Our History
The foundation for NSI was laid in the early 1970s when Bob McQueen and Ron Marotta were working together on nuclear reactors for General Electric. Their initial work for nuclear powered spacecraft was put on hold after the Three Mile Island incident but they linked up again in the early 2000s for 'Project Prometheus', a project intended to revive nuclear space propulsion.
It was in the proposal phase of 'Project Prometheus', that Bob and Ron brought on Laura Uden and NSI was born in 2004. Leveraging her background in the quality field, process and cultural improvement and transit operations, Laura was able to drive change and chart the course forward for NSI. After she took full ownership in 2013, Laura was joined by longtime confidant Carrie Cabak in 2018 and we haven't slowed down since.
Our Work
We're big thinkers. But we focus on details. We break down complex processes, organizations and frameworks to understand how influencing one element will impact another, to determine where resources are best allocated. Outcomes are reinforced through transparent communication and targeted training, ensuring results are clearly documented and widely understood.
While we partner with organizations to design and execute high-impact strategies that deliver measurable results, building long-term capacity for growth, resilience, and innovation, we can apply these skill sets across markets and drive meaningful change in almost any industry.
Our Principal Values
We don't believe in company silos. Sure, we have designated roles, but we believe a company with less internal bureaucracy is a happier place to work. Open communication, transparency, respect and equality are not buzzwords here but are practiced and reinforced to share success.
Many of our staff have served in the Armed Forces, and our commitment to the service of others is a guiding principle. As a result, our approach is driven by integrity, collaboration, and customer focus.
Our company operates under the names NSI and NSI Advisory Services, both of which D.B.A. NSI Engineering INC.
NSI is certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE).
Our Team
Annie Parham
Consultant
- Blends structure with creativity to ensure every piece of a system fits together in a way that's both functional and innovative.
Ben Pierce
Consultant
- Multi-financial and marketing discipline professional committed to continuous improvement to achieve process efficiency.
Brian Pierce
Consultant
- Diverse multi-industry background solving problems, designing products and systems, building teams, and delivering products.
Carrie Cabak
Consultant
- Dynamic Systems Thinker who loves to solve problems
- Values People, Processes and Technology
- Passionate about making the world a happier place
Dale Brown
Consultant
- Licensed PE with R&D, design, management, patent, and business development experience
- 40+ years of Transit and Rail engineering experience
- Chair INCOSE TWG and Founder APTA SLE subcommittee
Elaine Carlson
Consultant
- Systems engineer with experience in verification and requirements management for rail transit projects
- Dedicated to delivering quality solutions that maximize value
- Believes great infrastructure tells a lasting story
Eric Satrum
Director
- Management Consultant specializing in systems engineering, quality, and risk management.
- Simplifies processes through strategies, technology, and training.
Ethan McCoy
Consultant
- Professional Engineer (OR) with a diverse background which provides a basis for a holistic systems approach to problem solving and process design.
- Dog Owner
Jennifer Russell
Director, Smart Cities
- Driven by helping teams succeed
- Passionate about solving complex challenges
- Committed to impactful, lasting projects
John Wyatt
Consultant
- Integrity based on honest, trusted, and reliable solutions.
- Uses teamwork with expertise to align strategies and goals for shared success.
- Builds collaborative relationships and celebrates accomplishments.
Kelton Orth
Consultant
- Jack-of-all-trades developer committed to quality
- Webmaster, power apps developer, sys admin
- 5 years of experience in big data and pipeline efficency
Kristen McTeague
Consultant
- Seasoned healthcare operations consultant with over 25 years of hands-on experience
- Emphasizes collaboration, cross-functional communication, and stakeholder alignment
Laura Uden
Owner
Director, TLC
- Skilled at simplifying issues and guiding teams to identify and solve root causes.
- Passionate about improving teamwork, leadership, and building a positive work culture.
Mark Schneider
Director
- Proven financial analyst with strong project and asset management experience. Solves problems with a practical, customer-focused approach. Enjoys the outdoors and family time.
Russ Winchester
Consultant
- Versatile Quality Systems Expert
- Process Improvement Strategist: 15+ years
- Technical Solutions Architect
Sharon Hartzel
Director, Healthcare
- Seasoned healthcare professional specializing in compliance and revenue integrity, providing audits and assessments to strengthen ethics and regulatory compliance programs.
Simon Hughes
Director, Infrastructure
- Puts people first, ensuring fairness and respect in everything
- Works on both client and contractor sides, in design and construction projects
- Communicates with all levels and makes difficult topics understandable