AVCON
Leadership
AVCON
Leadership
It seems to be amazing how many elements of our lives are intertwined with the notion of occurrences happening at just the right time. From every element of our lives, things just happen at just the right time. Being from the “baby-boom” generation, it is widely held that we were born during the most optimal 100-year interval in history: electricity, automobiles, airplanes (the airplanes were a bonus that led to several “opportunities” that came about at just the right time), refrigeration, radio, TV, Rock ‘n Roll, FM, stereo, Wi-Fi, internet… and the list goes on. Additionally, I was raised in a small town out in the country where daily adventures were all around us. From Lake Ontario to the Pine Hill Airport, the entire area was my playground. All the rural community activities surrounded me, including a seven-year stint as a drummer in a rock and roll band. This was really when I first grasped the concept of being around - at just the right time.
Read more from our founder Jim Kriss
Sandeep Singh, PE
President & CEO
Mr. Sandeep Singh, PE has served as President of AVCON since 1997, and continues his professional role as Principal-in-Charge or Senior Project Manager on a wide variety of airport projects for clients throughout the Southeast U.S. Mr. Singh has over 30 years of experience in nearly every aspect of airport design and planning for both general aviation and commercial service airports. He has a Civil, Structural, and Electrical Engineering background and he continues to use his expertise in addressing multiple assignments with airfield pavements, lighting and NAVAIDS. He is well-versed in airport development issues including planning and funding and has long-standing relationships with FAA and DOT staff. Under Mr. Singh’s Leadership AVCON has won several design awards including three grand awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida, and the firm has promoted the best in asphalt and concrete pavement specifications and state-of-the-art LED airfield lighting systems. Mr. Singh’s proactive, solution-driven approach to leadership and commitment to teamwork has earned great respect from his staff and clients alike.
James “Jim” Kriss, PE
Vice President – Aviation
Mr. James “Jim” Kriss, PE is a principal and founder of AVCON, INC. As a principal and senior project manager with AVCON, he is responsible for marketing, client management and technical design issues associated with all aspects of studies, designs and project management tasks for airport and aviation related projects; transportation and civil engineering design and planning support; construction applications and management services; and all supporting service areas for the entire array of AVCON’s service sectors. Mr. Kriss has been involved with hundreds of different clients in the U.S. and abroad over the past 40+ years. His experience includes all facets of aviation, pavements, utilities, structural systems, construction, cost estimating, and project management.
Since the late 1950’s, Mr. Kriss has been involved with flying activities. His background is firmly rooted in aviation and airports; it is his life’s blood. He understands the full spectrum of the owner, pilot, contractor, and engineer perspectives, and brings this background to all his airport projects. One of the trademarks of AVCON and Mr. Kriss is the desire to listen to clients, focusing on a safe work environment with minimal construction impacts on airfield operations, all geared toward quality and responsible airport development.
Rick Baldocchi, PE
Vice President – Transportation/Development
Mr. Richard “Rick” Baldocchi, PE has more than 30+ years of experience in the consulting community planning and designing public works and transportation projects, including highway, trail, bridge, and site development projects. He is an avid cyclist and uses his experience riding on Central Florida Trails to enhance project features that will help improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. He has designed and/or managed multiple milling and resurfacing and RRR projects within the state of Florida and he has provided land use planning for commercial, residential, institutional and transportation projects. In addition, his experience includes highway planning on both existing and new alignments, and he has managed and provided technical support on numerous PD&E projects and corridor studies for various clients throughout Florida. A major strength of Mr. Baldocchi is his understanding of the entire planning process including environmental approvals, public involvement, and right-of-way issues. He works on all phases of a project including initial concept planning, project feasibility, final design, and construction administration. He also provides public involvement, client liaison, subconsultant administration, and financial management assistance. As a principal of AVCON, INC., Mr. Baldocchi has worked closely with a variety of clients providing professional, timely designs of the highest quality.
Lee Lewis, PE
Vice President
Mr. Virgil “Lee” Lewis, PE was born and raised in Florida and has been a resident of this state his entire life. He joined AVCON in 1991 and has become a leading airport resource with nearly 100 percent of his career focused on airport planning and design. He has managed planning and engineering projects at airports across Florida throughout his 20+ year career. He brings a thorough understanding of the state and federal requirements associated with airport zoning ordinances, stormwater master plans, runway length analyses, airport industrial park development and cost-benefit analyses to the AVCON Team. In addition, his vast airport engineering resume includes established airfield pavement expertise along with numerous runway and taxiway improvement projects, landside projects, and hangar designs. Mr. Lewis opened AVCON’s branch office in Northwest Florida in 1998 which has grown it into a leading consulting office in the region. He leads a group of talented resources and is able to optimize services provided by drawing from a range of highly specialized experts. Mr. Lewis has participated as a technical speaker in numerous state and national airport conferences, regularly participates in FDOT activities and is actively involved in professional and charitable organizations.
