Optimizing Complex Projects from Concept to Construction
Change comes fast – no more so than in the increasingly challenging utilities marketplace. We’ve built a set of best practices that will excel in markets and projects of any scale. Our multi-disciplined team of designers, engineers and project managers has built tools and processes to optimize and manage your most complex projects from Concept to Construction.
We’re challengers. Innovating by looking at the big industry picture without ever losing sight of your company’s unique and individual needs. And while we’re collaborating with you, we’re building and leveraging strong relationships with key decision makers – the very people who can make your goals a reality.
That’s Talman’s difference – and it’s the difference that allows clients to maintain a competitive advantage in an increasingly complex and challenging utilities marketplace.
Our Leadership
Katherine Latham
MANAGING PARTNER
Katherine Latham is CEO and Managing Partner of Talman Consultants, LLC, where she leads firm strategy, growth, and complex engineering advisory services across the telecommunications and infrastructure sectors. With a foundation in civil engineering and extensive experience delivering large-scale broadband and FTTH programs, she brings a pragmatic, execution-driven perspective to strategy development, deployment planning, and stakeholder coordination.
Katherine advises clients on market entry, constructability, permitting and right-of-way risk, deployment sequencing, and operational optimization in multi-jurisdictional environments. She also leads Talman’s engineering-driven advisory services supporting private equity firms and operators, from pre-acquisition technical diligence through post-close deployment execution and optimization.
She is a member of the Forbes Chicago Business Council and ASCE, serves on the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Advisory Board, and sits on the Executive Board of the Off the Street Club.
James Norton, PE
PARTNER
James D. Norton, P.E. is a Partner at Talman Consultants, LLC, where he leads the firm’s engineering strategy across telecommunications and utility infrastructure programs nationwide. With more than 25 years of experience, Jim brings a practical, execution-focused approach to engineering design, constructability, and deployment planning in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
As Talman’s engineering lead, he sets design standards and delivery frameworks that drive schedule certainty, cost discipline, and scalable infrastructure outcomes. Jim works closely with executive teams to evaluate deployment strategies, permitting and right-of-way constraints, construction methodologies, vendor capabilities, and network readiness.
In addition, Jim advises private equity firms and operating partners on engineering-driven technical diligence and post-close deployment optimization, helping align infrastructure strategy with capital efficiency and long-term returns.
Jim is a licensed Professional Engineer and a member of the Forbes Chicago Business Council, ISPE, NSPE, and ASCE. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Proudly Certified
Talman is nationally certified as a WBENC and also through the City of Chicago’s MWBE Business Certification Program, which demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to the success of women and minority-owned businesses.
Licensed In
With licenses across multiple states, Talman brings extensive experience navigating diverse market landscapes. Our proven process streamlines planning and permitting, accelerating market entry and helping our clients maintain a competitive edge. Wherever you're expanding, we’re ready to help you move faster and smarter.
LICENSED IN
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
Nebraska
Nevada
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Let’s Talk
Want to discuss your next infrastructure challenge?
Let’s explore how Talman’s proven approach and best practices can help you exceed your unique project objectives.