Meet our Team

Keith Mandel, P.E.
President

Keith Mandel, P.E.
President
Keith Mandel serves as President of OMI and contributes over 37 years of experience providing professional engineering and consulting services towards the OMI team. Mr. Mandel received a Bachelor of Science from The University of Florida in Civil Engineering and began his career as a Geotechnical Engineer in Deer Beach, Florida. Subsequently, he moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and in 1995, he co-founded OMI, Inc. Mr. Mandel is one of the most sought-after experts in the fields of Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Consulting, Construction Materials, and materials laboratory testing and has provided these services in multiple states throughout the United States. Mr. Mandel has successfully served as Principal Engineer on diverse portfolios of projects for both the private sector, as well as local, state, and federal government projects. Mr. Mandel is an expert in site feasibility and selection evaluations, geologic studies, subsurface exploration, foundation design, pavement studies, earth and dam designs, landslide, landfill, groundwater studies, laboratory analysis, site preparation, and construction monitoring and observation. Mr. Mandel also has a proven history in performing and in senior oversight of environmental projects, such as ASTM Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, soil and groundwater remediation and monitoring, NEPA evaluations, Waters of the US Consulting, and local Subdivision Site Assessments. Keith enjoys fishing off the Florida Coast. and spending time with his six grandchildren.

Stacy Hershey
Controller/HR Manager

Mohamed Elgendy, P.E.
Geotechnical Engineer

Mohamed Elgendy, P.E.
Geotechnical Engineer
Mr. Elgendy is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer and serves as the Geotechnical Engineering Manager at OMI. Mr. Elgendy received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas El Paso. He is a skilled professional with more than 35 years of experience in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, in which he has successfully performed geotechnical site investigations, slope stability analyses, seepage analyses, pavement design evaluations and construction materials testing. He is also experienced in performing 2D and 3D advanced Geotechnical Engineering analysis using FEA and FDA non-linear soil structure interaction; QC/QA of construction material testing, including soils, concrete, overseeing post-tension anchor drilling and installation, grouting, and micropile design, construction, and testing; abandoned mine stabilization using cementitious grout including mix design and grout testing; developing GIS infra structural management systems for storm water drainage systems for the City of El Paso; and concrete structure rebar detailing and rebar inspection for large structures. During his time off, Mohamed enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and watching science, nature, and travel documentaries.

Keith Kaylor, P.E.
Senior Environmental Engineer

Keith Kaylor, P.E.
Senior Environmental Engineer
Mr. Kaylor serves as a Senior Environmental Engineer at OMI. Mr. Kaylor received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cleveland State University. He has over 30 years of professional engineering experience in environmental consulting, including: environmental assessments, regulatory support, environmental remediations, determining compliance with Federal, state, and local regulations, performing due diligence evaluations of properties for real estate transfers, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation. Specific relevant experience includes conducting Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), soil and groundwater testing, NEPA assessments and documentation, underground storage tank (UST) system closures, and long-term monitoring and closure reporting. Mr. Kaylor has proven success in project and client management, including preparation of technical and cost proposals, management of budgets, schedules and deliverables, interfacing with clients and stakeholders, and supervision of junior technical staff. In his spare time, Keith enjoys visiting National Parks and barbecue judging. He is a KCBS-certified Master Judge and has judged over one hundred competitions.

James Sharp
Constructions Services Manager

James Sharp
Constructions Services Manager

Emil Johnson
Business Development/Staff Geologist

Emil Johnson
Business Development/Staff Geologist
Mr. Johnson supports OMI as a Geologist and as a Business Development Manager. He attended the University of South Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. Emil began his career in 2015 in Birmingham, Alabama, as an environmental technician with Alabama Power, A Southern Company. In 2016, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, and joined the State of Alabama’s Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) as a Hydrogeologist. While here he worked in the underground storage tank corrective action regulatory division where he managed the remediation of over two hundred sites, primarily in north Alabama. In 2018, Emil had the opportunity to present research at the National Tanks Conference titled “The Re-Development of Underground Storage Tank Sites,” representing the State of Alabama and receiving his second publication credit. Emil currently works on both environmental and geotechnical projects at OMI, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and subsurface explorations. Emil currently serves as the North Alabama AGC (Association of General Contractors) Associate Board Vice President and on advisory boards for both Wallace and Drake State Community Colleges. He is a graduate of the Tennessee Valley Diversity Leadership Colloquium. He and his lovely wife, Janee, volunteer at Manna House together and enjoy spending their free time visiting local restaurants, hiking, and going to the movies.

Lyle Cavanaugh
Laboratory Manager

Lyle Cavanaugh
Laboratory Manager
Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Lyle studied civil engineering and music performance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville & Calhoun Community College from 2020-2023. Lyle joined our team in April 2022 as a field technician before utilizing his on-the-job experience with soils & concrete in our laboratory, in which doing so he quickly became our laboratory manager in September 2023. Since then, he has revolutionized our laboratory & restructured all of our testing processes within AASHTO bounds, working with our principal engineers to provide our clients with consistent & accurate materials results that they can count on, every time. Lyle firmly believes that one should never stop learning, so in his free time he can be found tagging along with field personnel, project managers & engineers into the field to apply his experience while learning in 'on-the-fly' situations. He can also be found in our lab after-hours researching AASHTO, ASTM & ACI procedures trying new tests, techniques & methods to give our clients better results all while growing his knowledge & experience for the betterment of the company & himself. Outside of the workplace, Lyle often finds himself at home with his wife & son, playing the sousaphone with local brass bands, skateboarding, enjoying fireside conversations & cigars among friends & colleagues, or playing strategy-intensive single player video games. In the future, Lyle plans to acquire bachelor's degrees in both business management and engineering, eventually acquiring a P.E. License to provide quality geotechnical & structural engineering analysis in a rapidly expanding, high-tech world.