Victorino taps engineer who worked on Oahu rail
Welling is named Public Works deputy
The Maui News
Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino on Tuesday appointed Steve Welling, an engineer who worked on the Honolulu rail project, as Maui County’s deputy director of public works.
Welling was an engineer with SSFM International Inc., which had contracts with the Honolulu Rapid Transit Authority, a county news release said. While working on the rail project, he oversaw the relocation of 4.2 miles of underground and overhead utilities to make way for the commuter rail and had to deal with archaeological sites and high voltage work.
He left SSFM in February, Maui County spokesman Brian Perry said. Welling is expected to complete his doctoral degree in civil and environmental engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., in May.
Before moving to Hawaii, he was vice president and senior project manager from July 2015 to January 2018 with Pryor Mountain Construction in Missoula, Mont., and was project manager with EMA Services in Detroit from August 2013 to July 2015, overseeing re-engineering of the Detroit Water and Sewer District’s asset management program.
He replaces Deputy Director Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, who was appointed director of public works on April 1. Dagdag-Andaya fills the void left after the Maui County Council rejected Victorino’s nomination of David Goode to lead the Public Works Department.
“Mr. Welling has an impressive amount of experience as an engineer working in heavy civil infrastructure,” Victorino said in a news release. “His strengths include construction management, team building and conflict resolution. I welcome him to our team and expect him to help deliver excellent service to our residents and visitors.”
His appointment does not need council confirmation. Dagdag-Andaya is awaiting a hearing before the council’s Governance, Ethics and Transparency Committee.
“We are very excited to have Steve on board,” said Dagdag-Andaya. “His diverse set of skills in civil construction and project management will be an asset to our team, and I look forward to his assistance in advancing the mission and goals of the department.”
Welling is married and has nine children ranging from 1 to 18 years old.