Ken Valder, PE

Ken brings over 35 years of hands-on experience in engineering, construction, and decommissioning and demolition (D&D), with a strong background in program and project management. He’s played key roles in major field efforts – from environmental remediation and D&D projects for NASA, NOAA, and the USEPA, to supporting the chemical weapons demilitarization program and commercial nuclear utilities. His focus has consistently been on environmental and industrial safety.

Throughout his career, Ken has successfully led $50+ million contracts and provided owner-side support on even larger initiatives. Beyond his technical depth, he’s also known for his people-first approach – working to find balanced, win-win solutions across teams and stakeholders.

Today, as a Client Service Manager at Akana, Ken helps clients tackle complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. He coordinates multidisciplinary teams, aligns deliverables with regulatory and industry standards, and ensures every piece of a project fits together smoothly. His passion lies in turning complex programs into streamlined successes – for clients, for Akana, and for the communities they serve.