Engineering Team

Our Engineering team includes a licensed Engineer with a Structural license in California and Civil licenses in Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. 

Kevin Chappell
Kevin Chappell
Principal Engineer

Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University
Master of Science in Structural Engineering, Texas Tech University

Registrations: Structural Engineer - California, Professional (Civil) Engineer - Colorado, Nevada, Utah

Experience: Over 20 years including 15+ years in the
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Justin Curtis
Justin Curtis
Structural Designer/ Engineer in Training

Justin graduated from the University of California Davis with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science in 2001. After several years working in the tech industry in the Bay Area, the lure of the mountains drew him to Tahoe and a job as a ski lift mechanic at Alpine Meadows. Two year... more
Rebecca "Becky" Thayer
Rebecca "Becky" Thayer
Project Manager/ Designer

Becky grew up in Wisconsin, and moved to Michigan as a young adult where she met her husband. After working as a baker for many years, it was time to pursue new opportunities. She worked as a realtor for a while; then decided to go back to school.

Becky earned an Associate of Architectural Technol
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Alexandra Corpora
Alexandra Corpora
Structural Designer

Alexandra was raised in the Owens Valley, after which she moved to the Bay Area to earn a BA in Literature from San Francisco State University. She spent 5 wonderful years in Japan, and after returning to the states, was guided by a deep urge to build. This led her to an internship with a master cab... more

It is a pleasure to recommend MWA Architecture, Engineering, and Interiors for any
design project, large or small, you may have. Our home in Truckee, California was
originally designed more than 40 years ago by a well-known local architect, and because
of its unique layout—with the Tahoe National Forest just beyond our front door—we
needed a highly creative and professional team to design a new, expanded living room
and a new garage that would both function well and complement the home’s original
character.
After speaking with several design firms in the Truckee–Tahoe area, Kristi Thompson,
Principal Architect and COO & CFO of MWA, came highly recommended by close
friends who own a major construction firm in Truckee and have worked with Kristi on
numerous projects. From our first meeting, we were impressed by her professionalism,
expertise, and thoughtful approach. Over the following months, Kristi and her team
provided multiple design options for our new garage. Because of the size constraints of
our primary lot, this was no small challenge. We also own the adjacent lot, and MWA
explored several iterations of a potential lot line adjustment to allow for a larger garage
footprint. Ultimately, we chose to keep the lots separate, and MWA designed a spacious
two-car garage within the existing boundaries. The result exceeded our expectations—the
garage is both highly functional and beautifully aligned with the home’s exterior design.
MWA faced similar constraints with the living room project. They transformed a square,
relatively dark, windowless room with built-in bench seating into a modern, light-filled
space featuring large north-facing windows. Their team also assisted with the design of
the TV, bookshelf, and fireplace wall. The room—and that entire side of the house—is
now completely reimagined. As with the garage, we could not be happier with the
outcome.
Throughout the project, Kristi and her team were exceptionally patient, flexible, and
professional, even as we encountered several delays on our end. Their communication,
creativity, and attention to detail made the entire experience extremely positive.
In short, we recommend MWA without reservation for any project you may be
considering. We are confident you will be as pleased with their work, their team, and
their final product as we have been.


-- Doug Jones
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