite Way to Spend a Weekend: Hiking, yoga, and afternoon tea with friends
Newest Hobby: Planting/Gardening
Favorite Word: Smile
Favorite Project: 3rd & Broadway Cycle Track Study & Design, Long Beach, CA
Our Team
Our employees are our greatest asset
KOA presents our clients with talented & diverse multi-disciplinary teams in order to create vibrant and dynamic neighborhoods. We are wholly invested in our employees, our company, and the communities we serve!
Leaders with a Vision
Min Zhou, PE
CEO
A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.
Jimmy Lin, PE
Management Executive
Spirit Animal: Mouse (I was born on the year of the Rat)
Karaoke Go-To: I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Favorite Movie: The Godfather
Claim to Fame Moment: Being elected to the city council of Leawood, Kansas
Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.
Juan Gutierrez, CMA
Chief Financial Officer
Favorite Way to Spend a Sunny Day: At the pool
Newest Hobby: Bike Riding
Secret Talent: Latin Style Dance
Spirit Animal: Dog
The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.
Joel Falter
Principal | Director of Planning
Favorite Way to Spend a Sunny Day: Out and about
Spirit Animal: Elephant
Favorite Word: Please
Newest Hobby: Making coffee
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
Carlos Velásquez, AICP
Managing Director of LA Office
Favorite Movie: Batman Begins
What did you want to be when you were six years old? Astronaut
Guilty Pleasure: Pro Wrestling
Claim to Fame Moment: Becoming a dad
Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.
Stephen Bise, PE
VP | Managing Director of OC Office
Favorite Way to Spend a Sunny Day: Playing with my kids at the park
Secret Talent: Juggling
Favorite Treat: Anything chocolate
Favorite Project: Foothill Blvd Master Plan, Claremont, CA
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Ming Guan, PE, TE
VP | Managing Director of IE Office
Newest Hobby: Coding with my kids and the Dash & Dot Robot
Secret Talent: Remembering everyone’s birthdays
Guilty Pleasure: Ice Cream
Favorite Thing About California: Sunshine
To be a good professional engineer, always start to study late for exams. Because it teaches you how to manage time and tackle emergencies.
Charlie Schwinger, PE, TE, PTOE
Managing Director of SD Office
Favorite Thing About California: Mountains, Ocean, Clouds, Sun
Favorite Movie: While You Were Sleeping
What Did You Want To Be When You Were 6 Years Old: Superman
Favorite Project: Escondido Creek Bikeway Missing Link, Escondido, CA
Asking dumb questions is easier than correcting dumb mistakes.
Chuck Stephan, PE
VP | Managing Director of CM Division
Favorite Thing About California: The amazing geography and biodiversity
What Did You Want to be When You Were 6 Years Old: Seven years old
Favorite Vacation Location: Anywhere worth exploring
Favorite Word: Bumptious
Roger Pelayo
Director of Active Transportation
Favorite Song: Hay Unos Ojos (my wedding song)
Secret Talent: Dancing
Newest Hobby: Coaching a group of friends for a half marathon
Favorite Project: SCAG Go Human Inland Empire
When you are not practicing, remember somewhere someone is practicing, and when you meet him, he will win.
Join Our Team
Our employees are our greatest asset
At KOA we know the success of our clients’ projects is determined by the skills and abilities of our people, and we are dedicated to their professional and technical development.