Our Team

Vertical Access personnel are men and women with expertise in architecture, engineering, nondestructive testing, building conservation, rock climbing, mountaineering, rope access rescue, and first-aid. Vertical Access employees have worked on a variety of historic and modern building materials such as concrete, terra cotta, stone, brick, plaster, sealants, tiles, slate, architectural sheet metal, cast iron, gold leaf, paint, and other architectural finishes and coatings.

Kent Diebolt - Company Founder
Kent founded Vertical Access in 1992, subsequent to working on a masonry inspection job in Brighton, England with an industrial rope access firm based in Oldham.
Kent Diebolt served as President of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI) from 2001 - 2003 and served as Past President through 2005. Previously, Kent has served as Vice President of APT, was APT Liason to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS), and Board President for Historic Ithaca.
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Mike Gilbert - Chief Rigger
Mike has been with Vertical Access since 1995 and is Chief Rigger. Mike's educational background is in Biology and Environmental Sciences at Cornell University. In the years that Mike has worked for Vertical Access he has developed a keen understanding of building materials and construction technology. In addition to his on-the-job experience, Mike has taken several courses on masonry restoration and was the primary author of the company's Industrial Rope Access Manual. With over twenty years of experience in rock climbing, Mike brings solid rigging techniques and problem solving skills to the work of Vertical Access.
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Kelly Streeter, P.E. - Structural Engineer
Kelly received her Bachelors in Science degree in Structural Engineering from Cornell University in 1997 where she began her association with Vertical Access. She received her Masters of Science in Structural Engineering with a concentration on nondestructive evaluation from the University of Colorado in 2002. Prior to graduate school, Kelly was employed as a structural engineer at Robert Silman Associates, P.C. where she worked on several historic structures including Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and the Yonkers Trolley Barn. Additionally, Kelly has completed the RESTORE preservation program in New York.
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Evan Kopelson - Conservator
Evan has a BA in Archaeology and Classical Civilization from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Vertical Access, Evan performed laboratory analysis and testing of architectural materials, and monitored several restoration projects with companies including Building Conservation Associates and Architectural Resources Group in San Francisco. Evan has published several papers on varied conservation topics.
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Abby Smith - Technician
Abby was initially introduced to Vertical Access through Cornell University's Extern Program in the winter of 2007. Abby studied Architectural Design at Cornell University finishing in the spring of 2008. After graduation Abby had an early-onset midlife crisis and instead of pursuing a career in Architecture went to work at The Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca, where she designed and constructed costumes, props, and sets on productions throughout their season. Abby's interests in architecture and climbing brought her back to Vertical Access in January 2010.

Keith Luscinski - Technician
Keith began working for Vertical Access while studying Operations Research and Industrial Engineering at Cornell University. Since 2006 he has logged many weeks in the Vertical Access lab testing bolts, cordage, and other unique hardware he has designed to tackle specific project challenges. Keith's industrial rope access skills are backed by almost ten years of rock and tree climbing experience.
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