Employee Spotlight, Jasper Klein, PE, Operations Manager

As a child, Jasper Klein wanted to be a farmer, engineer, or contractor. The Bismarck, North Dakota native’s mother encouraged him to use his interest in understanding how things work and innate 3D visualization skills to become an engineer.

After graduating from the University of North Dakota where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, as well as a Master of Engineering degree, Jasper joined AE2S. He has spent the past 16 years with the firm and became the Operations Manager of the Bismarck office in 2016.

“My favorite part about working at AE2S is the people! This includes great clients and the staff I get to work with every day. I enjoy seeing the great things our Employee-Owners are capable of accomplishing,” says Jasper. “As an Operations Manager, I work to encourage the positive progression of the AE2S brand throughout the office, community, and region.”

Jasper on the construction site of the Bismarck West End Transmission Main Project in 2008.

Over the years, one of Jasper’s favorite projects has been the Bismarck West End Transmission Main Project. “It was my first introduction to big infrastructure and the challenges of installing large diameter underground piping in tight corridors,” he says. “This project included large diameter restrained joint ductile iron piping through the Bismarck Water Treatment Plant campus along with an indestructible thrust restraint system that involved h-piles and helical piers.”

Jasper is currently managing two very large and intertwined projects in Mandan, North Dakota. “The Mandan Memorial Highway and Lower Heart Flood Risk Reduction projects both have sophisticated water resources analyses, complex storm sewer design, a master storm water lift station, a major survey effort, interagency and landowner coordination, and just about everything imaginable that can be thrown at you during a project,” he says. “I hope to see these projects constructed soon!”

The North Dakota chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) has provided Jasper with opportunities for leadership within the engineering industry. He is a past president of the North Dakota APWA chapter and has served on the board for the past five years.

Although he didn’t grow up on a farm or become a farmer, Jasper recently started farming with his stepfather. He also gets a taste of the rural life each day, as his partner Kami and he live on an old farmstead where his grandmother homesteaded. Jasper has two adult stepdaughters, Leah and Sara. He and Kami also share two dogs, two cats, and a horse. “I love Bismarck and western North Dakota. I’ve traveled to other parts of the U.S. and world and always enjoy coming back home,” says Jasper.

In his free time, Jasper calls himself a “wannabe pro mountain bike racer” who dedicates many hours to competing at a high level in mountain bike races across the upper Midwest. In conjunction with the races, he and Kami include camping and hiking on the itineraries. In the fall, Jasper also tries to make time for the occasional deer or elk hunt.