Frank Leoni—2014 Engineering Technician of the Year
Frank Leoni started his career with the Forest Service in 1979 as a GS–01 Surveying Aid for the Superior National Forest after graduating from the Eveleth Area Vocational Technical Institute. With an additional degree in Surveying from Vermillion Community College in 1983, Frank worked his way up to become a Land Surveying Technician for the Forest. After focused training in Electrical Design & Survey Adjustment from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1987 &: 1990 and Computer Aided Design from the University of Missouri–St Louis in 1997 Frank’s career became more and more focused on facilities including design and contract administration of a wide range of facility projects including dams and impoundments, trail bridges, and buildings.
Frank served under a temporary promotion as COR for construction of the multi–million dollar Mio Ranger District Administrative Site for the Huron–Manistee Forest in Michigan. Frank also participated in the design of the Kawishiwi Ranger District and LaCroix Ranger District offices for the Superior Forest and in 2010 received a Building Inspection certification from the University of Minnesota.
Since starting in his current position as a GS–802–12 engineering technician with Enterprise Technical Services, Frank served as Project Manager for multi-million dollar construction projects in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA): on the Humbolt–Toiyabe National Forest Cathedral Rock Picnic Area, ($13,200,000), Cathedral Rock Trailhead ($2,300,000), Mahogany Group Campground ($3,400,000), McWilliams and Dolomite Campground ($13,500,000), Foxtail Picnic Area ($4,700,000), and Old Mill Picnic Area ($6,300,000). These projects earned national accessibility awards in 2012 and 2013.
Because of Frank’s talent for working with people, he was asked to take a 14 month detail with the Washington Office in 2003 – 2004 as the Union representative during planning of the centralization of Budget & Finance and Human Resources in Albuquerque, NM. He worked with the Forest Service National Leadership Team, including the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Human Resources to resolve issues that would affect thousands of employees during planning for the development of ASC. Frank received outstanding commendations from the Eastern Region Deputy Regional Forester Lee Nightingale and Superior Forest Supervisor James Sanders for his work.
Frank and his wife Ruth have one son Chris, who takes after Frank as a chef and awesome cook; a daughter Cassie who caught her father’s urge to travel and teaches English as a second language in Japan; and a son Mitch who also likes to work around bull dozers and heavy equipment.
