About Me
Following 4-years as a Junior Engineer working for three MIT schooled Engineers (all with doctoral degrees) and 2-years as the General Manager for a site development company in MA, I transplanted to Southern CA. Professional referrals in hand I applied for and passed the California Professional Civil Engineer's Exam in 1994. Over the next 12-years of mostly practicing in structural analysis/design and developing a small Engineering Firm I decided that management was less inspirational than the actual engineering work so I slowly shed employees. Taking on architectural responsibilities enfolded casually but this was not new to me. In 1999-2000 I was tasked by State Farm Insurance to be the lead in developing EQ Repair Plans for a 30-building multi-unit HOA complex in Santa Clarita. Those Repair Plans were subsequently used by McCarthy Building Companies (no relation) to institute prescribed repairs to the buildings and site improvements ($16M). Many other large residential development repair plans had preceded that and afforded me a solid reputation in the industry.
I work with a wide range of clients including: property owners, property managers, general contractors, insurers, public adjusters and the occasional attorney in need of an expert witness. It's an interesting mix of projects I contract for so I feel very blessed. I can likely help you with your real property project, but if not, I will be the first to say so.
There is a common misunderstanding that only an Architect can deliver building plans. That is not true. Architecture is actually a discipline of Engineering combined with art. As a Professional Engineer licensed by the State of California my design authority eclipses that of a licensed Architect. In fact, Architects typically rely on Engineers to handle the structural aspects of building design. This is why municipalities ask for both "architectural plan sets" and "structural plan sets". In most cases only the latter is required to bear a Professional Stamp.
​
Why hire two consultants in different offices when a single consultant can do the same work more efficiently and with less chance for omissions? Combining both Architecture & Structural solutions is what I define as Single-Point Design.
​
Of course, additional consultants are needed when the project demands. I have developed long term relationships with outside consultants for Geotechnical Engineering, Land Survey and MEP Engineering.
Education & Experience
1983
University of MA, Amherst
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Additional Geotechnical Engineering Graduate level courses in Soil Testing, Pavement Design and Deep Foundation Design. Additional Undergraduate level courses in Reinforced Concrete Building Design and Structural Steel Building Design.
1984-1987
McPhail Associates
Cambridge, MA
Junior Engineer - Increasing levels of responsibility in soil testing, subsurface investigations, deep earth support & deformation monitoring, computer aided pile analysis, foundation design and construction quality control. Reviewed Structural Design of cofferdams by SE. Resident Engineer for subsurface phase of 19-story high rise.
1988-1989
Victoria Excavation,
Wakefield, MA
General Manager - Responsible for contract bidding through field supervision on site development phase of projects ranging up to $1M.
1989-1991
American Geotechnical,
Anaheim, CA
Staff Engineer - Performed engineering assessments on residential and commercial property. Developed and managed subsurface investigations. Implemented computer-aided-design programs. Analyzed laboratory, field, research and in-house data generated for development of repair design. Prepared reports summarizing findings and recommendations. Reviewed files and legal documents to prepare synopses for use by the Principal Engineer.
1992-2001
Hudson Consulting
Long Beach, CA
Proctor Consulting
Huntington Beach, CA
Consulting Engineer - Performed Engineering Assessments and Repair Designs for damaged real property from various causes. This work was largely contracted by insurance carriers.
1995-present
William L. McCarthy, RCE
Principal Engineer - Repair Designs for damaged real property from various causes. Residential and light commercial Structural & Architectural Design on various projects ranging from additions to new buildings. Expert Witness on contentious claim resolution including more than thirty mediations and Superior Court Testimony.