Leadership

From our beginning in 1992, DRG has stayed true to our core values and mission – a mission that includes striving to provide the highest level of professional services to clients by combining an understanding of our business, product type, concerns and risks with our strong technical and creative design skills. The leadership team is equally committed to the mission of fostering and nurturing a work environment that is both supportive and challenging, balanced and satisfying – an environment that encourages personal and professional growth with a sense of community.

The collective motivation, enthusiasm and insight of DRG’s leadership team makes us uniquely qualified to provide the guidance that is the foundation of success – today and for future generations.

Nicholas Bushon, PLA
Senior Principal

Bio

Nicholas Bushon, PLA has been a member of the firm for over 12 years. He is a graduate of Michigan State University where he received a BA in Landscape Architecture. He then achieved a Master of Urban Design from UNC Charlotte where he began his specialization in community design and construction development. His passion and ability to illustrate the benefits of sustainable design provide significant clarity and direction towards achieving design excellence. Nick has also made significant contributions towards excellence in client relations and project management; skills which strengthen and further the mission and vision of our firm.

I aim to offer a creative planning and design approach that engages our clients and elevates project expectations from conceptual design through construction.

Matt Mobley, PE
Senior Principal

Bio

Matt Mobley, PE has been a member of the firm for over 14 years. He has over 20 years of experience in the profession. With his thorough technical knowledge of all engineering aspects, he is instrumental in negotiating, designing and permitting unique and constructible engineering solutions for complex urban and high-density related infrastructure. His collaborative approach and broad knowledge base combined with his technical expertise provides the foundation for our abilities to provide inspired solutions.

Diligent research and planning combined with the full dedication of the team from the beginning is a winning combination for our clients time and time again. It enables DRG to quickly identity unique complexities of each site and provide our clients with the tools needed to create a successful project. This is our mantra.

Thomas Haapapuro, PLA
Senior Principal

Bio

Thomas Haapapuro, PLA has been a member of the firm for over 20 years. He is a seasoned project manager with a unique and personable approach to communication. He is adept at leveraging strong external relationships that lead to successful projects and on time completion. On top of his many talents, Thomas brings a strong knowledge of construction practices and risk management to help our clients successfully navigate the construction process.

Professional Affiliations

Current

Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission (CTAC) – Council appointed member.
Building Development Commission (BDC) – ASLA appointed member
Development Services Technical Advisory Committee (DSTAC) – Co-chair, City appointment

Previous

Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) committee – member
Tree ordinance stakeholder committee – member

I have the greatest job in the world designing cool positive places for the human experience to unfold. I always strive to create the best possible stage for those experiences to play out on, whether it’s an energized urban hardscape or a beautiful green space. I take a hands-on approach with each project from start to finish to make sure we translate our client’s vision into a successful, constructible reality.

Scott Kiger, PLA
Principal

Bio

Scott Kiger, PLA has been a member of the firm for over 25 years. He consistently delivers well-documented and coordinated design solutions. Scott brings a grounded and seasoned approach to every single project he manages. On top of his skills at successful project delivery, he is actively involved with training and support for new associates as well as for setting and maintaining DRG standards for document production and quality control.

I listen to the words of my client, hear their vision and feel their enthusiasm. Then I share that enthusiasm with the team to bring our client’s vision to reality, while exceeding their expectations and making sure all the details are taken care of.

Michael Wickline, PE
Principal

Bio

Michael Wickline, PE has been a member of the firm for over 9 years. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he received a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His exclusive expertise in traffic engineering and transportation planning combined with his adept knowledge and relationships with local municipalities offers a successful approach no matter how big or small the project. A firm believer in putting the needs of his clients first, Michael strives to provide practical solutions to traffic and transportation concerns that are advantageous to both his clients as well as the surrounding communities.

I enjoy working to establish great solutions to difficult problems to meet the needs of our clients as well as the reviewing agencies. I relish the opportunity to start new relationships and build upon standing partnerships, while forming new processes that provide fresh perspectives for an evolving development market.

Randy E. Goddard, PE
Senior Principal

Bio

Randy E. Goddard, PE is the principal in charge of transportation planning. He has been a managing principal of the firm for over 14 years and has over 37 years of traffic engineering and transportation planning experience in both the public and private sectors. His efforts and relationships with agencies such CDOT, NCDOT, the City of Charlotte and the surrounding communities result in overwhelming value for our clients.

I truly believe in and practice the building of relationships that last. I see our clients as partners and this informs the strong client relationships we have here at DRG. This is an attitude that starts with a deep and assertively demonstrated respect for the client; it grows with each contribution, with each project and brings with it the joy of knowing our very best has been done to meet or exceed the need. This is why we have great partners.