Our Team
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crystal kolke, cbo
President, Building Official, Senior Plans Examiner
Crystal Kolke is a Certified Building Official and Plans Examiner through the International Code Council and her plan review experience spans over 35 years. Crystal’s architectural degree coupled with years working for structural engineering firms established a strong foundation for reviewing building plans. Her expertise in fire- and life-safety, structural, accessibility, and energy code issues has proven desirable for the jurisdiction needing technical experience to supplement or complete their building department. Crystal also supports architects by providing code analyses that are understandable and educational. She provides practical interpretations for complex issues. Crystal incorporated Kolke Consulting Group, Inc. in 1998 in order to support the needs of local jurisdictions by providing complete plan review and inspection services utilizing contract employees for specific tasks and subconsultants to provide interdisciplinary review resources. Her project experience includes all occupancies and types of construction including commercial, residential, high-rise, mixed-use, tenant improvements, retail, educational, multi-family, single-family, institutional, assembly, hazardous, warehouse, storage, and retrofits. Some of her notable projects include the Bravern high-rise towers (Bellevue), Risdon Middle School (Newcastle), Avalon Bay Communities Mixed-Use Development (Newcastle), the Family Village at Issaquah – a YMCA Community, Discovery West Mixed-Use Development Buildings A-F (Issaquah), Costco Headquarters High-Rises (Issaquah) and Legacy Mercer Island Mixed-Use Development (Mercer Island). When Crystal does not have her nose in a code book, you can find her cooking, entertaining, hiking, wine tasting, practicing a new yoga move, or working remotely in her travel trailer.
Ray Kolke
VP of Operations
Ray Kolke helps keep Kolke Consulting Group running smoothly as Vice President of Operations. He guides work plans, directs, coordinates, and oversees processes to ensure development and implementation of efficient operations. He is behind-the-scenes, but a total people-person. Ray is essential in providing support so that the team at Kolke Consulting Group can focus on the technical work they are known for. When not assisting Kolke Consulting Group, Ray is a mental health counselor for his own practice at Ray Kolke Counseling, PLLC. He specializes in treating anxiety and OCD disorders. In his extra time, you can catch Ray in the great outdoors fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, harvesting wild game, doing a cold exposure, listening to a podcast on neurology and the functions of the brain, or working remotely in his travel trailer.
Subconsultants
Reid Middleton, Inc.
Paul Crocker, PE, SE, LEED AP
Director - Structural Engineer
Paul Crocker is one of the highly regarded engineers at Reid Middleton, Inc. that provides structural engineering plan review as a subconsultant for Kolke Consulting Group, Inc. Paul has over 26 years of experience in designing and leading structural projects. These include traditional buildings, high-security facilities for the military and power industries, schools, and infrastructure projects. In addition to new construction design, Paul has extensive experience with the upgrade and expansion of existing facilities. Paul leads a team of engineers to provide complete structural designs in addition to well thought-out plan reviews. When Paul is not designing structures or reviewing plans, he is usually guiding one of his children’s scout groups, cheering at their football games, or sneaking in a few mile run.
Reid Middleton, Inc.
Katy Brawner, PE, SE
Structural Engineer
Katy is an Associate Structural Engineer at Reid Middleton with 17 years of experience in the review, analysis, design, and construction management of various building types. She regularly performs plan review consulting support for cities and public agencies. She is experienced in finite element computer modeling using ETABS. She has also participated in numerous successful projects, including community buildings, hospitals, and essential facilities. These projects include design with reinforced concrete, steel, wood, and masonry structures for projects ranging from new construction to the evaluation and seismic upgrade of existing buildings. In her free time, Katy enjoys working out, serving sushi, playing with barbies with her daughter, and just hanging out with friends—anything as long as it keeps her smiling and laughing!
Rainbow Consulting
Steven Rainbow, PE
Mechanical Engineer
Steven Rainbow is a professional mechanical engineer and is the owner of Rainbow Consulting. Steven has been practicing mechanical engineering for 30 years. His focus is on mechanical and plumbing design for commercial and small public works projects. His resume includes restaurants, schools, park projects, and office buildings. Steven has provided mechanical and plumbing plan review services for Kolke Consulting Group, Inc. since 2005. In his spare time, Steven enjoys hiking, cycling, gardening, lawn bowling, and curling.
The Greenbusch Group, Inc.
Jack Burgess, PE, LEED AP
Mechanical Engineer
Jack is a professional mechanical engineer and vice president at The Greenbusch Group, Inc. Jack has been at Greenbusch since 2006 and works as project manager and designer on mechanical and plumbing design solutions for a range of projects including: civic, industrial, public safety, transit, K-12, higher educational facilities, parks and community centers, medical facilities, residences, and libraries. He has been providing mechanical and plumbing plan reviews as a subconsultant for Kolke Consulting Group, Inc. since 2014. In his spare time Jack is an avid video gamer and indie-music listener.
SAFEbuilt, LLC
David Spencer
Building Inspector
David Spencer has 30 years of experience in the construction industry. As part of one of his current roles with SAFEbuilt, LLC, he performs daily inspections of both residential and commercial projects. SAFEbuilt has been providing inspections for Kolke Consulting Group since 2018. In addition to providing typical inspections for residential, commercial, plumbing, and mechanical aspects, SAFEbuilt will also provide code enforcement, post job sites with stop-work orders, write corrections for noncompliance, verify code requirements, and update permit tracking software. David is a great asset to our team because he is responsive, skilled, and an excellent communicator. He holds several ICC certifications, including Building Code Specialist, Certified Building Official, and Plans Examiner.