Engineering Simplified
Our engineers and designers have a wide range of skills and specialties to assist our customers.
What We Offer
>> Analysis, design and detailing of temporary structural systems
>> Project specific application engineering and detailing of temporary systems
>> Peer review
>> Ground bearing pressure study
>> Crane matting design
>> Maximum allowable wind speed study
>> Detailed rigging diagrams and lift plans
>> Consulting/Constructability
>> Lug design
>> Advanced structural analysis of existing permanent and temporary systems including review of loads imposed from temporary to permanent structures
>> Crane selections
>> Temporary monorails and track systems
>> Lifeline anchorage design
>> General structural engineering
>> “Bull Rigging” planning
>> Derrick support design
>> Scaffold and shoring design and analysis
The Dothea Group performs a wide variety of consulting and engineering activities related to structural analysis, lift plans, rigging design and other design with a focus on construction services.
Available for project overview with customer
>> Site walks and measurements
>> Drafting services
>> Qualified horizontal lifeline engineering
We are Professionally Licensed in many states. The Dothea Group maintains in-depth knowledge of codes and standards including AISC, AWS, ASME, ASCE, ASTM, AISI, OSHA, IBC, CMAA and industry practices.
Where We Operate
-
- Available for consulting anywhere
- Disclaimer: The Dothea Group as a company cannot offer Professional Engineering services in states until we obtain a Certificate of Authority from a particular state.
Our Team
Sarah Mikut
CFO
- Accounting/Finance background
- Senior Finance Manager for GE Lighting
- Graduate of the University of Akron in Accountancy
Sarah runs our daily operations and handles all of the financial and accounting duties for our team on a part-time basis. She has over 10 years of experience in finance and accounting including several years with General Electric where she is currently a Senior Finance Manager specializing in controllership.
She enjoys cooking, sewing, canning, and taking care of her growing family and farm animals. She enjoys playing with her kids and spending time outdoors. It is her goal to grow the business to provide better engineering solutions to our customers and provide employment with a flexible work life balance for all our employees. She enjoys the nature of this business which at the root of it is problem solving. Our business is to help customers solve their problems and Sarah loves putting our problem solving skills to the test.
Sarah is a graduate of The University of Akron with a BS in Accounting. She is also currently studying to obtain her CMA.
Rick Mikut
Owner / CEO
- PE in 31 states
- Former Engineering Manager at Mazzella Companies
- Former Construction Tech Manager at Babcock and Wilcox Construction Co.
- Graduate of Kent State University (MBA), University of Akron (MSCE), The Ohio State University (BSCE)
Richard (Rick) leads up the safety and engineering efforts of our team and works for the team full-time. He has his PE license in 24 states and has 10 plus years of experience in the heavy construction sector. He has previously worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation (EIT), Babcock and Wilcox Construction Company (Manager of Construction Technology) and the Mazzella Companies (Engineering Manager).
Rick is a father of two beautiful daughters and two handsome sons. They also have two dogs and 11 chickens (as of last count). Rick enjoys the outdoors whether it is camping or just sitting by the fire in the backyard stargazing. Most of Rick’s spare time is spent playing with his kids and showing them how fun it is to build things. His goal is to grow this business so that we provide safe, engineering solutions to contractors. He wants to put the math behind what the men and women do every day in the field and give them peace of mind that the structure that they are connecting to will hold the weight.
Rick has a BS in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University, a MS in Civil Engineering from The University of Akron, and a MBA from Kent State University. He also serves as Vice-chair of the Crane Safety committee for ASCE and also is a member of the Temporary Structures committee.
Articles
What loads do I need to deduct from my crane charts?
Some deductions to look at that should accompany the weight of the modules are: weight of the rigging, weight of the block, weight of the lines, weight of any jib or ball attached to the lifted load point, wind, and number of parts of line.
Do I need to put mats under my crane?
Ground bearing pressures induced by crawler cranes can be lessened to an extent by distributing them with crane mats.
What are the different types of cranes?
Since we concentrate in construction, we’ll be talking about the common cranes that are used at typical construction sites such as mobile cranes, tower cranes, ringers, and derricks.
Site Constraints When Selecting a Heavy Lift Crane
One of the many things to consider when sizing a crane for a job is the site that the crane will be located at and its surrounding conditions.
What is a rooster sheave?
The term rooster sheave is a common term in the industry for what is known as the auxiliary lifting sheave or the auxiliary boom head.
How long will it take for an engineering project to be completed?
We do our best to give a good estimate as to how long it will take, but there are many factors that go into this.
Clients
Pricing
Hourly Rates:
|
Service |
Straight-time |
Overtime & Weekends* |
|
Engineering |
$150.00 |
$300.00 |
* – On national holidays and their associated weekends all hours will be billed at double time. Rates are subject to change without notice.
Rates & Charges:
1. Straight-time rates apply to all time worked or traveled during the normal eight hour workday. The normal eight-hour workday is defined as any consecutive eight-hour day shift period (Monday through Friday – Holidays excluded) between the hours of 7 AM and 6 PM, with an allowance for lunchtime.
a. The above rates apply to assignments within the Continental US. A 5% surcharge will be added for all other assignments.
2. Travel time will be billed at the straight-time hourly rate (except on specific holidays and their associated weekend as specified above) and will include travel to and from The Dothea Group headquarters. The maximum billing for travel will be 16 hours per person for both the outgoing and incoming legs of the trip.
3. The overtime rate applies to all hours worked including travel time to site in excess of the normal 8 hour workday and all work hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
4. All assignments have a minimum charge of four (4) hours including travel time.
5. All rates are exclusive of all travel and living expense.
a. Mileage between The Dothea Group Office or Hotel and destination is charged at $0.70/mile.
b. All engineering hours are to be invoiced port to port for engineering plus travel expenses at cost plus 10%.
6. Other Charges – The following charges will be in addition to the rates listed above:
a. Expendable Small Tools, Special Tools and Equipment: When a particular job requires the furnishing of some small expendable tools or specialized tools, equipment, and or instruments not normally carried by an engineer, will be billed. The charge will be either the cost of the acquisition or a rental charge for this equipment.
b. Additional cost for PE stamping and calculation packages.
7. In the event that job is delayed for 20 days after work has commenced, an invoice will be submitted for the percent complete of the quoted price and a final invoice will be submitted upon completion of all deliverables.
8. The Dothea Group, LLC will submit statements for services provided, as well as for all reimbursable expenses in periodic statements. All invoices are to be paid promptly within 30 days of receipt. The Dothea Group, LLC maintains the right to suspend engineering services upon written notice to Buyer if past due amounts are not paid in full. Payment to The Dothea Group, LLC shall not be impacted by the payment status or withholdings to contractors.