Specializing in Complete Architectural Engineering Services and the Supply of Commercial/Industrial, Electrical, and Mechanical Equipment

Raymond Hulings is a retired brigadier general, service-disabled veteran and degreed engineer, with more than 47 years of engineering and project management experience.  He is the president and majority partner of VETS. Raymond is responsible for performing management and duties of principal-In-charge, overall project manager, technical oversight, and QA/QC. 

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His military career spanned 34 years where he successfully served in every position of leadership and management from platoon leader to brigade level command until his retirement in 2005 as a brigadier general.  Most of Raymond’s active-duty career was spent at Fort Indiantown Gap, a site located in Pennsylvania, equivalent to a small city in physical size, staffing and complexity of tenants and infrastructure.  There he held various positions in facilities engineering and/or management roles including project engineer, director of public works, and finally as commander.

As director of public works at Fort Indiantown Gap, Raymond provided forecasts and managed maintenance and construction budgets, programs, and projects for 17,000 acres, 1200 buildings, 200 miles of paved and unpaved roads, and an extensive variety of ranges and training facilities.  He oversaw all projects from concept, through design and estimating, to construction, and ultimately commissioning and acceptance.

While director of plans, operations and maintenance; Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – Raymond provided forecasts and managed maintenance and construction budgets, programs, and projects for 91 separate Army National Guard facilities, and six veterans homes/hospitals across the state.  He oversaw all projects, including the construction of a new $41M community living center and renovation of a $31M community living center (Coates Hall) in Spring City, PA, from concept, through design and estimating, to construction, and ultimately commissioning and acceptance.  

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In both capacities, Raymond was very familiar with designing and constructing to available funding limits, adjusting priorities, reacting to emergencies, meeting federal and state fiscal year time constraints, and complying with both federal and state laws and regulations. He also served as the Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to PEMA (Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency).

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All of his accumulated 47 years of experience mentioned above has allowed him to deliver successful projects on time and within budget.

Raymond provides oversight for all of VETS projects including our five-plus year IDIQ that has involved various multidisciplined projects with multimillion-dollar construction budgets.

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He earned a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and is also a graduate of numerous military training programs including Command and General Staff College with emphasis on advanced management and planning skills at the national command level. He is a graduate of Officer Candidate School and distinguished graduate of engineer officer advanced and basic with emphasis on engineering, combat and civil.

Diane Hulings is a founding member of VETS and has an extensive background in engineering and project management.   She holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering (mining) and a Master of Business Administration. Diane spent 14 years working for Westinghouse Electric as a field service engineer and 23 as an owner/principal in three Westinghouse spin-off companies.  She is involved in engineering review and subcontractor coordination and worked closely with VAMC personnel at the Clarksburg, WV, VAMC on the five-plus year A/E IDIQ awarded to VETS.

Chuck Altopiedi is a principal in the firm and Vietnam veteran, and serves as chief financial officer and manager of administrative services. He is also a founding member of VETS.  Chuck holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a major in finance.  His 54 years of experience include numerous executive positions in the fields of finance, marketing and operational management. A 28-year career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation included a variety of appointments domestically and internationally.  At VETS, Chuck is responsible for financial and administrative management. 

James Eckles is a Vietnam veteran.  He studied architecture at Carnegie Institute of Technology and is a registered architect in 14 states. Jim has more than 46 years of practical experience in the design and documentation of numerous building types and uses.  An important part of this design expertise includes design and renovation of multiuse facilities.

Jim has owned and operated several architectural/engineering firms in the Pittsburgh area. These firms are still highly respected, multidisciplined architectural, engineering and building technology design firms as well as code consultants and third-party approval agencies.  Over the past several years he has brought all of his experience to our VETS team. Jim’s experience includes:

• Preliminary design, planning, and design development of commercial, institutional, healthcare, educational and residential design

• Expertise in the production of contract/construction drawing and coordination with consultants, engineers, and owners

• Review of drawings for compliance with applicable building codes, zoning, variances, ADA, specifications and estimates

• Team management skills, ability to multitask, excellent communication skills, the proficiency to complete projects within budget and on time – all generating repeat clients

• Construction observation/inspection and job meetings

Recently Jim has provided architectural construction administration for VETS ambulatory care task order (approximately $8.35M construction budget) at the Clarksburg, WV, VAMC.  He also provided the design and complete project management to a recent Clarksburg task order for a very complex roof design for the entire facility ($4.5M construction budget).

Jim is known for his delivery of well-defined and complete drawing and specification packages. He has taken pride in providing cost-effective and timely responses and design for all sizes of multiphase projects.

For VETS, he fills the role of the registered lead architect, where he seals architectural drawings and engineering drawings within his expertise. Jim handles the day-to-day project management with oversight from VETS President Raymond Hulings. He also can perform construction administration.

Jim reviews all of the submissions, including cost estimates.  He oversees VETS preparation of the specifications, construction documents, including final bid documents, as well as either personally performing construction administration on-site or overseeing other VETS construction administration personnel. His extensive experience and practical approach are instrumental in the design and construction multidisciplined projects.