Meet the Team

Adam Pallai earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in 2006. He began working part time at MEC in 2004 and started full time after graduating from college. He was promoted to Vice-President in 2019. Effective October 1, 2026, Adam and Tyler Walker purchased the firm and are responsible for the day to day operations of the firm. 

Adam serves as Project Manager/Project Engineer for numerous ongoing projects.

Adam also serves as the Grant Administrator for MEC and works with DCEO, USDA, CDAP grants for various municipalities. 

Tyler Walker graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and is a USDA Certified Technical Service Provider in a variety of agricultural drainage related applications. 

Tyler joined MEC in July, 2021 as an Associate and has served as Project Engineer on a variety of civil engineering projects. He will continue to serve as Project Manager/Principal for numerous projects.

Effective October 1, 2026, Tyler and Adam Pallai purchased the firm and are responsible for the day to day operations of the firm. 

Phil Martin graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After starting his career with Turner Construction in Chicago, he returned to Springfield to work at MEC in 1991. He received his Professional Engineer certification in 1993. In 2003, he became President and majority owner of MEC.

Steve Walker graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology. He began working at MEC in February of 1987 and received his Professional Land Surveyor certification in 2000. In 2003, he became Vice-President and co-owner of MEC.

Steve's experience includes layout, grade design, sanitary sewer design, hydraulic calculations for storm sewer design and sizing, and detention/retention calculations. He is the Project Manager/Designer for many projects. Steve specializes in conceptual phase layouts of new developments.

Jeremy Smith earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Advanced Technical Studies-Land Surveying from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2005. He received his certification as a Professional Land Surveyor in 2010.

Jeremy serves as our firm's Survey Department Manager and has countless hours of experience in land development construction stakeouts, boundary, topographic, route, ALTA/ACSM Land Title, and miscellaneous surveys. He was promoted to Vice-President on October 1, 2026.

T.J. Keys graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and is certified in IDOT Documentation of Contract Quantities. 

T.J. joined MEC in April, 2022 and will serve as Project Engineer on a variety of civil engineering projects. 

Kevin Williams earned his Bachelors Degree in Architecture from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1987.

Kevin has been with MEC since 1992. His design experience includes layout, grade design, sanitary sewer design, hydraulic calculations for storm sewer design and sizing, and detention/retention calculations.

Steve Jeffers graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University in 1986.

Steve has been with MEC since 1990. His design experience includes layout, grade design, sanitary sewer and storm sewer design and sizing. He also utilizes AutoCAD for topographic mapping and drawing Plat of Surveys for the survey department.

Greg Anderson is a 1990 graduate of Lanphier High School. He joined MEC in 1993 as a survey crew rodman and has been our Survey Crew Chief since 1995.

Greg has countless hours of experience in the survey field as he has been our lead Crew Chief for over 25 years. He has performed boundary surveys, topographic mapping, right-of-way plans and plats, ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys, residential, commercial, rural, small and large tract surveys, and countless construction stakeouts.

Ryan Dodd returned to MEC after working for the Arch Coal Company since 2010. Ryan first started with MEC back in 2000 as a survey crew member before leaving to work at the coal mine. He has vast experience in all kinds of surveying (topographic, boundary, ALTA, floodplain, GPS control, etc.). Ryan graduated from Riverton High School and loves to fish and trap all kinds of animals in his spare time. 

Vicki Rowden graduated from Illinois State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She has been with MEC since 1999.

Vicki provides a wide variety of services for our office. Titles include: Receptionist, Secretary, Accounts Payable/Receivables, Purchasing, Office Manager, Human Resources, Copier Repair Technician, Payroll Clerk, Marketing Manager & Facebook Administrator. She has experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, MAS90, Quickbooks, Adobe, multi-function copiers, wide format copiers, binding machines, soda machines and coffee makers!

Spencer Cochran is a 2024 graduate of Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. While a student at SLU he studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for the Spring 2022 semester. He is a life long resident of Southern View and graduated from Springfield High School in 2020. 

Avery is a 2024 graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and joined MEC in February, 2025. Avery is both, an SIT (Surveyor in Training) and an EIT (Engineer in Training). She is originally from Effingham, Illinois. 

Ben Hutcherson is a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He graduated in December with his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering started full-time with MEC effective January 2025. Ben is a resident of Springfield and a graduate of Pleasant Plains High School.