Our Staff


  John Pepper, P.E.
President

pepper@pegroup.com

John Pepper is the founding principal of the firm and has over 35 years of structural and forensic engineering experience. John is a graduate of the University of Miami. He served as an officer in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he obtained the rank of Major. John was one of the first engineers in the country to serve as a structural engineer on an Urban Search and Rescue Team. He was the lead engineer with Florida Task Force One before retiring from the team after returning from the World Trade Center disaster in 2001. John has designed hundreds of buildings and other structures, including the 40-story Mystic Point Tower Condominium, which was one of the tallest concrete buildings in Florida, and has been involved in the investigation of thousands of forensic engineering cases.

  [Click here for resume.]




  Greg McLellan, P.E.
Vice President

mclellan@pegroup.com

Greg has a Master’s of Science Degree from the University of Illinois where he studied structural engineering and a BSCE from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition to his experience as a Coast Guard officer both in operations and engineering Greg has many years of experience in structural design and analysis and has completed over 2,500 forensic engineering investigations. Greg is a licensed Professional Engineer, Threshold Building Inspector and the lead structural engineer with Florida Task Force One (FL-TF1) – Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR).

  [Click here for resume.]




  Diane Riggi, P.E.
Senior Engineer

riggi@pegroup.com

Diane Riggi has 24 years experience in structural design and inspection of all types of construction. Diane was the 2006 President of the South Florida Chapter of The Florida Structural Engineers Association, which is part of the National Council of Structural Engineers. Diane brings experience and dedication to each project.

  [Click here for resume.]




  Craig Mleko, P.E.
Senior Engineer

mleko@pegroup.com

Craig Mleko has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan. He has served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and has extensive experience in residential and commercial structural design and inspection and forensic engineering investigations. Craig is our Senior Engineer in the Central / Northern Florida area.

  [Click here for resume.]



  Alex Puig, P.E.
Senior Engineer

puig@pegroup.com

Alex has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) from the University of Miami and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida. Alex has over 10 years experience in design, analysis, and forensic engineering investigations.

  [Click here for resume.]



  Hector Cruz, P.E.
Project Engineer

cruz@pegroup.com

Hector Cruz obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Structures from the University of Puerto Rico. Hector is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Florida and Puerto Rico. His professional experience includes structural analysis, design and forensic engineering investigations; including expertise with most of the advanced programs used by the engineering community.

  [Click here for resume.]



  Marcelo Perla, P.E.
Project Engineer

perla@pegroup.com

Marcelo Perla is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Structural Engineering from Florida International University (FIU). He has a Master’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from FIU and a BSCE from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). Marcelo has over 20 years experience in structural analysis, design, experimental structural research, and has completed over 260 forensic engineering investigations. Mr. Perla has taught undergraduate courses in Civil Engineering at the PUCP and at the Engineering National University of Peru. Marcelo is a licensed Professional Engineer, Threshold Building Inspector and a structural specialist engineer with Florida Task Force One (FL-TF1) – Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR).

  [Click here for resume.]



  Jose Cata, E.I.
Graduate Engineer

cata@pegroup.com

Jose M. Cata has a degree in Civil Engineering from UMASS Lowell. He has been associated with The Pepper Engineering Group for over 12 years as an engineer technician and most recently as a graduate engineer. Jose is also a Florida licensed Building Inspector.

  [Click here for resume.]



  Randy Rosa
Graduate Engineer

rosa@pegroup.com

Radhames Rosa (Randy) recently obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) from the University of Florida. Randy is a full time Graduate Engineer with the firm and is continuing his education at Florida International University as a part time student where he plans to obtain a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

  [Click here for resume.]



Our other professionals and consultants are licensed experts in their fields. We employ licensed professional engineers or other registered consultants and tailor each assignment to the appropriate personnel. As a standard practice we require that a licensed professional be onsite and lead or conduct all forensic inspections.