After starting off as a 19-year-old intern working for Thurston County while attending Saint Martin’s University, Matt Unzelman was recently named the county’s new public works engineer.
Unzelman has now worked in the Thurston County’s Public Works department for more than 20 years. In an email to The Chronicle, he explained his love for his work began at a young age.
His father, Larry Unzelman, retired as Lewis County’s real estate services manager in 2018 after a 44-year career of working for the county.
“Growing up in a household involved in public works, I was exposed to a lot of what the field does at an early age. This sparked my desire to become a county engineer,” Matt Unzelman said, later adding, “The opportunity to become the next county engineer in an organization that I have dedicated my entire career to and respect greatly is simply incredible.”
As county engineer, Matt Unzelman will now be responsible for a multitude of duties, including:
• Overseeing planning, design and construction of all bridges and roads throughout the county’s roadway system.
• Supervising more than 60 employees currently working in the office of the county engineer who handle design, surveying, right of way, permitting and developmental review.
• Coordinating with other public works departments to complete stormwater, sewer, water and other essential projects to enhance service for Thurston County residents.
“In my new role, I aim to find ways to improve the existing roadway and bridge infrastructure. Like many other agencies in the U.S., our transportation infrastructure is aging, with some bridges still in service that are more than 100 years old,” Matt Unzelman said.
With the county’s population expected to continually grow, Matt Unzelman stressed he wants to preserve as much usable infrastructure as possible.
“I plan to develop strategies for maintaining and improving our existing infrastructure, ensuring safety and efficiency for all Thurston County residents,” Matt Unzelman said.
For more information, visit https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/public-works/engineering.
