Our Team

Brandon founded Bolen Engineering with a simple objective: to provide a highly collaborative, practical approach to structural design. He believes that successful projects are built on direct communication and working closely with clients rather than navigating rigid administrative hurdles.

A registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with deep roots in the Kootenays, Brandon guides the firm's overall direction while remaining heavily involved in daily design and coordination. He views the building code not as an obstacle to creative design, but as a structural framework for finding safe, efficient, and buildable solutions. His focus is on working alongside builders and developers to translate complex engineering challenges into straightforward plans that make sense on the job site.

Whether reviewing plans in the office with a developer or working through a timber detail in the field with a contractor, Brandon is accessible and directly involved. His goal is to keep the engineering process collaborative, grounded, and focused on delivering clean, reliable structures.

Chris manages the core of structural production and design oversight at Bolen Engineering. Holding a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Structural Engineering from the University of British Columbia, he pairs deep academic training with a background rooted in practical, hands-on construction.

His technical expertise spans full superstructure and substructure design, including complex concrete foundations, helical pile systems, heavy timber, and structural steel. Because of his extensive experience in providing detailed structural condition and damage reports, Chris knows exactly where buildings fail and how to design them to last. He manages our drafting and design pipeline, ensuring every plan is both mathematically bulletproof and highly efficient to construct.

Chris remains directly accessible to builders and contractors on the ground. He does not treat structural details as rigid decrees; instead, he is always ready to collaborate, adjust plans, and discuss alternative details if a different layout makes better practical sense on-site.

Melinda is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) based in Nelson, BC, who serves as the structural anchor for our West Kootenay operations. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Structural Engineering and Sustainable Design from Carleton University, pairing rigorous technical analysis with modern environmental performance.

Her expertise spans the residential, commercial, and public sectors, with a highly specialized focus on historic building conservation, structural restoration, and sustainable building practices. This background makes her exceptionally equipped to handle the complex renovations, timber frame retrofits, and mountain developments characteristic of the West Kootenay region.

Known for her direct and collaborative approach, Melinda works closely with local builders, developers, and architects from initial scoping through to field inspections. Her focus is on delivering highly practical, structurally sound solutions that respect both the heritage and the specific environmental demands of each local site.

Don is a Senior Structural Engineer with thirty years of experience delivering complex residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational structures across Western Canada. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary and accreditation as a LEED Professional, he pairs deep structural mastery with a strong commitment to sustainable design and material conservation. After founding and leading Nelson-based EffiStruc Consulting Inc. for nearly two decades, Don joined forces with Bolen Engineering in September 2026 to bring his practice and regional clients under the Bolen Engineering banner.

Throughout his career, Don has engineered and managed structural design for many of the region’s landmark mountain resort lodges, community facilities, institutional buildings, and commercial developments. His technical portfolio spans mass timber, heavy timber, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and masonry—with a specialized focus on heritage building conservation, structural rehabilitation, and the adaptive reuse of existing structures. Whether breathing new life into a historic West Kootenay stone, brick-and-timber building or designing a backcountry lodge in heavy snow-load terrain, Don excels at balancing architectural preservation with efficient, constructible structural design.

At Bolen Engineering, Don collaborates closely with our engineering and production teams to provide senior structural design, heritage rehabilitation expertise, and seamless continuity for his long-standing West Kootenay clients. By combining his three decades of structural engineering experience with Bolen Engineering’s comprehensive design and review pipeline, Don helps ensure our regional projects are backed by proven, practical engineering.

Markus serves as our regional technical anchor in the Okanagan valley. Holding a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, he pairs a strong command of modern engineering fundamentals with a focus on practical, real-world application.

Based in Kelowna, Markus specializes in the detailed structural design of reinforced concrete, structural steel, and timber systems. He is highly analytical, diving deep into the design details and asking the rigorous questions necessary to find safe, efficient, and constructible solutions for complex regional projects.

Working closely with local builders, developers, and the broader Bolen Engineering team, Markus provides the responsive on-the-ground presence and technical precision required to keep Okanagan projects moving forward seamlessly from design to completion.

Bio coming soon.

Ian is an experienced engineering technologist with an extensive history of working in the structural engineering industry. He is skilled in Structural Engineering Design Drafting and Construction Services including commercial, institutional, industrial and residential buildings and also retaining walls, forestry bridges and pile foundations. Ian is experienced with steel, wood, concrete and masonry building materials and techniques. He has extensive experience providing detailed structural condition reports for building damage or building renovations. Ian is an engineering technologist with 25 years continuous membership with Applied Science Technologists of BC (AScT).

AJ is a Senior Engineering Technologist and a graduate of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He is the central engine of our drawing production pipeline, utilizing his elite Revit and AutoCAD capabilities to set the technical drafting benchmark for the entire firm.

With his deep understanding of 3D modeling and structural detailing, AJ oversees our drafting standards and quality control processes. He works to ensure our structural packages are clean, mathematically precise, and highly constructible before they are issued. His strength lies in translating complex engineering concepts into clear, logical plans that contractors can easily execute on-site.

Based in Cranbrook, AJ also leads our local field operations throughout the East Kootenays. He is our primary boots on the ground for structural site reviews, bridge inspections, and forensic insurance assessments. By pairing his elite virtual modeling skills with hands-on site experience, AJ ensures that Bolen Engineering’s designs are as bulletproof in the dirt as they are on the screen.

Tyler is a Structural Drafting Technologist and a graduate of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) program in Architectural Technologies. Within Bolen Engineering, he serves as our primary bridge between complex architectural design and precise structural execution.

With a background rooted in architectural systems, Tyler specializes in translating complex design concepts into detailed 3D structural models and construction drawings. His technical focus spans wood-frame, heavy timber, structural steel, and reinforced concrete layouts. Highly disciplined and reliable, Tyler has built a reputation within our team for clean execution and a relentless focus on meeting project timelines.

By combining his understanding of architectural aesthetics with a practical approach to structural drafting in Revit and AutoCAD, Tyler ensures our drawing packages are highly coordinated, accurate, and ready for efficient construction on-site.

Chris is an Engineering Technologist who holds an Advanced Diploma in Architecture and Construction Engineering Technology from Conestoga College. He is one of our premier 3D structural modelers, bringing a comprehensive, whole-building approach to every file in our production pipeline.

Over the course of his career, Chris has collaborated with engineers, architects, and consultants on hundreds of diverse projects across North America. His extensive portfolio spans custom residential builds, commercial developments, recreational facilities, and heavy industrial and civil infrastructure—including complex foundations, retaining walls, and bridge projects.

Rather than viewing structural systems in isolation, Chris specializes in coordinating how timber, steel, and concrete frameworks integrate as a single, constructible system. He leverages his deep understanding of practical construction sequencing, Revit, and AutoCAD to resolve spatial conflicts in the virtual space, ensuring that our drawings are highly coordinated, mathematically precise, and ready for efficient execution on-site.

Bruno is an Engineering Technologist with 12 years of experience in architectural technology, drafting, BIM modelling, and construction documentation. Recently relocated to Cranbrook, he brings advanced proficiency in Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, along with a strong understanding of how building systems, engineering information, and architectural design come together. His detail-oriented and practical approach helps produce clear, accurate, and highly coordinated project documents.

Bruno specializes in developing detailed 2D and 3D models, construction drawings, permit packages, technical details, and coordinated drawing sets for residential, multi-residential, commercial, mixed-use, and institutional projects. He is skilled in consultant coordination, plan checking, QA/QC reviews, revision management, permit coordination, field documentation, and integrating grading, drainage, utility, and engineering information into reliable project packages.

At Bolen Engineering, Bruno brings a strong BIM background, technical precision, and a collaborative approach to the structural production process. He is focused on translating complex design information into clean, constructible drawings that contractors and project teams can rely on, while contributing dependable coordination and thoughtful problem-solving from design through construction.

Cami manages the internal operations, human resources, and corporate financial administration at Bolen Engineering. Holding a five-year bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia, she combines advanced organizational capability with a highly structured approach to corporate management.

In her role, Cami is responsible for the firm's internal administrative workflows, payroll, and corporate accounting. Her expertise in financial platforms ensures the business backend remains precise and compliant, while her strong interpersonal skills make her the central point of contact for team coordination and internal logistics.

Through her balance of financial oversight and administrative leadership, Cami ensures that our internal business systems run seamlessly, allowing our engineering teams to remain focused on project delivery.

Lona is the administrative engine and primary point of contact for Bolen Engineering’s client-facing operations. She manages the operational lifecycle of our projects, from initial project intake and proposal drafting to final billing and accounts receivable.

With a strong background in accounting systems and administrative platforms like SAGE, Lona coordinates our front-end and back-end office logistics with exceptional attention to detail. Her communication skills and organized approach ensure that client inquiries, contract details, and project scheduling are processed efficiently.

Lona’s role is critical in keeping our project timelines coordinated, our invoicing transparent, and our daily business operations moving forward without delay.

Bio coming soon.