TKDA Names Next Chief Executive Officer

We are excited to announce Jeff Lipovetz as our next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 25, 2024. Tom Stoneburner, who has worked for TKDA for more than 35 years and has served as CEO since 2018, will remain chairman of TKDA’s Board of Directors until his retirement in early 2025. 

Jeff is our current Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has worked for TKDA since 2013. His career demonstrates a 30-year progression of increasing responsibility through the mining industry and engineering consulting business from line supervision and technical assignments to general manager, vice president and chief operating officer roles, with international experience in South America and Canada.

“Since joining TKDA over a decade ago, Jeff has time and again demonstrated an impeccable understanding of our business. He has been a crucial part of our leadership team and strategic planning process,” said Tom. “Jeff is a strong, team-building leader. I am confident that TKDA will continue to flourish under his leadership.”

Earlier this year, we announced we are moving 310 Saint Paul-based employees to a new office in Bloomington, Minnesota, to support our workforce and operational needs now and into the future. Our other 115 employees will continue working in Duluth, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; San Bernardino, California; and Seattle, Washington. Tom is leading TKDA’s office transition and will fully retire in early 2025.

“I am inheriting the leadership of a company that is in a place of great strength and is poised for future growth,” said Jeff. “As TKDA’s new CEO, my goal is to continue building on this legacy of success and keep fostering a positive culture based on accountability and respect for our employees, the environment and our stakeholders.”

Andy Wagstrom, Vice President of TKDA’s rail division, has been selected as TKDA’s incoming COO. This transition will also take place on August 25.