Gregory F. Braze, P.L.S., Principal, President, Firm Partner
Gregory F. Braze led the Land Survey Division for Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. (LBE) for three decades. Today Greg is working closely with the firm's upper management while heading our newest expansion office in San Luis Obispo. Greg takes great pride in contributing high quality service and dedication to LBE, Inc. for over 40 years. Through his commitment to the success of the company and other team members, including his father, Greg became the company’s partner in 1996. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Greg is adept in identifying local developmental and industry trends which has served great success with his clients. One of his top priorities is utilizing the latest and greatest survey technologies. Starting in 1984 with a manual theodolite, Greg has constantly been upgrading our equipment which now includes cutting edge drone technology, total stations, and GNSS equipment.As an expert in boundary issues, Greg has served as a professional witness throughout the Bay Area and has served as a formal and an informal advisor for the Counties of Santa Clara and Alameda.
Jeff Lea, P.E., P.L.S., Principal Emeritus, Firm Partner, Retired
Jeff Lea, Principal Emeritus, is an original founder of the Lea & Braze Engineering. Prior to finding Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc., Jeff moved from North Carolina and began his career at a Civil Design and Surveying firm in 1970 alongside his uncle and mentor, Jay Hammond. Having discovered his passion for Civil Engineering, Jeff went on to complete his degree in Civil Engineering at San Jose State University, and obtained a license in Surveying. Over the years, Jeff had become fully immersed in the construction industry and went on to start his own firm, Lea Engineering. Lea Engineering started as a two person firm and grew steadily into a firm with close to 50 employees, in part due to Jeff’s commitment in delivering high quality work, and having a group of hard working staff. He considers himself fortunate to work alongside such dedicated individuals who share the same goals and values. Jeff believes in cultivating a fun and positive work environment, therefore he encourages his staff to stay energized and motivated. He often enjoys mentoring younger engineers into having a successful career in the industry. Jeff’s success today stems from two important core values he adopted at an early age from his uncle; he believes a design firm is a service focused business, and as such, needs to work diligently to materialize his clients’ visions, as well as embody the “winning the war rather than the battle” philosophy when navigating through the complexity of the construction plan approval process.
Peter Carlino, P.E., Q.S.D., Q.S.P., Principal, Vice President, Firm Partner
Peter Carlino currently manages Lea and & Braze Engineering, Inc.’s second office in Roseville, California. Pete began working with the firm in 1999 as an Engineer Drafter and Technician while pursuing a Civil Engineering degree at San Jose State University. While working at Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc., Pete was offered an opportunity to be involved with a variety of projects, and with enthusiasm, he fully immersed himself around various civil design projects. He then went on to becoming Project Manager, and assumed his current role as Partner to the firm. Pete understands the importance of commitment and hard work; therefore, he goes above and beyond for every client he works with. His goal is to build on the company’s foundation of high quality service, and offer clients a consistent commitment in providing high standard work as well as service to build customer loyalty. When Pete is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his two children.
Jim Toby, P.E., P.L.S., Q.S.D. , Principal, Vice President, Firm Partner
Jim Toby has more than 20 years of experience within the industry. He began his career with Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. when it was operating under Lea & Sung Engineering and quickly advanced his position into becoming a partner with the firm in 2007. Over the years, Jim has played a variety of roles within the firm; Intern Drafter and Surveyor while finishing his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and later, his Master’s degree with an emphasis in Construction Management at San Jose State University. Jim now leads a competent team of engineers and has since expanded his experience to subdivision, land planning, custom residential design, commercial and education at Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. In addition, Jim works hard to stay innovative with the constant change of government regulations involving Storm Water Quality, a service sector he’s become an expert in. He also strives to find a balance between strict Storm Water regulations and producing a simplified, yet functional system. Jim attributes much of his interest and love for Civil Engineering to his high school professor, Mr. Pershing, who played an instrumental part in guiding Jim down his career path. With much appreciation and gratitude for his professor’s professional guidance, Jim is now heavily involved in Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc.’s college internship program by providing professional advice and mentorship to the firm’s interns.
Mirko Ferreira, Principal, Vice President, Firm Partner
Mirko Ferreira is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in the field of land surveying. As the Land Survey Department Manager at Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc., Mirko has been instrumental in overseeing the work flow and managing projects within the survey department since 2003.
Throughout his tenure at Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc., Mirko has had the privilege of being mentored by the firm's President, Gregory Braze. Under this guidance, he received comprehensive training in Boundary Surveying and Contouring, allowing him to develop a deep understanding of these critical aspects of the industry. Today, Mirko applies his expertise to supervise all aspects of the firm's Land Survey Department, ensuring the highest standards of quality and precision.
Mirko's professional journey began as a consultant in the telecommunications sector, where he played a pivotal role in designing miles of fiber optic backbone in the San Francisco and Bay Area regions. Over time, he shifted his focus to "last mile" designs and solutions for both private and public companies. Leveraging his extensive experience in design and drafting, Mirko successfully implemented drafting standards and implemented aesthetic changes to topographic surveys, setting Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. apart from other firms in the industry.
Mirko Ferreira's unwavering dedication, combined with his extensive experience and expertise, make him an invaluable asset to Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc., ensuring exceptional results for the firm's clients in the field of land surveying.
Alex Abaya, Principal, Vice President, Firm Partner
Alex joined Lea & Braze Engineers straight out of college. As a Construction survey manager at Lea & Braze Engineers for more than 14 years, Alex has completed more than 500 residential, commercial and mixed-use projects. Throughout his time at Lea & Braze Engineering, Alex has contributed to the growth of the firm. Alex has provided introduction to Land Survey training seminars for multiple local jurisdiction building department planners and inspectors including City of Palo Alto, City of Menlo Park and City of Mountain View. He is also a mentor to interns and entry level staff. He Provides company training for new survey technology, survey equipment, survey methodology, and FEMA flood hazard topics. He attends Cal State University Fresno Geomatics conference yearly for ongoing professional development, keeping abreast of new technology, and promoting surveying and civil engineering as a career to college students.
Tracy Rogers- Daly, Accounting Manager and Corporate Secretary
Tracy has more than a decade of experience of working in payroll, staff, and tax accounting. She has worked in accounting for the trucking and warehousing industry. Tracy was involved with the implementation 2020/2021 of ERP software Ajera. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Colorado State University, Cum laude, Sigma Beta Delta, Delta Mu Delta, and Golden Key International Honour Society.
Tina Aday, Marketing Director
Tina has been in marketing communications for the Architectural/Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) Industry for more than a decade. Earlier in her career, she had extensive experience in Renewable Energy and was both a reporter and editor for multiple daily newspapers in the Bay Area. She also serves as a writer for the Society for Marketing Professional Services, San Francisco Chapter, Communications Committee. Tina’s marketing experience has been focused on the support and drive of business development and marketing communications. She holds a Master of Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.
Daniel Namyst, PLS, PSM, Director of Central Coast Survey Operations
Daniel Namyst is leading our new San Luis Obispo regional office as Director of Central Coast Survey Operations. Daniel has introduced and provided training firm wide for Lea & Braze in-house drone services program and continues to use the latest technology for in-depth and accurate surveys. He also specializes in resolving complex boundary issues. His expertise includes commercial, agricultural and residential properties.
Daniel holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Cal Poly SLO and a master’s in Survey Engineering and Business from the University of Maine. His professional designations include a commercial Drone pilot’s license, PLS and the Francis Crowe Honor Society from UMaine.
In his free time, Daniel enjoys hiking, traveling and fishing.
Roxana Corona, P.E., Q.S.D., Project Manager
Roxana has been part of the Lea & Braze Engineering team since 2008. She began as civil intern assisting in commercial, residential and public sector projects. Her leadership and communication skills with the design team members, clients and various municipality officials have helped promote her to her current role as Senior Project Manager. At the beginning of 2020 Roxana was placed in charge of our newly expanded San Jose Branch Office. She leads a team of highly skilled civil engineers in various development types throughout San Mateo and Silicon Valley. Roxana has experience working on various phases of project development including preliminary site assessment, land planning, drainage design, utility design, stormwater management (C.3), hydromodification and runoff treatment designs
Chris Phan, P.E., Q.S.D., Q.S.P., Project Manager II
Chris Phan joined Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. in 2012 and has a combined experience in Civil Engineering and Construction of over 24 years. Chris began his career as a Field Surveyor performing Construction Staking, Topographic and Boundary Surveys. As a designer, Mr. Phan has a background in various sectors, such as; residential, commercial, hospitals, academic institutions and public works. Chris is also experienced in the ever-evolving Stormwater Management requirements from different jurisdictions throughout the Bay Area especially San Francisco. Beyond his diverse technical skills and knowledge, Chris is proactive in communicating with the city officials, clients, design team members and contractor to ensure high quality in every single project.
Alex Henson, P.E., Project Manager II
Alex came to Lea & Braze Engineering as an intern, in 2012, and quickly made his way to project management. Prior to joining the firm, Alex, worked in research development and member outreach for a rural electric cooperative. Alex enjoys the fast pace of working on numerous high end and historical estates throughout Bay Area. He has also been part of the management and design of major subdivisions in San Mateo County and Santa Clara County. In his free time Alex enjoys the outdoors and returning the Northern Sierras.
Darren Bunting, Survey CAD Manager
Darren Bunting has been a key member of the Lea & Braze Engineering team since 2013. With over 25 years of experience in drafting, he leads our team of survey technicians to ensure topographic surveys are both precise and visually appealing. He has a diverse drafting background, specializing in various areas such as communications, commercial/residential solar energy, civil and structural engineering. Darren is great at delivering detailed topographic and boundary surveys for high-end residential projects. As a Bay Area native, takes pride in seeing the high-quality work of Lea and Braze reflected throughout local communities. When not at work, Darren enjoys playing hockey, drumming, and outdoor activities like hiking in the East Bay Regional Parks.
Michael Morgan, P.E., Q.S.D., Project Manager I
Michael has over 14 years of experience in site and land development on both private and public projects throughout the greater bay area. He is well versed in infrastructure design, accessibility requirements and storm water management. Michael has worked closely with many cities, counties, and other various jurisdictions on a wide range of projects which include: schools (K-12 and higher education), medical facilities, technology campuses, large housing developments, multi-family residential, single-family residential, theme parks, hospitality, car dealerships, commercial, office, and mixed-use buildings. Michael enjoys traveling, playing soccer, outdoor activities, and attending local sporting events with his son.
Tupac Aguilar, Survey Project Manager
Tupac Aguilar has been with Lea & Braze Engineering, both in the field and in the office, since 2015. He brings more than 15 years of experience in land surveying to his current role as a project manager. He coordinates construction staking, collaborates with contractors and architects, and trains new members of a dynamic survey team. Tupac has a passion for problem-solving and technology and derives great satisfaction from seeing the outcomes of the many projects he supports. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from la Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería in Managua, Nicaragua, and a master's degree in construction management from Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.
Derek Rossi, Chief of Parties
Derek, a seasoned land surveyor with over 20 years of experience has been a Party Chief Lea and Braze Engineering since joining in 2005. His career journey reflects a commitment to excellence in the land surveying profession, marked by a unique blend of hands-on field expertise and strategic leadership. Starting his career in a smaller engineering firm, Derek gained comprehensive insights by being involved in projects from the initial client contact to the final map. This hands-on experience provided him with a distinctive perspective in a profession often segmented between office and field roles. In 2019, Derek transitioned into the role of Chief of Parties, where he assumed a pivotal position overseeing nearly every aspect of the survey department's workflow. His initiatives significantly increased efficiency and communication department-wide, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a seamless collaboration between surveying teams. In his free time, he enjoys coaching and playing baseball with his two sons and fishing.
Teresa Brosius, Project Engineer
Teresa joined the Lea & Braze Engineering team in December 2007 and currently works as a Project Engineer for the Civil Department out of our San Jose office. She started her career with the firm as a Civil Drafter, eventually moving into the Civil Drafting Department Manager position. In this role she played an integral part in establishing and implementing Company drafting standards and training materials.Teresa has had the opportunity to work with many Project Managers and Principals whom have mentored her and allowed her to grow and develop her technical design skills. Through hard work, determination, and the desire to succeed Teresa has obtained her current position of Project Engineer where she leads production of civil design deliverables and oversees project clients, work flow, budgets, and scopes. Teresa’s professional mantra is “The sky is the limit”. Outside of work Teresa enjoys cooking, pouring wine, hiking and kayaking, and visiting new places.
Brittney Lee, Billing Department Manager
Brittney Lee started at Lea & Braze Engineering as a Receptionist in 2005. From there, she quickly moved into an Administrative Assistant position for the Land Surveying Department and eventually assisting the Civil Engineering Department as well. She took an Executive Administrative Assistant position in 2014 for the Land Surveying Department where she was able to lead the team with her initiative, diligence and accounting skills. She soon would move onto a new role as the Office Manager for the Land Surveying Department during their relocation to Dublin, California. In addition to her great organizational and communication skills, Brittney has prior experience working in the Accounting industry where she realized her love for billing, auditing, forecasting, and analytics. In May 2021, Brittney was offered the opportunity to spearhead the development of the new Billing Department and take on a new role as the Billing Department Manager. Due to her love of growth and education, Brittney is now pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at California State University East Bay with an expected graduation date of May 2026. Brittney is a proud parent of three lovely school-aged children, enjoys road trips with her family and is a horror movie enthusiast.
Ryan MaGee, Project Manager
Ryan MaGee joined Lea & Braze Engineering, Inc. as a summer intern in 2015 and Design Engineer in 2016 after graduating with his B.S. Civil Engineering from San Jose State University. While working fulltime at Lea & Braze, Ryan also attended night school at San Jose State University and received his M.S. Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Engineering and a minor in Construction Management. After becoming the company’s resident expert for everything septic in San Mateo County, Ryan was appointed the role of Septic Project Manager where he provided QA/QC support to all San Mateo County septic plans/designs and conducted percolation testing. Later Ryan would become a Civil Project Manager for the company managing staff, projects, and Client relations.
After taking a brief hiatus in late 2022, Ryan returned to Lea & Braze in early 2023 where he was elevated to Project Manager/Training Program Manager. In his new role, Ryan works to prepare training materials for the onboarding of new staff and has successfully implemented this program across multiple offices.
Ryan’s passion for civil engineering comes from his love for the outdoors, math, science, and his involvement in the Civil Engineering Honor Society (Chi Epsilon). In his free time Ryan enjoys eating top-notch food, backpacking, and building tools with Microsoft Excel.
David Delaney, Project Manager/Chief of Parties
David Delaney is an experienced Land Surveyor with a rich career originating in 1989. He originally established roots in Florida before relocating to California in 1995. He has over two decades of survey experience around the San Francisco area. He started out as a Party Chief with Lea & Braze and now is a Chief of Parties who manages various monitoring projects and small to large scale construction projects. His vast expertise being primarily focusing on our San Francisco Bay Area projects. Beyond the realm of surveying, David is an avid enthusiast of golf, music, art, fishing and cooking. He and his wife Jenny both find an immense joy together in the great outdoors.
