Six Promoted to Associate

Among the exciting developments at VAA in 2025 are the promotions of Patrick Arndt, Scott Bertucci, Drew Burton, Jon Laine, Tina Vath and Jennifer Vecellio to Associate.

Each of the six has contributed their unique talents and significant skills to the culture and growth of VAA and will continue to positively influence the direction of the company in support of VAA’s service to its clients.

Arndt began his career at VAA in 2007 as a technician and has served as a Senior Structural Designer for nearly six years specializing in agricultural and industrial projects. During his tenure at VAA, he has taken on increasing responsibility as a lead structural designer on many of the firm’s largest projects. Arndt not only produces a high volume of complex work but also develops and supports others to do the same. His technical expertise and depth of experience contribute significantly to the effectiveness and efficiency of teams, and his efforts in quality control have been key to project success. Arndt has a positive influence on team and company culture through his commitment to quality, teamwork and diligence.

Bertucci joined VAA as a structural technician in 2016 and is now a Senior Structural Designer who operates as a point of contact for multiple clients, leveraging his wide breadth of knowledge of many VAA disciplines and project types. In every project, Bertucci looks beyond the specific project scope to see the bigger picture of the client’s business goals, the industry they are in, and how VAA can play a bigger role with that client. Bertucci does not operate transactionally but rather as a solution provider to his client’s needs, and he is a sought-after resource at VAA to guide and direct client teams at all levels, from technical staff to engineers to project managers new to VAA. He has a natural skill and passion for developing relationships and building trust with those he interacts with.

Burton’s 20 years of experience as a Structural Designer applies to all sectors of VAA’s client work. His technical skills and problem-solving abilities are exceptional, and he enjoys working through technical challenges. He has steadily taken on increasing levels of personal ownership and responsibility for the overall success of the projects he is involved in, maintaining focus on the big picture of scope, schedule and budget, while still ensuring that all details are complete as well. Burton also has taken on increasing roles in recruiting, training and managing direct reports, and he supports the success of broader project teams through his efforts in coordination and QA/QC.  He is a positive influence on team and company culture through his can-do, solutions-oriented approach, and his personal initiative and responsibility.

Laine joined VAA in 2017 and now serves as a Senior Civil Engineer. During his time with the firm, he has demonstrated skillful team leadership, delivering quality work, on time and within budget. As the primary point of contact with clients, he has earned a reputation for providing exceptional service, building their trust and allowing him to further those relationships. As he works with others to grow technically and professionally, Laine is known for being thoughtful, strategic and patient, bringing a commitment to quality and efficiency with constant improvement for himself and the team around him.

Vath served as a structural engineer at two respected firms before joining VAA as a Senior Structural Engineer in 2020. With a drive for efficiency, she is proficient in all levels of project design and documentation, with excellent time management and communication skills. Her role focuses on client and business development and leverages her talent in marketing and collateral management. Vath has garnered recognition for her leadership abilities as she successfully manages projects, fosters client relationships, and initiates broad company objectives to improve production and morale. Vath is a motivating presence and highly engaged in the engineering community, including her leadership of the Women in Engineering at VAA Employee (WEAVE) resource group to support the advancement of women in the workplace.

Vecellio joined VAA as Marketing Director in 2022 and has been invaluable in developing and driving strategic business growth and raising industry awareness of VAA, especially in the markets where we do our best work. She exercises vision and strategic thinking in support of the business and always has an eye to the future and helping VAA grow towards our 2030 vision. Vecellio brings a “Let’s get growing” attitude to everything she does. She is strategic, tactful, driven, growth oriented, and expands excellence at VAA. She sets a positive example and inspires hard work and continued growth while staying tuned to our clients’ needs. Vecellio is a leader among leaders, and her impact can be seen across the company.

VAA congratulates these new Associates and is honored to have them helping our firm turn client projects into long-term partnerships.