Moffatt & Nichol has added a new coastal engineer to its Raleigh, North Carolina office.
Robert Neal comes to the firm with more than 18 years of experience specializing in coastal and water resource initiatives. He specializes in designing long-term management solutions to complex beach and shoreline erosion projects, including recent work for New Hanover County, NC and Folly Beach, SC – both popular beach destinations along the mid-Atlantic
coast.
Neal’s background includes 10 years as a coastal engineer for the Lee County (FL) Division of Natural Resources. Lee County recruited Mr. Neal to this newly created position to enhance the county’s ability to receive funds from the State of Florida for beach restoration projects. While with the county, Neal grew the shoreline protection program and led four significant beach restoration projects. Returning to his home state of North Carolina in 2012, Neal once again was sought to cultivate project opportunities but this time for the Wilmington office of Gahagan & Bryant Associates – a coastal engineering and hydrographic surveying firm.
Moffatt & Nichol vice-president and Raleigh branch manager Tim Reid believes Neal’s proven success in business development coupled with his strong technical expertise in coastal engineering is what Moffatt & Nichol needs to enhance its presence in southeastern North Carolina.
“Moffatt & Nichol plans to open a second North Carolina office in Wilmington later this year or early in 2016,” Reid said. “With Robert poised to become Wilmington’s branch manager, we are confident Moffatt & Nichol will enhance the services we provide to our current clients in the greater Wilmington area while opening doors with new ones.”
Neal obtained his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Water Resources Planning and Coastal Engineering) from North Carolina State University. He is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina and Florida. Professional memberships include the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society for American Military Engineers. Neal also serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association.