T.Y. Lin International Expands Construction Management Team in New York City

T.Y. Lin International (TYLI), a globally recognized full-service infrastructure consulting firm, announces that its New York office has recently added three highly experienced engineers in response to ever-increasing business growth in the firm’s New York City market.

Kate DeFazio, P.E., Senior Resident Engineer

Kate DeFazio, P.E., joins TYLI’s New York office as a Senior Resident Engineer. In her new role, DeFazio will plan and coordinate all field inspection activities, review the work of Representatives to ensure compliance with job specifications, and assist office and field engineering staff in the completion of construction work in accordance with design/contract documents.

Prior to joining the TYLI team, DeFazio worked for over 20 years in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations. Her extensive experience in operations management includes such positions as Chief of Pumping Operations and Chief of Distribution.

While at DEP, DeFazio was responsible for supervising engineering, operations, and maintenance, including facilities management for 14 pump stations and their related structures and mechanical and electrical equipment. She also led Capital Projects planning and implementation for New York City’s entire water supply system, including the development of a 20-year Capital Project plan for the city’s water distribution system.

A licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York, DeFazio received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from The City University of New York.

Fritz Eugene, Senior Construction Engineer

In his new role as Senior Construction Engineer, Fritz Eugene will work onsite on major construction projects that span all five boroughs of New York City. His responsibilities will include coordinating with all project team members and creating and/or maintaining project team reports, change orders, materials inspection and certification, and other construction files, as required by each project.

Eugene joins TYLI with 33 years of experience in both the public and private sectors of the Railway Transportation industry. His past positions include serving as Senior Director, Capital Program Management, Program Control, for MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), the largest public transportation agency in North America. As Senior Director, he successfully directed and coordinated transit support services for contractors and consultants during the design, construction, testing, and commissioning of all projects associated with a multi-billion dollar five-year Capital Program, while ensuring minimal impact on project milestones and rail operations.

Eugene also managed the Electrical Division of the agency, where he supervised the monitoring of contractors’ daily construction activities during the modernization of power substations and circuit breaker houses and the installation of new tunnel lighting systems.

Eugene received a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the City College of New York.

Peter Derkevics, Site Safety Manager

Peter Derkevics comes to TYLI’s New York team as Site Safety Manager, where he is responsible for overseeing the team’s construction safety program, as well as contractor operations for safety compliance at NYCT facilities and adjacent public and private property. He will also manage the NYCT onsite inspection team. Derkevics is currently serving as TYLI Safety Inspector for NYCT for the management of the preconstruction, construction, and closeout phases of the $102M Cranberry and Rutgers Tubes Rehabilitation, which will repair facilities damaged by the tidal surge during Superstorm Sandy.

With close to 40 years of experience in construction safety procedures and regulations, Derkevics has served as Safety Officer, Construction and Safety Supervisor, or Foreman on projects ranging from new facilities construction to large building renovations, often involving teams working in complex and hazardous environments. His projects have included 7 World Trade Center, the Plaza Hotel, John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4, Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, Central Islip Federal Courthouse, Yankee Stadium, and Brookhaven National Laboratories.

Derkevics has deep skills in the supervision of subcontractors and all safety aspects on construction projects, such as conducting safety inspections and toolbox safety meetings, checking certifications and permits, ordering and maintaining personal safety equipment, and schedule coordination. He also has experience in keeping all trades within compliance of Department of Energy safety policies and regulations.

A Certified Site Fire Safety Manager (CSFSM) in New York, Derkevics received an Associate in Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic University of New York.