Raths, Raths & Johnson Inc. (RRJ), a national architecture, engineering and forensics consulting firm headquartered in Willowbrook, Ill. announced that Almir Maksumic, an accomplished construction specialist with nationally recognized forensic engineering consulting firms and testing laboratories, has recently joined the firm. Almir's vast construction and material testing knowledge broadens RRJ's expertise in the areas of nondestructive testing methods, concrete evaluation, field investigation, and construction troubleshooting.

"Almir's skills and experience further enhance our testing capabilities in the field and in our laboratory operations to support the growing demand for our forensic investigation and construction quality assurance testing services." said RRJ President, Kurt Hoigard, P.E., SECB, F.ASTM.

Maksumic has over 20 years of experience in field / laboratory testing of building structures, enclosures and materials related to the investigation and evaluation of deterioration, distress, water leakage, air infiltration, corrosion, and construction defects. His expertise in destructive and nondestructive testing methods include ground penetrating radar, impulse response, ultrasonic pulse velocity, half-cell potential and impact-echo, infrared thermography, and high and low voltage leak detection. Maksumic's diagnostic testing and protocol knowledge encompasses on-site quality assurance field testing for both new construction and rehabilitation projects. His professional experience includes providing assistance in contract document production for repair designs as well as performing construction administration and field observation services on building enclosure and structural repair programs.

Prior to joining RRJ, Mr. Maksumic served as a Senior Engineering Technician for six years at the forensic engineering firm of Building Technology Consultants, PC. Previously, he was a Senior Technician for five years at Universal Construction Testing, Ltd., a full service consulting and testing laboratory located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and a Nondestructive Expert Technician for 11 years at CTLGroup, a global engineering consulting and material science research and testing firm based in Skokie, Ill.

He has earned certifications and completed training in various testing methods and standards from the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the America Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).