Isaac GaetzPE, SE, LEED AP

Mr. Gaetz has over 19 years of experience as a structural and building envelope expert. Mr. Gaetz has been deposed in multiple states and has provided expert reports in litigated matters concerning construction defects and causation. Mr. Gaetz is the Vice President of Operations for Vertex’s national Forensic team. Operationally, Mr. Gaetz responsibilities include overseeing Vertex’s technical work products, client experience, staffing, training, recruiting, and managing individual forensic experts. Mr. Gaetz is licensed as a Professional and/or Structural Engineer in 25 States and Washington, D.C., in the United States.

Mr. Gaetz’s wide range of professional and structural engineering experience includes the design of numerous commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential structures throughout the United States. Mr. Gaetz has extensive experience with on-site field work and has conducted approximately 800 forensic site inspections. Mr. Gaetz has also performed the analysis of structural and building failures throughout the United States. Mr. Gaetz has inspected buildings and structures for defects, including: collapses, roof and building envelope failures, construction defects, water intrusion, wind damage, snow damage, earthquake damage, foundation failures and settlement, vehicle impacts, and fire damage.

Mr. Gaetz has provided engineering opinions which were utilized in insurance claims and litigated matters.

Mr. Gaetz is an expert in the design, construction, and repair of steel, concrete, wood, and masonry structures, and has extensive knowledge of existing, historical, and antiquated building systems. Mr. Gaetz’s design experience includes design of multiple high-rise structures in the city of Chicago. Mr. Gaetz has performed structural engineering design on low, mid, and high-rise structures, in the residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, government, education, aviation, and health care sectors. Mr. Gaetz was deployed for catastrophe response work following Hurricanes Matthew, Irma, and Michael as well as tornado and earthquake events and the 2020 Midwest Derecho Windstorm.

Education & Certification

M.S., Structural Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
B.S., Civil Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

Structural Engineer (SE), States of HI, IL
Professional Engineer (PE) – Civil/Structural, States of AL, AZ, CO, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, OK, MO, MS, NC, NV, OH, PA, SC, TX, WI
Professional Engineer (PE) – Structural, Washington (DC)
LEED Accredited Professional

Associations

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Professional Member
Structural Engineering Association of Illinois (SEAOI) – Professional Member
The Masonry Society (TMS) – Existing Masonry Committee Member
Chi Epsilon – Civil Engineering Honor Society Member
Village of Wilmette, Illinois, Transportation Commission Board Member 2015-2022