Meet the Team

Principals

Russell C. Carter

Russ, among many other ZCS employees, attended Oregon Institute of Technology located in Klamath Falls, Oregon and graduated in 1990. Russ has 31 years of construction and engineering industry experience, and has helped ZCS become the company it is today. He joined ZCS in 1989, then Zbinden Engineering, and was one of only three employees at the time. He has grown from technician to project engineer, to eventually the president and CEO of ZCS. His academic background is diverse in the engineering disciplines and includes surveying, public works, construction, and structural engineering.

Growing up, Russ looked to his father for inspiration and chose to follow him into the construction industry. Russ finds value in his established relationships with clients and employees. He also enjoys volunteering to speak about how engineering is related to our everyday lives.

Sylas E. Allen

P.E., Vice President

Sylas began working for ZCS Engineering & Architecture (ZCS) as an intern while attending Oregon Institute of Technology. He completed his degree in Civil Engineering in 2002 and was then hired on full time at ZCS. Within a year of graduation, he moved to Deschutes County and quickly became the
manager of the Bend branch and a licensed professional engineer. After four years of managing the Bend office, Sy moved back to his home town in Southern Oregon to open a Grants Pass branch where he eventually took partial ownership in the company and became Vice President/COO. To keep the Grants Pass branch open during the recession, Sy adapted by sharpening his business skills and learning the value of balancing client expectations with project efficiency. His role in the leadership structure of ZCS has contributed to the growth and success of the company.

Sy spent his early years working with his father learning construction while building a family home. Looking back, Sy believes this experience set him on the path toward a career in construction. With his talent to problem solve and a few drafting classes in high school, he quickly turned his efforts to engineering. His career brings a lot of value to his life by giving him a sense of accomplishment, while also the pride of providing for his family.

In Sy’s spare time, he loves to go rafting with his family on the Rogue River, spending quality time with his wife, and raising his three boys.

Zachary A. Stokes

P.E., Principal

Zach has been with ZCS Engineering & Architecture (ZCS) for his entire professional career. He graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2008. He developed a strength for seeing outside of the box by working on complex construction support projects. Zach’s experiences with various civil, structural and construction engineering projects has given him a thorough understanding of the construction process as a whole.

While in high school, Zach’s physics teacher suggested he look into Civil Engineering. Taking his teachers advice, Zach pursued civil engineering, seeking a career that offered technical knowledge, interpersonal communication, and professional advancement. While watching and helping ZCS grow, it gave Zach his own sense of personal growth and value. He enjoys the constant challenges associated with the engineering world.

Currently, Zach manages the Oregon City branch and focuses his professional efforts towards client relationship development, business development, and assisting the staff on all aspects of projects. He also is a board member of the Downtown Oregon City Association where he enjoys being a part of the community in which he works. Outside of work, Zach loves to travel, experience the outdoors and cook for his wife and friends.

Matthew R. Smith

P.E., S.E., Principal

Matthew began his studies in Civil Engineering and Geomatics program at Oregon Institute of Technology in 1998 and then graduated in 2002. He was hired on with ZCS Engineering & Architecture (ZCS) in 2003 and eventually became the Director of Structural Engineering prior to becoming a Principal. Matthew has helped ZCS build it’s reputation for seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings and grow the structural division in all of the ZCS offices.

With his grandfather’s influence and his love for building things, Matthew knew his career was in engineering from a young age. He is a jack of all trades and has the ability to build or fix just about anything.

Matthew finds value in his client relationships and making them feel safe. Matthew has a wife and two children at home, whom he loves to spend time with. He also loves to take his son backpacking, fishing and hunting. He finds value in providing for them and showing his kids that hard work pays off.

Joelle C. Harris

R.A. LEED AP BD+C, Principal

Joelle has been the lead Architect with ZCS Engineering & Architecture (ZCS) for over two years, developing and managing the architectural division. She graduated from California College of Arts and Crafts with a Bachelor of Architecture 2010. Her professional experience is expansive, working on large scale projects, multi-family housing, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Her passion for reviving older buildings compliments with ZCS’s focus on seismic retrofit design and structural strengthening techniques of older buildings. Her appreciation for maintaining and celebrating historical buildings came from a year abroad in Paris after high school where she was inspired by a city both enriched with history and strikingly modern architecture.

In her free time, Joelle enjoys exploring the outdoors, road tripping, and gardening with her husband Paul and their dog Blue.

Louise E. Ganong

CFO

Louise is a graduate of Southern Oregon University, where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business (Accounting) in 1976. After graduation, she went to work as a staff accountant in a public accounting firm. In this position she gained practical experience in tax and accounting issues. Louise established a consulting practice in 1980, advising clients on a variety of tax and accounting matters and preparing federal and state income tax returns through 1994. Louise began working with Zbinden Engineering in 1989. Since starting, she has helped develop the accounting and office management systems that have been put in place as the business has grown from a single-office firm to a multi-office firm.