RISA Training Instructors

All RISA Training Instructors hold a master’s degree, professional engineering license or both.

Training Instructors

RISA Technologies’ development and training staff consists entirely of engineers with extensive design experience. They also provide all software support and engineering consultation to RISA clients.

Joshua Plummer, S.E. P.E.

Director of Technical Support and Training

Education
B.S. Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego
California Licensed Civil Engineer
California Licensed Structural Engineer

Background
Josh is a familiar voice for RISA clients. Since joining RISA Technologies in 2002, Josh has been primarily responsible for technical support and training. He also works on the research staff and stays current on code development issues that will affect program development and updates. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, LLC, Josh was a design engineer for Fluor Daniel, a large engineering firm specializing in petrochemical and industrial work. Josh has designed structures for refineries, petrochemical facilities, power plants, and nuclear sites. He reviewed and prepared engineering reports for the 1994 Northridge earthquake and has worked on numerous proprietary design programs. He also served as a reviewer for Volume 1 of the Seismic Design Manual for the 1997 UBC.

Amber K. Freund, P.E.

Director of Marketing

Education
B.S. Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine

Background
Amber is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of California. She has an undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and a masters degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Irvine. She joined RISA Technologies in 2005 and is responsible for marketing, training and sales. She also works on the testing and development of new programs and features. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, Amber was a design engineer for Hope Engineering, a mid-size engineering firm in San Diego. Her design experience includes commercial and residential building design.

Peter Chojnacki, P.Eng.

Director of Software Technology

Education
M.Eng. Structural Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Diploma, Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Background
Peter has been the development manager for RISATower since the program was acquired by our company in March, 2005. Prior to joining RISA Technologies in 2005, Peter worked for Research Engineers International, where he lead development of a number of FEA design modules for STAAD.Pro, as well as implemented steel and concrete design standards in the program. Peter has over seven years of hands-on structural design experience, primarily at McCormick Rankin, a well-respected Canadian consulting engineering company known for their transportation-related projects. His experience covers the design of a full range of structural types, including buildings, bridges, retaining walls and foundations.

Deborah Brisbin, P.E.

Technical Marketing Engineer

Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Background
Deborah joined RISA Technologies in 2007 and has been involved in technical support, marketing, and sales, as well as testing and development of the new features. Deborah joins RISA after working in New York for Wexler and Associates designing commercial concrete Hi-Rise buildings. She has also specialized in Cold Formed Steel and trusses working for a software company called Keymark Enterprises. In both Colorado and New York, she has worked in the telecom industry designing and analyzing cellular towers.

Matthew G. Brown, P.E.

Applications Engineer

Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan
B.S. Architecture, Lawrence Technological University
M.S. Civil Engineering (Structural), Lawrence Technological University

Background
Matt joined RISA Technologies in 2008 and is responsible for technical support, training and testing of new products. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, Matt was a project engineer for Harley Ellis Devereaux, a jumbo A/E firm based in Detroit. Matt has designed and modeled a number of structures ranging from steel framed hospitals to a concrete flat slab high-rise. Prior to working at HED, Matt worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Michael Olson, P.E.

Applications Engineer

Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.S. Civil Engineering (Structural Emphasis), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Background
Michael joined RISA Technologies in 2008 and works as an engineer involved with technical support and training as well as general testing and development of our software suite. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, Michael’s primary work experience was as a project engineer for Van-Sickle Allen and Associates, LLC (VAA, LLC) in Minneapolis, a company that works in the commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors. Michael has designed office buildings for financial institutions, flour and feed mills for agricultural clients, and worked on biodiesel structures for industrial clients. Many of these projects utilized RISA-3D.

Mohammed A. Alshankyty, B. Eng., M. Eng., P.E. Sce, Ce. Sce.

RISA Saudi & GCC Authorized Dealer/Instructor

Education
B.S. Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
M.S. Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Background
Mohammed works as consulting engineer, engineering arbitrator, licensed translator and RISA Saudi instructor and distributor. He has been an instructor of RISA software for the past 4 years and is RISA Technologies’ Authorized Dealer in Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, Mohammed served as the Mayor of Gizan (1981-90), an Assistant General Director at SASCO and General Director for Alqabas Translation House. He has run his own business since 1997.