The RMF Executive Team
Duane S. Pinnix, P.E., C.C.P.
President & CEO
Duane Pinnix has been at the helm of RMF Engineering since becoming majority owner in 1998. He joined the firm 26 years ago as a project engineer, and is responsible for the general oversight of the firm and executive management of its branch offices. Duane serves as President of the firm and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Continue Reading
Under Duane’s leadership, RMF has evolved significantly. Initially focused solely on mechanical and electrical engineering, Duane has helped steer RMF toward becoming nationally recognized for the analysis, planning and design of multifaceted engineering projects serving higher education, healthcare, research and development, and government clients.
With particular expertise in the design and commissioning of mechanical systems for infrastructure and building projects, Duane maintains a hands-on role with projects involving complex HVAC systems, including both new installations and phased renovations.
“The future of the engineering field involves projects, buildings and systems growing ever more complex via the use of the latest technologies and sustainable practices. This evolution of our craft represents an ongoing transformation in the way we approach our projects. As the science of engineering standards continues to evolve, RMF keeps ahead of the curve by investing early in the latest technologies and programs. Our focus is to ensure that our staff of engineers remain educated and trained for what the future brings.” -- Duane S. Pinnix
Duane holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering. He is an active member of BCA, ACG, ASHRAE, ASME and CSI.
Kenneth E. Pitz, P.E.
Executive Vice President
Ken Pitz is a seasoned engineer who continues to take a hands-on role with major RMF projects. With expertise in comparative analysis and evaluation of large-scale system concepts, he continues to provide direction to the company’s infrastructure group.
Continue Reading
Ken also enjoys the challenge of developing new business opportunities for the firm. Through new business, Ken is able to apply his high level of market understanding, knowledge of client needs, the continuing development of new services, and great enthusiasm for opportunities. He believes that RMF will continue to thrive by building on what the firm can become rather than what the firm is today.
Ken joined RMF as a project engineer in 1989. He brought with him a business savvy and a set of ideas earned from spending seven years in a well-run heating and air conditioning distributorship. RMF was able to successfully apply some of this experience to improve business practices. This, combined with Ken’s early success on some of RMF’s larger projects, earned him a promotion to the upper management team in 1998.
Over the years, Ken has served as COO and even CFO where he has been integral in helping formalize an understanding of how revenue flows into RMF, what business practices were most profitable, and how to optimize the firm’s future based on this data. Ken's foresight was integral in structuring RMF's specialty groups as separate business units. Ken's vision helped promote the restructuring of RMF specialty groups into separate business units. This better positioned the firm in terms of profitability, staff education and development, and financial efficiency.
Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.
Stephen E. McAdams, P.E., C.E.M.
Associate
Steve McAdams leads RMF’s master planning group, which specializes in developing strategies for utility systems, infrastructure growth and energy. His team advises clients on investing in systems and infrastructure, for the long- and short-term, outlining the best strategies to employ when beginning a project in order to maximize investment, efficiencies and sustainability.
Continue Reading
Steve plays an integral role in accurately assessing client and project needs by ensuring that his team operates at the forefront of the industry. As traditional methodologies are being challenged, strategy has become a prominent component of any project. Steve’s master planning group excels in anticipating needs based on market conditions, both present and future, and applying their expertise in providing the services that meet those needs.
“Finding the right solutions for our clients requires a carefully calibrated combination of creativity. My group specializes in providing solutions clients wouldn’t think of themselves coupled with sound engineering practices that mitigate risk. RMF has a history of emphasis on master planning where our competitors historically have not placed an emphasis on this service. As the demand for more efficient and sustainable solutions has increased, the importance of master planning has been thrust forward. This places RMF in a unique leadership position.” -- Stephen E. McAdams
Steve has been with RMF for 20 years and joined the firm while studying for his B.S. in Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. An internship at RMF gave him the opportunity to move among RMF’s different departments. He joined the firm after graduation and began to specialize in utility master planning. Ten years later, when the firm’s second generation began running the firm, Steve assumed a leadership role.
Steve is a member of the International District Energy Association and holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Kenton J. Balenske, P.E.
Vice President
Ken Balenske joined RMF in 1991 to launch the firm’s civil and structural engineering practice, which he still heads today. With particular expertise in campus steam and chilled water distribution systems, Ken is accomplished in all phases of project development, including master planning, construction documents and administration.
Continue Reading
Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. Prior to joining RMF, Ken gained extensive experience in the underground distribution of civil utilities, including steam, chilled water, electricity, sewer and gas.
Like other RMF executives, Ken runs a department and takes a hands-on role with major projects. The department he manages specializes in building design, site engineering and utility distribution for both individual projects, as well as large complex university and government campuses.
Ken is also involved in large complex projects that may go on for many years. One such project is the Ames Modernization Project in Ames, Iowa, which is slated to be the USDA’s largest animal health center. The 10-year master plan involves rebuilding the entire campus and creating the most sophisticated animal care laboratory facilities in the world.
Richard J. Borkowicz, P.E.
Division Manager
Rick Borkowicz is the manager of RMF’s Infrastructure Engineering Division. The group is responsible for planning, design, construction, start-up and commissioning of central utility plants, combined heat and power facilities and electrical substations for large campuses, including higher education, laboratory / research facilities, private corporations and government installations. In addition to managing the division, Rick takes a hands-on approach to the day to day activities including design, field investigation, start-up support and customer relations.
Continue Reading
In addition to traditional design activities, the division performs utility plant Condition Assessments that include evaluating the remaining useful life of plant equipment, and operational reviews for process system and control system evaluations. The results of the condition assessment are summarized into a comprehensive report that is utilized by customers to plan future plant upgrades and improvements. Rick continues to lead numerous condition assessment projects for RMF.
Rick joined RMF in 1994 with previous work experience in power generation and environmental engineering fields. During his tenure in the power generation industry, he had the opportunity to work on power plants ranging in size from 20 MW to over 1,000 MW. He holds two U.S. patents for low emission gas turbine combustion technology.
Rick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master of Engineering Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rick is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has given public presentations at the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and the New York State Office of General Services.
“RMF’s commitment to management involvement in projects, the depth of the firm’s experience and its understanding of large-scale client challenges have allowed the firm to prosper in a challenging economy. RMF is also well positioned to implement increasingly advanced technology into the design process, and to address the type of large-scale electrical power distribution work required by our aging infrastructure.” -- Richard J. Borkowicz
David S. Crutchfield, P.E., LEED A.P.
Division Manager
Dave Crutchfield is the Principal in Charge of RMF’s Charleston, South Carolina office, a position he has held since 2002. A seasoned engineer with particular expertise in the design of research laboratories, he joined the firm in 1993 as a Project Engineer in the Buildings Division. He was promoted over time through various positions and ultimately became a Project Manager at the Baltimore, MD office. Dave was then offered the opportunity to relocate to Charleston, SC, and he now leads the production and growth of the satellite office.
Continue Reading
The challenge of helping RMF expand its southeastern footprint was one Dave eagerly accepted, growing the office from two employees to fifteen employees. The office regularly produces award-winning work that is recognized for the firm’s use of innovative technologies, sustainable and energy efficient design, and innovative building design. The work produced from the office varies from high tech laboratory research facilities, new and renovated hospital facilities, and government facilities.
As a Principal, Dave takes a hands-on approach with key projects, including the exceptional work the Charleston office has completed for Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Francis Marion University, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina. Dave continues to practice engineering and leads design projects with his staff of talented Project Managers and design staff.
Dave earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is a frequent public speaker whose engagements have included the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and Labs21. He is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the International Society for Professional Engineers (ISPE), and the Society for American Military Engineers (SAME). He is also a LEED-accredited professional (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
J. Timothy Griffin, P.E., C.E.M., LEED A.P.
Division Manager
Tim Griffin joined RMF in 1993. As project engineer, he was also charged with helping to grow the firm’s office in Durham, North Carolina. Recently, Tim was chosen to lead the office and to assist the office with expanding its presence in the state of North Carolina.
Continue Reading
Prior to joining RMF, Tim worked with a few Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) contracting and consulting firms. He is the author of the book Winning With Millennials: How to Attract, Retain & Empower Today’s Generation of Design Professionals.
In addition to managing the Durham office, Tim has developed significant expertise in applying district energy to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. He acts as a liaison between the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and the USGBC, and serves on the USGBC’s Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Committee’s District Energy Workgroup.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Colorado State University. He sits on the Board of Directors of IDEA and writes a monthly column for District Energy magazine. He is also involved with the American Physical Plant Association (APPA), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC). He holds many certifications, including Certified Energy Manager (CEM), LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP).
Robert D. Smith, P.E., C.E.M.
Vice President
Bob Smith is in charge of RMF’s new business development effort; a role he took on in 1991 after training side-by-side with one of RMF’s original co-founders. Bob enjoys the competition that comes with new business development and works tirelessly to ensure his team’s efforts are at least six month’s ahead of RMF’s in-house project production schedule.
Continue Reading
New markets and opportunities can suddenly appear, almost overnight, driven by legislation, new areas of specialization and a greater emphasis on technology, BIM, and sustainability. Bob’s team specializes in quickly identifying these opportunities and capitalizing on them to solve the client's emerging needs.
Bob joined RMF in 1983 while in college, and worked his way from the ground up. He began as an intern on semester breaks doing everything from running errands to making blue prints. He quickly progressed onto project engineering and project management.
Bob considers RMF’s growth from a three-person mechanical and electrical engineering company to a 180-employee firm that designs highly specialized utility systems and buildings for some of the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities to be an amazing progression. He knows that the firm has the right combination of experience, commitment to market understanding and is solution oriented, to help it thrive in decades to come.
Bob recently served as Chairman of the International District Energy Association, and is an active member of the Society of American Military Engineers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
Michael A. Lentz, P.E., H.F.D.P.
Division Manager
Mike Lentz leads the Buildings Division of RMF, providing MEP designs for healthcare, laboratory, and research facility projects. Mike holds the unique distinction of being the company's first CAD operator, and he has stayed on top of the latest technologies ever since.
Continue Reading
Hired at the age of 19, Mike has held nearly every position available in his 23 years at RMF, from designer to project manager, and then partner in 2004 and division manager in 2010. This deep experience brings a priceless wisdom to each project. Day to day, he keeps the gears in motion both for his clients and for his division by managing the project managers, reallocating human assets and hiring the industry's most qualified engineers.
Since the early 1990's Mike has focused on healthcare, an area in which RMF has flourished for more than a decade. He does what it takes to truly understand the needs of RMF's clients. For instance, he recently sat in on an open-heart surgery to observe the impact of the environmental conditions on the operating room, the patient and the medical staff.
"The biggest thrill for me is when a problem comes up, because I like to be the guy who solves it. I want to get in there, see what is needed and why. Medical technology is always ahead of engineering, so our team is in constant contact with the people who represent the new products and with the societies that represent engineering in the healthcare industry. We're solving problems even before they make it to paper." -- Mike Lentz
Mike is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), and the Chesapeake Area Society of Healthcare Engineering (CASHE). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University, and is a certified Healthcare Facility Design Professional.
Paul J. Harry, P.E., LEED A.P.
Division Manager
Paul Harry manages the buildings division for RMF’s North Carolina office. He joined the firm after working for a Baltimore based architecture/engineering firm, and worked in the Baltimore office of RMF for nine years, first as a project engineer and then as a project manager.
Continue Reading
As the firm began to take on more work in the south and recognize the need for senior-level staff in the region, Paul moved to Durham in 1997 to head the company’s first branch office. The Durham office, now full-service and with a staff of 48, became the model for the company’s other branch offices.
Paul works on a diverse range of activities, from design projects to business development. Whether the client is a government facility, a hospital or an educational institution, Paul’s focus is on creating the perfect environment inside each building and maximizing its functionality.
"The market has changed, but our principles haven’t. The need for the kind of work we’ve always done is just gaining greater recognition. We have always pushed for design team integration and we’ve emphasized energy efficiency in planning, construction and maintenance." -- Paul Harry
Paul holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the American Hospital Engineers Association (ASHE), the Association of Higher Education Facility Officers (APPA), and the North Carolina Hospital Engineers Association (NCHEA). Paul is a LEED-accredited professional (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) who has spoken before the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASHE.
Kenneth D. Hahn, CxA
Division Manager
Ken Hahn is in charge of RMF’s field services division. A Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA), Ken oversees a group whose responsibilities start at the conceptual design stage and end when they are sure that a building’s complex mechanical and electrical systems can provide a safe environment with the comfort and control that owners and operators expect.
Continue Reading
Ken joined RMF in 1993 after previously working in the testing and balancing field. He also served in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command and the Air National Guard. Ken is typically on a project site acting as a liaison for the owner, checking the functional operations of the building from a user’s point of view, and keeping the owner’s vision alive from inception through completion.
"Design, construction and building operations have morphed into a high-tech industry. What technological advances allow us to do is use techniques like energy modeling to prove that the systems we’re recommending really work. That’s a big leap forward in gaining acceptance of the use of new technologies to meet conservation and efficiency requirements." -- Kenneth D. Hahn
Ken is the former treasurer of the Building Commissioning Association (BCA) and serves on its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Associated Commissioning Group (ACG) and the Design-Build Institute (DBI). Ken has held seminars on commissioning for such organizations as the BCA and the American Physical Plant Association (APPA).
Rod Marshall-Roth, A.I.A.
Division Manager
Rod Marshall-Roth is responsible for leading RMF’s Charlottesville, Virginia office. A skilled architect who brings a significant background in architecture programming, planning, and organization to the firm. Rod is primarily involved in managing area college and university projects. In addition, he manages the office staff, clients and finances for the branch office.
Continue Reading
The first portion of Rod’s career involved working specifically within the architecture industry and managing the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) architectural office. The second part of his career has focused mainly on the engineering industry, with a work history heavily involved with the U.S. Department of State. Rod’s unique blend of A/E experience brings a needed perspective to each of RMF’s areas of specialization, as well as the ability to act as a liaison with architects.
During his tenure in the A/E/C industry, Rod has seen the field of engineering change dramatically, going from the use of mainframe computers to the wide adoption of handheld devices. He believes that BIM (business information modeling) and the use of 3D modeling are major developments that allow RMF to produce more work more efficiently, and to accurately envision master planning in real time, resulting in greater accuracy in key areas such as energy usage.
“Our craft is best positioned to manage and help solve the impending energy crisis that will affect each of us as global citizens. It is my hope that our government will begin heavily incentivising companies like RMF to engineer solutions that will help solve our energy challenges. We have the talent and we have the desire. We just need to be able to cover the costs that come with the required research and development.” -- Rod Marshall-Roth
Rod holds a Bachelors degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Architecture, both from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).
Contact Us
General inquiries are always welcome. We enjoy hearing from you. Please fill out the form below to get in touch with us.