Lee J. Beetschen, PE, DEE, Principal (President)

Lee J. Beetschen, PE, DEE, is a founding principal of CABE Associates Inc.  Lee graduated in 1964 from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE, with a BCE degree in Civil Engineering. In 1971, he subsequently earned a MS degree in Sanitary Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering, Newark, NJ.  He is a member of the State of Delaware’s Clean Water Advisory Council and the Council on Transportation.

Something of a Renaissance man, Lee has authored two non-fiction and two fiction books under the pen name Morgan C Lee. Perhaps more relevant to prospective users of engineering services, he is regarded as one of the region’s most forward-thinking environmentalists and engineers, with an unusual capability to spot the emergence and evolution of issues and to address them with creative solutions.  Consider that he conceived the following wastewater system firsts on the Delmarva Peninsula: Rapid infiltration basin, redirection gallery, deep injection well, hydrograph release NPDES permit, watershed trade, artificial wetlands treatment and overland flow.  He was recognized for his innovative thinking by receiving the Leonard Glass award from the Chesapeake Water Environment Federation.

Although most of Lee’s career has been in consulting, he worked as an environmental engineer for the State of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), where he worked from 1971-74 as the Manager of Water Resources and, before that, as Supervisor of Water Pollution. He also had worked for Exxon in Florham Park, NJ, Humble Oil in Benicia, CA and Black & Veatch in Kansas City, MO, between his 1964 graduation from the UD and joining the DNREC’s environmental professionals.

Robert W. Kerr, P.E., DEE, Principal (Principal-in-Responsible-Charge)

Mr. Robert W. Kerr, P.E., DEE has been the Director of Project Production at CABE for more than ten years and a Principal since January 2002.  Bob graduated from the University of Delaware in 1977 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  After a brief stint with a local surveying firm, he joined CABE.   He manages CABE’s technical resources to meet the company’s commitments for all projects. Quality control and quality assurance are also his responsibility. Mr. Kerr has over 28 years experience in the design and operation of wastewater collection, treatment and transmission systems, including investigation and rehabilitation.  His base of practice is the broadest at CABE, as he is registered as a Professional Engineer in 18 states.

He is proficient in the use of in-house and proprietary software for water and wastewater infrastructure planning, design and analysis. He was the project manager for recent award winning projects including the Mountaire Farms lagoon/spray irrigation system and the 45,000 GPM Perdue Farms pumping station. He also was the Project Manager for the operations assessment of more than 13,000 acres of spray irrigation fields for Continental Grain. He is an expert in maintaining the operation of existing facilities during construction of facility upgrades and/or expansions.

During his career, he has been involved with sanitary sewer projects for Delaware communities and government agencies including inflow and infiltration studies, pipe rehabilitation, manhole rehabilitation, CCTV inspection and modeling of sewer systems. Projects have included flow monitoring, data validation, rehabilitation design using both conventional and trenchless construction and permitting. He also served as principal-in- charge for stormwater projects at Vlasic Foods facilities in both Delaware and Michigan and many other sites in Delaware.

Mark K. Downes, P.E., Senior Associate (Project Manager)

Mark has 24 years of experience in engineering and project management at CABE, advancing to Senior Associate status in 2007. He earned his degree in Civil Engineering in 1977 from the University of Delaware. He has broad experience in planning, project scheduling, cost estimation, funding, design, permitting contract administration, inspection, start-up and operation of public infrastructure projects with an emphasis on water and wastewater systems.

Mr. Downes has managed water and wastewater facility projects for the Towns of Clayton and Millsboro, the City of Dover and Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware, and Anne Arundel County in Maryland. He has been the project manager for the Kent County Pump Station No. 1 improvements, the City of Dover Pump Station No. 7 upgrade, and the Delaware Seashore State Park Pumping Station and Force Main. He was the project manager for the design/construction of 40,000 feet of a replacement interceptor, 24 and 30 inch diameter, from Smyrna to Denny's Road for the Kent County Levy Court. This project included several directional drill stream and lake crossings.

Mark’s engineering and management versatility is clearly demonstrated by the work he has designed and managed for the Delaware State Fairgrounds. Redesigning a race track and modifying all the site utilities, storm water management and parking to accommodate a major expansion of a gambling casino are not the types of activities taught in civil engineering class rooms.

Scott’s primary responsibilities at CABE include all phases of project management of large scale water and wastewater projects for both municipal and industrial Clients. Water project experience includes potable water treatment plants, both iron and arsenic removal, and distribution systems. His municipal wastewater project experience with New Castle County includes sequential batch and membrane reactors as well as conventional activated sludge. Much of his extensive industrial wastewater treatment experience is for poultry industry upgrades and expansions and for spray irrigation disposal systems.

Scott also manages the GIS program at CABE, having singular skills for the use of GIS as a tool for data collection, planning and preliminary engineering. He created an internal library of GIS data layers that adds significant value to a myriad of projects.

Steven H. Lewandowski, P.E., Associate (Project Manager)

Steven Lewandowski joined CABE after graduation from the University of Delaware in 1994, achieving Associate status with the firm in 2007. Mr. Lewandowski has specialized in providing guidance and service to private utility and local government Clients. Steve is currently responsible for all phases of project management for potable water and wastewater facilities projects from project conception to completion.

He was project manager for CABE’s largest grass-roots sewage collection system, the $ 9M Oak Orchard Sanitary Collection System for Sussex County, consisting of almost 11 miles of 8-18 inch diameter sewers built in high water table conditions, exacerbated by the close proximity of the shoreline. Mr. Lewandowski has managed the design and construction of potable water facilities projects for Tidewater Utilities, including production/treatment plants, storage tanks, and distribution systems funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Kenneth L. Davis, P.E., Associate (Project Manager)

Mr. Kenneth L. Davis joined CABE in 1999 and became an Associate in 2007. Mr. Davis graduated from the University of Delaware in 1979 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Ken’s 28 years of diversified experience in the design, construction and construction management of water, wastewater facilities and various infrastructure is a real plus for the firm. Prior to joining CABE, Ken spent several years working as a project manager for a contractor where he was responsible for bidding and construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities as well as roadways and bridges. Mr. Davis gained invaluable insight on large projects working for another consulting firm where he was the project engineer for large wastewater treatment facilities. The New York City Coney Island plant, whose current capacity is 110 MGD, underwent major revisions on his watch. His duties included design and construction administration as well as supervision of field engineers.

At CABE, Ken is responsible for project management of potable water and wastewater facilities projects from project conception to completion. Duties include development of construction drawings and specifications, management of sub-consultants, permitting, bidding and construction phase administration, and management of inspection and field staff. Mr. Davis has managed the design and construction of potable water facilities projects including production - treatment plants, elevated water storage tanks and distribution systems funded with private and public fund. He also has managed domestic wastewater facilities projects, collection systems, pumping stations, and force mains.