Our Firm
Who we are
About Technical Horizons
Technical Horizons is a small consulting engineering firm with an extensive portfolio based in Lexington, Kentucky.
Since 1992, we’ve successfully integrated designs into hundreds of millions of dollars in new and renovation projects in both the public and private sector built environment.

We offer quality engineering design and construction services coupled with best in class computer modeling. Our personalized, innovative solutions are not complicated by associations with material or equipment vendors.

We maintain a comprehensive specification database that speeds document production and ensures your designs are code compliant and fast to market.

Our diverse portfolio includes comprehensive experience in the following areas:
  • Commercial/Corporate
  • Healthcare/Laboratories
  • K-12/Higher Education
  • Industrial/Manufacturing
  • Government/Military
  • Specialty Projects i.e., seismic analysis, energy modeling, thermography, and LEED projects.

Meet Our Team

C. Matthew Ellis, PE

C. Matthew Ellis, PE

Mechanical Engineer

cmellis@technicalhorizons.com

Professional Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana
  • Licensed Fire Suppression Designer: Kentucky

Professional Affiliations

  • American Society for Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • International Code Council

Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mr. Ellis founded Technical Horizons in 1991. With a total of 31 years of proven project management experience and expert level knowledge of the mechanical and electrical engineering fields, he has significant experience in HVAC, ventilation, and plumbing and electrical systems.

An innovator who developed custom spreadsheet models to analyze a variety of engineering considerations, Mr. Ellis has also completed designs for multi-million-dollar industrial plants and warehouse facilities. He fulfilled numerous contracts with the US Postal Service over a 20+ year association including a wide range of systems, and life cycle cost analyses.

Mr. Ellis is a leader in his field serving as chair and in various board positions with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at the state, regional, and national levels.

James I. Milner, Sr

James I. Milner, Sr

Senior Electrical Engineer

jmilner@technicalhorizons.com

Professional Certifications

  • Licensed Electrician: Kentucky
  • Licensed Electrical Contractor: Kentucky

Professional Affiliations

  • Associated Building Contractors

Education

Paducah Community College
Louisville Technical Institute
University of Kentucky, Gatton School of Business

Professional Experience

With 45 years of experience working in Kentucky and surrounding states, twenty-five of those spent as the owner of his own multi-million-dollar electrical design-build construction firm, Mr. Milner draws from a wealth of experience over a wide range of successfully completed projects. He is well-versed in all aspects of electrical design and construction including budgeting, code compliance, value engineering, design, coordination, construction oversight and analysis.

Mr. Milner was part of the three-person electrical design team at Carter Foster Engineers that shared responsibility for the complete electrical design of the Cabinet for Human Resources building in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Shelley DeHarte, PE

Shelley DeHarte, PE

Mechanical Engineer

shelleyd@technicalhorizons.com

Professional Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: Kentucky

Education

Christian Brothers University
Memphis, Tennessee
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mr. DeHarte has experience in designing air conditioning, ventilation, and plumbing systems. He has project management experience and is able to meet project requirements and dates. He has experience with respect to food processing plant piping and HVAC systems. He has completed and worked on projects for food processing/packaging and pet food including designs for steam, air handling systems, and compressed air. He has completed designs on several office buildings, healthcare, and warehouse facilities.

Prior to Technical Horizons, Mr. DeHarte worked on large-scale integrated conveyor designs. He worked on expansion designs for UPS and FedEx airport hubs. He has experience in numerous modeling programs including pipe stress modeling, CADD, and 3D modeling, among many several equipment modeling programs.

Christina S. Zakowski, PE

Christina S. Zakowski, PE

Mechanical Engineer

christinaz@technicalhorizons.com

Professional Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: Kentucky

Professional Affiliations

  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers

Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Union University
Jackson, Tennessee
Master of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mrs. Zakowski has 20 years of engineering experience encompassing refrigeration, plumbing, equipment design, process design, and electrical engineering for various industries. She joined Technical Horizons in 2020 and has performed designs for multiple industrial projects.

Mrs. Zakowski has worked on industrial projects at Technical Horizons and has prior experience in food & beverage and the nuclear industry.

Arecannon Jones

Arecannon Jones

Draftsman

ajones@technicalhorizons.com

Education

ITT Technical Institute
Associates of Applied Science; Drafting and Design

Professional Experience

Over the past 6 years, Mr. Jones has worked on countless projects for Technical Horizons. He is skilled in Revit, AutoCAD, 3D Max, and Inventor. Before coming to Technical Horizons, he gained 5 years of experience in the Industrial field.

Eric Frank

Eric Frank

Mechanical Engineer

efrank@technicalhorizons.com

Professional Affiliations

  • American Society for Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers
  • The National Eagle Scout Association

Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mr. Frank has been designing HVAC and plumbing systems for a wide variety of commercial, industrial, institutional, and government buildings for the entirety of his career.

Mr. Frank is proficient in AutoCAD and Revit programs and BIM design practices. He is a proficient model manager that takes pride in the quality and accuracy of his models and construction drawings.

He is seasoned in the MEP design process from initial client discussion about design intent to final construction drawing delivery. Mr. Frank has spent numerous hours out of the office performing MEP surveys of existing buildings, assessing any problems, and presenting solutions.

John Shindlebower

John Shindlebower

Mechanical Engineer

johns@technicalhorizons.com

Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mr. Shindlebower started at Technical Horizons at the beginning of 2021 to serve the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional sectors of the construction field with his growing knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, and process engineering design.

Mr. Shindlebower possesses experience with respect to sanitary piping and HVAC systems. He has been involved in numerous projects for clinics, food processing plants, and other industrial buildings, including chillers and boilers, HVAC systems, cooling towers, and tank design.

His most recent work has been on a 115,000-square-foot pediatric hospital. He has renovated the entire HVAC system, including multiple air handlers using a boiler and chiller system.

Jacob Flora

Jacob Flora

Electrical Engineer

jflora@technicalhorizons.com

Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Bachelor of Science; Electrical Engineering minor in Mathematics

Professional Experience

Mr. Flora has assisted on many projects during his time here at Technical Horizons. He worked on the addition and renovation of Cardinal Hill Hospital, a new clinic for Triad Healthcare, and even worked on multiple sites for the Norton Healthcare Clinics.

Prior to Technical Horizons, Mr. Flora worked on projects in numerous fields including healthcare, local civic, and education projects. He also founded the Living Central Model Initiative.

Mr. Flora is proficient in many software programs including AutoCAD, C++, Verilog, and Etlum Tool Photometric.

Russell V. Sitter

Russell V. Sitter

Design Engineer

rsitter@technicalhorizons.com

Education

Saint Clair College
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Bachelor of Science; Mechanical Engineering Technology

Professional Experience

With the Technical Horizons team since 2005, Mr. Sitter is a design engineer with 17 years in the field. He specializes in HVAC, plumbing, and aquatic systems and is an expert in energy modeling.

Mr. Sitter is skilled in the design and development of roof cooling systems and spray cooling ponds. His experience covers a broad range of projects in both the public and private sectors including hospitals, justice centers, and universities.

Anish Thomas

Anish Thomas

Mechanical Engineer

anisht@technicalhorizons.com

Education

Visvesvaraya Techological University
Karnataka, India
Bachelor of Technology; Mechanical Engineering

Wright State University
Fairborn, Ohio
Masters of Science; Mechanical Engineering

Professional Experience

Mr. Thomas joined our team in September 2022 after graduating with his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University. During his time in his Master’s program, he was a Graduate Research Assistant where he studied the dynamic behavior of a partially wetting polymer droplet driven over a nanostructured interface investigated using Molecular Dynamic simulations.

Madeline Buteyn

Madeline Buteyn

Marketing Manager

madeline@technicalhorizons.com

Education

Morehead State University
Morehead, Kentucky
Bachelor of Business Administration; Marketing

Professional Experience

Mrs. Buteyn joined our team in June 2022 as our Marketing Manager where she leads the firm’s branding and marketing strategies.

Jordan Hall

Jordan Hall

Bookkeeper

jordan@technicalhorizons.com

Education

Midlands Technical College
Columbia, South Carolina
Associates of Business; Accounting

Professional Experience

Mr. Hall joined the team in October 2022 as our part-time bookkeeper. He is experienced in account reconciliation and QuickBooks.

Schedule a free no-obligation design consultation today.

Technical Horizons

501 Darby Creek Rd., Suite #31
Lexington, Kentucky 40509

859.263.5983