Barghausen's Puyallup, WA Office Location - Meet the Team

"My name is Cara Visintainer, and I have worked for Barghausen for 11 years. I started as a Design Engineer, moved to a Project Engineer, and now I enjoy my role as a Senior Civil Project Manager. 

I moved to the Puyallup, Washington area in 2005 when I bought a home. One of my favorite aspects of Puyallup is its proximity to various outdoor activities and Mount Rainier! 

Some of my favorite projects in the Puyallup area are Daybreak and the Centeris Voltage Park. 

My favorite aspect of working at Barghausen is getting to work on a wide variety of projects! " 

"I started working for Barghausen as a CAD drafter straight out of college in July 1993, and have been with the company for 31 years. Over the years I advanced to a Design Engineer, then to a Project Engineer, and then to my current position as a Senior Civil Project Engineer. I received my Professional Engineering license in July of 2005.

My family and I moved from Lewis County WA to Puyallup WA in August 2013. We chose the Puyallup (South Hill) area because of the schools and athletic opportunities for our children. We enjoy Puyallup because although it is a city, it has a rural feeling. 

There are a lot of really cool projects I have worked on over the years. On the commercial side, I am currently working with Integrity Land on an apartment complex in Enumclaw, WA called The Grainery. On the single-family side, the plat of Maple Ridge Highlands in Maple Valley, WA is an older project but it is still my favorite residential project I have done over the years.

I truly enjoy the people I work with each day, the clients I have the privilege of collaborating with and the meaningful relationships I've built over the years."

"I have worked for Barghausen for 26 years. I started as a Chainperson and worked my way up through the years to Party Chief, Survey Technician, and Survey Construction Staking Manager. In 2020, I was promoted to Survey Manager, the position I currently hold.

My wife and I looked at places to live in the Puget Sound region for almost a year. We weighed all the pros and cons of different cities and determined that Puyallup (South Hill) was the place for us based on housing costs, schools, etc. We have been here ever since. The city has maintained a small-town feel while still growing. The downtown core maintains its walkability. You can drive in, find parking, and spend a Saturday morning going to the Farmers market in the summer or head over to some of the local shops and spend time looking at what they have to offer. There are also a good number of eateries in the area that are great. 

I must admit, one of my favorite projects in the area occurred when I was in the field as a Party Chief. We needed to map the Good Samaritan Hospital campus. It was a massive amount of work, but a project I enjoyed doing. It was challenging to map out every detail and accurately determine the varying elevations across the hospital's floors, as each wing had different floor heights.  While we only provided survey work for the project, it's a personal favorite of mine.

My favorite aspect of working at Barghausen is the teamwork. I enjoy Working as a team to meet the challenge of a project and knowing that everyone is doing their part to get the project done for the client." 

"I have been a surveyor since 2004. When the economy crashed, I took about 6 years off. I became a chef in 2010 and ran a couple of restaurants in Tacoma, WA. I started with Barghausen in 2016 as a Chainperson, and worked my way up to Party Chief. In 2020, I moved into the office and worked my way to the Survey Construction Manager. I have been married for 19 years and have a son who will be a senior this upcoming school year. My wife and I were looking for condos in the Redmond / Woodinville area in 2005 when my sister-in-law was moving to the state from Alabama. My wife and I were looking at homes for them in Puyallup when it became apparent that we could get a house for the same price as a condo up north. We have been here ever since.

Puyallup still feels like a small town, while having the amenities that a larger city provides. One of my favorite projects is the Farm 12 property. I did the topography so the engineers could design what it has blossomed into today. Daybreak is another project that I have enjoyed. I was in the office for the whole project working on the calculations for the field crews, coordinating with the contractors, and working with the engineers over the past 5 phases of the project. It has been enriching to watch the community grow.

I have worked at Barghausen for 8 years. I enjoy that every day looks different and comes with its challenges. I enjoy working with my coworkers to overcome project challenges."

"I’m from Northern Nevada, and my parents are both Civil Engineers. I grew up around construction sites and discussions about water resources. I attended college at Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington and got my BS in Civil Engineering. I enjoy loud punk rock music and long walks on the beach.

My Manager’s office is in Puyallup, WA and I assisted in helping build up a new Barghausen Office in the area. I haven’t spent much time in the area other than commuting to the office. I enjoy the reverse commute when I drive into the office because the traffic is usually very minor from what I’m used to in Kent and Bellevue. I have enjoyed working on Daybreak, Woodcrest Ranch, Four Seasons, Parkside, and various other projects. Each project has provided unique challenges that taught me new skills to utilize in the future.

I have worked at Barghausen for over 3 years now, and I appreciate the work culture that the company provides. Everyone is very down-to-earth and reasonable. It has allowed me to spend more time with my family and pursue my professional goals, where I feel like I would have to sacrifice one or the other at other companies."

"After moving around a lot as a kid, my family settled in a small town called Sumner during my 8th-grade year, and we have all lived here ever since. I went to Sumner High School and attended Pierce College simultaneously during my Junior and Senior years to graduate high school with my associate’s degree. I then took a gap year to travel to Hawaii, Thailand, and the Philippines. I attended Seattle Pacific University where I graduated with my bachelor’s in English literature and was then a teacher. I left teaching after a year and started at Barghausen as an Administrative Assistant for the Residential team. I was later promoted to a Project Coordinator and never looked back.

I love that the cities of Puyallup and Sumner have small-town vibes, but there is also so much to do! The communities gather to put on parades, street fairs, farmers markets, and much more. 

I have worked on quite a few residential projects around the Puyallup area. I enjoy watching the plans come to life and seeing the finished product of something I applied a permit for or coordinated with the City or County on.

I have worked at Barghausen for just over 2 years and I love the people that I work with. The Puyallup office has become such a fun, tight-knit group that bounces ideas off each other and collaborates each day. It is awesome to be able to have fun with your coworkers."

"My name is Erin Raya. I am a Project Planner who primarily works on the Costco program. I began my career in residential development and have worked on a variety of projects since. The most important role I have is being a mother to my 1-year-old daughter, Natalie. I also have a great passion for animal rescue and have two pups at home. I love all things Steeler football! 

I grew up in the Lake Tapps, WA area which located close to Puyallup. My husband and I decided to move back to the area when our family began to grow. We wanted to be closer to friends and family. We now reside in Bonney Lake, WA. My favorite aspect of Puyallup is the charming downtown feel. Locally owned restaurants and businesses provide many different options for dining and activities. I especially like the parks and farmers market on the weekends.

Fun fact: I have not worked on a project located in WA state since I started at Barghausen. Most of my projects are located on the East Coast or scattered across the country.

I have worked at Barghausen for almost 3 years, and my favorite part is the uplifting and supportive team members I work with each day. Everyone celebrates the small wins and is always willing to lend a hand if needed. Barghausen provides a great culture for personal growth and achievement."

"I was born and raised in Duluth, MN. I attended North Dakota State University where I obtained a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and a Master's degree in Architecture. I then attended Eastern Washington University to obtain a Master's degree in urban planning. I met my husband while I went to EWU and we decided to plant roots in the Seattle area. We now live in Bonney Lake, WA with our two children. I love to travel, experience new things, and I love spending time with my family. 

Work brought my husband and I to the Puyallup, WA area. My husband works out of Olympia and I was working out of our Kent, WA office at the time. We decided that Puyallup was the perfect middle ground. Some of my favorite aspects about Puyallup is the downtown area including the community hub with a great park, splash pad, library, local coffee shop, and great restaurants. 

I have worked for Barghausen for almost 9 years, and most of the projects I have worked on are located near Seattle, WA. I enjoy the people I work with at the company. We have a great team, and everyone is always supportive of each other."

"My name is Aidan Oehler, and I am a Design Engineer here at Barghausen. I grew up locally, born and raised in Auburn. I  graduated from Auburn High School and attended college at Washington State University where I graduated in May of 2023 before starting my first job at a local Geotech firm. During school, I kept my class loads quite broad taking stormwater design, geotechnical, and water resources classes. Outside of school, I kept busy playing intramural soccer and basketball and attended as many WSU sporting events as I could.

The Puyallup area is very close to home for me. I moved back home to the Auburn area where the Puyallup office provided an ideal location and commute. Puyallup provides a great mix of a city that doesn’t feel too big while accommodating all of the functional necessities with a central location to the south Puget Sound area.

Due to my recent start date, I have only worked on one project in the Puyallup area. I helped my team with the frontage improvement plans for a larger hotel project in South Hill. So far I have enjoyed the fast-paced environment Barghausen provides. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the team. I have had my eye set on this company since I was a junior in college and to come full circle and work here has been all I’d hoped. I feel there is no better way to grow as an engineer and employee. I am over a month in and I already feel like a valued member of my team. I am eager to learn and provide all I can."

"I grew up in Lake Tapps, WA with three older sisters. My mom, now retired, was a police officer, and my dad, who is also retired, served in the Navy before becoming the HR Director for the City of Tacoma. My parents always worked extremely hard, and I feel fortunate to have had such great examples to guide me to where I am today. I’ve always been a social butterfly and have always enjoyed making new friends. Growing up, I played elite volleyball, which led me to play in college and had a significant impact on who I am today. I graduated in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in human resources and management. Using my degree, I eventually found my way to Barghausen, where I became the People and Culture Administrator.

When my boyfriend Kellan and I were house hunting, I was open to Puyallup since he grew up there. The location drew me in because it’s between Orting and Graham and not too far from Tacoma. It’s a perfect blend of city and country life for me! I enjoy all the restaurants, farmers markets, and events that Puyallup has to offer. 

I have worked at Barghausen for a little over a year, and my favorite part is the people! My coworkers are all friendly, supportive, and driven. Every day, I am proud to be a Barghausen employee."

"I was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and went to Stadium High School. For college, I attended Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington where I earned my BS in Civil Engineering and played softball. My interest in engineering started when I was young,  and expanded to my engineering and physics classes in high school. During my last two summers in college, I had the opportunity to be a Summer Intern here at Barghausen. After graduating, I was hired as a full-time Design Engineer and passed the FE Exam to become an Engineer in Training. During my free time, I love baking and attending Seattle sporting events with my husband.

I live in Tacoma and started working in Puyallup when the new Barghausen office opened. One aspect I enjoy about Puyallup is the small-town feel. I can make a connection or mutual friend with everyone I meet.

I have not worked on any projects in Puyallup, but my favorite projects to work on are residential plats.

I have worked at Barghausen for 3 years, and my favorite part is the people and culture. The company feels like a family."