We exist to identify opportunities, overcome challenges, maximize potential, and achieve fulfillment.
At Schneider Structural Engineers (SSE), we strive to be an extension of your team, not just an engineering consultant. For 25 years our mission has been a commitment to providing the highest quality services, going above and beyond expectations. We are passionate about every project we do – whether it be a mid-rise or a site inspection.
With four offices we have an ever growing pool of talent dedicated to collaboration with our clients, and with one another. Our multidisciplinary experience allows us to explore unconventional solutions and unique expertise. Understanding what issues are important to our clients and community is necessary in problem solving. We make the difference.
We exist to identify opportunities, overcome challenges, maximize potential, and achieve fulfillment.
At Schneider Structural Engineers (SSE), we strive to be an extension of your team, not just an engineering consultant. For 25 years our mission has been a commitment to providing the highest quality services, going above and beyond expectations. We are passionate about every project we do – whether it be a mid-rise or a site inspection.
With four offices we have an ever growing pool of talent dedicated to collaboration with our clients, and with one another. Our multidisciplinary experience allows us to explore unconventional solutions and unique expertise. Understanding what issues are important to our clients and community is necessary in problem solving. We make the difference.
In 2014 our company adopted an Organizational Health philosophy. Although it may sound like an employee health benefit, it is actually a health plan for the entire organization.
Our philosophy develops through a healthy culture that maximizes individual passion and potential. We leverage our resources to maximize our quality and profitability. And we maximize our client relationships and our community relationships by demonstrating attentiveness, cooperation, innovation, proactivity and transparency.
Founder & Principal, Tucson Office
In 1999, Ron established this firm with a commitment to creative structural engineering solutions and client satisfaction. Today he is licensed in numerous jurisdictions nationwide.
Principal, Tucson Office
David served in the U.S. Navy, providing construction supervision, then switched to engineering. Experience includes masonry, wood & steel-frame buildings plus cast-in-place concrete buildings.
Ron knew he needed help launching this branch office venture, so he called his former colleague. Like most new start-ups, they began at the kitchen table.
It wasn’t long before Ron learned that some of his architect friends from the past AE firm had also started a Tucson branch office for a Bay area architectural firm. Ron and Victor moved into shared office space with the architects. Soon after, this Bay area AE firm along with the Tucson branch was acquired by HDR. The Tucson branch office became HDR’s first Arizona office.
Success did not come so quickly for Ron and Victor. The office was extremely busy working on projects sent down from Scottsdale, but there was little time to develop new business in Tucson. Management from Scottsdale sent Ron another senior engineer and additional staff to help with the workload and local marketing. After a year and a half, the Scottsdale firm cancelled the operation in Tucson.
Ron knew it wouldn’t be long before the operation would be shut down completely. Looking for ways to keep what was started in Tucson going, Ron did his homework, explored other opportunities, and continuously networked. He called upon a successful engineer out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for whom a past colleague was working.
Ron pitched the idea of starting a Tucson branch office for that engineers firm. After hearing about the work Ron was doing in Tucson, he candidly told Ron he should start his own firm. This was just the encouragement Ron needed.
Ron established Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers. Ron’s next step was putting the business operation together. Ron’s father-in-law, an attorney, set up the business operation and established a relationship with an accountant. He hired a former a graphic designer who, created the logo and printed the marketing materials.
Ron then approached the Scottsdale firm with three goals: to take over the work in Tucson, to secure permission to use their standards, and to buy out most of the equipment. The Scottsdale firm agreed, and Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers was up and running.
The firm opened with five employees: Ron, a lead designer, and engineer, the receptionist, and a newly hired drafter. On a Sunday afternoon at the end of the first week, while working in the office the drafter arrived and informed them he had found another job and was picking up his things. Needless to say, Ron was shocked by the announcement. This was not how had anticipated their opening week would end; however, Ron now realizes that it was important to share the company vision he had with all employees.
The Ventana Medical Campus project, which was on hold, came back to life. Ron recruited Jeff Robertson to help with the project. Jeff was clearly on board with Ron’s vision and the future of the company.
As a whole, they were able to bring in large volumes of work; and the business did very well over the next few years.
With success, comes growth. Ron decided to expand the business. The expansion of the business included the addition of a new Principal, William Dzurick, P.E. The business continued to grow.
Schneider was approached by a native-owned civil engineering company out of Anchorage Alaska about a reciprocal agreement to cross-market each other’s services in Tucson and Alaska.
Together, Ron, Jeff and William, who never shied away from an interesting business proposition or a great adventure, quickly determined there was great opportunity for Schneider in Alaska. Jeff Robertson and his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 2003 and opened the second Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers office. Although Jeff has retired from the firm, the Alaska office has become a leading structural engineering firm in Alaska.
Ron knew he needed help launching this branch office venture, so he called his former colleague. Like most new start-ups, they began at the kitchen table.
It wasn’t long before Ron learned that some of his architect friends from the past AE firm had also started a Tucson branch office for a Bay area architectural firm. Ron and Victor moved into shared office space with the architects. Soon after, this Bay area AE firm along with the Tucson branch was acquired by HDR. The Tucson branch office became HDR’s first Arizona office.
Success did not come so quickly for Ron and Victor. The office was extremely busy working on projects sent down from Scottsdale, but there was little time to develop new business in Tucson. Management from Scottsdale sent Ron another senior engineer and additional staff to help with the workload and local marketing. After a year and a half, the Scottsdale firm cancelled the operation in Tucson.
Ron knew it wouldn’t be long before the operation would be shut down completely. Looking for ways to keep what was started in Tucson going, Ron did his homework, explored other opportunities, and continuously networked. He called upon a successful engineer out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for whom a past colleague was working.
Ron pitched the idea of starting a Tucson branch office for that engineers firm. After hearing about the work Ron was doing in Tucson, he candidly told Ron he should start his own firm. This was just the encouragement Ron needed.
Ron established Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers. Ron’s next step was putting the business operation together. Ron’s father-in-law, an attorney, set up the business operation and established a relationship with an accountant. He hired a former a graphic designer who, created the logo and printed the marketing materials.
Ron then approached the Scottsdale firm with three goals: to take over the work in Tucson, to secure permission to use their standards, and to buy out most of the equipment. The Scottsdale firm agreed, and Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers was up and running.
The firm opened with five employees: Ron, a lead designer, and engineer, the receptionist, and a newly hired drafter. On a Sunday afternoon at the end of the first week, while working in the office the drafter arrived and informed them he had found another job and was picking up his things. Needless to say, Ron was shocked by the announcement. This was not how had anticipated their opening week would end; however, Ron now realizes that it was important to share the company vision he had with all employees.
The Ventana Medical Campus project, which was on hold, came back to life. Ron recruited Jeff Robertson to help with the project. Jeff was clearly on board with Ron’s vision and the future of the company.
As a whole, they were able to bring in large volumes of work; and the business did very well over the next few years.
With success, comes growth. Ron decided to expand the business. The expansion of the business included the addition of a new Principal, William Dzurick, P.E. The business continued to grow.
Schneider was approached by a native-owned civil engineering company out of Anchorage Alaska about a reciprocal agreement to cross-market each other’s services in Tucson and Alaska.
Together, Ron, Jeff and William, who never shied away from an interesting business proposition or a great adventure, quickly determined there was great opportunity for Schneider in Alaska. Jeff Robertson and his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 2003 and opened the second Schneider & Associates Structural Engineers office. Although Jeff has retired from the firm, the Alaska office has become a leading structural engineering firm in Alaska.
For 25 years our mission has been a commitment to providing the highest quality services, going above and beyond expectations.
Developed by Kodeak
1990, Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
Council Record, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
Board Member, Town of Sahuarita Board of Appeals for Plan Review
Member, Structural Engineers Association of Arizona (SEAoA)
Member, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Member, Steel Framing Alliance
Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Forensic Engineering Committee for Practices to Reduce Failures
Affiliate Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Ron grew up in the bustling city of New York, moved as a teenager to the open skies of Tucson, and then studied architectural engineering at California Polytechnic State University on the secluded Central Coast of California. He joined a large firm as a structural engineer and worked on projects throughout the United States, Taiwan and Thailand. He opened his own firm in Tucson in 1999, expanding to Anchorage in 2003 and Phoenix in 2007.
During the economic downturn in the industry in the late 1990s, Ron decided to take a chance and venture out on his own. He knew the industry was about to rebound. With his entrepreneurial spirit, ten years of AE experience, a solid portfolio, and a circle of professional friends that could help him build a solid corporate infrastructure, Schneider & Associates was launched.
Relationships are the foundation to success. You must choose them carefully and nurture them. Over time the foundation settles, and you build on the strength of the foundation.
Ron is highly skilled in seismic design and the selection of the appropriate framing system to provide a quality solution for a variety of projects ranging from complex structures for judicial, courtrooms, medical, advanced technology, and industrial facilities to smaller scale projects. Many of the projects he has designed have required extensive 3D dynamic computer analysis.
Ron is licensed to practice in over 25 states. Please contact the Tucson office for a complete list.
1990, Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
Council Record, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
Board Member, Town of Sahuarita Board of Appeals for Plan Review
Member, Structural Engineers Association of Arizona (SEAoA)
Member, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Member, Steel Framing Alliance
Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Forensic Engineering Committee for Practices to Reduce Failures
Affiliate Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
2002, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Arizona
2002, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Arizona
Dave Gibbens grew up in the small town of Avenal in Kings County, California. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee before moving to Tucson to study engineering at the University of Arizona. He has worked for Schneider Structural Engineers for his entire structural career, getting his start as an intern in March of 2001.
When I was a transfer junior to the University of Arizona, I called Schneider and Associates in October of 2000 to see if they had any internships. Mr. Ron Schneider directed me to call back in March. I called in March of 2001 and Ron referred me to Janelle Perry. Janelle graciously gave me a chance and for the next three months I worked in the conference room of Schneider and Associates, learning and growing. Mr. Schneider does not believe an intern should do menial tasks, but his interns are challenged with actual projects. With this level of trust, I thrived. Upon graduation in May of 2002, Schneider Structural Engineers hired me on full time as a junior engineer and I’ve been here ever since.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve calculated, nor if you had the greatest calculation package this side of the Mississippi, if your drawings aren’t coordinated and constructible by a contractor, you have failed on a project.
Dave specializes in wood-framed and steel-framed structures including retail and commercial buildings, offices, education facilities and medical clinics. He also has experience in the latest economical seismic technologies, as well as cast-in-place concrete and masonry.
Dave is licensed to practice in Arizona and California.
2002, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Arizona
2002, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Arizona