PRINCIPALS
Alex is an Engineer and Entrepreneur at heart. From a young age, he was always self-motivated and busy building his next project. After graduating from Penn State (We Are!) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and then moving to NYC, it only made sense that he would strive to build an engineering firm. After gaining valuable experience in a mid-size firm, Alex left to start ABS Engineering. In the early days, Alex worked to put ABS on the map, but quickly realized it was necessary to build a strong team to help grow the firm into one that could change the perception of what an MEP Engineering firm can be. Now Alex can be found expanding our project portfolio and client network (usually by bicycle). He takes great pride in the team he's built, the quality of work we do, and contributing to building the city he loves.
Alex's Top 3:
Street in NYC: State Street
Activity outside Work: Ironman
Go-to "Full Album Friday" Pick: Rush 2112
ALEX SCHWARTZ, PE, LEED AP
Founder, President, Bike Messenger
Hometown: Downingtown, PA
Current City: Brooklyn, NY / Long Beach, CA
Education: Penn State University, BS Mechanical Engineering
PE Licensure: NY, NJ, CT, CA
Jason is well versed in the field of electrical engineering with extensive knowledge of building and electrical codes. He brings a great deal of project management experience to the team and emphasizes the importance of communication and coordination throughout the design process. You'll often hear Jason citing that the electrical department is the "glue" that keeps the MEP design together by providing the necessary power to mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems and keeping a sharp eye on their designs in the process. Helping to grow the ABS team and encouraging a joyful and productive work environment has become one of his passions.
Jason's Top 3:
Street in NYC: Driggs Ave
Architect to work with: coadaptive architecture
Building in NYC: Grand Central Terminal
JASON DRIGGS, PE, LEED AP
Principal, Director of Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Islip, NY
Current City: Commack, NY
Education: University of Maine, BS Electrical Engineering
PE Licensure: NY, CA, ME
Brian's roles at ABS are 85% engineer, 10% photographer/marketer, and 5% positive vibe technician. He strives for the utmost quality in every drawing that leaves the office and for constant improvement of company design standards. Despite studying engineering at Cooper Union, Brian is an artist at heart and throughout his time at ABS has endeavored to document and explore the aesthetics of MEP engineering through the company's social media accounts and this website. On a daily basis Brian can often be found at the plan desk giving drawings a last review and curating the office music selections for the day.
Brian's Top 3:
Street in NYC: Guernsey St. b/t Meserole and Norman
NYC Restaurant: Diner
Favorite part of working at ABS: Full Album Fridays
BRIAN BARKOVITZ, PE
Principal, Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineering
Hometown: Wayne, NJ
Current City: Westerly, RI
Education: The Cooper Union, Bachelor Engineering: ME
PE Licensure: NY, NJ, CT, RI
ENGINEERS
Keith's Top 3:
ABS project you've worked on: Blu Dot
Favorite thing about MEP engineering: Going on all the roofs
Movie: Die Hard
KEITH BAREN, PE, CPHC
Director of Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Current City: Boston, Massachusetts
Education: Carnegie Mellon University, BS Mech. Eng.
PE Licensure: New York
Mingming’s Top 3:
Favorite activity outside work: Traveling, Basketball, Volleyball
Top 5 things from your bucket list: Swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, Mario Karting in Tokyo (again), Dog sledding in Alaska, Tomorrowland, Sky diving
Favorite part of working at ABS: coffee, supporting professionals at various stages in their career
MINGMING MAI, EIT, LEED GA
Design Engineer, Mechanical
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
Education: Binghamton University, BS & MS Mech. Eng.
Sam's Top 3:
Drink: Deschute Mirror Pond Pale Ale
TV Show: Seinfeid
Bucket List: Travel to all 7 continents, ski in the Swiss Alps, go on a South African safari, become a good cook, work on my bucket list
SAM DELANO, PE
Engineer, Electrical
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Current City: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Education: University of Washington, BS Elec. Engineering
Ariel’s Top 3:
Favorite Activity Outside Work: Naps w/ my cat, video games, traveling
Favorite Travel Destination: Kyoto, Japan
Bucket List: Get Btter at Archery & Muay Thai, Try diving, Travel most states in Japan, Own 10 cats
ARIEL ZHONG, EIT
Design Engineer, Mechanical
Hometown: Guangdong, China
Current City: Manhattan, NY
Education: Drexel, BS Architectural & Civil Engineering
Shelby’s Top 3:
Favorite NYC Restaurant Los Tacos No. 1
Favorite Activity Outside Work: Baking
Favorite Street in NYC: Bergen St. in Cobble Hill
SHELBY BARNABY
Design Engineer, Plumbing/FP
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
Education: NYU Tandon, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Elizabeth's Top 3:
Coolest project survey you've been on: The roof of 2 Park Ave on my first survey
TV Show: 30 Rock
Favorite activity outside work: Cycling
ELIZABETH MALOLA, PE
Senior Engineer, Plumbing/FP
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Current City: Montvale, NJ
Education: Rose-Hulman Institute of Tech., BS Chem. Eng.
PE Licensure: Indiana, New York
Shaniece’s Top 3:
Favorite Drink: Whiskey Sour
Favorite superhero: Martian Manhunter
Favorite book: Miguel’s Street
SHANIECE WALKER
Design Engineer, Plumbing/FP
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Current City: Rosedale, NY
Education: University of Hartford, BS Mech. Eng.
Richard's Top 3:
Street in NYC: St. Marks Place
Favorite Activity outside work: Wandering
Go-to "Full Album Friday" pick: Iron Maiden, "Brave New World"
RICHARD AUFFERMANN
Engineer, Mechanical
Hometown: Queens, NY
Current City: Queens, NY
Education: The Cooper Union, Bachelor Engineering: ME
Naim’s Top 3:
Favorite Thing About MEP Engineering: Getting to visit all the awesome site
Favorite Building in NYC: Madison Square Garden
Favorite TV Show: The Office
NAIM BONILLA
Design Engineer, Electrical
Hometown: Queens, NY
Current City: Jamaica, Queens
Education: City College of NY, B.E. Electrical Engineering
U-Hyeon’s Top 3:
Favorite Food: Tonkatsu
Favorite Travel Destination: California
Favorite Movie: I Am Legend
U-HYEON MA
Design Engineer, Plumbing/FP
Hometown: South Korea
Current City: Little Neck, Queens
Education: SUNY Farmingdale, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Brendan's Top 3:
Favorite thing about MEP engineering: Learning about all the everyday systems that I used to take for granted.
Movie: Remember the Titans
Bucket List: Ski in Alaska, Oktoberfest, Section hike the Appalachian Trail, Watch the Eagles win the Superbowl (again), get my PE license
BRENDAN MCDONNELL, PE
Engineer, Electrical
Hometown: Waterville, ME
Current City: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Education: Syracuse University, BS Electrical Engineering
PE Licensure: New York
Kyle's Top 3:
Street in NYC: 5th Ave along the Kennedy Reservoir
Food: Double Double from In-N-Out
Drink: Guinness
KYLE AHLERS, PE
Engineer, Mechanical
Hometown: Mahopac, NY
Current City: Forest Hills, Queens
Education: Cornell University, BS & MS Mech. Engineering
Carlos’s Top 3:
Favorite street/block in NYC: 5th Ave, Sunset Bk
Favorite movie: Space Jam
Thing you notice in the city now that you work in MEP: “How did this place pass ComCheck?”
CARLOS VASQUEZ
Design Engineer, Electrical
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Current City: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Education: CUNY College of S.I., B.S. Elec, Mech & Physics
Victoria's Top 3:
Bucket List: Shark diving, visiting Egypt & Tahiti
Building in NYC: The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Drink: Johnny Walker Black
VICTORIA FELIZ
Office Manger
Hometown: Manhattan, NY
Current City: Bronx, NY
Education: BMCC, Liberal Arts; Baruch, Psychology
Andrew’s Top 3:
Favorite Food: French Fries
Favorite Activity Outside Work: Rock Climbing
Favorite Movie: How to Train Your Dragon
ANDREW GOVIND, EIT
Design Engineer, Plumbing/FP
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
Education: SUNY Buffalo, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Photos c/o Nick Fried: https://www.nickfried.com/ & https://www.instagram.com/emery_nicholas/