Gary Nagel Celebrates 35 Years

Gary Nagel, PE, P.Eng, recently celebrated his 35th year at VAA. The Sr. Associate / Sr. Structural Engineer is the longest tenured employee currently working at the firm, and he’s well-known among co-workers and clients for his commitment to quality work and collaboration. Gary is an invaluable asset to the VAA team, bringing a wealth of expertise to every project.

“He’s worked in all the markets we serve and has a very broad experience level,” says Principal / Sr. Project Manager Bernie Jansen. “Gary quickly gains the confidence of the clients he works with by doing good work, and he is always there for younger engineers to help answer their questions.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and an M.S. in structural engineering from the University of California – Berkeley, Gary worked for an engineer in the Wesley Temple Building in downtown Minneapolis. VAA was headquartered in the same building, and Gary joined what was then Van Sickle, Allen and Associates just seven years after the firm’s inception.

Gary has seen the firm grow from six people to 150, and he attributes much of that growth to the quality of the firm’s work and the value placed on building strong relationships.

“Gary hardly ever says ‘no’ when asked to help; he is always willing to take on new challenges,” adds Bernie.

In fact, Gary says client visits and traveling (especially to Canada) are two of his favorite parts of the job. Client connections, working on a variety of projects big and small and assisting less experienced engineers have kept the job fresh and challenging, but work-life balance has also been a priority.

Outside of the office, Gary is likely to be found outdoors, either up at the cabin or staying active by hiking, cross-country skiing or kayaking. Even in his spare time, Gary is a builder, enjoying woodworking and home improvement construction projects.

In recognition of Gary’s nearly four decades of service, current and former VAA executives presented him with a custom plaque featuring a rebar frame and a quote from a longtime client.

Pictured, left to right, are: Quin Vincent, Partner; Bernie Jansen, Principal / Sr. Project Manager; Gary Nagel, Sr. Associate / Sr. Structural Engineer; Gene Haldorson, past Partner; Jeff Schrock, CEO; Scott Stangeland, past President / CEO.

Thank you for all your hard work and congratulations, Gary!