Dams Practice Leader Sharon Tapia Joins GEI

Tapia brings 30 years of dam safety experience.

SACRAMENTO, California, April 8, 2025 – Sharon Tapia, P.E., PMP, has joined GEI Consultants in Sacramento as a Dams Practice Leader and Vice President. Sharon has worked in multiple capacities related to dam safety and business operations in California for more than 30 years. She brings an understanding of all the disciplines associated with dams and dam safety, with specific expertise in hydraulics and hydrology, structural, geotechnical engineering, and risk evaluations.

“Sharon is an extraordinary addition to GEI, bringing not only deep technical expertise but also a rare ability to lead people and programs with clarity and purpose,” says David Gutierrez, Vice President at GEI. “Her leadership helped shape the modern California Dam Safety Program, and she has consistently demonstrated how to balance technical excellence with public safety and organizational effectiveness. I am excited about the future of our dams practice under Sharon’s guidance — she will elevate our capabilities and help us deliver even greater value to our clients and communities.”

Since 2017, as Division Manager/Chief of the Division of Safety of Dams, Sharon led a highly technical team of engineers and engineering geologists in the review of state-regulated dams to ensure the protection of life and property from potential dam failures. Sharon played a pivotal role in expanding the California Dam Safety Program, responding to legislative mandates requiring the development of inundation maps, comprehensive reevaluation studies, enhanced enforcement, and updated safety practices, and incorporating advanced risk management strategies.

“I chose GEI due to its highly regarded reputation of delivering high quality services to its clients,” says Sharon. “With more than 30 years in dam safety, which includes both technical work and program management, I am looking forward to contributing my unique skill set to support and grow GEI’s work in the dam sector.”

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California – Davis. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in California and certified Project Management Professional. She has served on various national boards including the Board of Directors for the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) and as President of ASDSO, FEMA’s National Dam Safety Review Board, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Government Coordinating Council. In 2022, Sharon received ASCE’s Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award for making significant contributions to the profession through public service.

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About GEI: GEI Consultants, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm that delivers professional services that improve our world’s built environment. With more than 1,500 staff and 59 offices in North America, GEI is a leader in providing multi-disciplined engineering and environmental services to a range of private and public sector clients, both domestically and abroad.

As a member of the employee-owned GISI family of companies, we foster personal relationships with our clients and support our staff in a partnership model, which is underpinned by continuous learning and sharing of knowledge. We retain proven, recognized experts and attract the best minds to deliver to our clients a refreshing blend of technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and innovation that is rare in our profession. We engineer solutions in five primary end markets: Water Resources, Energy, Buildings, Infrastructure, and Industrial. For more information on GEI, please visit www.geiconsultants.com.www.geiconsultants.com.