Olen Howard

Olen has more than 30 years of experience in the transportation engineering field. He brings the benefit of experience and lessons learned from a transportation career that has focused on route and design studies as well as plans, specifications, and estimate (PS&E) design of roadway improvements through urban and rural areas throughout Texas. Olen has been instrumental in long-term roadway development projects, from the initial corridor, subsequent segments, and expansions for major roadways, interchanges, and bridges. He has keen insight into the interface concerns, precise design criteria, consistent standards, and continuous communication and coordination necessary for successful projects. Most notably, Olen managed the design effort for a 2.3 mile segment of the Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program. The project included a three-level interchange at IH 10/SH 6, the gateway to West Houston. Olen has managed projects for TxDOT, METRO, Harris County, the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, and the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA).

He joined the firm in 2012 and has since helped the firm expand its schematic development and design practice as well as implement the firm’s rigorous QA/QC policies as part of the ISO 9001:2015 certification program. Olen has an extensive collection of Pez dispensers. Most notable includes Mozart, Elvis (three eras 50’s, GI, and 70’s), and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Olen’s most important life lesson: “Always drink upstream from the herd.” Actually: “It’s important to be yourself and to be honest and trustworthy.