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Brad Diener, Area Manager, Zenith Tech - A Walbec Company

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—Transportation Industry Implications

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is the largest federal investment in public transit ever while also being the largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the Interstate System.  With approximately $550 billion in new federal spending, this historic legislation will significantly impact the transportation industry.  Over the next five years, Michigan is estimated to see an additional $1.7 billion in federal funding for transportation projects with an additional $563 million dedicated to bridge repair or replacement projects.  Additionally, competitive grant programs will allow Michigan to capture further federal dollars.  Listen as Brad Diener from the Walbec Group talks about the IIJA and the implications he is expecting for the transportation industry.

Bio

As area manager of the bridge division for Zenith Tech, Brad is responsible for providing leadership to the project management team as they complete complex heavy civil structure projects throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

A tenured heavy civil engineering professional, Brad has over 15 years of managerial, estimating, and construction expertise in heavy civil projects. His expertise spans significant transportation infrastructure projects focused on bridge construction and rehabilitation. Brad’s experience encompasses all phases of the project management process and multiple project delivery methods.

Brad has been enthusiastic about workforce development and the construction industry’s future since the start of his career. Looking to grow the professional and skilled trade fields, he enjoys partnering with Walbec’s human resources team in workforce development initiatives. Brad has also served as the co-chair of the Calumet County Business and Education Partnership and works to advance the technical nature of the construction industry by serving on both the bridge and concrete technical committees for WisDOT, working through issues related to concrete materials and structures throughout the state.

Throughout his career, he has worked on many exciting and challenging projects, including the work on WIS 116 (Main Street) Wolf River Bridge in Winneconne, WI, before he joined Walbec. WisDOT honored the Wolf River Bridge with the Excellence in Large Structures award for 2019. Brad is also proud of the team recently completing a project on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, a National Historic Engineering Landmark. This structural, mechanical, and electrical bridge rehabilitation project was in Houghton, MI.

Brad earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering with a minor in military arts and science from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology. He also served six years as an active-duty engineer officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Stewart, GA; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Fort Bliss, TX; and Afghanistan. His military decorations and achievements include the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. Brad and his wife Meagan reside in Appleton, WI, and are expecting their fourth daughter.