Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors 2026-14A
Kathy Hart, Executive Director
Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
220 N.E. 28th St., Ste. 120
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Re: Ish & Associates, Inc. and Earnest Ish, Case No. 2025-056
Dear Executive Director Hart:
This office has received your request for a written Attorney General Opinion regarding disciplinary action the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors intends to take in Case No. 2025-056 against Respondents Ish & Associates, Inc. (Certificate of Authorization No. 1139) (the “Firm”) and Earnest Isch (Certificate of Licensure No. 6606 and Professional Surveyor License No. 54) (“Isch”) (collectively the “Respondents”).
Oklahoma Statutes title 59, section 475.8(A) empowers the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to regulate the practice of engineering in the State of Oklahoma. Under 59 O.S.Supp.2024, § 475.21(A)(2), an engineering firm must be issued a certificate of authorization by the Board for the Firm to operate and perform services in Oklahoma. The Board may suspend the license of any person who is found guilty of certain enumerated grounds, Id.§ 475.18(A)(1–16), including:
- “Any fraud, misrepresentation, gross negligence, gross incompetence, misconduct or dishonest practice, in the practice of engineering or surveying.” Id, § 475.18(A)(2);
- “Failure, within thirty (30) days, to provide information requested by the Board or its designated staff as a result of a formal or informal investigation or complaint to the Board which would indicate a violation of this act.” Id, § 475.18(A)(6).
On January 22, 2010, in Case No. 2009-093, Respondents entered into an agreed Consent Order wherein the Firm and Isch were each fined $5,000, and Isch was ordered to cease and desist from the practice of engineering without an active engineering license. The Firm was reprimanded.
On April 15, 2025, a permit application to construct a public bathing place was submitted to the Oklahoma State Department of Health for Portland Place Apartments. The application listed Wara Mendieta, a licensed P.E. in Oklahoma, as the engineer. However, the signature provided did not match that on file with the Board for Mendieta. The email listed was geisch@ischandassociates.com, and the engineer’s seal appeared to be altered. On June 20, 2025, Mendieta filed a complaint against the Firm with the Board regarding unauthorized use of his engineering seal.
On June 30, 2025, Board staff sent an email request for information on this complaint to the Firm. On July 2, 2025, Board staff followed up by telephone and were told a response would be provided by the Firm’s manager, Rose Isch. No response was ever provided. Mendieta provided information to the Board that he had been employed with the Firm from September 11, 2013, through September 8, 2023, as a civil design engineer, but the plans at issue were not his work or authorized by him. On September 16, 2025, the Board issued subpoenas duces tecum to Respondents, which were not responded to.
After a hearing on January 22, 2026, the Board concluded that Respondents both offered and/or performed engineering services without a current P.E. license. Respondents further represented to clients, permitting authorities, and other third parties that the engineering plans at issue were prepared, reviewed and approved under lawful responsible charge, when in fact the plans were neither prepared nor approved by the engineer whose seal was affixed. Respondents knowingly, or with reckless disregard for the truth, affixed or caused to be affixed a fraudulent seal and failed to correct these misrepresentations when prompted by the Board’s request for information and subpoena. Respondents are found guilty of violating the provisions of 59 O.S.Supp.2024, § 475.18(A)(2), OAC 245:15-23-7(a)(1)‒(3), OAC 245:15-23-7(b)(1),(3), and OAC 245:15-23-4, and is therefore subject to administrative penalties set forth in 59 O.S.Supp.2024, § 475.20(8) and OAC 245:15-23-3 and 245:15‑23‑18.
The Board further found that both Respondents failed to respond to the subpoenas duces tecum, or the Board staff when it requested information, as a result of an investigation or complaint to the Board in violation of the provisions of 59 O.S.Supp.2024, § 475.18(A)(6) and is therefore subject to administrative penalties set forth in 59 O.S.Supp.2024, §475.20(B) and OAC 245:15-23-3 and 245:15‑23‑18.
The Board, therefore, proposes to impose an administrative fine against Earnest Isch totaling twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), and an administrative fine against Isch & Associates totaling twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), all fines due within thirty (30) days of the filed Order. The Board also orders that if Earnest Isch wants to reactivate his P.E. license in Oklahoma, he shall first complete three (3) hours of college credit in Engineering Ethics and shall complete all continuing education and other reinstatement requirements required by statute and Board rules and provide proof of completion to Board staff.
It is, therefore, the official opinion of the Attorney General that the proposed action taken by the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is in accordance with the State’s policy to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
Cheryl Dixon
Deputy General Counsel
