Locations
Critical Structures, Inc.
Critical Structures, Inc.
Key Contacts
Owners, Principals & Senior Executives
Eric Stovner's Bio
First inspired at the age of 3 when his dad walked him by a construction site with jib crane and steel frameworks, Eric played with his Legos and building blocks, and in high school was mentored by Todd Wales with four years of drafting and housing design and William Bell with architecture. Eric was welcomed by George Hasslein into the stellar Architectural Engineering program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, learning from many fine professors, including Jake Feldman, Sat Rihal, Clay Pharoah, David Hatcher, Robert Liu, and Celina Penalba. Eric interned in the Riverside, CA office of Johnson & Nielsen, learning from Per Ron, Don Irving, Clarence Behling and Rick Bird. Upon graduating from the program in four years in 1987, Eric worked in New York, NY with great companies Leslie E. Robertson Associates – mentored by William Faschan, Monica Svojsik and Hal Roet, Robert Silman Associates – mentored by Bob Silman, Marie Ennis and Donald Friedman, and Thornton Tomasetti – mentored by Tom Scarangello, Peter Rottas, Charlie Thornton, Dan Cuoco, Manny Velivasakis, Dave Peraza, Aine Brazil, Kirk Mettam and Richard Tomasetti. With Thornton Tomasetti, Eric returned to California, mentored by John Coil, Stephanie Welsh, Ed Kasparek and Jim Ebrahim, and also worked with Miyamoto, mentored by Chris Smith. Eric has had the blessed fortune of always working in a profession that he loves. Eric started his company Critical Structures in the spring of 2009 with supportive prayers, emotional support, generosity and well wishes from so many family, friends, clients and one very special angel — JP — in particular. In the winter of 2009, Eric acquired Breiholz Qazi Engineering, a company established in 1973 by David Breiholz. It has been fantastic to work closely with Dave and to continue to serve his clients. Eric’s current phase is to build on the strong foundation of a great group of people and continue working with great clients and friends in this profession of endless possiblities.
Estimating, Purchasing & Preconstruction
Kathy Kovshilovsky's Bio
Raised in a household full of engineering parents and grandparents, Kathy Kovshilovsky was born and raised to be an engineer. She completed her Bachelors and Master Degrees in Civil Engineering at UCLA. David Breiholz took her under his wing at Breiholz Qazi Engineering in her last year of her studies. Kathy welcomed the fresh energy and new challenges that Eric Stovner brought when he took over the company in 2009. Since then, she has contributed to the company’s learning and growth and aspires to continue to do so in the future. She doesn’t always sign her work, but when she does she signs it “KK”.
Stephen Fong's Bio
Originally interested in architecture and design at a young age, Stephen changed his focus to the more technical side of buildings after taking AP physics at Berkeley High School with teacher Richard White, who inspired him to always think creatively and introduced him statics and dynamics and the foundation of what would later become Stephen’s career. Following high school, he attended the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UCLA for 3 ½ years and graduated with a BS in civil engineering with a structural emphasis. Stephen’s first job out of university was with Stuart Engineering, a civil engineering firm located in San Diego. After several months with Stuart Engineering, he was hired as a structural designer at Wynn Engineering, a structural and civil engineering firm. Stephen spent several years working at Wynn Engineering developing his skills in custom home design and various other small scale residential and commercial projects. In addition, whenever the civil engineering department was overloaded, he took the overflow and provided design for many grading plans. After working in San Diego, Stephen moved to New York, NY and took a job with Goldstein Associates Consulting Engineers, where he worked for the following 3 years, starting as a Structural Engineer and becoming Project Engineer shortly thereafter. During his time in New York City, Stephen was the project manager for several high rise residential and commercial buildings, as well as the restoration and rehabilitation of a prominent New York City landmark apartment building. In 2010, Stephen returned to California and began work with Breiholz Qazi Engineering in Lomita, CA, which later became Critical Structures. He has continued his work with Critical Structures, always striving to produce creative designs while keeping in mind efficiency and cost effectiveness. Stephen is now located in Berkeley, CA, his hometown. He is proud to be a part of the Critical Structures team.
Other
Sharon Nixon-Escochea's Bio
My Life – Born & raised in NC (chicken ‘n’dumplins; homemade biscuits; sweet tea which I still make all the time; fried okra; amazing thunder & lightening rain storms; lots of greenery & floral…) / College – Meredith College (Home Economics major & Business Admin minor; Little Sister @ Sigma Chi NCSU; College Marshall my Jr year) / Moved to NYC for 3 years (studied acting, waitressed – more “hep u” moments & I often served Al Pacino who lived around the corner; Asst. Mgr of an Off-Broadway theatre; picnics in Central Park & Simon & Garfunkel reunion there on my 21st Birthday; Zabar’s Deli; friends & I hanging out one night w/Andy Warhol (he loved my Timex watch); was a Nanny) / Moved to CA (more waitressing @ the legendary El Cholo Rest; more acting classes; met my husband and 2 children later – lots of “hep u” in this position; Office Mgr of The Designory in Long Beach for 16 years; trying to “hep u” through my beloved church / currently @ Critical Structures, Inc.) I do love to help & serve people. Life is good & I am grateful.