Brett is a visionary structural engineer and member of the Cherokee Nation whose first career was spent working in psychology. Brett’s unique blend of construction expertise, sensitivity to the human condition, and a personal penchant for “doing what’s right” for clients, communities, and concerned stakeholders make him a “psychologist of the built environment.” Since the early 2000s, Brett has engineered, conducted seismic evaluations, and performed due diligence assessments across a wide variety of projects built of wood, concrete, masonry, and steel in a wide range of built environments, including office and retail, warehouse and logistics centers, industrial, medical, residential. Brett’s working relationships include owners, contractors, developers, architects, tribes, and municipalities.

In addition to leading McElhaney Structural Engineers, Brett also serves as adjunct faculty for the University of Nevada, Reno Civil Engineering department, where he teaches structural steel design. He is a board member of the Structural Engineers Association of Central California and holds the Civil/Structural seat on the Sparks, Nevada Board of Appeals for Building Code Issues.

Matthew is the Chief Operating Officer of MSE, AIS, and BPD, having begun at American Innovative Structures in 2017. His skillset includes estimating, project management, 2D and 3D drawing renderings in AutoCAD, supervision of structural and architectural welding staff, and more. He is in charge of the day-to-day operations at AIS, and works with Brett on business matters such as development and expansion. Matthew also works with the up-and-coming employees at AIS, giving them opportunities to grow, and strives to maintain a positive work environment. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Nevada Reno, which he earned in May 2016.

Justin joined American Innovative Structures in April 2018 as a Project Manager and Lead Estimator. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Minor in Business Administration in May 2019. He has been involved with the Service Learning STEM K-12 Outreach Project, a STEM education program that shares the importance of engineering with young people. Justin brings knowledge of teaching, communicating and coordinating different facets of engineering. His daily duties encompass designing and inputting dimensions for projects, liaising with multiple parties to ensure all components are obtained, and drafting and negotiating contracts, among many other things.