Walt Lautner Joins R.A. Smith National as Development Director

Walt Lautner has joined R.A. Smith National — a nationwide, multi-disciplined civil and structural engineering and surveying firm — headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., as a development director in the land development services division.

Lautner brings more than 20 years of comprehensive, diverse experience in land development, engineering, construction and project management to this role. He has proven experience with contract negotiations, due diligence/entitlements, strategic planning, construction/facility management, value engineering evaluations and market identification, as well as specialties in retail, multi-family and hospitality projects.

Prior to joining R.A. Smith National, Lautner provided consulting services to land owners, developers and retailers through his business, WJ Lautner. His past experience also includes serving as: the retail group vice president at Continental Properties Company, Inc.; a senior development manager for Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.; and a senior project manager with Kmart Corporation.

With the addition of Lautner, R.A. Smith National’s development management services expand as part of the company’s plans for strategic growth. The company’s development management services include pre development consulting, entitlement services and national program management. Development services are offered to clients nationwide with a focus on national retail, health care and residential.


Lautner holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction from Michigan Technological University. He is a registered professional engineer in Michigan.

Lautner currently resides in Hartland, Wis.

About R.A. Smith National, Inc.
R.A. Smith National, Inc., www.rasmithnational.com, is one of Wisconsin’s leading consulting engineering firms, providing multi-disciplinary services to government and the land development industry. Our comprehensive services include civil engineering, structural engineering, development management, surveying, construction services, ecological services, landscape architecture, irrigation design, water resource engineering, geographic information systems (GIS), visualization and 3D laser scanning. Our offices are located in Brookfield (corporate headquarters), Madison and Appleton, Wis., Naperville (Chicago), Ill.; Irvine, Calif., and Oakmont (Pittsburgh), Pa.