Staff Spotlight: Neal Belmonte

Neal and his family

One of the many trips his family has gone on recently

Neal started fishing at an early age

Friends since grammar school

This month’s spotlight shines on Construction Administrator, Neal Belmonte, who joined DE in 2009. Read below to find out THE best king cake according to Neal, his Mardi Gras traditions, and love of fishing.

Hi Neal! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your current hometown.
I was born in Chalmette, Louisiana and lived there until I graduated from high school. Currently, I live in Metairie and really enjoy the neighborhood, which is in close walking distance to groceries, shops, banks, etc. Also, living on the east side of Metairie means I rarely sit in any traffic. In between growing up in Chalmette and currently living in Metairie, I have lived for some time in Mississippi, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, and Yuma, Arizona.

What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time with my wife, Greta and our two girls, Caroline and Allison. I have many hobbies that include fishing, hunting, golf, ballgames and tailgating, concerts, and pretty much anything outdoors. My girls are one and three years old, so we are starting to get them into some of the things that I have always enjoyed.

I have the same group of friends from grammar school and also enjoy spending time with them and their families. Planning and going on trips are something that my wife and I have enjoyed and our girls seem to enjoy it as well as I am always asked, “Daddy, where are we going today?”

Did you make any resolutions for this New Year?
No, I have actually never made a New Year’s resolution. 

Do you have any Mardi Gras traditions or musts?
Yes, the tradition was to spend 5am till mid-night on both Saturday and Sunday before Mardi Gras on St. Charles in from of Hotel Intercontinental with all of my friends, Lundi Gras evening in the French Quarter, and fishing on Mardi Gras Day. In the past year my plans have changed as I enjoy bringing my girls to parades. Mardi Gras has gotten a little more tame for my wife and me but it is a lot of fun watching Caroline and Allison have fun at parades and parties.

Favorite King Cake in the area? And flavor?
Manny Randazzo traditional. Easiest question I have ever had to answer.

What would be impossible for you to give up?!
King Cake would be pretty hard! You can about always find one in my kitchen during Mardi Gras season.

Staff Spotlight: Candice Cox

Candice and her two sons at Disney.

Candice and her son, Dakota.

Candice and her son, Liam.

This month’s spotlight shines on Candice Horne Cox, Office Manager of our Waveland, MS office. Candice joined the DE team in 2003 and has since been a wonderful asset to our Mississippi office. Read below to learn more about her family, the first thing she’d do if she won the lottery, and her other title: craftaholic!

Hi Candice! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your current hometown.
I grew up in a split family. I lived with mom, step dad, brothers and sister in Baton Rouge from kindergarten through high school. My brother and I spent the weekends and summers with my dad, step mom and 3 other siblings in Waveland, MS. After I graduated high school I decided to move to the Mississippi coast with my dad, but once I became a mom I knew this is where I wanted to raise my children. I currently live in Diamondhead, MS with my two boys, Dakota (14) and Liam (8). I just love the small town feel, going to the grocery store and seeing friendly familiar faces, and we don’t have 1/10th of the amount of traffic as Baton Rouge so I really love that. Even though I drive 50 minutes one way on school mornings, I will take the two-lane roads and their beautiful land full of horses, cows, chickens, and amazing sky views over city traffic any day! 

What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time?
Free time? What’s that?! I am a single mom of two very active boys so there is no free time. When I am not at the office I am running kids to practices, games, and social events. Both boys play basketball and Dakota does his almost year round. Luckily, they took a break from football this year because I am currently a sophomore at Pearl River Community College. I do most of my classes online so my nights after tucking the boys into bed are spent doing school work. The only fun thing I really get to do myself is my cricut! It’s a personal size vinyl cutting machine so I make a lot of craft projects like shirts, stickers, and décor stuff. 

If you could travel anywhere where would you go and why?
Any pretty beach! Even though I live on the coast I still enjoy the beach and the sun. It just makes me happy to have the sun on my face, smell the salty sea air, and have my toes in the sand. A nice frozen fruity adult beverage is always a nice plus, too.

With the holiday season fast approaching, what do you look forward to most this time of year? And dread?
I love the holiday season, especially cooler weather! I enjoy cooking, mostly baking new things, and spending time with our families during this time of year. I have a split family and so do my children so we spend a lot of time shuffling between them all which I dread, but I enjoy spending time with them all so we make it work.  

What would be impossible for you to give up?!
Chocolate or probably brownies: they are my weakness! Just ask anyone in the office because I bring them to work so I don’t eat the whole batch!

If you won the lottery tomorrow what would be the first thing you do?
The first thing I would do is purchase or build a new building for Small Blessings Preschool. They are a small preschool that two ladies own. Both of my children went there from birth to kindergarten and these two ladies have become two of my very best friends. Childcare is a passion of mine and knowing these two ladies and seeing what they do for the children in our county just warms my heart. It’s so expensive to rent a decent sized building to cover their needs so I have always wanted a brand new spacious center for them.

Tell us something people may not know about you.
I am a craftaholic! I love craft supplies and creating things.  

Thank you so much for your time!

Staff Spotlight: Patrick Stiegman, EI

This month's spotlight shines on Project Engineer, Patrick Stiegman. Patrick joined DE in 2016 and has since been a key figure in several of our state and municipal roadway design projects. Read below to learn more about Patrick outside the office including his love of hiking, discovery of pho, and some claim-to-fame state championships he won! We are so happy to have Patrick part of the DE Team!     

Hi Patrick! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your current hometown.
I am born and raised in Metairie and still live in Metairie. I love being so close to the city of New Orleans. I love the cultural attitude that you don’t get anywhere else. I always enjoy going to all of the festivals around town. I’m looking forward to Voodoo Fest and other festivals this year.

What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time?
I started to get into riding my bike along the lakefront. When I lived in Houston for a year, I lived right next to a multi-use bike path that led right to downtown Houston, so biking became a great pastime. If I’m not biking, I’ll go drinking with my friends somewhere in New Orleans.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go and why?
I love backpacking and it is something I have put in the back-burner recently. I want to travel to South America and backpack in Patagonia and the Andes Mountains while I am still young. Seeing the epic mountain peaks, beautiful glacier lakes and hiking in untamed nature would be a highlight of my life.

Do you have any big plans outside the office in the next few months?
In upcoming March, I will be marrying my beautiful fiancé, Bridget Connick. I don’t think it gets any bigger of plans than that!

What would be impossible for you to give up?!
I can’t give up pizza. It’s just the perfect food. Everyone should eat pizza.

Favorite thing to eat for lunch during the week?
The coworkers at the office introduced me to Pho (Vietnamese Broth). Pho and the Vietnamese poboys make for a great lunch.

Tell us something people may not know about you.
Well, when I was growing up I played a lot of chess in elementary school. My friends and I in elementary school made a pretty awesome team with a great coach and we won a lot of state championships when I grew up. I only went and competed nationally once and I placed 25th overall individually for my age group. I’m proud of that accomplishment but if you asked me to play a chess game today, I’d probably lose because I forgot all of the strategies I used.

Thank you so much for your time!

Staff Spotlight: C.J. Boynes

C.J. and his family on their recent cruise to Mexico.

C.J. in a poker tournament in May.

Poker tournament action.

Our staff spotlight this month shines on C.J. Boynes, one of our Construction Inspectors who joined DE in 2017. C.J. has over fourteen years of experience working on infrastructure projects throughout Southeast Louisiana. We are so happy to have him as part of the DE Team!

Hi C.J.! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your current hometown.
I am from St. Bernard but now reside in Madisonville, Lousiana. I moved to the Northshore and fell in love with country life after Katrina destroyed my hometown. Madisonville is small and I live on the outskirts of the city limits. My #1 thing I enjoy doing there is boating on any good weekend along the Tchefuncta River.

What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time?
First and foremost is spending time with family. I also enjoy the outdoors (hunting, fishing, camping and boating). I recently picked up hunting again so I can teach my son how to hunt. My dad taught me at an early age and I was hooked ever since. Life takes hold of you when you start a family and hunting was put on the back burner. I am glad I can get back into it after over 15 years.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go and why?
Hard question because of so many places to choose from. I would have to say backpacking through Europe just because I have never been across the pond and Europe seems easy to travel through and I would be able to see multiple countries in one trip.

Do you have any big summer plans outside the office?
Not too many. We recently went on a cruise out of New Orleans to Mexico and other than that I'll enjoy going to Destin for a weekend or two in August.

What would be impossible for you to give up?!
An ice-cold Miller Lite on any given Saturday/Sunday during football season would be hard to give up.

Tell us something people may know about you.
I enjoy playing in a good poker game from time to time. Every once in a while my wife lets me venture off to the local casino to play tournaments. This past May I was fortunate enough to go deep in a tournament and placed 2nd out of 1340 people for a nice payday.

Thank you so much for your time!

Staff Spotlight: John Stein, P.E.

John, his wife Paula, and her first blue marlin in Mazatlan

At the coin toss for last year's Western Southern Open men's final

At the Western Southern Open

John's new house

Paula and John

Our staff spotlight this month shines on John Stein, P.E., our Mississippi Manager of Engineering Operations and Senior Project Manager. John joined the DE team in 2009 when he relocated from Southern California and has since managed planning, design, and construction of water and wastewater facilities along coastal Mississippi and the North Shore.  

Hi John! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your current hometown.
I was born and raised in Southern California. At age 45 (2009), I married my wife and moved from San Diego, California to Mandeville. It's definitely not the weather!

A birdie told us you bought a new home recently. What’s your favorite part about the new place?
The location. It's 6 blocks from the lakefront in Old Mandeville, 2 blocks from the Trailhead, across the street from the Trace, and we can walk to numerous bars and restaurants.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go and why?
Either the South Pacific or Azores to go fishing and catch big blue marlin.

Do you have any big summer plans outside the office?
We will be going to Cincinnati in August for our annual trip to the Western Southern Open (ATP & WTA Master 1000 professional tennis tournament). While there we will visit my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. In October we're planning to go to East Cape near Cabo to fish in a tournament, but now that depends on how fast my house sells!

What would be impossible for you to give up?!
Wine!

Tell us something people may not know about you.
I am first generation American. My parents immigrated to the United States in 1957 as war refugees from Germany and Austria. I met my wife in 2005 in Panama on a fishing trip. The largest marlin I have caught weighed 746 pounds and the largest tuna I have caught weighed 279 lbs. I grew up on a chicken ranch in Redlands, California where we had 210,000 layers (egg producers).

Thank you so much for your time!

Meet our Summer Intern: Adeleigh Smith

Adeleigh Smith

Hey, Adeleigh! Where are you from and where do you go to school?
I am from New Orleans and went to St. Mary’s Dominican High School. I am currently enrolled at LSU.

What made you want to intern with DE this summer?
I wanted actual engineering experience and to see if I enjoyed the career path. I do very much enjoy it and am learning a ton!

Have you learned anything cool or interesting through your internship so far?
I’m learning that a lot of time goes into things that the general population may not think about. I am working on a scoping report for signs and striping in Tangipahoa right now, which Stephanie Stanford assigned me. I’ve learned lots of things about signs and how many laws go toward them. I also learned about the different details for certain curves, road widths, and certain speed limits.

Victoria Malley took me out in the field to see levees being compacted and the soil being tested. I had no idea settling plates were put inside levees; that was cool to know. I also learned about armoring the levees which was interesting and something I did not know before.

Patrick Stiegman let me check a surveyor’s sheet for waterlines in Hollygrove. I had zero clue what a unit sheet was and thought that was so cool. I was genuinely excited about it and even looked up where my house was and other family members’ homes. Right now I am also working on the Peltier Park Sidewalk preliminary stages. I am extremely thankful to be learning so much in just three weeks. My dad (DE Senior Project Manager, Tim Smith) has also taught me little things here and there. He has helped me a lot and I am thankful he is here to teach me.

Do you have any big summer plans aside from interning?
I am making my debut in New Orleans which I am so excited about.

Tell us something about yourself.
I am in a sorority at LSU, Delta Delta Delta, and we do a lot of work for St. Jude philanthropy. I enjoy helping out such a great cause.

Thank you so much for your time! Good luck with the rest of your internship!

Staff Spotlight: Burgundy Hebert

Burgundy Hebert
Senior Office Manager

Our staff spotlight this month shines on Burgundy Hebert, DE's Senior Office Manager who joined our team in 2001. Burg is instrumental in our team's success and is always eager to step in and help out her teammates. Learn more about Burg, her family, and her fur babies below!

Hi Burg! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from, where you reside now, and what you love about your hometown. I am originally from the area they call the WEST BANK in Jefferson Parish. I currently still reside on the West Bank but in St. Charles Parish in a little town called Luling. I am glad to call Luling home because living in a small town where everyone knows everyone, a trip to Walmart is actually fun. It can take hours for a five minute shopping trip because you see everyone you know.

What’s your favorite place to eat at in the local area? Hebert Seafood of course!!! HAHA. We enjoy eating at Avocado’s Mexican Grill for the 2-for-1 margaritas and Taco Tuesday deal. You can’t beat spending $15.00 on a meal (including tip) for two!

We know you and your husband own a seafood business (shout out to Hebert Seafood in Luling) and work hard year ‘round, but what do you two enjoy in your free time? Free time, what is that?!  All jokes aside, when we have a couple hours to ourselves we love spending time with our 4 dogs taking them for a walk, lounging on the sofa (with the dogs of course) catching up on Netflix, or if we can get away we love to go to the race track since my husband Willie races motor bikes.

Do you have any big summer plans outside the office?  For our annual vacation this year we are keeping it low key and going to the Caribe in Orange Beach to celebrate my son Zack turning the big “21."

What would be impossible for you to give up?!  Chocolate!

Tell us something people may not know about you. I studied to be a Medical Assistant before coming to work for Digital and I would love to have a farm to house stray dogs when I retire.

Thank you so much for your time!