New York, NY The American Council of Engineering Companies of NY (ACEC NY) presented the 2019 Chairman’s Award to the ACE Mentor Program of Greater NY. This award was presented at the council’s annual meeting and awards luncheon at the Union League Club on June 5^th. 

Additionally at this luncheon, Charles Gozdziewski, PE, chairman emeritus, Hardesty & Hanover was recognized as the Engineer of the Year. Maxine Hill, senior VP, NY area manager, WSP USA was recognized as the New Principal of the Year.

The ACEC NY Chairman’s Award is presented each year to an individual or organization that has shown outstanding leadership, creativity and vision related to NY’s engineering community including infrastructure, development, and the business of design.

2019 marks the 25^th anniversary of the now nationwide ACE Mentor Program, which was founded in NY City in 1994 by engineers, architects, contractors and owners. ACE Mentor introduces high school students to careers in engineering, architecture and construction through a project-based program. Since inception, over 10,000 students in NY and over 65,000 students nationwide, have completed the program. ACEC NY is proud to recognize and partner with this valuable organization – Jay Simson, president & CEO of ACEC NY, serves on the ACE Mentor Upstate NY board of directors, and Hannah O’Grady, VP, serves on the executive committee of ACE GNY. Over 50 member firms of ACEC NY provide professionals who volunteer their time to engage and support our next generation. 

The Engineer of the Year Award is given to an active or retired member of ACEC NY who has made significant contributions to the consulting engineering profession, the council, and to his or her community.

Gozdziewski has been with Hardesty & Hanover for 40 years and responsible for many projects. He became a principal of Hardesty & Hanover in 1989. He became CEO and then chairman and was responsible for shaping the firm’s vision and shepherding its continued growth. He has served as principal-in-charge or project manager for the design and construction of all types of movable and fixed highway and railroad bridges, roadways, interchanges, and special structures. He has participated in the design, inspection, evaluation, and rehabilitation of over 1,000 bridges and structures in the U.S., particularly in the NY and NJ metropolitan area.

The New Principal of the Year award is given to a member who has been a principal less than five years and who has made significant contributions to the consulting engineering community. Hill is a senior VP working for WSP USA with 26 years’ experience in managing major transportation projects in the U.S. and U.K. As the recently appointed transportation & infrastructure area manager for the NY office she is responsible for client relations, project performance and overall management of the largest WSP office in the U.S. Prior to this she was the project director managing the program management for the Moynihan Train Hall Project, a $1.6 billion redevelopment project in NY and before that the project director for the design-joint venture on the $4 billion LaGuardia Central Terminal Building where she was the key interface coordinating and collaborating with the construction joint venture, developer and owner during the pursuit and the first two years of design and construction.