Leadership
Loren Chilson, PE
Principal
Loren Chilson is the founder and principal engineer of Headway Transportation. After many years serving public and private clients throughout the western states, Loren pursued his vision of creating a firm that placed client service first. His vision includes a team of service minded experts that efficiently apply their outstanding skills and quickly tailor their approach to meet clients’ unique project goals. Loren has 21 years of experience offering a great range and depth of traffic engineering and transportation planning services including corridor studies, intersection alternatives studies, traffic operations analysis and simulation, concept planning, traffic engineering design, construction support, and peer review. He has outstanding expertise in roundabouts, challenging street/intersection geometrics, traffic calming implementation, “complete streets” application, and traffic signals. He is also highly skilled in traffic operations analysis and has the common sense and experience to balance the needs of all travel modes in constrained street environments.
Loren is a creative problem solver by nature, has a hard working and positive attitude, and is a trusted adviser to agency staff throughout Nevada and California.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Walla Walla College, 1997
Road Safety, AuditTraining, FHWA, 2010
Professional Registration
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of Nevada (15619)
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of California (61425)
ATSSA Traffic Control Supervisor
“I have had the pleasure of working with Loren Chilson over the past four years. Loren has provided me excellent customer service and high quality deliverables. Loren demonstrates technical competence and I highly recommend him for traffic engineering service" Angie Hueftle, PE
Nichols Consulting Engineers
Lauren Picou, PE, PTOE
Senior Associate
Lauren is a Senior Associate at Headway with nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of traffic engineering and transportation planning projects including traffic studies, corridor studies, ITS, traffic analysis, and traffic simulation modeling. Lauren is focused on developing client-focused solutions and is an expert at managing complex and time sensitive projects while delivering top-notch transportation solutions. Lauren is experienced at developing intricate micro-simulation models of complex transportation networks and using the models to develop recommended solutions which are easily understood by decision makers and the public. Lauren is adept at identifying practical real-world solutions which alleviate transportation problems, accommodate all modes, and consider budgetary constraints.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2002
Professional Registration
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of Nevada (27651)
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of Louisiana (0033634)
Rich Pettinari, PE
SEnior ASSOCIATE EnGINEER 1
Rich has a depth of experience designing and coordinating complex projects, ranging from roadway design and intersection improvements to signal interconnect and roundabouts. He has identified existing and future operational and safety deficiencies, developed improvement alternatives, and optimized traffic signals. Rich specializes in traffic signal engineering elements, civil engineering design elements, preparing plans, specifications, and estimates. His regional expertise and local familiarity coupled with his attention to detail serve him well during project delivery. Rich brings a passion and knowledge for innovative and cost-effective solutions that work toward a broader goal of mobility, economic development, and safety.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno, 2004
Professional Registration
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of Nevada (20191)
Licensed Civil Engineer, State of California (78605)