FES offers the opportunity for professional recognition through its various awards programs. Selection is made by the FES Awards Committee, and recipients are recognized at the Annual Conference each summer and through the Society’s publications.
To complete and submit entry forms for annual awards, please read the Award Criteria and Procedures for each award and review the nomination forms carefully before beginning entries.
- Fellow Memberships
- Engineer of the Year Award
- Young Engineer of the Year Award
- Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession
- Outstanding Technical Achievement Award
- FECON Individual Excellence Award
- FPEG Professional Development Award
- FPEG Engineer of the Year Award
- FPEI Engineer of the Year Award
- FPEI New Product Award
- Award for Chapter Excellence (ACE)
Fellow Memberships
Fellow memberships are awarded to Professional Engineer members of FES in recognition of their high character and distinguished achievements. It is given to those members who best exemplify the ideal image of the Professional Engineer. It is desirable that the candidate has a well-rounded record of achievement in education, employment, and professional and public service activities.
The deadline for 2023 has passed.
2022 Fellow Members
Ronald M. Colas, P.E., SI
Ronald M. Colas, P.E., SI, of Pembroke Pines, has 34 years of professional engineering experience, business development and management, and is Vice President of Strategic Growth for Jacobs in Fort Lauderdale. Throughout his career, he has managed and completed a wide range of large civil engineering and transportation contracts. He was recently inducted into the Academy of Civil Engineers of Missouri Science & Technology University, and was named the 2016 Florida Engineer of the Year.
Michael J. DelCharco, P.E., CFM
Michael J. DelCharco, P.E., CFM of Jacksonville, is a highly regarded water resource professional, who began his career as a hydrologist for the USGS, and now serves as Senior Vice President for Taylor Engineering, Inc. He has been giving back to the engineering profession for more than 21 years, and inspiring future engineers through his relationships with FES student chapters at the University of North Florida, MATHCOUNTS®, and ACE mentoring.
Shahin Hekmat, P.E.
Shahin Hekmat, P.E. of Miami, has been sharing his engineering design and project management experience for more than 30 years in both the public and private sector. He has been a tireless advocate of the engineering profession and science education, donating much of his time to speaking at local high schools and colleges. He’s a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Miami’s College of AEC Senior Design Class, and is an adjunct professor at Florida International University’s School of Architecture.
Richard L. Johnson, P.E., BCEE, CVS-Life
Richard L. Johnson, P.E., BCEE, CVS-Life, of Orlando, has been designing, overseeing and directing projects and programs providing program management, capital planning, construction management, risk analysis and Value Engineering (VE) services to clients throughout the United State for more than four decades. Since 1999, he has been providing VE services to multiple Departments of Transportation across the United States, and the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center’s World Trade Center Reconstruction Program, Orange County Utilities, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority, South Florida Water Management Department, Everglades National Park, the National Park Service, Federal Transit Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In addition to being designated as a Fellow Member, Mr. Johnson also received the Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession award.
Engineer of the Year Award
The Engineer of the Year Award is given to the one member of FES each year that best exemplifies the ideal image of the Professional Engineer. The award may be given in recognition of an individual who has established a record of consistent quality over a long period of time or to an individual who has established an outstanding record over a short period of time. It is desirable that the candidate has a well-rounded record of achievement in education, employment, and professional and public service activities.
Deadline for submission: March 15, 2023
2022 Engineer of the Year
Michelle Rambo-Roddenberry, P.E., Ph.D.
Michelle Rambo-Roddenberry, P.E., Ph.D. of Tallahassee was named the 2022 Engineer of the Year. Dr. Rambo-Roddenberry is the Associate Dean for Student Services & Undergraduate Affairs at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida A&M University – Florida State University. Dr. Rambo-Roddenberry’s service with FAMU-FSU College of Engineering began in 2006, teaching concrete design classes, conducting practice-oriented research to improve standards and practices governing bridge engineering and extending the service life of bridges through new materials and improved construction techniques. She launched the semi-annual Order of the Engineer Ring ceremony in 2007 – a ceremony that is now an official part of the college’s Launch graduation recognition. She has been practicing engineering for 28 years.
Young Engineer of the Year Award
The Young Engineer of the Year Award is an opportunity to distinguish an up-and-coming leader from your chapter. The award honors the FES member who is 34 years of age or younger on January 1 of the year in which the award is presented, who best exemplifies the ideal image of the young engineer. Nominees shall be a registered Professional Engineer or Engineer Intern and be an FES member in good standing. It is desirable that the candidate has a well-rounded record of achievement in education, employment, professional, and public service activities. The award is given to one member of FES each year.
Deadline for submission: March 15, 2023
2022 Young Engineer of the Year
Catalina Lopez-Velandia, P.E.
Catalina Lopez-Velandia, P.E. of Doral was named the 2022 Young Engineer of the Year. Lopez-Velandia, 32, is a Senior Principal Engineer with Nova Consulting where she develops computer modeling engineering design, including hydraulic modeling to support development of a variety of water, waste water and water resource projects.
Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession Award
The Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession Award is given each year to an individual who has, by virtue of his/her service, had a significant positive impact on the engineering profession. The award may be given in recognition of an individual who has established a consistent record of service over a long period of time or to an individual whose contribution is short-lived but exceptional. It is desirable that the candidate has a well-rounded record of achievement in education, employment, professional, and public service activities.
Deadline for submission: March 15, 2023
2022 Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession Recipients
Judith M. Hayden, P.E.
Judith M. Hayden, P.E. of Tallahassee, President/Owner of Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering, Inc. (EGS). For 35 years, Hayden has been an active member of the engineering profession, is a previous Engineer of the Year for the local chapters of FES and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and has been designated a Fellow Member by the FES. She has established several endowed undergraduate scholarships for first generation minority students at Florida A&M University/Florida State University College of Engineering, the University of Dayton, and statewide scholarships administered through the Florida Section of ASCE and the Florida Engineering Foundation.
Richard L. Johnson, P.E., BCEE, CVS-Life
Richard L. Johnson, P.E., BCEE, CVS-Life, of Orlando, Managing Director, PMA Consultants LLC. For more than four decades, Johnson has been designing, overseeing and directing projects and programs providing program management, capital planning, construction management, risk analysis and Value Engineering (VE) services to clients throughout the United State. Since 1999, he has been providing VE services to multiple Departments of Transportation across the United States. Among the VE services provided are the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center’s World Trade Center Reconstruction Program, Orange County Utilities, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority, South Florida Water Management Department, Everglades National Park, the National Park Service, Federal Transit Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award
The Outstanding Technical Achievement Award may be given each year to an individual who, as project engineer or project manager, has achieved particular distinction in his/her own technical field and mode of practice, which may be government, education, industry, construction or private practice. The technical achievement shall be one that enhances the engineering profession and contributes to the good of the public. The award may be given in recognition of a singular achievement or a series of achievements which are recognized within the profession as being unique, innovative and/or outstanding. The candidate shall have a record of active participation in professional and technical society activities and shall have a record of professional development through continuing education.
Deadline for submission: March 15, 2023
FECON Individual Excellence Award
The Florida Engineers in Construction Individual Excellence Award (IEA) is presented to the nominated professional who has made the most outstanding contribution to the advancement, improvement, and accelerated awareness of how engineers shall protect, defend and maintain the safety and welfare of the public.
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
2022 FECON Individual Excellence Award Recipient
Francisco Cruz Moreno, PE
FPEG Professional Development Award
The Professional Development Award recognizes employers of engineering personnel that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement and improvement of the engineering profession through employment policies and practices. These Professional Development Awards are presented to the nominated employer of engineering personnel who has made the most outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the engineering profession through its employment policies and practices in accord with established professional practices as outlined in Guidelines to Professional Employment for Engineers and Scientists. Factors considered include indoctrination, conditions of employment, recruiting practices, utilization of personnel, encouragement of registration, compensation, professional development, and internal communications.
This award is presented to employers in government (FPEG).
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
2022 FPEG Professional Development Award Recipient
City of Clearwater
FPEG Engineer of the Year Award
Engineer of the Year awards recognize the nominated engineer who has made the most outstanding contribution to the advancement of engineers in government (FPEG).
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
2022 FPEG Government Engineer of the Year Award Recipient
Robert Companion, PE
FPEI Engineer of the Year Award
Engineer of the Year awards recognize the nominated engineer who has made the most outstanding contribution to the advancement of engineers in industry (FPEI).
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
2022 FPEI Industry Engineer of the Year Award Recipient
Tejsingh Rana, PE
FPEI New Product Award
New and improved products stimulate the life and growth of Florida. These benefits result from research and development to which engineers make a unique contribution. This competition recognizes the results of those efforts and the foresight of the companies whose support brings new products to the marketplace. The purpose of the FPEI New Product Award is to recognize the full spectrum of benefits that come from the research and engineering of new products in our state.
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
Award for Chapter Excellence (ACE) Award
The ACE Award competition emphasizes individual chapter activities. The ACE Award is presented to the winning chapters at the FES/ACEC-FL Annual Conference in August. The emphasis on individual activities should allow for even competition between all chapters — small, medium, or large.
Deadline for submission: April 21, 2023
2022 ACE Award Recipients
First Place – Miami Chapter
Second Place – Northeast Chapter
Third Place – Big Bend Chapter