Meet the Gang
Jim DeStefano, P.E., S.E., AIA, F.SEI
Jim founded the firm in 1981 and currently serves as President and spiritual leader. He is a nationally recognized authority on timber engineering, among other things, and is a frequent speaker at professional and trade gatherings. Jim graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at the top of his civil engineering class in 1976 and received a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of California at Berkley in 1977.
Jim is a Fellow of the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), served as President of the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition (SEC) from 1994 to 1997, and has been a Director of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA). He is the founder and past chairman of the Timber Frame Engineering Council (TFEC). He is a prolific author and the past chair of the Structure magazine editorial board.
He is a Professional Engineer licensed in 22 states and a registered Architect.
In his free time, Jim enjoys building and restoring things, working with wood, stone, and iron. He is a master craftsman and an amateur forester.
Kevin H. Chamberlain, P.E., S.E.
Kevin Chamberlain is CEO of DeStefano & Chamberlain, Inc, where his responsibilities include all aspects of engineering design and firm management. He received his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1996 and has been with DeStefano & Chamberlain ever since.
Kevin is the Past Chairman for the Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) and is a past chairman of the CASE Guidelines Committee. He was the President of the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition (SEC) from 2007 to 2009 and served on the Board of the New England Coalition of Structural Engineers. He has also served on the Trumbull Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission and the Building Code Board of Appeals.
He is a Professional Engineer licensed in 11 states.
Joe Gencarelli, P.E.
Joe Gencarelli is the CFO of DeStefano & Chamberlain, Inc. and is responsible for the financial management of the firm. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Central Connecticut State University in 2000 and has been with DeStefano & Chamberlain ever since. In addition to being a senior structural designer, Joe manages the firm’s special inspection program and holds a Master of Special Inspections certification.
Joe is a Past President of the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition (SEC) having taken the position in 2018 and served on the ASCE 7 Standard Committee that is tasked with establishing structural design loading criteria for the International Building Code for the 2021 code cycle.
He is a Professional Engineer licensed in 5 states.
Ken Flemming, P.E.
Ken is the CTO of DeStefano & Chamberlain, Inc. He received his engineering degree from Roger Williams University in 2001 and joined the firm shortly thereafter. He is the director of drawing and specification production and has serves as a Revit trainer.
He is a Professional Engineer licensed in the State of Connecticut.
Ken enjoys poultry husbandry, renaissance fairs, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and other nerdy pursuits.
Rick Way, P.E.
Rick graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2013 with a master’s degree in structural engineering and joined DeStefano & Chamberlain shortly thereafter. He is a project engineer and the IT guru. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 6 states and the District of Columbia and a licensed Structural Engineer in 2 States.
Rick is the Vice President of the Structural Engineers Association of Connecticut’s (SEAConn) and serves on the Building Code Advisory Committee. He is an active member of the Timber Frame Engineering Council where he serves on the Technical Activities Committee. Rick has co-authored several technical papers and design guides on the topics of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) diaphragms, Timber Engineering, and Ultra High-Performance Concrete.
Rick is a fishing nut-job, makes super-premium small batch ice cream, and is an amateur meteorologist.
Herb Holz, P.E.
Herb graduated from Lehigh University in 1995 with dual degrees in Architecture and Structural Engineering. He is a professional engineer licensed in the State of Connecticut.
He served as President of the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition (SEC) from 2009 to 2011. In the days following the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, Herb was deployed to Ground Zero as the operations chief of the SEC Emergency Response Group to assist with the recovery operations.
Herb is passionate about motorsports and on occasion he can be found behind the wheel at the stock car track.
Priscilla Roman
Priscilla is the office administrator responsible for communications and accounting. Prior to joining the company in 2014, she worked in the banking industry where she served DeStefano & Chamberlain’s banking needs. She has an Associate Degree and has studied business and accounting. But beneath the kind, professional exterior lies a tough “bad ass” who does not take crap from anybody.
She is a licensed Real Estate Agent, holds a Bartending certificate, and enjoys kick boxing in her free time.
DeStefano & Chamberlain is licensed to offer engineering services in the following jurisdictions:
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
50 Thorpe Street
Fairfield, CT 06824-5725
(203) 254-7131
