Consulting Engineers

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Experience. Expertise. Innovation.

 

History

After working for nearly 10 years for engineering firms in Louisville, Jim Forst set out to start a new consulting firm to compete in the Kentucky-Indiana region. He was eager to start a full service M.E.P consulting firm to coordinate mechanical, electrical and plumbing design engineering work under one roof.

James E. Forst & Associates opened its doors in October of 1983. Since then, we've executed the successful design of thousands of new buildings and renovations throughout the country. While focusing the bulk of our work in our direct region, where we can oversee construction administration as needed, projects have been implemented in 30+ states in the US. Below is the list of states in which we currently hold professional engineering licenses.

 

Get in touch

We at Forst & Associates are always looking for new business partners and exciting projects. Contact us today to discuss your upcoming project.

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  • Alabama

  • Arizona

  • Arkansas

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Connecticut

  • Delaware

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Iowa

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maryland

  • Michigan

  • Missouri

  • Nebraska

  • Nevada

  • New Mexico

  • New York

  • North Carolina

  • North Dakota

  • Phio

  • Oregon

  • Pennsylvania

  • South Carolina

  • South Dakota

  • Tennessee

  • Texas

  • Virginia

  • Washington

  • West Virginia

  • Wisconsin

  • Wyoming

 

 

Team Bios

 
 

Principal engineer & president

Mechanical Engineering

James E. Forst, P.E.

A native Louisvillian, Jim graduated from Bellarmine College where he majored in Mathematics. Jim has been a Licensed Professional Engineer since 1982 and is licensed in numerous states. Jim worked in the industry for 10 years before started his own practice in 1983. Since then, Jim has guided the firm to continued growth and stability and has built a great reputation for customized MEP design with quality results and a deep knowledge base.

Jim has created MEP engineering designs for buildings large and small for over 40 years. He started the firm with a large hospital project in Indiana and never looked back. A wealth of experience in both design and construction, Jim provides creative engineering solutions to even the most puzzling problems. Practicing engineering since the middle of the modern environmental movement in America, Jim finds ways to incorporate energy saving components into projects as a standard design practice, as it is ingrained in his process.

 

Education

BELLARMINE COLLEGE
B.A. Mathematics, 1972

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Speed Scientific School

Activities & Affiliations

  • American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & Air-Conditioning Engineers (A.S.H.R.A.E) , Member

  • National Society of Professional Engineers (N.S.P.E), Member

  • Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers (K.S.P.E.), Member

  • Cerebral Palsy School of Louisville, Past President & Board Member

State P.E. Licenses

• Kentucky (Primary), Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

 
 
 

 
 

Vice-President

Mechanical Engineering

Susan (Forst) Mersch

Susan focuses on various mechanical systems to provide optimal comfort to occupants while providing maximum value to the building owner. Susan has expertise in both renovation and new construction. She earned her LEED Associate Professional designation in 2011 and strives to incorporate energy efficient solutions wherever possible. Prior to joining her father at Forst & Associates, Susan spent nearly a decade in the appliance industry designing major appliances. She co-oped during college at the firm, so she has been around the industry for most of her life.

 

Education

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
Bachelor of Chemical Engineer, 1999 (Cum Laude)

Activities & Affiliations

  • LEED, Associate Professional

  • American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & Air-Conditioning Engineers (A.S.H.R.A.E) , Member

  • National Society of Professional Engineers (N.S.P.E), Member

  • Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers (K.S.P.E.), Member

  • A.C.E. Program High School Mentor

State P.E. Licenses

• Kentucky (Primary), Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee

 
 
 

 
 

Designer

Electrical Engineering

Bill Yuen

Bill got his start working in consulting engineering nearly 3 decades ago. He specializes in providing lighting and power designs to meet the clients’ various goals. Bill joined Forst & Associates in 1995 and has worked on a myriad of projects throughout the years. He has extensive expertise with lighting and power and works closely to understand the needs of the space to deliver the best design for the owner and occupants.

 

Education

KENTUCKY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Associates Degree, 1989

 
 

 

Designer

Electrical Engineering

Maria Eckerle

Maria has been with Forst & Associates since 1998. She has an eye for details and applies that discernment to her project designs. In particular, she is very familiar with restaurant lighting and has built an extensive expertise in lighting and power designs for local restauranteurs as well as fast food franchises throughout the United States. In addition to electrical designs, Maria coordinates all of the outgoing invoicing for the hundreds of projects completed each year.

Education

KENTUCKY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Associates Degree, 1989

 
 
 

 

Designer

Mechanical Engineering

Chris Jones

After working 2 years as a mechanical estimator followed by a year as a project manager for a commercial HVAC company, Chris began his career at Forst & Associates in 2006. He has designed HVAC and plumbing systems for projects in various industries including universities, hotels, apartment complexes, and medical office buildings, to name just a few. Currently Chris is the lead plumbing designer, deepening his knowledge and skill set in this facet of mechanical design.

Education

LOUISVILLE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Associates Degree, 2004

 
 
 

 

Designer

Mechanical Engineering

Alex Bush

The newest member of the Forst & Associates team, Alex was able to hit the ground running after his co-op experience at an A&E firm in Cincinnati. He has continued to build on that knowledge by deepening his understanding of HVAC design through load calculations, equipment selection, building HVAC system layout, and hands on site inspection work. With knowledge in architectural design from his university studies, Alex’s eye for detail is an added benefit to mechanical ductwork and piping layouts.

Education

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, 2018