Decades of Local Leadership

ROOTED IN VENTURA COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

Look no further than our clients as testimony of our success and our status as a local leader. Over 90% of our clients are returning customers or word-of-mouth referrals.

From the inception of our company, we discovered a full-service firm was a client’s greatest asset for project quality and efficiency. Today, the same rings ever-true as clients find our comprehensive abilities indispensable and invaluable as greater demands are required of projects in way of design, environmental compliance, planning, permitting and construction.

With our multi-disciplined firm located under one roof in Ventura, California, we can provide clients seamless project development – from concept to construction.

Company History

Founded in 1989 by Donald M. Jensen PE, Jensen Design & Survey, Inc. (JDS) is the largest engineering firm headquartered in Ventura County.

Prior to 1989, the Jensen name had already built a great reputation in the Ventura area – Bill Jensen, Don’s father, ran an engineering firm in Ventura from 1961-1977. Don Jensen’s background includes a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alaska, as well as work experience as a civil engineer in the state of Alaska. These vast experiences, combined with the local-area name recognition, have allowed JDS to become the premier leader of civil engineering services in the Ventura County area. In addition, Don’s wife, Lynn Gray (a Registered Geologist) assists the company and operates as Chief Financial Officer.

Originally a small handful of people, the JDS team has now grown to over 35+ educated and experienced professionals. We are proud of our staff and the wide range of expert services that we are able to provide.

Celebrating Over 30 Years of Service and Success

Our Core Values

OUR MISSION

We are passionate about growing our staff into a team full of superstars, always working to better ourselves and our work product. We operate with honesty and integrity in everything we do, and together we will make a positive difference in our community. We consider ourselves the premier firm, the first choice in Ventura County.

OUR VISION

  • To be a leader in “state of the art” civil design and surveying.
  • To be the major provider of customized design and planning services.
  • To be the most responsive and user friendly civil design and survey company.
  • To be timely in meeting customer needs.
  • To be the employer of choice by providing superior opportunities for employees in this industry.
  • To have integrity, accountability, and accuracy as a civil design/survey provider.
  • To always consider the sustainable effects of our improvement on the environment.

OUR COMMITMENT

  • We will carefully listen to you.
  • We promise reliability, accountability, and accessibility.
  • We will treat your project as if it were our own.
  • We will make every effort to meet or exceed your deadlines and expectations.
  • We will work toward your 100% satisfaction.

Our core purpose is to provide services that improve the local quality of life, facilitate business and enhance infrastructure using sustainable design, while maintaining environmental awareness.

Meet Our Team

Donald M. Jensen, PE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Don is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jensen Design & Survey, Inc., the largest civil engineering firm headquartered in Ventura County.  He was born and raised in Ventura County, and interned in his father’s engineering business as a youth. In 1989 he opened Jensen Design Group, and in 2000, after continuous annual growth, the company was incorporated and the name changed to the current Jensen Design & Survey, Inc.  Don’s background includes all aspects of land development planning, design, and construction for public- and private- sector clients. He has extensive experience in large infrastructure projects for streets, water pipelines, sewer pipelines, and stormwater infrastructure. He also works with large institutional uses such as Ventura County Medical Center, Community Memorial Hospital, California Lutheran University, Thacher School, and Oxnard Harbor District. Additionally, Don is experienced in all types of residential developments ranging from simple retaining walls associated with projects, to planning, design, and construction of full master-planned communities.  For private sector clients, Don has worked with individual clients, as well as private development companies. A substantial amount of work has been performed for architects serving as the civil design consultant on building projects.

In addition, Don has experience as a Developer and Owner of residential properties. In the past 10 years he has built over 200 residential units located in Ventura County and is currently the developer of approximately 550 units, which are either entitled or undergoing entitlements in Ventura, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Susanne Cooper, PE, QSD

PRESIDENT

Susanne has nearly 30 years of extensive experience designing and managing a variety of projects large and small in and around Ventura County. Her attention to detail contributes to a smooth construction process. With her teamwork mindset she brings people together to come up with solutions that work for everyone. As President of Jensen Design & Survey, Inc., Susanne sees her role as building a company full of superstars.  She brings her sports coaching experience into the workplace mentoring JDS team members along their journeys of professional growth.

Susanne attended college on a basketball scholarship, and although she doesn’t like running, has completed a dozen marathons.

Kinsey Hensley, PE, QSD

VP – ENGINEERING SERVICES

Kinsey is the Vice President of Engineering Design and a Project Manager providing a full range of services from front-end processing and design to approval. Past projects have included private medical facilities, multi-family developments, commercial centers, recreational complexes, and institutional expansions. As an Engineer and Project Manager, she has developed relationships with agency personnel, and is well-versed in local agency requirements. Her engineering solutions are proven and her built relationships have garnered her the respect of colleagues across California as shown in her selection as ASCE Engineer of the Year 2019 and Top 40 under 40 professionals across Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Before becoming an engineer, Kinsey worked as a field surveyor chainman for four years through college.  She is known for her delicious toffee making skills and has climbed half dome in Yosemite three times.  In her free time, she enjoys being active by cycling, running, hiking, and skiing.

Lisa Woodburn

VP – PLANNING SERVICES

Lisa is actively involved in processing high profile and multi-faceted projects for a wide variety of Jensen Design and Survey, Inc. clients including: public agencies, industry leaders in agriculture, private businesses, and institutional entities. Her 34 years of extensive experience with projects in the County of Ventura, knowledge of the County’s General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and CEQA coupled with her broad network of successful working relationships with regulatory agencies, leads to project approvals while meeting client needs.

In her free time, Lisa loves to visit with friends and family and run. She took up running in the early 1980s and has been running consistently ever since and still continues to run roughly 20 miles a week.

Jim McCoskey, PE, QSD

SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER

Jim is the Water Resources Engineering Department Manager at Jensen Design & Survey, Inc., a project manager, design engineer, State qualified practitioner for stormwater pollution prevention and a quality assurance and compliance assessor for various municipal and private clients throughout Ventura County. His proven track record for successfully designing and managing water construction projects is extensive, ranging from large scale new community master planning and construction documents, to 75-acre compost facilities. Jim is a very practical design engineer and will be found regularly on the construction site to quickly accommodate adversities found in the field.

Jim is part of a land speed racing team that has a top speed of 482 MPH. In his free time, he likes to work on race cars and motorcycles.

Michael Zuleger, PLS

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR

Michael is a Professional Land Surveyor in the State of California with over 15 years in the profession. His experience, both in the field and in the office, covers a wide range including project management, field crew coordination and training, calculations, quality control, and data processing. Michael also prepares legal descriptions and exhibits for easements, Parcel Maps, Tract Maps, Construction Staking, Topographic Surveys and Base Mapping, Boundary Surveys, Control Surveys, and ALTA/NSPS Surveys. He has worked on projects throughout Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara Counties and is a member of the California Land Surveyors Association.

In his free time Michael likes to downhill ski, hike, fish and travel. His favorite place to travel is Alaska where he can enjoy all of his hobbies in one place.

Bill Hurdle, PLS

SENIOR LICENSED LAND SURVEYOR

Bill has over 40 years of experience in the Land Surveying profession and is licensed in two states.  He has widespread field and office experience pertaining to boundary, construction, geodetic, subdivision, cadastral, topographic and control surveys. Past projects have included topography surveys (aerial and conventional), ALTA/NSPS surveys, Parcel Map Waivers, Easements, Records of Survey, Final Tract and Parcel Maps, and Geodetic Control surveys.  As a member of the JDS team for almost 15 years, he has developed relationships with agency personnel, and is well-versed in local agency project requirements. Bill’s areas of special interest and expertise include practical Geodesy and Projected Coordinate Systems (including development of Low Distortion Projections) and developing innovative solutions to challenging boundary issues. Bill is a member of the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA), California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC), National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), American Association of Geodetic Surveying (AAGS).

Outside of work, Bill and his wife, Alisha, enjoy four-wheel drive off-roading (Jeep JK Unlimited Rubicon) and training / teaching firearm safety and personal protection (NRA Certified Instructor).

Steve Medina

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Steve has over 30 years of experience in project management, preparation, processing and quality control of construction documents for residential, industrial, commercial, recreational, and mixed-use developments. He also has extensive experience as a Project Manager coordinating survey and base mapping on overhead and underground infrastructure projects for Southern California Edison (SCE) and West Coast Naval Facilities.  His work with SCE has included projects all over Southern California, including the Port of Long Beach, the Angeles National Forest, and a windfarm in Mojave/Tehachapi. His experience with the Navy has included work at NBVC-Point Mugu, NBVC-Port Hueneme, China Lake NAS, Lemoore NAS, MCLB-Barstow and 29 Palms. He provides a vital link between JDS Planners, Design Engineers, and our Survey Department by helping produce high quality exhibits, including boundary and ALTA surveys, base topography maps, record maps, staking plans, easement plotting, and legal descriptions.

In Steve’s spare time he enjoys fishing at June Lake with his wife, spending time with his five granddaughters, and watching UCLA lose. Fight On TROJANS!!!

Ava Ediger, PE, QSD

SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER

Ava is a registered Civil Design Engineer and Project Manager with experience in large, multi-component, mixed-use subdivisions.  Her projects require advanced skills in problem solving with complicated grading, street, sewer and storm drain design. She is proficient in numerous civil design computer applications, hydraulic & hydrologic analysis, and water system analysis.  Like all JDS employees, Ava constantly updates her skills through continuing education and peer collaboration. Ava enjoys the collaborative culture and looks for ways to share ideas for the best methodology and project efficiency. Along with managing her own projects, she acts as support for many stormwater, hydrology, and hydraulic calculations for other project managers. Ava continues to grow in construction knowledge and problem solving with every new challenge thrown her way.

Ava and her family love to camp. She claims there is nothing like a morning campfire and a cup of coffee on the beach.

Kevin Waldron, AICP

SENIOR PLANNER

Kevin has proven public- and private- sector experience in land use planning, entitlements, urban design, subdivisions, and environmental analysis. Kevin’s decades of expertise and hand’s-on approach has led to successfully managing complex projects with several cities, agencies, businesses, and private-property owners throughout California. He plays a vital role in our firm with a toolbox of technical specialties including land planning and design with AutoCAD, GIS and 3D modeling technologies and writes public policy documents such as Specific Plans.

In his free time, Kevin likes to spend time with his family, go to the beach, go hiking, camping, and fishing. He has traveled to over 23 countries and 25 states.

Erik Nagy

SENIOR PLANNER

Erik is a Land Use Planner with extensive experience in residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and telecommunications projects. He processes planning, building and safety, and environmental permits for a wide range of clients through City, County, State, and Federal agencies. Projects have included large-scale agriculture, subdivisions, residential improvements, commercial and industrial facilities, oil and gas permitting, and telecommunication facilities.

Erik enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, snow sports, and going to the beach. He is also interested in earth sciences and astronomy.

Robert Harvey, PE

CIVIL ENGINEER

Robert is a Project Manager, Construction Manager, and Design Engineer with experience in the design of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public works projects throughout Ventura and Los Angeles County. His proficiency in AutoCAD Civil3D allows him to prepare grading plans, improvement plans for water, sewer, and storm drain systems, conduct hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and prepare technical reports. His skill set and knowledge have fostered his passion for engineering design and project management.

Robert started a fantasy football league for the office that has been running for four years. Fantasy football combines his love for sports, competition, and friendly banter.

Tanner Shelton, AICP

SENIOR PLANNER

Tanner is a versatile and collaborative urban planning and design professional with a wide-ranging skillset. He has an extensive knowledge of state and local planning processes and policies, with specialized knowledge of the Subdivision Map Act and state housing laws, including both affordable and market rate housing development. Tanner also focuses on JDS’s land planning efforts, working closely with JDS engineers to create efficient and aesthetically pleasing site design concepts and land plans. He has been involved with the preparation and processing of over 500 units of market rate housing and over 700 units of affordable housing in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo Counties. In addition to his extensive experience with housing, Tanner has prepared and or obtained approvals for numerous Tentative Parcel/Tract Maps, master plans for public school sites, use permits for religious/institutional clients, and various entitlements for agricultural and industrial clients.

Tanner is an avid gardener and part time avocado grower, assisting in the management and care of his family’s avocado grove. He is passionate about creating affordable, safe housing for all and his favorite places to travel are anywhere in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains or the great cities of Europe.

Nichole Garner, AICP

PLANNER III

Nichole is a certified Land Use Planner with extensive experience in ministerial and discretionary projects throughout Ventura County. She has successfully represented a diverse client base through commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential projects and also works closely with the JDS Survey Department to guide our clients through the subdivision process. Nichole is proficient in numerous computer applications including AutoCAD, GIS, 3D modeling software and other design programs, allowing her to create visually appealing and effective solutions to complex planning problems.

Nichole enjoys the beach, exploring Downtown Ventura, and traveling. Her favorite vacation to-date was a trip to South Africa where she experienced Cape Town, survived cage diving with sharks, and went on a safari.

Sonya Webb, PE, CFM

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ENGINEER

Sonya is a licensed Civil Engineer and Certified Floodplain Manager specializing in floodplain permitting and modeling including 3D terrain preparation, as well as hydrology and hydraulics modeling. Her permitting work has included elevation certificates, floodproofing certificates, and MT forms and she has extensive experience in getting projects processed and approved through local agencies and FEMA. Hydrology modeling software proficiencies include WMS/MODRAT and VCRAT, while hydraulic modeling experience includes EPA SWMM, WSPG, HECRAS, and FLO2D. Sonya is also proficient in Civil 3D, ArcMap 10.2, QGIS and Global Mapper. Processing floodplain permits requires clearly written technical reports to clarify model assumptions and explain final design conclusions, at which she excels. Her team attitude helps expedite review with regulatory agencies through communication and her persistence in follow-up to ensure a timely review.

Sonya’s hobbies include mountain biking, chicken farming, and volunteering with high schoolers.