ACEC New York honors Ward and two outstanding engineers

The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York honored Christopher Ward, executive director of the Port Authority, with its Chairman's Award for his strong leadership role in the World Trade Center site rebuilding, and for his dedication to bringing public and private entities together to support infrastructure investment. Two industry leaders were also recognized for their contributions to the engineering profession at the association's spring membership luncheon on June 15 at the Union League Club. Engineer of the Year: Gary Loesch, P.E. As executive vice president of Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, PC, H2M Associates, Inc. and H2M Labs, Inc., Loesch provides leadership in project and risk management. Among his credits are preparation of comprehensive planning studies on wastewater facilities that resulted in the award of federal and state grants to a group of Long Island towns, and the design of two scavenger waste-treatment systems that were among the first of their kind in the U.S. An ACEC New York member for more than 20 years, Loesch has held the position of president, board member and chairman of the legislative, environmental and nominating committees, and was responsible for spearheading the Polytechnic Institute of NYU Study, published in 2008 and updated in 2011, that showed efficiencies in outsourcing design work to the private sector. He is an active volunteer in his Sayville, Long Island community, in both environmental groups and as a Little League team manager. New Principal of the Year Award: Joseph Celentano, P.E. Celentano became principal owner and president of Gibbons, Esposito & Boyce (GEB) of Uniondale in 2006. He restructured the firm to meet the challenges of a difficult economy and created measures to maintain a high level of employee productivity and morale. Earlier in his career, Celentano worked for NYSDOT Region 10. He participates in charitable organizations including the Lean On Me Breast Cancer Group, the Cleary School for the Deaf, the Dominican Sisters and Mercy First Children's Services.