ATLANTA, GA — With the recent addition of Tshiams Katala, PE, CFM, CDPESC, MS4CECI, as Drainage Leader in Atlanta, Garver is poised to tackle drainage and stormwater challenges facing DOTs, municipalities, and other state and local agencies.

A drainage leader with 20 years of experience in engineering practice and eight in academia, Katala has worked in both the private and public sectors, including more than eight years of Georgia MS4 and Construction Permit Compliance. He is a licensed professional in engineering and certified in municipal stormwater, floodplain management, and erosion control compliance. During his career, Katala has worked on a variety of projects from complex infrastructure improvements to more minor, traditional design projects.

“With his extensive experience in Georgia and his understanding of local, state, and federal regulations, Tshiams is the perfect fit for our growing team,” Transportation Team Leader Jeff Clayton, PE, said. “He’s a natural leader and teacher with a passion for sharing knowledge with others, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to Garver.”

Katala has been in Atlanta for over a decade, and in 2015, was awarded the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner’s Merit Award for his efforts with the environmental permitting of the I-285/SR 400 design-build project, valued at $147 million. He has worked closely with GDOT over the years, even serving as an embedded employee and trainer of GDOT employees in MS4 and erosion control.

“I joined Garver because I wanted to make an even greater impact and knew that I could with Garver’s considerable resources and excellent reputation in the industry,” Katala said. “I’m excited to build a drainage-specific team to provide essential services whose demand is only increasing.”

Katala graduated from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, with a BSCE and remained there for five years to teach before moving to the United States. After receiving his MSCE from Villanova University, he relocated to Atlanta to work in academia while also serving as a Stormwater and Drainage Consultant. Katala is a member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals and Association of State Floodplain Managers.