Team Members

NEW YORK, NY (November 27, 2019)—The Partners at Kohler Ronan, a leading MEP/FP Engineering Consulting firm, are pleased to announce that Talya Santillan, PE, LEED AP BD+C, has been elevated to Partner. Ms. Santillan joined the firm in May 2011 and served as Principal in the firm’s New York office since November 2017.

Rory Ronan, Founding Partner of Kohler Ronan, LLC Consulting Engineers, said of Ms. Santillan, “Talya designs building systems that meet an owner’s programming needs, budget, and operational abilities while enhancing the space for its occupants.” Further, he notes, “She is not only committed to the design of highly-efficient systems that minimize the impact on the earth’s resources, but to exceeding client expectations whenever possible. She is creative, resourceful, and particularly adept at communicating complex engineering systems.”

Ms. Santillan has a keen understanding of the nature of consulting engineering and of the importance of client service. She has stated, “We work in an engineering consulting industry where responsiveness and relationships are just as important as the engineering component of a job.” Ms. Santillan values relationships and has been praised by her clients, as well as her coworkers and colleagues. During the early days of her career, she learned the importance of knowing that the term “client” refers both to the external and internal persons of one’s firm. One’s peers are just as critical to the path to success as external clients. As such, Ms. Santillan has helped hire, train, and mentor numerous engineers over the years. By sharing key tools and the benefits of her experience, and by serving as a role model, she has contributed to the professional growth and development of those young engineers.

Ms. Santillan’s mentoring activities also extend outside of the workplace. She coaches basketball, tutors math, and participates in workshops to encourage young people to consider math and science as a career path. She especially enjoys career day events at her sons’ schools and her all-female, high school alma mater where she highlights the significance of females in engineering and the complexity and rewards of working in a largely male dominated field. Ms. Santillan stresses to students that knowledge, strong skills, and confidence will ensure respect and success in this industry, or any other, regardless of one’s sex.

Garnering the respect and admiration of her colleagues, Ms. Santillan has collaborated with several prestigious and award winning architectural firms on a variety of projects across differing building types. Such collaborations have resulted in a portfolio of significant and unique projects such as the new Collegiate School, a nine-story high rise on Manhattan’s Upper Westside, the LászlóBitó Conservatory Building at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, the New York Botanical Garden Edible Academy, and the extensive renovations now underway at the New York Public Library’s Mid-Manhattan Library and Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

Ms. Santillan is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology and is a registered Professional Engineer in both New Jersey and New York. She is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Professional Women in Construction (PWC). In 2015, she was named among Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. Ms. Santillan remains at the forefront of the industry and will continue to play a role in its future.

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About Kohler Ronan

Founded in 1998, Kohler Ronan is a multi-disciplined engineering consultancy dedicated to providing exceptional mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology design, as well as comprehensive energy analysis, sustainable design, and commissioning services. From our offices in New York City and Danbury, Connecticut, our team of over 60 professionals collaborate with prominent architectural firms on a wide array of regional and nationally-recognized project assignments including academic, cultural, and historic institutions.

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At this time, we would like to acknowledge several Kohler Ronan team members for their incomparable commitment to excellence in the field of engineering, their exemplary dedication to both firm and client, and their inspiring leadership which serves to encourage the entire staff. Please join us in congratulating our newest Partner, Senior Associates, and Associates. We wish them much continued success!

Partner

Talya Santillan, PE, LEED AP BD+C
Ms. Santillan has been with Kohler Ronan since 2011, acting first as Senior Mechanical Engineer and subsequently serving as Principal since 2017.  While at Stevens Institute of Technology, she earned a BE in Mechanical Engineering in 1999. Ms. Santillan went on to become a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of New Jersey and New York and is currently an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Professional Women in Construction (PWC). She is part of the New York office, where, thanks to an engaging personality and unparalleled interpersonal skills, she has proven herself to be instrumental in business development and client service.  In 2015, Ms. Santillan was named among Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.

Senior Associates

Maxwell S. Chien, PE, LEED AP BD+C
Based in Kohler Ronan’s New York office, Mr. Chien has served our mechanical department since 2011. He has amassed a diverse project portfolio including academic and cultural institutions, as well as many residences and residential complexes.  His experience includes projects at Marist College, UConn Hartford, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Botanical Garden, and the New York Public Library. Mr. Chien earned his Master and Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and he is a licensed PE in the state of New York. Outside the office, he inspires students through his volunteer work with the ACE Mentor Program.  This year, Mr. Chien was named among Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.

James Hurley, PE, LEED AP
Mr. Hurley is a graduate of Fairfield University where he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2009.  Since 2010, he has been part of the mechanical department within Kohler Ronan’s New York office. Mr. Hurley is a licensed PE in the state of New York and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Mr. Hurley has completed numerous unique projects for academic and cultural institutions such as Fairfield University, Marist College, New Mexico State University, Hayes Theater, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Pearl Odu, PE, LEED AP
Ms. Odu has been a practicing engineer since 2004.  She holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from New York University and Stevens Institute of Technology respectively.  She has contributed to the electrical department in Kohler Ronan’s New York office since joining the firm in 2016. Ms. Odu is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Professional Women in Construction (PWC), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). As a licensed PE in the state of New York, Ms. Odu has built a diverse portfolio of projects within the greater New York area. Her experience includes projects at Columbia University, The New School, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Public Library.

Associates

John Hroncich, PE
Having joined Kohler Ronan’s New York office in 2012, Mr. Hroncich has proven to be a leader in the mechanical department. He has applied his experience and expertise across a variety of building types including New York City residential and independent schools. Specific experience includes projects at UConn Hartford, the Collegiate School, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Botanical Garden, and the New York Public Library. Mr. Hroncich graduated from Manhattan College with both a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New York.

John Mongelli, PE
Since 2012, Mr. Mongelli has been an integral part of Kohler Ronan’s mechanical department in the firm’s Danbury office. He has a diverse portfolio consisting of corporate offices, academic institutions, and cultural establishments. In particular, he has successfully completed mechanical designs for projects at Southern Connecticut State University, UConn Hartford, Cold Spring Harbor, Greenwich Hospital, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Mongelli holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College and is a registered PE in the state of New York.

Johana Rodriguez
Ms. Rodriquez has been with Kohler Ronan since 2015, first, as Accounting and Human Resources Manager and, now, as Comptroller. Ms. Rodriguez oversees accounting operations and is responsible for implementing finance and accounting policies and procedures. With respect to her continued human resources function, Ms. Rodriquez also serves as the liaison between management and the firm’s employees. Ms. Rodriguez earned her BS in International Business and Finance at Quinnipiac University and is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Connecticut.

Joseph Russo, PE, LEED AP BD+C
In 2012, Mr. Russo joined the mechanical department in Kohler Ronan’s Connecticut office. During his tenure, he has applied his expertise to various building types and market segments, including residential, commercial, and healthcare facilities. His project portfolio includes work for the following clients: Fairfield University, UConn Hartford, the University of Virginia, Aetna, Mystic Seaport Museum, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and Greenwich Hospital. Mr. Russo graduated from Stony Brook University with a BE in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed PE in the state of New York. He is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Christopher Tantillo, PE
Mr. Tantillo joined Kohler Ronan’s New York mechanical department in 2012. Since then, he has contributed greatly to a range of projects across academic and cultural market segments.  His diverse portfolio consists of projects at Marist College, UConn Hartford, The Met Breuer, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Mr. Tantillo earned both a Master and Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New York.