Newport Coast Consulting Team

John (“Jack”) W. Neal III

Jack currently holds a General Engineering and General Building license in California.  Previously, he held specialty contracting licenses in Acoustical, Drywall, Lathing and Plastering.  Jack’s experience in the construction industry includes hands-on work, field supervision, project management and estimating culminating in the position of Vice President of Operations for both a prime and specialty trade contracting company.

As Vice President, Jack was responsible for all estimating and operational control of both the finish trades division and general engineering division of a $250 million dollar a year contracting business.  General engineering and building projects have included airport runways & taxiways, streets, wet and dry utility systems, hospitals, prisons, schools, commercial buildings, and tenant improvement projects.  Specialty trade projects, performing acoustical, metal stud framing, gypsum drywall, lath, plaster, architectural precast concrete and stonework have included projects such as LAX 2 through 6 modifications, LAX Terminal One, UCLA Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Universal Studious, UCLA Royce Hall, Screen Actors Guild and tenant improvement work for over one hundred floors in high-rise buildings.

During the past ten years Jack has acted as a construction consultant utilizing his expertise to provide forensic investigation services and resolving construction contract disputes, delay and bond claims.  In addition, he provides project management services applying his knowledge of the art of building and methods of construction; the ability to look at the big picture and the experience to understand the details.

Manny K. Shahraki

Manny received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at UCLA, a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at West Coast University, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Science and Technology in Tehran.  Manny holds Civil Engineer licenses in California, Nevada, and Arizona.  As owner and principal engineer of Los Angeles Soils, Inc., Manny is responsible for geotechnical field and laboratory investigation, construction inspection, engineering analyses and report preparation.

Manny provides management and coordination of studies for hillside and tract designs, piles, shoring systems, retaining walls, buttress fills and shear pins.  In addition, he performs forensic engineering and testimony for attorneys, insurance companies and governmental agencies on geotechnical aspects of land subsidence, earth movement, expansive soils, structural distress and other matters related to adverse soil, geologic or hydrologic conditions.

Michael S. Parnell

Michael studied construction at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and at Arizona State University in Tempe where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.  Early in his career he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Arizona and California as a Project Engineer monitoring new construction projects for compliance with contract documents.  Daily tasks included review of shop drawings and submittals, daily inspection of construction activities, estimating and negotiating change orders and control of progress payments.

During the past twenty years Michael has held the position of Director of Lender Services; he managed the day to day operations of the West coast division of a project management firm.  Michael was responsible for staffing, training, quality control, contract negotiations, marketing and preparation of technical reports for real estate lenders and investors.  Technical work included preparation of month construction progress reports, pre-construction reviews, cost estimates, and property condition reports on residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality and retail projects.

Michael Sawyer

Michael currently holds a General Engineering and General Building license in California.  Michael worked as a tradesman on both public works and private construction projects while attending Pasadena City College where he studied Business.  He continued his studies in Business and Accounting at California State University Los Angeles.  During his studies there, Michael began preparing material and labor quantity take offs, learning how to estimate the cost of construction and to prepare bids.  In addition, he learned the fundamental principles of Project Management.  Michael soon became the Vice President of Golden State Precast, a precast concrete subcontractor, where he successfully managed $20 million worth of public works and private construction projects and assisted in the preparation of more than $100 million worth of construction estimates.
 Michael has spent several years as a Project Manager and Chief Estimator for General Building and General Engineering contractor where he managed between $5 million to $150 million worth of public works construction projects and assisted in the preparation of up to $800 million worth of construction estimates.  Michael currently investigates defective construction, construction contract disputes, delay claims, and surety bond default cases.

Mohammad (Moe) Joolazadeh P.E., G.E. Principal Engineer

Mohammad has over twenty-eight years of geotechnical engineering experience.  He has worked on and managed a wide range of projects, including residential and small commercial developments, heavy industrial facilities, ports and harbors, tank farms, educational institutions, health organizations and correctional facilities.  Additionally, he has managed and participated in numerous forensic evaluations throughout the states of California, Nevada, and Arizona.  His administrative responsibilities have included business planning, as well as technical, professional, and marketing duties. Specific responsibilities include contract preparation and administration, financial planning and the development of quality assurance programs.  Mr. Joolazadeh studied at the University of Idaho Holds an M.S. Geological Engineering (1980) and attended Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran with a B.S. in Geology (1977).

Representative Publications include: Joolazadeh, M. (co-author) “Lateral Load Tests of Piles in Sloping Rock Fill in Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations.
Joolazadeh M. (co-author) Design Considerations and Field Load Tests of a Helical Anchoring System for Foundation Renovations”.
 

Lance Jaiteh

Lance completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at Cal State Long Beach.  In addition, he has completed graduate studies in Highway Design & Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Design; is a registered professional civil engineer and has completed SWPP’s training certification.

Lance provides civil engineering & underground expert witness services for construction defect cases including highway, bridge, drilling, underground, concrete, earthwork, and flood control systems.

Lance owned and operated L.J. Construction Company with responsibility for complete management and operation of general engineering construction including civil engineering infrastructure projects. He also provided construction management projects on joint venture projects. Other experience includes public works including earthwork, underground pipeline construction, site improvements, concrete structures (dams, bridges, retaining walls and flood control structures), soil remediation, landfill gas recovery systems and landfill closures.

(Member of The American Society of Civil Engineers)

Thomas L. Jack

Thomas completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  He has been an invited guest speaker to the trade; his areas of expertise include Forensic Investigation & Evaluation (design & construction issues), analysis of contract documents for compliance (codes & regulations) and testifying for design and construction issues. 

Thomas provides Architectural Expert Witness services for construction defect cases including forensic & construction issues and is focused on commercial, industrial, residential, and school projects. Thomas’ experience includes project management & supervision of large commercial and industrial projects and preparation of construction documents for custom built residential projects.

John A. “Trailer” Martin, Jr., SE

John is president JAMA.  "Trailer" Martin is responsible for all structural design and production services. His participation and involvement in all the firm’s projects include oversight of the structural design teams, allocation and commitment of budget and scheduling and quality review to ensure tht the structural systems designed optimally meet both design and structural/seismic requirements.  The recipient of a B.A in Civil Engineering from Brown University in 1968 and a M.S. in civil engineering from California State University at Long Beach in 1970.  Mr. Martin is a licensed structural engineer in California and 37 other states.

John provides expert witness services for construction defect cases including most areas of major commercial, industrial, civil and residential projects.
Mr. Martin is also a prestigious member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.