RISA Training Instructors
RISA Technologies, LLC’s development and training staff consists entirely of engineers with extensive design experience. They also provide all software support and engineering consulting to RISA clients.
Instructors
Roger W. Schumacher, P.E
Vice President of Development
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine
Background
Roger joined RISA Technologies, LLC in 1995. He currently heads the research and development group. Among the many projects he developed, RISABase was awarded by the steel industry for its solution to biaxial loading analysis of steel base plates. He also conducts training courses and provides consulting to RISA Technologies, LLC’s clients.
Prior to joining RISA Technologies, LLC, Roger was an instructor for the Computational Methods Course at University of California, Irvine. He gained most of his design experience with Fluor Daniel, a large engineering firm specializing in petrochemical and industrial work. His projects included DOE Nuclear facilities and petrochemical refineries in the U.S. and Thailand. He also worked in the Engineering Systems group to improve numerous proprietary design programs.
Joshua Plummer, S.E. P.E.
Director of Technical Support and Training
Education
B.S. Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego
California Licensed Civil Engineer
California Licensed Structural Engineer
Background
Josh is a familiar voice for RISA clients. Since joining RISA Technologies, LLC in 2002, Josh has been primarily responsible for technical support and training. He also works on the research staff and stays current on code development issues that will affect program development and updates.
Prior to joining RISA Technologies, LLC, Josh was a design engineer for Fluor Daniel, a large engineering firm specializing in petrochemical and industrial work. Josh has designed structures for refineries, petrochemical facilities, power plants, and nuclear sites. He reviewed and prepared engineering reports for the 1994 Northridge earthquake and has worked on numerous proprietary design programs. He also served as a reviewer for Volume 1 of the Seismic Design Manual for the 1997 UBC.
Amber K. Freund, P.E.
Director of Marketing
Education
B.S. Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine
Background
Amber joined RISA Technologies, LLC in 2005 and is responsible for technical support, training and sales. She also works on the testing and development of new programs and features.
Prior to joining RISA Technologies, LLC, Amber was a design engineer for Hope Engineering, a mid-size engineering firm in San Diego. Amber has designed a number of pharmaceutical buildings and manufacturing facilities. Her design experience also includes a residential and commercial high-rise building in downtown San Diego.
Peter Chojnacki, P.Eng.
Director of Software Technology
Education
M.Eng. Structural Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Diploma, Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Background
Peter has been the development manager for RISATower since the program was acquired by our company in March, 2005. Prior to joining RISA Technologies, LLC in 2005, Peter worked for Research Engineers International, where he lead development of a number of FEA design modules for STAAD.Pro, as well as implemented steel and concrete design standards in the program.
Peter has over seven years of hands-on structural design experience, primarily at McCormick Rankin, a well-respected Canadian consulting engineering company known for their transportation-related projects. His experience covers the design of a full range of structural types, including buildings, bridges, retaining walls and foundations.
Deborah Brisbin, P.E.
Technical Marketing Engineer
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Background
Deborah joined RISA Technologies, LLC in 2007 and has been involved in technical support, marketing, and sales, as well as testing and development of the new features. Deborah joins RISA after working in New York for Wexler and Associates designing commercial concrete Hi-Rise buildings. She has also specialized in Cold Formed Steel and trusses working for a software company called Keymark Enterprises. In both Colorado and New York, she has worked in the telecom industry designing and analyzing cellular towers.
