Leadership Team Grows at M+K

We’re excited to announce our newest principals: Nicholas Martignetti, P.E., S.E., and Shaun Kreidel, P.E., S.E.!

These promotions recognize more than 15 years of sustained contributions from both Nick and Shaun—across project delivery, office leadership, client development, and the continued expansion of M+K’s national presence. Together, they have played key roles in shaping two of our most important growth markets on the West Coast and in the Southeast, helping establish and strengthen offices in San Diego and Atlanta. Their leadership reflects M+K’s practice: technical excellence, practical and buildable design solutions, and a commitment to long-term client relationships.

As Principals, Nick and Shaun will continue to lead their respective offices while also helping guide firmwide strategy, business development, and the development of the next generation of leadership. Their promotions mark both a recognition of what they’ve already built and a continued investment in the future growth and direction of M+K.

“Both Nick and Shaun bring capabilities that empower teams to achieve seamless, client-centric project delivery through refined and repeatable processes. By bridging the gap between executive leadership and day-on-day operations, they ensure that the firm’s strategic vision is directly translated through the teams and into high-quality work product. This renewed connection strengthens our corporate culture, ensuring that our leadership group remains deeply integrated with the technical excellence and efficiency of how we get work done.” – Jamie Friling, COO

Please join us in congratulating both Nick and Shaun on this well-earned achievement. Read more about each of them below.


Nicholas Martignetti, P.E., S.E.

Nick joined M+K in 2011 as a Staff Engineer and has steadily progressed through the organization, taking on roles as Project Engineer, Project Manager, Shareholder, and San Diego Office Director. Throughout his career, he has helped shape practical engineering solutions on complex projects, while building strong, trusted relationships with clients and colleagues alike.

Nick has been instrumental in shaping M+K’s San Diego office, driving the firm’s growth and visibility across the West. His leadership has advanced projects ranging from residential renovations and custom homes to large‑scale production builder work, opening doors to broader opportunities along the West Coast.

Across his work, Nick reflects M+K’s core strengths: technical expertise in wood-framed construction, responsiveness, and the ability to deliver clear, buildable, and efficient design solutions. He is also a strong advocate for early collaboration and value engineering to help clients achieve practical, cost-effective outcomes.

Nick’s approach to business development is rooted in relationships and consistency—leveraging direct outreach, referrals, and in-person engagement to build trust and long-term partnerships. Once engaged, he is known for maintaining momentum through responsive communication and timely delivery.

In his expanded role as Principal, Nick will continue to support the growth of M+K’s West Coast practice while contributing to the firm’s broader strategic direction and client development efforts.


Shaun Kreidel, P.E., S.E.

Shaun joined M+K in 2011 as a Staff Engineer and has grown into a trusted leader across the firm, advancing through roles including Project Engineer, Shareholder, and Atlanta Office Director. Over his tenure, he has played a key role in strengthening technical excellence, building lasting client relationships, and developing teams across the organization.

In 2017, Shaun took a leap, moving from Philadelphia to help strengthen M+K’s first satellite office in Atlanta. Today, the Atlanta office stands as a key part of our firm’s growth, with strong client relationships, an expanding team, and a growing presence across the Southeast. Shaun has helped establish M+K as a trusted partner in the market, bringing a deep understanding of both the technical and practical aspects of structural engineering, particularly in multifamily and wood framing projects where efficient, buildable solutions are essential.

As he steps into the role of Principal, Shaun will continue to lead the Atlanta office while helping guide the firm’s strategic direction. Looking ahead to 2026, he will play a key role in strengthening our business development effort, focusing on deepening existing relationships, expanding our network, and reinforcing M+K’s presence in the market.

Shaun is also focused on clearly communicating what sets M+K apart: our expertise in the “art” of wood framing, our ability to deliver practical, real-world solutions, and our continued investment in technology, research, and innovation.

Internally, Shaun is focused on supporting the next generation of leadership within the Atlanta office, ensuring continued strength in both client service and team development as the office evolves.

Announcing M+K’s New Project Managers

We’re excited to announce Dana Flood, Lillian Heng, Jared Hudson, and Michael Mihal as our newest Project Managers—leaders helping shape the future of M+K.

Dana Flood, P.E.

Leading the Boston office, Dana brings energy, expertise, and a competitive spirit to every project. He has extensive experience in residential design—from renovations and additions to high-end custom homes—as well as low-rise multi-family buildings with diverse foundation systems. Dana also contributes to internal teams focused on streamlining processes and delivering high-quality results. Originally from the Boston area, he still plays competitive basketball, enjoys early morning golf, follows all Boston teams, and has a passion for stand-up comedy. Dana also enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and volunteering in the community.  

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Lillian Heng, P.E. 

Lillian leads with mentorship and guidance, helping engineers grow to their full potential. She has strong expertise in remodels, additions, and specialized foundation systems, including drilled pier design. Raised in Stockton, California, she credits her upbringing with shaping the resilience and confidence that drives her today. Outside of work, Lillian thrives on movement and exploration, staying active, traveling the world (26 countries and counting!), and making the most of every moment.

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Jared Hudson, P.E., S.E.

Jared leads by example, fostering collaboration and supporting his team. He earned his master’s degree while working full-time and holds both his P.E. and S.E. licenses, milestones he counts among his proudest achievements. Jared brings extensive experience in multifamily, clubhouse, and commercial structural design, and has recently expanded into coastal and production single-family projects. Raised in Leeds, Alabama, Jared and his wife Hannah recently returned to Alabama to be closer to family as they raise their three children. Outside work, he enjoys tending to his backyard garden, attending concerts and comedy shows, and following Auburn football and basketball as well as the Atlanta Braves.

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Michael Mihal, P.E. 

Mike has extensive structural design experience having worked on both high-end custom and single-family homes across the country. With a background in custom and production style projects, he adapts to each project’s pace and complexity while offering practical solutions. Grounded in a philosophy of servant leadership, Mike prioritizes strong relationships and a genuine investment in the people he works with—an approach that drives success for both his clients and his team. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, weight training, hunting, working on cars/motorcycles, and playing guitar and piano.

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Please join us in celebrating Dana, Lillian, Jared, and Michael, whose leadership, dedication, and talent strengthen M+K every day. We look forward to seeing how their growth and commitment to the firm’s Core Values will continue advancing M+K’s Mission and Vision. 

Full Send: M+K Participates in the Cardboard Classic

The 93.3 WMMR Cardboard Classic at Montage Mountain is an annual cardboard sled-building competition where teams combine creativity and engineering to design and construct sleds, then race them down the mountain.

M+K participated for the second year in a row with a log cabin-themed entry titled “The Loggin Toboggan.” The team put a lot of detail into their design, including wallpapering the inside of the cabin and adding flowers to the windows.

Although it didn’t make it down the hill, we’re already excited to take on this exciting challenge again next year.

Workforce Housing Project Bringing Much Needed Relief to Hilton Head, SC.

Northpoint on Jarvis Creek, a OneStreet Residential workforce housing community with 157 units, is getting ready to break ground in Hilton Head, SC.

The need is real. More than 14,000 people commute to the island every day for work, and nearly 4,400 of them travel 50 miles or more each way. As prices and rents continue to climb, housing has become increasingly out of reach for many of the people who keep Hilton Head running.

Planned as a connected, community-focused neighborhood near schools, parks, and recreation, Northpoint is designed to support the island’s workforce and strengthen long-term quality of life.

From a structural standpoint, the project came with real complexity—high-wind and seismic considerations, plus a large footprint spread across 14 buildings, all structurally designed by our team.

We partnered with DTJ Design on the project, continuing a collaboration that began in 2018. Together with DTJ, we’ve worked with OneStreet Residential on multiple projects, including Northpoint, Hearthside Riverdale, and Hayloft Big Creek.

Meet our Fall Co-op Class!

This fall, we’re excited to welcome four new co-ops to the M+K team: Wadira Hasan, Julianna Wadie, Sam Lauro, and Nabil Jouichate. Each of them brings their own story, curiosity, and drive to learn — and they’re already diving into projects alongside our team. We sat down with them to hear what inspired their paths into structural design, what they’re most excited to learn, and a few fun facts you definitely wouldn’t find on their resumes.

1. What inspired you to pursue engineering/structural design?

Wadira Hasan:
I’ve been interested in architecture ever since my 7th-grade technology class, where we designed and built virtual houses. I was fascinated by how something could be created from the ground up into a real space where families make memories. My grandpa was a civil engineer, and many of my cousins and uncles are engineers or architects, so I kind of grew up surrounded by it. Over time, I realized I was more drawn to the technical side of building design, which led me to choose Architectural Engineering and focus on structural design.

Julianna Wadie:
I always thought buildings were so cool and wondered about the process that goes into creating them — so I decided to pursue it as a career.

Sam Lauro:
Watching HGTV and hanging out with my grandad, who was a mechanical engineer, really got me interested in how things are built.

Nabil Jouichate:
I wanted to do something architecture-related, but I found myself more interested in what actually builds architecture and keeps it standing. That’s what drew me to structural design.


2. What excites you most about this internship? What are you hoping to learn?

Wadira Hasan:
I’m excited to work on a variety of projects and learn from experienced engineers. Since this is my first co-op, I want to learn as much as I can about structural design, AutoCAD, and how everything comes together in real projects.

Julianna Wadie:
I’m most excited to get hands-on experience with CAD and Revit software. I want to learn how to do the structural designs and the calculations that go into residential projects.

Sam Lauro:
I’m hoping to learn as much as I can about residential structural engineering and experience what it’s like to work as part of a team helping real clients.

Nabil Jouichate:
I want to learn what it’s really like to work with a team in an office environment, and how to develop practical solutions for residential design challenges.


3. What attracted you to M+K?

Wadira Hasan:
The workplace culture really stood out to me. It feels like a place where everyone supports one another. During my interview, I immediately felt comfortable and welcomed — it didn’t feel intimidating at all.

Julianna Wadie:
Everyone seemed friendly and willing to help, and I liked how there’s a strong social side to the company — that really appealed to me.

Sam Lauro:
I’d heard good things about M+K before. I actually connected with Daniel Bolton when I was in high school and talked to him about the company — that conversation stuck with me.

Nabil Jouichate:
The welcoming environment and friendly faces. There’s truly no place like it!


4. What’s one fun fact about you that has nothing to do with this job?

Wadira Hasan:
I can speak five languages: English, Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic.

Julianna Wadie:
I love baking and experimenting with new recipes.

Sam Lauro:
I just joined Drexel’s club rugby team — with zero prior experience.

Nabil Jouichate:
When I’m not out with family or doing photography, I’m usually gaming — one of my favorites is Hollow Knight: Silksong.


5. What’s your dream engineering/design project—real or imaginary?

Wadira Hasan:
Designing and building my own home from the ground up — something that fully reflects who I am and incorporates every feature I’ve ever wanted.

Julianna Wadie:
To build a really unique-looking building and become well known for it.

Sam Lauro:
To design my own house — complete with unusual additions and hidden rooms.

Nabil Jouichate:
To design a beautiful, yet structurally sound, home that I’d live in myself.


6. What aspect of structural design do you think will be the most challenging?

Wadira Hasan:
Keeping up with last-minute architectural changes. One small revision can set off a chain reaction through the whole design.

Julianna Wadie:
Following the architect’s plans — and making sure everything aligns.

Nabil Jouichate:
Trying to make sense of what the architect is designing!


7. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Wadira Hasan:
“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.

Sam Lauro:
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard — that would definitely be my walk-up song.

Nabil Jouichate:
“to-ring-go – take 2” by A L E X, Hyewon.


8. Which fictional character would make a great structural engineer?

Wadira Hasan:
Bob the Builder — his catchphrase says it all: “Can we fix it? Yes we can!”

Julianna Wadie:
Michael Scofield — if he wasn’t busy breaking out of prison, he’d be a top engineer.

Sam Lauro:
The third little pig. No explanation needed.

Nabil Jouichate:
Lucius Fox — if he weren’t designing gadgets for Batman.


9. Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?

Wadira Hasan:
Definitely not. I think pineapple on pizza is a crime.

Julianna Wadie:
Absolutely not.

Sam Lauro:
Not my first choice — but I wouldn’t hate it if it was the only option.

Nabil Jouichate:
No. Unless it’s pineapple without the pizza.

M+K Celebrates 25 Years

This year, Mulhern+Kulp celebrates 25 years. From our humble beginnings—with Mike Mulhern and Joseph Kulp working in their basements—to a thriving firm with offices across the country, every project, customer, vendor, colleague, and employee has helped shape who we are today. THANK YOU for your role in our success!

We recently marked this milestone celebrating aboard the USS Battleship New Jersey—honoring our journey and looking ahead to the future we’ll all build together.

Our Mission is unchanged: “Inspire Innovative Thinking. Build Award-Winning Culture. Transform Customers into Raving Fans”. We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries on these pillars.

Stay tuned as we share more throughout the year!

M+K’s Research with UCSD Published in Prestigious Journal

Our collaborative research with the University of California, San Diego has just been published in the Journal of Building Engineering!

So why does this matter? Simply, our study helps bring clarity to an engineering “gray area” that affects modern wood construction. Specifically, we tested how close nails can be placed to the edge of wood panels while still achieving their full strength in resisting wind uplift. For years, code requirements around this issue have been conservative, inconsistent, and—most importantly—lacking real test data.

What we discovered:

  • The industry’s current rules weren’t based on actual testing.
  • Our data shows that nail spacing can be more efficient than codes currently require—without sacrificing safety.
  • This research helps align construction standards with how buildings are really being designed and built today, especially with the growth of panelized construction.

In short, it’s a step toward smarter codes, more efficient design, and safer structures.

A huge thank you to our partners at UCSD and our own M+K team who pushed this forward. This is the kind of work that helps shape the future of building science.

You can read the full article now in the Journal of Building Engineering here.

Bold Design in Bellevue: Structural Design Becomes Home’s Signature Features

In Bellevue, Washington, steep slopes, bold architecture, and high-performance engineering come together in a one-of-a-kind custom home. Every detail—from the elevated garage to the skyline-facing deck—was designed to turn structural challenges into signature features.

The site’s 22-foot grade drop from front-to-back and side-to-side required a highly customized approach. The garage, positioned on the highest of three floors, sits over a tiered crawlspace system with a wood-framed floor supported by dropped beams and isolated piers. This reduced excavation, minimized the size of cantilevered foundation walls, and preserved the site’s natural contours. The raised concrete garage slab added a unique twist—introducing extra weight that factored into the home’s seismic design.

A stepped foundation system demanded precision. Active field oversight ensured each element landed at exactly the right elevation, preventing surcharge or undermining of adjacent foundation walls set at different heights.

            

The rear of the home is a showcase of both engineering and design. Expansive windows, transoms, and a two-story covered deck frame sweeping views of the Seattle skyline. Achieving the lateral stability required for this open, view-driven design—without resorting to costly moment frames—called for creative value engineering.

Inside, architectural showpieces double as structural triumphs. Vaulted Great Room ceilings, a glass-surround wine display, and a sweeping curved staircase each required specialized structural criteria for both performance and precision—right down to reduced deflection tolerances under the wine display.

In the end, every challenge became part of the home’s identity. The result is a residence that not only meets rigorous performance standards but also stands as an example of how thoughtful engineering can elevate exceptional architecture.

Mulhern + Kulp Named a 2025 AEC Employer of Choice!

We’re psyched to share that Mulhern + Kulp has been named one of PSMJ’s 2025 AEC Employer of Choice award winners! Out of all the firms surveyed nationwide, we ranked #10 overall — a huge honor and a powerful reflection of our culture, values, and people.

This recognition is based entirely on direct employee feedback across a wide range of factors — including career development, workplace environment, and overall satisfaction.

It’s a testament to the way our people show up every day — curious, committed, collaborative — and to the culture we’ve built together over the past 25 years.

Big thanks to PSMJ Resources for recognizing the heart of who we are. We’ll be officially celebrated at the AEC THRIVE Conference in Chicago this October — and we’ll be celebrating right here at home too.

Congrats, team!