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// About Us

About SB&O

Engineering excellence since 1967

// Our Story

A Legacy of Engineering Excellence

Over five decades of shaping Southern California's landscape.

Founded in 1967, SB&O Inc (Safino, Brooks & O'Rourke, Inc.) began as a civil engineering and land surveying firm dedicated to serving the growing communities of Southern California. What started as a small team of committed engineers has grown into a full-service engineering company with over 55 years of experience and more than 10,000 projects completed.

Over the decades, SB&O has evolved well beyond its roots in civil engineering and surveying. Today our expertise spans ten specialized disciplines, including land planning, environmental engineering, and environmental engineering. As the industry advances, so do we — expanding into energy & telecom, software engineering, aerospace, and artificial intelligence to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Headquartered in San Diego with a second office in Temecula, SB&O remains deeply committed to the communities we serve. Our team of 35+ professionals combines decades of field experience with forward-thinking innovation to deliver engineering solutions that are precise, sustainable, and built to last.

55+
Years of Experience
10,000+
Projects Completed
35+
Team Members
1,000+
Clients Served
// Our Team

Executive Team

The experienced professionals driving SB&O's mission forward.

Ali Alshahin
// View profile

Ali Alshahin

Chief Executive Officer

Ali brings a strong background in civil engineering, infrastructure development, and project management to SB&O. With experience spanning engineering, utilities...

// Profile

Ali Alshahin

Chief Executive Officer

LinkedIn

Ali brings a strong background in civil engineering, infrastructure development, and project management to SB&O. With experience spanning engineering, utilities, and business operations, he has worked on complex projects across the U.S. and internationally, helping organizations optimize processes and drive operational success.

Ali began his career at Leidos, where he specialized in engineering design, project planning, and team development. In addition to his technical work, he played a key role in growing the firm's Chicago office, leading recruitment, mentorship, and staff development initiatives to support long-term business growth.

He then joined AECOM as a Design Manager, overseeing the engineering and execution of large-scale infrastructure projects across New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. In this role, he led multidisciplinary teams, managed project budgets and schedules, and played a key role in expanding AECOM's presence in the Australian market, securing long-term service contracts and broadening the company's client base in the region.

Most recently, Ali transitioned into management consulting at West Monroe, where he advised utilities and private equity clients on operational improvements, infrastructure modernization, and business strategy.

At SB&O, Ali leverages his engineering expertise, leadership experience, and business acumen to enhance operational efficiency, streamline project execution, and drive growth. His passion for strategic problem-solving, team development, and continuous improvement plays a key role in SB&O's continued success and ability to deliver high-quality civil engineering, surveying, and planning services across California.

Wahab Alshahin
// View profile

Wahab Alshahin

Chief Technology Officer

Wahab serves as fractional Chief Technology Officer at SB&O, where he is leading the firm's transformation from a civil engineering practice into a full-service...

// Profile

Wahab Alshahin

Chief Technology Officer

LinkedIn

Wahab serves as fractional Chief Technology Officer at SB&O, where he is leading the firm's transformation from a civil engineering practice into a full-service engineering consulting firm - standing up new service lines in aerospace, software, and artificial intelligence, and building the in-house agentic platform that automates engineering and business processes across the company.

He brings over a decade of experience in aerospace systems engineering, flight software, and modern software platform development. Wahab spent twelve years as an aerospace engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center, working on the Orion spacecraft's Launch Abort Vehicle Guidance, Navigation & Control system. There he designed and tested abort scenario guidance and control algorithms across ascent flight stages, led the day-of-launch flight software updates for the Ascent Abort-2 flight test in 2019, and developed C++ hardware models for high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation. He also built a novel Python framework for automated flight software requirements testing that was adopted as standard practice across his team.

After NASA, Wahab consulted for Sierra Space, where he established model-based design practices and a MATLAB/Simulink verification framework adopted by the Dream Chaser flight software engineering team. In parallel, he joined Geminus AI as a Senior Software Engineer, leading go-to-market strategy for the company's physics-informed machine learning platform and helping customers translate complex simulation and optimization problems into production-grade tooling.

Wahab holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At SB&O, he bridges disciplined aerospace engineering practice with modern AI and software infrastructure - giving the firm a technology platform that scales the work of engineers without sacrificing the rigor the field demands.

Faysal Alharbi
// View profile

Faysal Alharbi

Chief Operating Officer

Faysal serves as Chief Operating Officer at SB&O, where he leads operations and drives strategic growth across the firm's expanding service lines. He brings ove...

// Profile

Faysal Alharbi

Chief Operating Officer

LinkedIn

Faysal serves as Chief Operating Officer at SB&O, where he leads operations and drives strategic growth across the firm's expanding service lines. He brings over a decade of experience spanning engineering, enterprise sales, business development, and digital strategy.

Faysal began his career as an applications engineer and account manager at Liquid Controls, combining technical training in materials science with hands-on commercial work - managing key accounts, leading product integration efforts, and building cross-functional programs across sales and engineering teams.

He then moved into enterprise software, selling data privacy and compliance solutions to mid-market financial institutions at Trustwave before joining Fit Analytics (acquired by Snap Inc), where he built strategic partnerships with national consumer brands and developed multi-region go-to-market strategies. Most recently, Faysal led digital marketing for an LA-based agency, building performance funnels and managing multi-platform ad campaigns at scale.

Faysal holds a B.S. in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At SB&O, he applies that combination of engineering rigor and commercial discipline to operational excellence - streamlining processes, sharpening go-to-market for emerging practices, and ensuring the firm continues to deliver high-quality outcomes for clients across California and beyond.

Nick Psyhogios
// View profile

Nick Psyhogios PE

President, San Diego

Nick joined SB&O as President of the San Diego office, bringing over 20 years of experience leading civil engineering and land development projects across resid...

// Profile

Nick Psyhogios PE

President, San Diego

LinkedIn

Nick joined SB&O as President of the San Diego office, bringing over 20 years of experience leading civil engineering and land development projects across residential, commercial, utility, public sector, and wetland restoration work.

His career has been rooted in Southern California's land development community. After early roles at Project Design Consultants - where he built deep expertise in master-planned communities and site infrastructure - Nick joined Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering as Associate Principal, becoming Principal within a year. There he led a team of eight, established quality assurance standards for plan preparation, and managed client delivery across notable projects including Pacific Village, Orchard Hills, Grand Del Mar, Buena Vista Park, the City of Encinitas's on-call contracts, and UC San Diego off-campus sites.

A licensed Professional Engineer with a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Nick is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Building Industry Association (BIA), where he stays close to the people, policies, and trends shaping how Southern California gets built.

At SB&O, Nick leads the San Diego office with a focus on hands-on client engagement, growing technical talent, and continuing to deliver the precision and quality the firm has been known for since 1967.

Aaron Parker
// View profile

Aaron Parker PE

President, San Diego

Aaron has been an integral part of SB&O since 2001, taking on various roles throughout his career. In 2008, he earned an MBA, broadening his approach to enginee...

// Profile

Aaron Parker PE

President, San Diego

PE 68547

LinkedIn

Aaron has been an integral part of SB&O since 2001, taking on various roles throughout his career. In 2008, he earned an MBA, broadening his approach to engineering, project management, and business strategy. While much of his expertise lies in private residential development, his work at SB&O has also spanned public infrastructure, industrial sites, and educational facilities.

One of Aaron's most memorable projects was the Quarry Creek development in Carlsbad, a diverse community featuring single-family homes, townhomes, affordable housing, and luxury apartments. He finds it incredibly rewarding to contribute to projects that enhance the community and shape Southern California's evolving landscape.

Beyond engineering and design, Aaron values the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals and industry leaders. His involvement with the Building Industry Association (BIA) has helped him build strong relationships across the field, and in 2018, he was honored as Engineer of the Year.

Don Brooks
// View profile

Don Brooks PE

President, Inland Empire

Don founded SB&O's Inland Empire division in 1998 and has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm's presence in the region. With over 40 years of experience...

// Profile

Don Brooks PE

President, Inland Empire

PE 41829

LinkedIn

Don founded SB&O's Inland Empire division in 1998 and has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm's presence in the region. With over 40 years of experience in civil engineering, land development, and public works, he has led multi-disciplinary teams, overseen quality control and project administration, and driven business development.

Don specializes in planning, design, and construction support for both private land development and public infrastructure projects. With over 30 years in senior leadership roles, he has successfully managed complex, large-scale developments, working closely with municipalities, regulatory agencies, and private stakeholders. His expertise spans grading and feasibility studies, due diligence reviews, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, and roadway design.

Recognized for his engineering judgment, problem-solving ability, and client-focused approach, Don is highly skilled in assessing project feasibility, anticipating challenges, and ensuring efficient project execution. He is also well-versed in design standards, entitlement processes, and regulatory compliance, making him a trusted leader in the industry.

A licensed Professional Engineer in California, Don continues to shape SB&O's success in the Inland Empire by delivering high-quality engineering solutions, ensuring cost-effective designs, and fostering strong client relationships. His passion for sustainable infrastructure, community development, and engineering excellence ensures SB&O remains a leader in the industry.

// Notable Projects

  • Francis Street, Ontario, CA
  • Airport Drive, Ontario International Airport
  • Piemonte, Ontario, CA
  • Milliken Avenue & Guasti Road Intersection, Ontario, CA
  • Fred Waring Drive Bridge, Indio, CA
  • Grove Avenue Widening and Holt Boulevard Intersection, Ontario, CA
  • Alder Avenue Street Improvements, San Bernardino County, CA
Michael Butcher
// View profile

Michael Butcher PLS

Vice President, San Diego

Mike has over 41 years of experience in surveying, mapping, and construction staking across California. As Director of Construction Surveying at SB&O, he overse...

// Profile

Michael Butcher PLS

Vice President, San Diego

PLS 6922

LinkedIn

Mike has over 41 years of experience in surveying, mapping, and construction staking across California. As Director of Construction Surveying at SB&O, he oversees all aspects of subdivision, multifamily, mixed-use, heavy civil, and railroad projects, ensuring precision and efficiency in every phase. His expertise spans deformation monitoring, GPS and topographic surveys, as-built documentation, ALTA/Land Title surveys, boundary analysis, legal descriptions, easement plats, right-of-way mapping, and Record of Survey maps.

Mike is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in California, Arizona, and Nevada and has been a key advocate for the surveying profession. He has served as President of the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA) in 2000 and 2013 and has played a vital role in legislative advocacy as Legislative Committee Chairman (2001-2006, 2008-2021, 2024-2025). Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Land Surveyors Technical Advisory Committee for the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists from 2006 to 2017.

With his extensive experience and leadership in both surveying and industry advocacy, Mike continues to shape the profession and ensure the highest standards in construction surveying and mapping.

// Notable Projects

  • Sprinter Mainline Construction Project (NCTD)
  • Calpine/Otay Mesa Generating Plant
  • San Diego International Airport – Terminal 1
  • Gaylord Pacific Resort Hotel & Convention Center
Allen Butcher
// View profile

Allen Butcher PE/QSD/P

Vice President, San Diego

Allen has over 40 years of experience in civil engineering and water resources, specializing in hydrology, drainage, stormwater management, and flood control. A...

// Profile

Allen Butcher PE/QSD/P

Vice President, San Diego

PE 47107

LinkedIn

Allen has over 40 years of experience in civil engineering and water resources, specializing in hydrology, drainage, stormwater management, and flood control. As a Project Manager and Lead Engineer at SB&O, he oversees technical reports and designs for water resources infrastructure, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while delivering efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Allen has extensive expertise in storm drain design, sewer capacity analysis, water quality treatment, HMP mitigation, detention and sediment basins, fire protection, and small pump stations. He has served as the Engineer of Work on numerous municipal, institutional, commercial, and residential developments, integrating water resource solutions into large-scale projects.

A Registered Professional Engineer in California (since 1991) and a Qualified SWPPP Developer & Practitioner (QSD/P #00410), Allen is also actively involved in the BIA San Diego Stormwater Task Force, where he contributes to industry advancements in stormwater management and regulatory compliance.

Dedicated to delivering innovative and cost-effective water resources solutions, Allen takes pride in designing infrastructure that supports sustainable development, environmental protection, and resilient communities.

// Notable Projects

  • The Cove, San Jacinto, CA
  • Eastlake Woods & Vistas, Chula Vista, CA
  • French Valley 160, French Valley, CA
  • Allred Collins Business Park, San Diego, CA
Dan O'Rourke
// View profile

Dan O'Rourke PE

Vice President, Inland Empire

Dan is a licensed Professional Engineer with nearly four decades of experience in civil engineering, specializing in land development, infrastructure planning, ...

// Profile

Dan O'Rourke PE

Vice President, Inland Empire

PE 47677

LinkedIn

Dan is a licensed Professional Engineer with nearly four decades of experience in civil engineering, specializing in land development, infrastructure planning, and public works projects. Since joining SB&O in 1999, he has played a key role in shaping major private and public sector developments across California.

Dan's expertise includes large-scale grading operations, complex drainage solutions, and infrastructure improvements, including roadway, sewer, and water system design. He takes a hands-on approach to every project, providing technical leadership, client support, and agency coordination to ensure efficient and high-quality project execution. As a member of ASCE, Dan remains actively involved in the engineering community, bringing a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to SB&O's team and clients.

Stephen Ott
// View profile

Stephen Ott PE

Vice President, San Diego

Stephen Ott has over 31 years of experience in civil engineering, land development, and transportation infrastructure across California. His expertise spans pro...

// Profile

Stephen Ott PE

Vice President, San Diego

C 70666

LinkedIn

Stephen Ott has over 31 years of experience in civil engineering, land development, and transportation infrastructure across California. His expertise spans project management, construction document preparation, entitlement processing, design review, and construction support services. In addition to his technical work, he has played a key role in corporate structure development, CAD management, in-house design standards, and QA/QC procedures to improve efficiency and quality in project delivery.

Stephen specializes in residential and site development, with experience ranging from small infill multifamily projects to large-scale single-family residential communities, sports complexes, hospitals, ports of entry, and big-box commercial developments.

As a Registered Civil Engineer in California (C70666), Stephen is also actively involved in the Building Industry Association (BIA) – San Diego, where he participates in the BIA Mentor Program and is a sponsor of Taste of BIA.

For Stephen, civil engineering and land development are about more than just design—they're about creating communities and shaping the built environment. He finds great fulfillment in seeing projects come to life, knowing that his expertise contributes to providing much-needed housing and infrastructure through thoughtful, creative, and impactful solutions.

// Notable Projects

  • Piper Ranch Industrial Complex, San Ysidro, CA
  • Brix on Barham Multifamily Development, San Marcos, CA
  • Vantage Point / Amazon Headquarters & Distribution Center, Poway, CA
  • Anza Street Townhomes, El Cajon, CA
// Corporate Operations

Corporate Operations

The team keeping SB&O running day to day.

Arne Anderson

Arne Anderson

Controller

Avann Raof

Avann Raof

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer Hernandez

Jennifer Hernandez

Project Coordinator

// Civil Engineering - San Diego

Civil Engineering - San Diego

Our San Diego civil engineering team.

Tim Worley

Tim Worley PE

Project Manager

Jonathan Kohlenberg

Jonathan Kohlenberg PE

Project Manager

Cole Fargo

Cole Fargo EIT

Assistant Project Engineer

Griffin Diemer

Griffin Diemer EIT

Assistant Project Engineer

Negin Sharifabad

Negin Sharifabad

Staff Engineer

Steven Butcher

Steven Butcher EIT

Staff Engineer

Kevin Clippinger

Kevin Clippinger

Drafting Supervisor

Maria Guarin

Maria Guarin

Drafter

Tony Porcioncula

Tony Porcioncula

Drafter

// Civil Engineering - Inland Empire

Civil Engineering - Inland Empire

Our Inland Empire civil engineering team.

Robert Foto

Robert Foto

Assistant Project Engineer

Blake Hatch

Blake Hatch

Assistant Project Engineer

Jessica Gonzales

Jessica Gonzales

Staff Engineer

// Survey - San Diego

Survey - San Diego

Our San Diego land surveying team.

Russell Otten

Russell Otten PLS

Office Surveyor

Daniel Hopewell

Daniel Hopewell CPC

Chief of Parties

Dietrich Stratthaus

Dietrich Stratthaus

Party Chief

Richard LaPierre

Richard LaPierre

Chainman

Branson Fivas

Branson Fivas

Chainman

Taylor Ames-Waitt

Taylor Ames-Waitt

Apprentice

// Survey - Inland Empire

Survey - Inland Empire

Our Inland Empire land surveying team.

Ronnie Placencia

Ronnie Placencia CPC

Chief of Parties

Gabriel Placencia

Gabriel Placencia

Party Chief

Justin Henry

Justin Henry

Party Chief

Lorenzo Paredes

Lorenzo Paredes

Chainman

Dakota Berry

Dakota Berry

Chainman

Alfredo Del la Torre Donato

Alfredo Del la Torre Donato

Apprentice

// Infrastructure Services

Infrastructure Services

Project managers driving complex infrastructure delivery.

Scott Munroe

Scott Munroe PMP

Principal Project Manager

Anthony Risi

Anthony Risi PMP

Senior Project Manager

Angela Barajas

Angela Barajas PMP

Project Manager

// Advanced Technologies

Advanced Technologies

Leading SB&O's expansion into software, aerospace, and AI.

Wahab Alshahin
// View profile

Wahab Alshahin

Chief Technology Officer

Wahab serves as fractional Chief Technology Officer at SB&O, where he is leading the firm's transformation from a civil engineering practice into a full-service...

// Profile

Wahab Alshahin

Chief Technology Officer

LinkedIn

Wahab serves as fractional Chief Technology Officer at SB&O, where he is leading the firm's transformation from a civil engineering practice into a full-service engineering consulting firm - standing up new service lines in aerospace, software, and artificial intelligence, and building the in-house agentic platform that automates engineering and business processes across the company.

He brings over a decade of experience in aerospace systems engineering, flight software, and modern software platform development. Wahab spent twelve years as an aerospace engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center, working on the Orion spacecraft's Launch Abort Vehicle Guidance, Navigation & Control system. There he designed and tested abort scenario guidance and control algorithms across ascent flight stages, led the day-of-launch flight software updates for the Ascent Abort-2 flight test in 2019, and developed C++ hardware models for high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation. He also built a novel Python framework for automated flight software requirements testing that was adopted as standard practice across his team.

After NASA, Wahab consulted for Sierra Space, where he established model-based design practices and a MATLAB/Simulink verification framework adopted by the Dream Chaser flight software engineering team. In parallel, he joined Geminus AI as a Senior Software Engineer, leading go-to-market strategy for the company's physics-informed machine learning platform and helping customers translate complex simulation and optimization problems into production-grade tooling.

Wahab holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At SB&O, he bridges disciplined aerospace engineering practice with modern AI and software infrastructure - giving the firm a technology platform that scales the work of engineers without sacrificing the rigor the field demands.

On-Demand Contract Team

Specialists, scaled to project

A rotating bench of engineers, ML specialists, and software developers brought in as project demands grow.

// Values

What Drives Us

The principles that guide every project, every decision, and every relationship.

01

Precision

Every measurement, every calculation, every design detail matters. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of accuracy across all disciplines.

02

Innovation

From adopting AI to expanding into aerospace and software engineering, we continuously push the boundaries of what an engineering firm can deliver.

03

Integrity

We build trust through transparency, honest communication, and a commitment to doing what is right for our clients and communities.

04

Collaboration

Great engineering is a team effort. We work closely with clients, agencies, and each other to deliver solutions that exceed expectations.

// Locations

Our Offices

Serving Southern California from two strategic locations.

// San Diego Office

San Diego, CA

3890 Murphy Canyon Rd #150

San Diego, CA 92123

(858) 560-1141

// Temecula Office

Temecula, CA

41689 Enterprise Circle North, #126

Temecula, CA 92590

(951) 695-8900

Join Our Team

We're always looking for talented engineers, surveyors, and innovators to join SB&O.