Leadership Team | ZAP Engineering

Leadership

Meet the experienced professionals leading ZAP’s teams.

Decades of Engineering Leadership

ZAP is led by engineering, operations, and project delivery professionals with decades of experience in complex industrial work. Together, the leadership team brings deep technical expertise, hands-on project experience, and a shared commitment to safety, quality, and accountability across every phase of the project lifecycle.

ZAP’s leaders have built and scaled engineering organizations, delivered capital projects across diverse industrial sectors, and guided teams through evolving market and regulatory environments. Their collective experiences spans engineering design, EPC delivery, construction, project controls, business development, and operations, enabling ZAP to support both greenfield and brownfield projects with consistency and technical rigor. That same experience shapes every project ZAP delivers, from the first engineering decision to final startup.

Leadership Team

Steve Tzap P.E.

Steve Tzap P.E.

Founder/Owner

Steve Tzap P.E.

Steve Tzap P.E.

Founder/Owner

Steve founded ZAP Engineering & Construction Services in 2001 and brings more than 40 years of experience in process engineering and project execution. His technical expertise and practical approach have shaped ZAP’s growth and the way the company serves its clients. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston.

Frank Lousberg | ZAP Engineering

Frank Lousberg P.E.

President

Frank Lousberg | ZAP Engineering

Frank Lousberg P.E.

President

Frank joined ZAP in 2008 and brings more than 20 years of engineering and leadership experience. As President, he oversees company strategy, execution performance, and organizational growth. Frank holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a focus on Petroleum Refining from the Colorado School of Mines.

Rick Jacobs PMP, P.E.

Rick Jacobs PMP, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering

Rick Jacobs PMP, P.E.

Rick Jacobs PMP, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering

Rick joined ZAP in 2013 and has more than 22 years of experience in engineering leadership, project development, and operations management. He provides oversight across engineering execution, technical consistency, and resource alignment. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Jackson Emnott P.E., Vice President of Engineering at ZAP

Jackson Emnott P.E.

Vice President of Engineering

Jackson Emnott P.E., Vice President of Engineering at ZAP

Jackson Emnott P.E.

Vice President of Engineering

Jackson joined ZAP in 2011 and brings more than 15 years of experience in structural engineering, construction, and heavy industrial project delivery. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Chris Combs

Chris Combs

Vice President of Gulf Coast Engineering

Chris Combs

Chris Combs

Vice President of Gulf Coast Engineering

Chris leads ZAP’s Gulf Coast engineering operations and brings extensive experience supporting midstream oil and gas facilities, including transportation, metering, and storage of liquid petroleum products. His background spans EPC project leadership and multidisciplinary team management. Chris is based in Houston, Texas.

Jeff Kutz | ZAP Engineering

Jeff Kutz

Vice President of East Coast Engineering

Jeff Kutz | ZAP Engineering

Jeff Kutz

Vice President of East Coast Engineering

Jeff brings more than 17 years of experience in heavy industrial and minerals processing projects, with a focus on cement and minerals processing plant design, operational improvements, and major capital projects. His experience includes managing global, multidisciplinary engineering teams and EPC projects from front-end engineering through construction and commissioning. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Shane Wilson | ZAP Engineering

Shane Wilson

Vice President of Business Development

Shane Wilson | ZAP Engineering

Shane Wilson

Vice President of Business Development

Shane joined ZAP in 2017 and brings 18 years of experience in engineering, operations, and leadership. He leads business development strategy and client engagement, aligning ZAP’s technical capabilities with client objectives. Shane holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama.

Sara Esch aPHR, Vice President of Operations at ZAP

Sara Esch aPHR

Vice President of Operations

Sara Esch aPHR, Vice President of Operations at ZAP

Sara Esch aPHR

Vice President of Operations

Sara joined ZAP in 2012 and oversees operations, human resources, accounting, payroll, and project controls. Her experience spans engineering and construction support across multiple industries, including oil and gas and power generation. Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University.

Josh Lucero

Josh Lucero

Vice President of Design

Josh Lucero

Josh Lucero

Vice President of Design

Josh joined ZAP in 2011 and brings more than 17 years of experience in piping, equipment, material handling, and civil and structural design. He holds a degree in Mechanical Design from Westwood College of Technology.

Matthew Berghorn | ZAP Engineering

Matthew Berghorn, P.E.

Vice President of Major Projects

Matthew Berghorn | ZAP Engineering

Matthew Berghorn, P.E.

Vice President of Major Projects

Matt brings more than 40 years of experience in process design, project management, construction, and the operation of gas processing and production facilities. His career includes managing major capital programs and leading engineering, construction, and operations for midstream and energy companies. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Colorado.

Lonnie Groves, Vice President of Construction at ZAP

Lonnie Groves

Vice President of Construction

Lonnie Groves, Vice President of Construction at ZAP

Lonnie Groves

Vice President of Construction

Lonnie brings more than 20 years of construction management, site management, and inspection experience in the oil and gas industry. As Vice President of Construction, he oversees construction activities for pipelines, gathering systems, compressor stations, and process plants. Lonnie is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector and holds multiple construction safety and professional welding certifications.

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