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.
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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