Meet the Team
Daren J. Shumate, PE, LEED AP
Managing Principal
Daren J. Shumate is an Electrical Engineer licensed in over twenty states with three-and-a-half decades of experience in the MEP engineering design field. Moving to the Washington, DC area after graduating from Kansas State University in 1986 and a year studying architecture in Lausanne, Switzerland, Daren’s career began in earnest with a keystone project – the restoration of the 1.2 million square foot Interior Department headquarters – where his gift for innovation in power distribution and lighting design resulted in the modernization of this 1936 Art Deco building.
However, it is for his expertise in the design and electrical configuration of data centers that Daren has become well known and highly regarded. Among the most prominent examples are the Smithsonian Institution’s main data center in Herndon, eBay’s chief 26-megawatt Tier E structure in Utah, the NSA’s High Performance Computing Center in Ft. Meade, and the Fannie Mae-owned data center in Urbana that was the first of its kind to attain LEED Certification.
Now his own boss, Daren has worked to create the sort of firm he’s always dreamed of – one that centers on tackling interesting and complex projects, placing the needs of the client at the forefront of design choices, and fostering the creativity and talents of the next generation of young engineers.
When not in the office, Daren can usually be found pursuing some of his numerous hobbies; these include oil painting (Edward Hopper is a personal favorite influence), traversing DC’s sprawling network of bike paths, and performing his cello and banjo for any audience (be on the lookout for new videos on Shumate’s social media feed).
Justin Penrod, PE
Director of Mechanical Engineering
Justin has approximately 14 years of experience in designing mechanical systems for a variety of project types, including government facilities, commercial office, multi-family buildings, central plant renovations, and historical renovations.
As a Kansas State University Architectural Engineering graduate, Justin provides a combination of technical expertise with personal and project management.
Jason Weaver, PE
Director of Electrical Engineering
Jason has approximately 15 years of experience in electrical systems design, lighting design, and project management for a large variety of project types, including large multi-building mixed-use complexes, commercial office and interiors, historical renovations, multi-family residential projects, and hyperscale mission critical data centers.
Jason has a particular focus on end user relationships and experience, helping to ensure spaces and facilities function well for the people working and operating in the spaces. Jason holds Bachelor and Master of Architectural Engineering degrees from The Pennsylvania State University.
Steve Spinazzola, PE, LEED AP
Director of Mission Critical Services
Demetrios Giannoukos, PE, LEED AP
Senior Electrical Engineer
Demetri Giannoukos joined Shumate in 2023 to round out the firm’s electrical engineering team, bringing almost ten years of experience to the role. A 2016 graduate of Virginia Tech and currently pursuing a master’s degree there in Quantum Engineering and Electronic Power Systems, Demetri has had a leading hand in some of Shumate’s most innovative electrical designs, such as the recent Quantum Park and H5 Beaumeade in Loudoun County’s thriving sector of high-density data centers.
In addition to a Virginia PE and LEED AP certification, Demetri brings to bear many skills, including a well-regarded proficiency with power distribution, lighting, and fire alarm systems design. This, in tandem with his intricate knowledge of building codes across jurisdictions as well as his proven ability to coordinate with and resolve conflicts among other industry collaborators (notably on such high-profile projects as the National Institutes of Health and the Reston Town Center expansion), makes him a trusted advocate both inside and outside the firm.
When away from the office, Demetri, who lives in Ballston, enjoys weightlifting, delving into a good book, and participating in competitive Autocross racing.
Eric Hogarth
Project Manager and Senior Plumbing Engineer
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Minor in Math, and a certificate from the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation. Eric has equal parts experience working on commercial, residential, and sports facility projects, and working on medical office buildings, hospitals and IVF clinics.
Eric is active in the Richmond engineering community and actively volunteers for the VCU College of Engineering Alumni Board. Eric believes that through outreach and engagement he can positively impact his community.
Edward Powell, PE
Plumbing Engineer
Ed Powell, a Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer with nearly a decade’s worth of experience in the MEP sector, joined Shumate in 2023. Graduating from James Madison University in 2016 and currently a Virginia PE, Ed specializes in HVAC systems design, fire pump sizing and replacement, code analysis, and troubleshooting with other stakeholders regarding drawing constructability and construction administration. His approach to design is holistic, emphasizing the client’s goals toward such aspects as aesthetics, energy efficiency, or building performance and truly making them his own.
As Shumate continues to expand into the housing, multifamily, and mixed-use sectors, Ed’s experience will prove invaluable to the firm – in previous roles, he was instrumental in providing expert mechanical and plumbing solutions for newly constructed residential complexes totaling over a million square feet each and as geographically far flung as Philadelphia, Tampa, and San Antonio.
Residing in Richmond, Ed, along with Eric and Matt, is spearheading Shumate’s burgeoning presence in the Virginia capital. When not studying for the PE exam (which he expects to pass later this year), Ed enjoys working on cars, tackling home improvement projects with his wife, and keeping up with the latest in scientific news.
Garrett Downs
Electrical Engineer
A graduate of James Madison University’s School of Engineering with an additional minor in mathematics, Garrett Downs has been with Shumate since the firm’s inception in 2020 as a longtime mentee (and neighbor) of Daren’s. However, Garrett has not been shy about deploying his own electrical engineering savvy on behalf of the firm – indeed, his longstanding passion for devising renewable energy solutions led him to design and fabricate a small-scale wind turbine that garnered third place in the 2022 Collegiate Wind Competition.
Focusing on projects ranging from the design of residential complexes and restaurants to large-scale data centers, Garrett has become Shumate’s in-house expert in underground feeder calculations, having performed Neher-McGrath methodology on several large, hyperscale data centers. All the while, he has solidified a reputation for creative problem-solving among Shumate’s widening circle of clients.
Outside of work (and a decent snowfall permitting), Garrett practically lives for skiing and snowboarding, taking to the slopes at every available opportunity. In the warmer months, he can also be found challenging his Shumate colleagues to virtual reality gaming.
Matthew Pennekamp
Marketing and Business Development Manager
Matthew Venis
BIM Manager
Samantha Bannister
Mechanical Engineer
Sammy Bannister has brought eagerness and passion to her position as a project mechanical engineer. A child of the Great Plains like Daren and Justin, Sammy graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as a Chancellor’s Scholar with degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics in 2022 before moving to Virginia and starting with Shumate later that year.
Although her career is still in its early days, Sammy has nevertheless already impressed stakeholders in the A/E world, especially as the firm ramps up its involvement with multifamily apartments and tenant fit-outs. Recently, she assisted heavily in devising the HVAC, temperature controls, and life safety systems for 2990 Telestar Court, a highly praised Shumate design and one of the many office-to-residential conversions that will backfill the DC’s area’s need for additional housing stock.
Residing in Clarendon, Sammy devotes her spare time to horseback riding, expressing herself through artistic outlets like painting and photography, and slowly but surely improving her skills on the bass guitar (though she still hasn’t committed yet to a potential bluegrass jam session with Daren!)
William Nalls, EIT
Electrical Engineer
Andrew Tacinelli
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Andrew Tacinelli, a rising junior studying mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, is assisting the Shumate team as an intern this summer, and, in the process, is learning the ropes of Revit modeling, HVAC equipment selection, and the intricacies of mechanical systems.
Outside the office and away from Blacksburg, Andrew enjoys playing the piano, lifting weights, and, when not closely following the Masters or PGA Tour, hitting the links for a brisk eighteen holes himself.
