Tristar Engineering and Management, Inc. is an Arizona owned and operated professional consulting firm specializing in project management, construction administration, and inspection services.
Tristar’s doors opened in 2002 based on the goal of providing professional project management, construction administration and field inspection and testing services to public agencies statewide.
Our Team’s strength consists of many individuals who have previously worked for public agencies and have more than 30 years experience working on public works projects.
Our experienced staff Includes Project Supervisors, Field Inspectors, Field Office Administrators, Lead Inspectors, and Resident Engineers.
Our “Shining Stars” utilize their experience to bring a value-added approach to each project.

Meet Our Team
John Patterson has over 30 years of experience in engineering and construction management. As the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Tristar, he provides guidance for construction assignments.
Email: [email protected]
John Patterson, PE
Chief Executive Officer
John Akin has over 27 years of experience in the construction industry and manages the day-to-day operations. He is responsible for supervising and managing the contract administration, quality assurance, design-build and CMAR for roadway and bridge construction projects. John has oversight of all contractual issues and is ultimately responsible for the quality and timeliness of Tristar’s performance.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 602-568-4661
John Akin, PE
President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Carlos Lara has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry with expertise in project management, construction administration, construction inspection, plan review, traffic analysis, utility coordination and roadway design of public projects.
Email: [email protected]
Carlos Lara, PE
Senior Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Erik Thompson has over 22 years of experience in financial management and planning, he is responsible for Tristar’s overall financial management, analysis and reporting functions. In addition, Erik implements and manages job costing, financial forecasting, cash flow planning, oversight, budgeting and goal setting. He also oversees compliance with GAAP, FAR, IRS, bank loan covenants and other regulatory bodies.
Email: [email protected]
Erik Thompson
Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President
John Patterson, PE
Chief Executive Officer
John Akin, PE
President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Carlos Lara, PE
Senior Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Erik Thompson
Vice President
Corum Brown has over 15 years of experience as a field inspector, project supervisor and resident engineer. He is responsible for overseeing the contract administration of projects including new and existing highway construction, intersection reconstruction, and utility relocation projects.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 623-810-6027
Corum Brown, PE
Vice President,
Resident Engineer
Retired. During his career, Steve Bruflat had over 40 years of experience in engineering and construction management. As a co-founder of Tristar, Steve currently serves as the Executive Vice President.
Email: [email protected]
Steve Bruflat, PE
Co-Founder/Board Member/Secretary
Kat has more than 27 years of experience in construction and field office management, having worked for ADOT for 15 years before joining Tristar in 2009, where she has been an invaluable member of the Tristar team!
Katherine Aragon
Principal,
Business Manager
Mindy has more than 22 years of experience in construction management, design, administration, and inspection. She joined the Tristar team in 2018 and has been an integral team member of several projects recognized for International Partnering Award.
Mindy Teague, PE
Principal,
Senior Resident Engineer
Corum Brown, PE
Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Steve Bruflat, PE
Co-Founder
Katherine Aragon
Operations Manager, Secretary
Vice President
Mindy Teague, PE
Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
John Patterson has over 30 years of experience in engineering and construction management. As the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Tristar, he provides guidance for construction assignments.
Email: [email protected]
John Akin has over 27 years of experience in the construction industry. He is responsible for supervising and managing the contract administration, quality assurance, design-build and CMAR for roadway and bridge construction projects. John has oversight of all contractual issues and is ultimately responsible for the quality and timeliness of Tristar’s performance.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 602-568-4661
John Patterson, PE
Chief Executive Officer
Null
John Akin, PE
President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Retired. During his career, Steve Bruflat had over 40 years of experience in engineering and construction management. As a co-founder of Tristar, Steve currently serves as the Executive Vice President.
Email: [email protected]
Erik Thompson has over 22 years of experience in financial management and planning, he is responsible for Tristar’s overall financial management, analysis and reporting functions. In addition, Erik implements and manages job costing, financial forecasting, cash flow planning, oversight, budgeting and goal setting. He also oversees compliance with GAAP, FAR, IRS, bank loan covenants and other regulatory bodies.
Email: [email protected]
Steve Bruflat, PE
Co-Founder/Board Member/Secretary
Null
Erik Thompson
Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President
Carlos Lara has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry with expertise in project management, construction administration, construction inspection, plan review, traffic analysis, utility coordination and roadway design of public projects.
Email: [email protected]
John Hall has over 20 years of engineering experience in all phases of civil, municipal, and transportation projects including scoping, design concept, final design, job order contracting, and construction. He has experience in design-bid-build, design-build and construction manager at-risk delivery methods.
Email: [email protected]
Carlos Lara, PE
Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
John Hall, PE
Vice President,
Senior Resident Engineer
Corum Brown has over 15 years of experience as a field inspector, project supervisor and resident engineer. He is responsible for overseeing the contract administration of projects including new and existing highway construction, intersection reconstruction, and utility relocation projects.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 623-810-6027
Kat has more than 27 years of experience in construction and field office management, having worked for ADOT for 15 years before joining Tristar in 2009, where she has been an invaluable member of the Tristar team!
Corum Brown, PE
Vice President,
Resident Engineer
Katherine Aragon
Principal
Mindy has more than 22 years of experience in construction management, design, administration, and inspection. She joined the Tristar team in 2018 and has been an integral team member of several projects recognized for International Partnering Award.
Mindy Teague, PE
Principal