Our Leadership Team
— Waggoner —
Scott Phillips
President & Chief Executive Officer
Zach Adams, EDFP
Vice President of
Business Operations –
Mississippi and Tennessee
Hunter Arnold, PE
Vice President & Senior Principal
Jason Cline
Chief Financial Officer
Tracy Huffman, PE, PLS
Vice President & Senior Principal
Johnnie Knobloch
Vice President of Human Resources & Chief People Officer
Chris Phillips, JD, PMP
Vice President of
Business Operations –
Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
Benjamin Rauschenbach, PE
Vice President of
Business Operations –
Louisiana and Arkansas
John Rounsaville, JD
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Miles Williams, PE
Senior Vice President
Transportation Market Sector
Zach Adams, EDFP
Zach Adams, EDFP serves as Vice President of Business Operations for Mississippi and Tennessee, based in Waggoner’s central Mississippi headquarters in Jackson. With nearly 20 years of experience in engineering and environmental management, he leads planning and infrastructure initiatives that deliver practical engineering solutions aligned with regulatory standards and community needs. His expertise spans site development, watershed management, multimodal transportation, NEPA compliance, and water and wastewater systems across Mississippi counties and municipalities.
A registered Economic Development Finance Professional, Zach brings strong capabilities in grant compliance and financial capability studies. His leadership emphasizes proactive communication, team coordination, and client collaboration, ensuring large-scale projects remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with long-term goals. He is known for guiding complex projects from concept through implementation with a focus on environmental stewardship and operational efficiency.
Hunter Arnold, PE
Hunter Arnold, PE serves as Vice President and Senior Principal at Waggoner, where he has been a foundational leader since joining the firm in 1990. A respected technical expert across Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region, Hunter has guided major infrastructure efforts for more than three decades, most recently serving as the firm’s Water Market Leader. He formally passed the torch in 2025 and is transitioning towards retirement.
Known for his passion for collaboration, mentorship, and goal-driven leadership, Hunter has played a key role in developing the next generation of engineers while advancing strategies that build resilient communities and economic opportunity across the Southeast. He is a past president of the Mississippi Engineering Society and was named Engineer of the Year in 2013. He also served as chair of the American Water Works Association – Alabama/Mississippi section, contributing to regional progress in water infrastructure and policy.
Chris Phillips, JD, PMP
Chris Phillips, JD, PMP serves as Vice President of Business Operations for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, overseeing Waggoner’s regional offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Pensacola, and supporting the firm’s strategic expansion into Georgia. He works closely with regional and service-line leaders to align operations with business priorities and deliver consistent results for clients across the region.
With more than a decade of experience, Chris brings expertise in water and wastewater, asset management, compliance, and management consulting. He has led complex projects and advisory engagements throughout the Southeast, helping organizations navigate regulatory requirements, improve operational performance, and implement effective, sustainable engineering solutions. Previously, as Area Manager for Central Alabama, Chris helped expand market presence, strengthen client relationships, and support growth across the state. His leadership strengthens coordination between strategy and execution, reinforcing Waggoner’s ability to serve clients through its multidisciplinary service offerings.
Kenny Ferachi, PE
Kenny Ferachi, PE serves Waggoner as Senior Advisor, bringing almost three decades of experience in civil and environmental engineering. Based in Baton Rouge, Kenny spent 15 years leading Manchac Consulting Group, guiding its growth and operations in the Louisiana engineering sector before it was acquired by Waggoner in 2023. His expertise spans master planning, public infrastructure, and the delivery of large-scale engineering solutions across Louisiana.
Kenny provides strategic counsel and high-level guidance, drawing on his deep institutional knowledge and experience to support our leadership team and long-term vision. He assists with business development and technical support across all of Waggoner’s geographies, with a focus on scalable delivery, technical quality, and strategic growth. His previous leadership as Chief Operating Officer played a central role in driving Waggoner’s Southeast expansion while maintaining the firm’s legacy of excellence.
Tracy Huffman, PE, PLS
Tracy Huffman, PE, PLS is Vice President and Senior Principal at Waggoner. He leads operations across North Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee from the firm’s Mid-South office in Hernando, Mississippi. Since joining Waggoner in 1999, Tracy has built a trusted reputation for guiding municipal clients through complex infrastructure challenges with diligence, creativity, and deep technical knowledge.
His expertise spans stormwater planning, site and transportation design, water and wastewater infrastructure, and structural and aviation projects. Known for his practical approach to infrastructure sustainability and funding constraints, Tracy helps communities identify diverse financing strategies and craft buildable, cost-effective solutions that align with long-term development goals. He is recognized for hands-on leadership, regulatory coordination, and delivering results that serve both present needs and future growth.
Scott Phillips
Scott Phillips is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Waggoner, leading the firm’s growth in sustainable infrastructure solutions. He guides strategic business priorities across dozens of end markets within our consulting engineering offerings. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Scott brings over 40 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, with a focus on water resource policy, treatment systems, regulatory strategy, and infrastructure planning. He has overseen key programs for both municipal and industrial clients, including work in Mississippi, Alabama, and across the broader Southeast.
Scott’s career spans groundwater development, Superfund site remediation, utility advisory services, and long-range water planning. He has led multidisciplinary teams on complex projects involving water quantity and quality, negotiated regulatory solutions, and advised local governments, state agencies, and private industry. His executive leadership style reflects a deep commitment to transforming communities through sustainable infrastructure, helping clients align technical execution with long-term resilience and service delivery goals.
Benjamin Rauschenbach, PE
With more than 26 years of engineering experience, Benjamin Rauschenbach, PE serves as Vice President of Business Operations for Louisiana and Arkansas. A licensed professional engineer, he leads operations strategy, utility management, and infrastructure delivery across the state. In Bossier City, he has overseen the Public Utilities and Engineering Departments, managing a $150 million capital program and achieving $3 million in annual savings through operational improvements, all without increasing customer rates.
His background spans the full spectrum of civil and municipal engineering in Louisiana, including water and wastewater treatment, distribution networks, storage facilities, structural systems, and rehabilitation projects. Benjamin also actively mentors engineers and technical staff across the region, reinforcing Waggoner’s long-term leadership in infrastructure delivery and operational excellence throughout Louisiana.
John Rounsaville, JD
John Rounsaville, JD is the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Waggoner, leading the firm’s strategic services across Southeast engineering markets. Since rejoining the firm in 2010 and assuming his current role in 2023, he has guided municipalities of all sizes—as well as major economic development and industrial site initiatives—through project planning, policy development, and execution strategies aligned with long-term infrastructure and growth goals.
With a background in law and deep experience in project financing and government relations, John takes a hands-on approach to identifying funding solutions that drive implementation. He specializes in helping public-sector clients navigate complex state and federal programs to access financial resources and advance strategic infrastructure priorities in communities across Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Miles Williams, PE
Miles Williams, PE serves as Senior Vice President of Waggoner’s Transportation Market Sector, bringing more than 40 years of experience in Southeast transportation engineering and infrastructure delivery. He joined Baton Rouge-based Sigma Consulting Group in 1990 and served as its president from 2003 until Waggoner acquired the firm in 2022. Over more than three decades, Miles built a legacy of leading high-impact transportation projects across Louisiana and Mississippi, shaping long-term solutions for public-sector clients.
Now responsible for Waggoner’s transportation strategy across the Southeast, Miles oversees corridor planning, roadway and traffic engineering, construction phasing, and right-of-way coordination. His leadership reflects a deep understanding of both technical execution and client priorities, developed through decades of hands-on work across municipal and state systems. As he continues to guide Waggoner’s transportation market, Miles remains focused on advancing coordinated, efficient, and forward-looking infrastructure throughout the region.
Jason Cline
Jason Cline serves as Waggoner’s Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience in financial and operations management across the construction, manufacturing, and engineering sectors. His leadership supports Waggoner’s strategic growth as a leading engineering design firm in the Southeast, with a focus on financial performance, risk management, and long-term value creation.
Jason’s expertise includes financial analysis, capital structure planning, budget forecasting, and operational audits. He has successfully guided organizations through acquisition integrations, ERP implementations, and continuous process improvement initiatives. Known for aligning financial strategy with organizational objectives, Jason also brings a strong background in staff development, building high-performing teams that support both efficiency and enterprise-wide goals.
Johnnie Knobloch
Johnnie Knobloch is the Vice President of Human Resources & Chief People Officer for Waggoner Engineering and its subsidiary, Atakapa Services, where she leads HR operations for more than 300 employees. With nearly 10 years of experience in human resources, marketing, and office administration, she brings a well-rounded, people-first approach to organizational leadership.
Known for her collaborative style and dedication to employee development, Johnnie guides HR strategy across multiple office locations, building strong cross-functional partnerships and fostering a positive workplace culture. Her demonstrated impact and commitment to supporting teams at every level support Waggoner in this period of rapid growth.
We do more than plan and design infrastructure.
We transform communities.