N.E.S. Inc. is a professional services corporation based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that provides land planning and landscape architectural design services. N.E.S. Inc. has been providing professional design services since 1978 and has contracted with numerous private land owners, developers, and municipal agencies to assist them in land development issues. Our highly qualified professional team focuses on client satisfaction and achieving the project goals. We are proud to say that we can achieve this high standard, because many of our clients from our founding forty years ago, are still our clients today. It is this personal attention and client trust that we rely on as our business model.
N.E.S. Inc. has an extensive resume involving large, complex planning projects that require community input, public representation, site planning and landscape services.
Andrea Barlow, AICP
Principal

Andrea Barlow, AICP
Principal
Andrea started her career in the United Kingdom where she accumulated 16 years’ experience as a private sector planning consultant serving a wide range of landowner, developer, house builder, retail, and commercial clients throughout the country. Since moving to the United States in 2004, Andrea has held positons as Planner II with the City of Colorado Springs and as Principal Planner with the City of Alexandria, Virginia. This extensive and varied experience provides a unique perspective to the resolution of complex policy and design issues, and the ability to resolve conflicts through creative solutions and mediation.
Andrea has been with N.E.S. Inc. since March 2014 and has put her planning and project management skills to effective use in guiding clients and coordinating project teams through the planning process. She also represents the Company on the HBA Land Use Committee and City of Colorado Springs Code Scrub Committee. Andrea enjoys the outdoor pursuits available in Colorado, especially mountain biking and Nordic skiing.
Andrea has a Bachelor’s degree in Land Planning and Development and a Master’s in Business Administration.
Chris Lieber, PLA
Principal

Chris Lieber, PLA
Principal
Mr. Lieber’s “results-oriented” approach to problem solving is based upon a foundation of community involvement, collaboration and more than 25 years of experience. With extensive experience managing highly visible, multi-million-dollar projects, Chris has the technical knowledge and practical experience necessary to lead a project team to a solution that is creative, politically acceptable, and fiscally responsible.
Mr. Lieber holds a degree in Landscape Architecture from the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University. Having previously served as Manager of the Colorado Springs Parks Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Program, he has a proven track record of successful collaboration and project implementation involving numerous stakeholders and passionate community advocates in the Pikes Peak Region including over forty park and open space master plan processes, numerous park construction projects, many miles of trail, and the planning and acquisition of thousands of acres of public open space. Mr. Lieber’s focus at N.E.S. Inc is on sustainable projects that provide great spaces for people to enjoy the outdoor Colorado lifestyle and on planning processes that seek to find a delicate balance between natural resource conservation and community recreation.
Mr. Lieber is pleased to bring his professional experience and community spirit to the N.E.S. Inc. Team. Beyond his professional life, he enjoys serving in a volunteer capacity within the Colorado Springs Community and adventure travel with his family…including cycling 4,422 miles across the United States on a bicycle built for four.
Brooks Swenson
Project Manager

Brooks Swenson
Project Manager
Brooks received his Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture in 2015 from the University of Colorado, Denver.
Prior to coming to N.E.S. Inc. in the Spring of 2017, Brooks worked as a Planner and Landscape Designer for a local land development company, where he participated on the planning and engineering team to see projects from land acquisition through the entitlement process and into construction. Brooks enjoys the design process and interdisciplinary collaboration in the effort to create thoughtful places that connect people to each other and to the natural world. As a Colorado Springs native, Brooks is thrilled to be working for a firm that has played such a meaningful role in shaping the built environment of the Springs area.
In his free time, Brooks enjoys exploring the city and mountains on his bicycle, cooking and spending time with his family.
Blaine Perkins
Project Manager

Blaine Perkins
Project Manager
Blaine received his Bachelors in Landscape Architecture with a Minor in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University in May of 2019. Like many before him, Blaine served as a summer intern before joining the N.E.S Inc. family full time.
The open work environment, collaborative design efforts, and vast project portfolio of N.E.S has allowed Blaine to grow quickly in his role as Landscape Designer and Project Lead. In just two years, Blaine has had the opportunity to work on numerous projects in both the private and public sectors. As a Texas transplant, Blaine’s family history in the oil and gas industry has opened his eyes to creating more sustainable and meaningful places for all people to enjoy.
In his free time, you can find Blaine on the mountain enjoying some snowboard runs, watching his Aggies win on the football field, and playing a round of golf on one of the local municipal courses.
Katie Frank
Project Manager

Katie Frank
Project Manager
Katie brings nearly twenty years of community and economic development in local government and development non-profits to N.E.S. Developing partnerships and relationships along with the successful execution of projects has allowed Katie to navigate community, organizational, and client needs and leave a positive impact. Katie joined N.E.S. in August 2022 and brings personal and professional excitement to her role as Project Manager for N.E.S. Inc. While working in Indiana and Ohio, Katie had the opportunity to run grant programs, develop marketing initiatives, manage special projects, create a neighborhood enhancement program, and create collaborative projects to enhance the outdoor lifestyle. She was a founding member of the Great Miami Riverway, an economic development initiative focused on 99 miles of riverfront development and its towns, along with serving as a 10-year committee member. Katie also served as host of the Bike Miami Valley Cycling Summit, as well as the local chair of the state event Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA). Katie is a graduate of Taylor University, Indiana and will always be a Colts fan. Katie, her husband and two children made the move to Colorado the summer of 2021 and love all outdoor activities, especially doing them without humidity.
Kimberly Johnson, AICP
Planner

Kimberly Johnson, AICP
Planner
Kimberly started her career as a planning professional in her home state of Minnesota where she gained 20 years of experience as a municipal planner and planning director. Since moving from Minnesota in 2015, Kimberly has served the City of Page, AZ as its Community Development Director and the City of Manitou Springs, CO as its Planning Director. With a vast background in municipal planning and development, she brings a unique perspective to N.E.S. and a keen desire to efficiently and effectively guide clients and their projects through the design and entitlement process.
Since joining N.E.S. in April of 2021, Kimberly has put her planning and project management skills to good use in guiding clients and project teams through the planning process. Kim enjoys cooking and baking, and camping and outdoor activities that involve walking her dog and being at a lake or beach.
Kim has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies and a Master’s degree in Planning, and is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Jennifer Shagin
Landscape Designer III

Jennifer Shagin
Landscape Designer III
Jennifer Shagin moved to Colorado Springs to join N.E.S. Inc in summer of 2020. She is a Colorado native and holds a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture and Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University. Prior to joining N.E.S. Inc. Jennifer was an elected official for the Town of Berthoud where she received the highest number of votes in Berthoud’s history. As an elected official she advocated for multi-modal transportation, helped hire a new Town Administrator and was strategic in helping Berthoud maintain its unique community identity in the face of widespread growth. On the Federal level, she has worked trail and travel management crews, and VIS services where she worked to educate the public on forest ecosystem health and sustainable practices. She enjoys working with inter disciplinary teams, collaborating and the design process.
Jennifer is passionate about her work as a Landscape Designer and Land Planner where she has completed various projects of differing magnitude across Colorado and Wyoming, highlights of her projects include Senior Affordable Housing, Design Standards for the Town of Keenesburg, and Environmentally sensitive design. Jennifer is an advocate for livable communities, the natural environment and local government. She is an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and currently serves on their Public Practice Advisory Committee.
When not at work, you can find her on a golf course or outdoors enjoying Colorado’s majestic mountains.
Courtney Helmlinger
Landscape Designer

Courtney Helmlinger
Landscape Designer
Courtney joined N.E.S. in June 2021 as a Landscape Designer following her graduation from Ball State University in May 2021. She received her Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Social & Environmental Justice. Her minor was sparked by her internship in Atlanta after working with urban communities. At Ball State, she found interest in regional planning and plant design as well. Courtney plans to tackle the L.A.R.E exams and become a registered Landscape Architect in Colorado in the future. For now, she enjoys creating designs that affect how people interact with the land around them and leaves a lasting impact on the local community.
Outside of work, you can find her hiking the endless number of trails, kayaking, rollerblading, and taking her dog to the park.
Tyler Knab
Landscape Designer

Tyler Knab
Landscape Designer
Tyler Knab has lived in Colorado Springs for over 25 years and joined the N.E.S. team in 2021. His passion for creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces while conserving the natural beauty and resources led him to the team as an opportunity to give back to the city he loves.
Tyler received his degree in Landscape Architecture from Utah State and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Ecology Restoration from Colorado State University. In a professional capacity, he has completed over 450 hours of national volunteer service with the Conservation Corps, worked alongside the National Forest Service conservation education, as well as designed and managed the building of numerous residential properties. This varied experience gives Tyler unique knowledge and insight to combine form and function, giving his clients and community inspiring and sustainable outdoor spaces.
When he isn’t working, Tyler can be found hiking, playing disc golf, or watching rerun episodes of Star Trek.
Jordan Smith
Landscape Designer

Jordan Smith
Landscape Designer
Jordan joined the N.E.S. team following his completion of Ohio State’s Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture in May 2021.
Throughout his education Jordan worked professionally with DeJesus Architecture on the island of Kauai and MKSK in Columbus, OH. These experiences exposed him to a wide variety of project types and scales. A love for plants, architecture and community fuels Jordan’s passion for the profession of landscape architecture and he looks forward to continuing the community driven legacy of N.E.S.
Outside of his time in the design field Jordan has managed a small produce company and run a business centered around designing, installing and maintaining productive landscapes on a residential scale. When he is not in the office he can be found on the many trails of Colorado Springs, in the climbing gym or tending to his vegetable garden.
Adam Langhans
Landscape Designer

Adam Langhans
Landscape Designer
Adam joined NES in June of 2022 after graduating with a Masters degree In Landscape Architecture from Ball State University. After interning at NES the year prior, he decided to accept a position as a landscape designer where he could experience what Colorado has to offer in outdoor activities. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he worked the avionics systems on the F-15 jet fighter. He is also from a small town in Indiana where agriculture is the primary way of life. This would drive his interest in how landscape architecture can improve agricultural practices and create more sustainable farming. As of now he enjoys working with spaces that help foster user interest and can promote a sustainable way of design. His interests include hiking, camping, watching the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Hoosiers Basketball.
Andrea Roman
Landscape Designer

Andrea Roman
Landscape Designer
Andrea joined the NES team in September of 2022, following her graduation from the University of Central Florida in May 2022, where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Here, she developed an interest in land planning with a passion for creating safe and productive water resources systems, protecting the environment, and utilizing preexisting natural features.
A love for plants, animals, and people fuels her commitment to our community, where she hopes to make a difference with designs that make spaces both beautiful and functional for years to come. When she isn’t in the office, Andrea enjoys browsing thrift stores, trying new vegetarian recipes, and spending time with her friends and family.
Tyler Hudson
Plan Review Specialist

Tyler Hudson
Plan Review Specialist
Tyler joined N.E.S. Inc. in July 2021 as a Plan Technician. Tyler moved to Colorado Springs from Texas in 2020 and enjoys hiking and adventuring in the mountains with his wonderful wife. He has a passion for the landscape process and strives to make the customer experience the most joyful as possible. He takes pride in assisting in the creation of beautiful projects that continue to make Colorado Springs the best city in America.
Carol Smith
Office Manager

Carol Smith
Office Manager
Carol joined N.E.S. Inc. in 1996 after working the previous 10 years in an administrative position for the developers of Briargate. While tending to all the tasks of an Office Manager, she also enjoys keeping the NES computer network up and running. Carol pursued a special business administration program her last year of high school that trained her for the business world. She took college computer classes to gain a background in computer technology, which has been very beneficial in her business career.
This will be her 30th year in Colorado Springs with her husband, Larkin. They settled here after his retirement from the Air Force. Two of their children reside in this area, and one is located in North Carolina. They have five grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 to 14. All girls! Through the years, she has been an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Special Olympics.
Gwendolyn Egbert
Administrative Assistant

Gwendolyn Egbert
Administrative Assistant
Gwendolyn joined N.E.S. Inc. in April 2019. She is a local native, and enjoys living in Colorado Springs with her husband and their three children.
She graduated from Widefield High School and has an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Pikes Peak Community College. Previously she has been a hotel Front Desk Clerk, Night Auditor, and Accounts
Receivable Assistant Manager, and the Corporate Office Manager for a temporary labor service.
Her hobbies include hiking, biking and camping with her family; cooking from scratch, the daily crossword with her Dad, knitting with friends, and learning to speak Italian.