Congratulations to Chris Ehlert who is celebrating 30 years at KL Engineering! While it's hard to put a 30 year career into words, Chris shared this when we asked him:
"Wow—30 years! When I started at KL as a curious young engineer, I had no idea what incredible opportunities and growth awaited me. I’m grateful for the amazing people I’ve worked with and led, and for the positive culture that makes KL Engineering special. Watching others thrive in their roles is truly inspiring. I’m not ready to hang up my hardhat yet—excited for what’s ahead!"
Thank you for the work you've done as Director of Construction Services. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
KL Engineering is committed to delivering #ABetterExperience in all aspects, including when it comes to a project’s bottom line. Learn more about how the team delivered innovative, cost-effective solutions for the CTH D Buffalo Lake Causeway Reconstruction project here: /awards-and-accomplishments/practical-budgeting-on-cth-d-causeway/
At KL Engineering, we believe strong communities are built through strong schools and meaningful local partnerships. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Cesar Chavez Elementary School through the @schoolsmakemsn Adopt-a-School program. We look forward to getting to know the students, staff, and families who make up the school community.
As part of this partnership, members of our team recently donated more than a dozen pairs of headphones to support classroom learning. During Teacher Appreciation Week, we were also happy to provide a meal for staff during their Friday in-service day as a small thank you for all they do each day.
We appreciate the Madison Public Schools Foundation for helping create opportunities for community partnerships like this, and we’re excited to continue supporting Cesar Chavez Elementary in the future.
We are thrilled to welcome Tom Buchholz to KL Engineering as a Senior Specialist V on our Infrastructure Services team, based out of our Green Bay office.
Tom joins KL with more than 30 years of transportation engineering, project delivery, and executive leadership experience across Wisconsin’s transportation industry. Throughout his distinguished career with WisDOT, Tom played a pivotal role in shaping transportation infrastructure throughout Northeast Wisconsin, leading complex, high-profile projects while fostering collaboration among public agencies, community stakeholders, and industry partners. Most recently, he served as Northeast Region Director, where he led and coached more than 150 team members and helped guide strategic transportation initiatives across the region.
His experience spans some of Wisconsin’s most recognizable transportation improvements, including leadership roles on the WIS 441 Major Project, I-41 improvements, the Leo Frigo Bridge emergency repairs, and numerous large-scale design and construction efforts throughout the state. Tom’s deep understanding of transportation systems, regional planning, stakeholder coordination, and project execution will bring tremendous value to our clients, teams, and communities.
Beyond his technical expertise, Tom’s longstanding relationships across the transportation industry and his collaborative leadership approach will further strengthen KL’s network of partnerships and opportunities throughout the region. His insight, mentorship, and wealth of experience will be an incredible resource for our staff as we continue investing in the future of infrastructure and expanding the impact of our transportation services.
Tom holds a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UW-Madison and is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.
We are incredibly excited about the future and the expertise, leadership, and perspective Tom brings to KL. Please join us in welcoming Tom to the team!
"Like they say, time flies when you are having fun." This age-old adage is the truth to Dean Long, who is celebrating 5 years with KL Engineering this year. When asked about his time with us, Dean said: "The thing that made me stick around with KL after three consecutive summers as an intern was the culture. The leadership always took the time to see how things were going. From small talk to professional conversations, the leadership does really care how we are doing. We are here to get a job done but they always understood that we have lives outside of work and that is important to me."
Thank you Dean, for all that you've done as a member of our construction team in our Madison office!
On May 9th, KL's Brian St Vincent is celebrating a milestone anniversary! Brian has been on our Infrastructure Services team for 15 years. We appreciate your efforts and the impact you've had on the company! Thank you, Brian.
We are honored that the CTH D Buffalo Lake Causeway has been recognized with a 2026 APWA WI Public Works Project of the Year Award, as well as a 2026 @acecwisconsin Engineering Excellence Best of State Award. Over the next few weeks, we'll be highlighting some aspects of how this project is an example of Engineering Excellence.
For decades, the causeway frequently flooded, creating ongoing challenges for the Marquette County community. Read more on our website, link in bio!
The KL Menomonie crew volunteered again this year at the Eau Claire Marathon, helping support runners and the community throughout race weekend. KL sponsored a water stop for a second year. With beautiful weather and high spirits, the team had a great time cheering on participants and keeping runners hydrated along the course.
KL’s Jake Joyal recently presented our Becher Street String Lighting project to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Milwaukee Chapter. This West Allis, WI project was submitted for an Illumination Award in Outdoor Lighting Design and has advanced from chapter-level review to national award evaluation.
Designed and constructed by KL’s Jared Baltes, Tony Steinert, and Jake Joyal, the project reflects a collaborative effort that blends technical expertise with creative vision. Tanner Braatz supported the award submittal.
“From an engineering perspective, the Becher Street String Lighting project demonstrates how we can integrate safety-driven infrastructure with aesthetic design, creating a vibrant, inviting canopy that enhances the commercial corridor. Projects like this are especially meaningful because they allow us to blend technical precision with creativity, delivering solutions that not only perform reliably but also energize the community.”
— Jake Joyal, PE
Reconstruction in a historic downtown requires more than technical expertise. It requires an understanding of the community and its identity.
On the USH 14 Reconstruction in Westby, Wisconsin, KL Engineering worked closely with the State Historic Preservation Office, the City, local businesses, and residents to ensure the project respected and enhanced the Downtown Historic District. This collaboration helped guide key elements of the design, including the integration of permanent lighting and ADA-compliant walkways that align with the historic character of the area.
The team also took care to protect nearby landmarks such as Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, while maintaining open communication with residents throughout the project. This helped ensure the final design fit naturally within the existing environment.
By engaging stakeholders early and often, the project team delivered a solution that balances modern functionality with preservation of community character. It reflects KL Engineering’s commitment to designing infrastructure that works not just technically, but for the people and places it serves.
We wrap up #EarthMonth with Marc Kluge represented KL Engineering at the 2026 American Society of Civil Engineers Student Symposium while also giving back locally during an Earth Day cleanup.
The Symposium brought together ASCE student chapters from across the upper Midwest for a weekend of competition and collaboration. Students showcased their skills in events like Concrete Canoe, Steel Bridge, Sustainable Solutions, Surveying, and Concrete Cornhole. Marc contributed as a judge for the Ethics Paper and 3-D Printed Bridge competitions, gaining a firsthand look at the innovative spirit of the next generation of engineers while connecting with fellow professionals.
Marc also joined the @ewb_msu Chapter for an Earth Day Cleanup at Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Despite cold and windy conditions, the group partnered with the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board to help keep the community clean.
Adding to the excitement, KL Engineering intern Lila Hadfield and her @uwmadison Concrete Canoe team earned first place at the Symposium and are headed to nationals this June in West Virginia.
A meaningful way to close out a month focused on sustainability, service, and supporting future engineers.
At KL Engineering, we celebrated National "Take Your Child to Work Day" for the second year running!
Children are curious, and fostering that curiousity is cruicial. The day was filled with fun, learning, and lots of smiles. Kids got to tour the office, watch drone demos, design a park and a bridge, learn about traffic systems, and more.
Thank you to all who participated and made this day memorable once again for these future engineers!
