Biographies

Robert H. Benton, PE, Founder

Bob Benton is the founder of Benton & Associates, Inc. and holds more than 50 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering. Starting out as a draftsman/engineering technician in 1956, Bob worked his way through the professional ranks and school earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1963.

Since that time, Bob has served as the water superintendent for a large water system as well as Principal-in-Charge, design engineer, project manager, and construction observer. He has held both Professional Engineering and Land Surveying licenses in the State of Illinois. He is also a member and past President of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers as well as being a member and former National Director for the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Benton was also a Class “A” Drinking Water Operator and a Class I Wastewater Operator in Illinois.

Learn more about the history of Benton & Associates, Inc.

Reginald H. Benton PE, SE, Chairman of Board

Reggie has more than 40 years of experience in Civil and Structural Engineering. Reggie began his career working for the Illinois Department of Transportation and other engineering firms before coming back to work for Benton & Associates, Inc.

As one of the firm’s Principals, he has ultimate responsibility for the quality, schedule, and budget on a wide variety of projects. Reg is also the firm’s senior structural engineer and has designed pumping stations, box culverts, highway bridges, elevated and ground storage water tanks, buildings, and specialty structures for water and wastewater treatment plants. He has also conducted planning studies for major river crossings over the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers with spans exceeding 500 feet.

Reggie is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and Missouri, a licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois, and both a certified Swimming Pool Operator and Swimming Facility Professional Engineer in Illinois. Reggie holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri Science & Technology (Rolla) and is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Council of Engineering Companies.

Jamie L. Headen, PE, President

Jamie has been an integral member of Benton & Associates, Inc. for over 28 years. His roles have extended from draftsman, survey crew technician, and construction observer to lead design engineer, project manager, and Principal-in-Charge. In his role as Vice-President, Jamie has been involved in client retention efforts, firm management, and strategic planning.

Jamie is the firm’s lead environmental engineer and an expert in water treatment and distribution along with wastewater treatment and collection systems. He has provided our clients with trusted solutions throughout the project life cycle beginning with feasibility study development, extending through engineering design through construction and facility operations.

Jamie is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, a Class “C” Public Water Supply Operator and a Class “4” Sewer Operator in Illinois, and a certified Swimming Pool Operator in Illinois. Jamie holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Central Illinois Potable Water Operators Association, and the American Water Works Association.

William J. Sleeman, PE, Secretary/Treasurer

Bill has more than 30 years of experience in Civil Engineering. His projects have ranged from Phase I and Phase II planning and design for the Illinois Department of Transportation to subdivision layout and design from 20 to 400 lots. He has also worked on project reports, drainage studies, hydraulic reports, contract plans, easement drawings and descriptions, sanitary sewer collection systems and pump stations, and various storm water collection systems.

As a Project Engineer/Manager, Bill has had the ultimate responsibility for the quality of work, schedule, and budget for a wide range of civil/site development projects. As a Principal of the firm, he has held duties as the firm’s corporate secretary and treasurer and has been integrally involved in strategic planning and mentoring efforts.

Bill is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Missouri, and New Jersey. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton (OH) and is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Douglas J. Erickson, PE, Vice-President

Doug is the Office Manager for B&A’s Macomb, Illinois branch office and has over 17 years of experience in civil engineering and construction management. Before joining B&A, Doug worked for consultants that specialized in cause and origin analysis and damage assessments resulting in construction disputes between facility owners, architects and engineers, and construction contractors.

Doug has been involved in facility planning, design, and construction administration on a variety of municipal projects and serves as a project manager for B&A. His engineering work has spanned a variety of sectors including water/wastewater infrastructure, roadways and streetscapes, transportation/transit facilities, educational facilities, stadiums, industrial process plants, residential housing, commercial properties, and research laboratories. Doug’s work as a Principal has included client retention efforts and marketing and recruitment initiatives.

Doug is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and Iowa and holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Illinois College, a B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association.

Matthew B. Hardy, SE, PE, Assistant Secretary

Matt has over 16 years of experience as a project engineer in structural and civil engineering. He has served as design manager on a variety of structural engineering projects including highway bridges, county bridges, new buildings, renovated buildings and industrial facilities, elevated and ground storage water storage tanks, and miscellaneous structures.

As a Principal, Matt has participated in the firm’s strategic planning efforts and expanded the firm’s offerings to industrial clients. Matt is a licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois and a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. He is a graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.

C. Cameron Jones, PE, SIT, Principal

Cameron has over 13 years of experience in designing and developing water and wastewater infrastructure projects with in-depth expertise in wastewater treatment design. He has served as project engineer and project manager on numerous water distribution systems and treatment plants, wastewater collection systems and treatment plants, and storm water collection and conveyance systems.

Cameron’s engineering work has spanned a variety of projects in multiple disciplines with specific wastewater treatment experience in screening/solids handling, pumping, biological processes, clarifiers, UV and chlorine disinfection, and biosolids management. Cameron is also a leader in the firm’s GIS and advanced data collection efforts including LiDAR and 3D scanning. He has also been integrally involved in strategic growth of the firm’s water/wastewater services to municipal clients.

Cameron is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri and a licensed Surveyor in Training in Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and is a member of the Water Environment Federation, the American Water Works Association, Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association and the Illinois GIS Association.

Benjamin M. Spreen, PE, Principal

Ben has over 12 years of experience in civil engineering design, environmental engineering, and construction observation. He has served as project engineer and project manager on numerous water distribution systems and treatment plants, wastewater collection systems and treatment plants, and storm water collection and conveyance systems.

Ben has been involved in all facets of the project from planning and design through construction and facility operations and has specialized experience in computer animated hydraulic modeling and the IDNR/IEPA/IHPA permitting process. Ben has also served as the resident project representative during the construction of multiple water and sewer system projects. As a Principal, Ben has been integrally involved in strategic planning efforts and growth of the firm’s water/wastewater services to municipal clients.

Ben is a licensed Professional Engineer, Class “B” Water Supply Operator, and certified Swimming Facility Professional Engineer; all in the State of Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association.

Kenneth E. Sturgeon, PLS, Principal

Kenny is B&A’s Surveying Manager with over 30 years of experience in land surveying and construction observation.

Kenny has served as surveying crew chief and project manager on numerous land survey and civil engineering projects. His background includes street, road, and bridge construction surveys and stake out; surveys for utilities, mapping and construction; all aspects of subdivision construction including layout and stake out; topographic surveys for detailed horizontal and vertical mapping; and right-of-way and easement surveys for alignment control and acquisition. Kenny uses GPS equipment and Robotic Total Station for boundary surveys and topographic surveys.

Beyond knowledge and experience with standard surveying practices, Kenny is also trained to designate and mark subsurface utilities in accordance with ASCE 38 – Standard Guidelines for Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data. As a Principal, Kenny maintains the firm’s surveying standards and oversees the firm’s implementation of emerging data collection technologies such as LiDAR, GIS, and 3D laser scanning.

Kenny is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois and Missouri and a member of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association and the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors.

Stefanie J. Ballinger, PE, Principal

Stefanie has over 19 years of experience in Civil Engineering. She is a leader in the firm’s transportation and site development practices and works with a variety of municipal, State, county, and private clients. She also has an environmental engineering and business management background.

Stefanie is experienced in civil engineering planning, design and construction phase services on a wide range of infrastructure improvement projects including IDOT highway/interstate projects, safe-routes-to-school projects, community stormwater drainage, sewer collection systems and wastewater treatment plant facilities. Stefanie is also both a leader and mentor in implementing the firm’s CAD standards.

Stefanie is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a M.B.A. in Business Management from Western Illinois University.