Our Team
The SSA office environment is a welcoming, collaborative, and dynamic workspace. We are dedicated to providing a professional, fun, and rewarding work environment for our team.
SSA is located on the Ship Canal in Fremont. We enjoy celebrating our warmer days with a cook-out and refreshment as boats, pedestrians and cyclists pass. We invite everyone to join us during the summer for BBQ Wednesdays and during the winter with Happy Hour Hunt around Seattle. We have a reputation for our two annual parties, “The Communist Party” (As a salute to the Statue of Lenin in Fremont), and our “Solstice Day Parade Party”.
We offer competitive salaries, full benefits, ownership and bonuses, ample vacation time, and, our annual company vacation when we travel the world together with our families and friends. SSA believes in work hard, play hard, and we endeavor to celebrate our passion for design, the great city we live in, and our relationships with the people around us, each day. Come, join us!
BILL STEWART, INCE, REFP / Managing Partner
Bill’s brings the innovation and solution-based thinking to each project meeting. With a fresh insight to new ideas, 20 years of experience, he challenges each project to award winning design. His knowledge of design concepts, construction detailing, material solutions, and conductivity to find a new way of solving an old problem is enhanced by his spirit and process of collaboration.
Bill enjoys the fine arts, travel, and good food. He has been a resident of Bainbridge Island for 25-years and enjoys the events of Seattle for entertainment.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ALAN BURT, PE, INCE / Partner & Acoustical & AV Systems Consultant
Alan will support your project with innovative and practical designs that achieve the project goals in a cost-effective manner. Working within the project schedule, he will work with the team in establishing design criteria for the project and incorporating solutions with the project team.
Outside of work he enjoys windsurfing, comedy, music, cooking and travel.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DAWN NELSEN, CSI, CDT / Administrative Manager, Partner
As Specifications Writer, Project Manager, and Office Manager, Dawn’s energies need to be both focused and flexible. She performs a multitude of varied duties for the firm to keep things running smoothly on a daily basis. Creative thinking and problem solving play an important role in Dawn’s approach to all of her work.
Dawn’s personal interests include live music, a really good book, and traveling to anyplace, particularly someplace she hasn’t been before.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
JOEL ESSELSTROM, INCE / Associate Partner, Consultant
With Joel's combined 12 years of experience in architectural acoustics, acoustical contracting, and installation, he approaches his clients' projects with an in-depth understanding of the cost, performance, and executability of an acoustic design solution. His background in architecture imparts a heightened aesthetic awareness that allows him and his clients to collaborate with a more simpatico vision for the project.
Joel's nickname among his closest friends is "Renaissance Man", given his love for composing music on guitar and piano, artistic drawings, furniture building and woodworking, cooking Thai food, dancing and singing, mountain biking, and travelling. He'll even cut your hair if you ask.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
STEVE HEDBACK / Consultant
Steve was born and raised in Minnesota, and strives to bring the quiet environment often found in the great plains and lakes to cities and neighborhoods alike. Steve is eager to broaden his acoustical repertoire of design and construction practices to ensure that every project he is a part of sounds and performs its best.
Steve enjoys the dog park, swimming, a good book, and pouring gin and tonics as SSA’s resident bartender.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LANCE C. ARMSTRONG / Technician
Lance comes to SSA with a background in Business and IT. A jack of all trades with a keen eye toward detail, he will work tirelessly to ensure that all aspects of your project are met.
A Bainbridge Island resident, Lance enjoys lawn sports and all things outdoors, especially when joined by his dog Yoshi.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.