Municipal engineers create communities that are clean, safe, and efficient, and V3’s Stephen Kopechek loves being part of the solution. Discover how the engineer within emerged at an early age, and why this self-proclaimed people pleaser likes to boast about the things that can’t be seen.
Building on a bigger scale
As a kid, one of Stephen’s favorite activities was building massive towns out of all his toys, planning out different districts, traffic patterns, and community spaces. He didn’t know it at the time, but his innate interest in how towns work would lead him to studying environmental engineering at The Ohio State University. Though he originally planned to focus on mechanical engineering, he found himself more interested in water systems—a happy accident that has fueled his career trajectory.
He interned with Bird + Bull before joining the team full time in 2018. The engineering firm then merged with V3 in 2020, a move that excited Stephen.
“Going from a 20-person firm to having all those resources and experts on hand was so beneficial, not only to me but our clients. I was excited to learn from everyone and expand upon what we could do. We offer such critical support for our clients and now we could work with them even more.”
Unpredictable… in a good way
Six years into his career with V3, Stephen’s role has grown considerably. While municipal engineering can be a “jack-of-all-trades”-type role, his responsibilities have focused primarily on client interactions, which he really enjoys.
“I like making people happy, so client satisfaction is so important to me. Seeing the big picture come together is so fascinating; I’m blessed to be part of these community transformations.”
As a project manager, Stephen’s days are unpredictable, but he likes the constant variation and challenge. He balances leveraging online resources and GIS maps to obtain and convey utility infrastructure, floodplain, and transportation information with building client relationships and relaying updates to the team.
“We work so closely with local municipalities that we’re essentially a part of their staff. We’ve built such strong relationships that they know us personally and trust us to answer all their questions. We’re different from other firms in that our clients know they don’t have to go elsewhere; we are full service and have them covered.”
Stephen’s talents are currently contributing to a major data center being built in Hebron, OH, for which V3 is providing development review and municipal planning services. This major development has required all hands on deck from Stephen and his team, with significant water, wastewater, and roadway planning services involved. It’s Stephen’s responsibility to oversee the development review as whole, ensuring residents’ needs and services won’t be negatively affected.
“I like getting involved with all of it and doing something good for the community. With a big project like this, it’s really neat to be involved in the many behind the scenes planning activities that are required to make it work and ensure that the development benefits the community.”
Go with the flow
When he’s not supporting municipalities, Stephen enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons. He loves sports, whether he’s playing basketball with friends or volleyball with his wife. He roots for Ohio State and all the Cleveland teams, enjoying friendly banter during big games and tournaments. He also loves food, and while his go-to craving is pizza, the best meal he ever enjoyed was a bacon-wrapped jalapeno duck poppers.
Overall, Stephen is excited to be part of the burgeoning Columbus market and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
“We have such a great team and we’re growing so much. As our water group continues to expand, I want to become even more of a water expert and do what I can to step up and help push that group forward. I appreciate V3’s willingness to support my career development and I look forward to continued growth.”
Work with Stephen and V3’s municipal consulting team
Our municipal consulting team is growing! V3 is a repeat Best Firm to Work For and Healthiest Employer winner, offering unlimited potential to develop your skills and make an impact. Explore our open municipal engineering job opportunities in Columbus, Chicago, and beyond to learn more.