People

Laura E. Champion, P.E., President
Charles C. Brown, P.E., Vice President of Engineering
Kenneth Gibble, P.E., Chairman
James F. Norden, P.E., Principal

David L. Freed, P.E., Geotechnical Associate

Laura E. Champion, P.E. is President of GNCB. She has a BSCE from Carnegie-Mellon University and is licensed to practice in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, and Ohio.

With over 25 years of experience in consulting structural engineering private practice, Ms. Champion's expertise includes Building and Fire Safety Code issues, residential and high hazard coastal structures, private and public institutional and recreational facilities, and theater projects. Her projects have ranged from a Palm Beach, Florida coastal residential structure, to a $50 million multi-phased State of Connecticut Community College project, implementing a Master Plan for over 20 projects at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, to a proscenium and teaching theater at Rutgers University, NJ to a Building and Fire Safety Code review of a one million sf IBM office complex.

Ms. Champion is active in several professional societies and civic organizations and is a former Connecticut certified Building Official. She has overseen the structural design of educational facilities, laboratories, art museums, hospitals, and residences.

Professional Societies:

• American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut
  (ACEC/CT): Past President
• Structural Engineers Coalition of Connecticut
• American Welding Society
• American Institute of Steel Construction
• International Code Council
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers

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Charles C. Brown, P.E. is Vice President of Engineering. He holds BSCEE and Masters in Engineering Structures degrees from Cornell University and has more than 25 years of experience as a structural engineer. He is a registered professional engineer in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Virginia..

Mr. Brown's project management experience includes oversight of the structural engineering design of educational facilities, hospitals, shopping centers and museums. He has served on the Board of the Connecticut Chapter of Building Officials and Code Administrators of America and is a member of the American Concrete Institute.

Professional Societies:

• American Concrete Institute

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Kenneth Gibble, P.E. is Chairman of Gibble Norden Champion Brown. He has over 40 years of structural engineering experience and has been actively involved in professional civic organizations throughout his career. He is a registered professional engineer in the states of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Mr. Gibble graduated with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University, which designated him their Outstanding Engineering alumnus in 1991. He has taken graduate courses in Structural Analysis at the University of Rhode Island and is certified as a mediator for construction disputes.

An expert in building code concepts and in risk management, he has authored numerous articles and has served as a reviewer of books on management topics for the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 2000, the Connecticut Engineers in Private Practice honored him as Engineer of the Year.

Professional Societies:

• American Society of Civil Engineers, Fellow and Life Member
• Connecticut AIA, Professional Affiliate
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut
  (ACEC/CT): Past Prsident
• Society for Marketing Professional Services, Past Director of
  Southern New England Chapter
• Director and Past President of Structural Engineers Risk
  Management Council/Design Professionals Insurance Company
• Co-Chairman of Connecticut Design/Build Coalition

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James F. Norden, P.E. has over 35 years of structural engineering experience. He leads the company's Historic Preservation Group. He is a registered professional engineer in Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts and Maryland.

Mr. Norden has a BCE from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Arts in Preservation from Goucher College. He has also taken graduate course in Concrete Structures.

He was awarded the "James F. Lincoln Arch Welding Foundation Award for Queen Post Space Frame Roof Structure" for his work on the USDAN Center for the Arts.

Professional Societies:

• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Construction Specifications Institute
• American Institute of Steel Construction
• The Masonry Society
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
• Connecticut Historical Society
• Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA)
• The Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI)
• The Preservation Trades Network

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David L. Freed, P.E. has over 35 years of geotechnical experience in the management of investigations including an extensive background in foundation analysis and construction for a wide range of foundation types and subsurface conditions. He has a BSCE from Northeastern University and a Masters degree in Soil Mechanics from the University of Florida. He is a registered professional engineer in the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Mr. Freed has been instrumental in integrating the firm's geotechnical and structural engineering services. He is expert at bringing his knowledge of construction procedures to resolving field problems. Among his continuing education activities was a 40-hour OSHA course in Hazardous Materials.

Professional Societies:

• ASFE/The Association of Engineering Firms Practicing in the
  Geosciences
• National Society of Professional Engineers
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers
• Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE
• Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society
• Deep Foundations Institute

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