Florida Engineering Society Announces Engineer of the Year and Young Engineer of the Year

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 31, 2023) – The Florida Engineering Society (FES) is proud to announce that Orlando’s Eric M. Jimenez, PE has been named Florida’s Engineer of the Year, and Jacksonville’s Corey Chascin, PE has been named Florida’s Young Engineer of Year.

These, and nine additional top engineering professional recognitions, were awarded to Florida’s finest professional engineers during a ceremony held in conjunction with the FES Annual Conference in Marco Island.

“Florida is fortunate to have highly talented engineers that have been designing and shaping Florida’s future, and we’re pleased to honor their excellence and achievement in this industry,” said Allen Douglas, Executive Director, Florida Engineering Society.

2023 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:

Eric M. Jimenez, PE, PMP, CCM, of Orlando

Eric is a 28-year engineering professional and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico. In 2017, he founded his own practice, Construction Professional Services (CPS) in Orlando, and soon after joined forces with Ardmore Roderick, a Chicago-based company, to expand their design and construction services in Florida. Eric has been responsible for over $1B in design and construction services for a variety of clients, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Osceola County, Dart Interest, and Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). Eric is the incoming Chair of Florida Engineers in Construction (FECON), and a 2020 FECON Individual Excellence Award winner. He Chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the School of Construction Design, Engineering, and Information Technologies at Seminole State College. He is a 2019 Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) graduate, a member of various professional and engineering organizations and gives back to the Orlando community through meaningful volunteer work.

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:

Corey Chascin, PE, of Jacksonville

Corey is a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of North Florida and is a CEI Project Administrator at VIA Consulting Services, Inc. with a background in Geotechnical Engineering and Materials. She works with the City of Jacksonville and the Downtown Investment Authority on revitalization projects, such as the McCoys Creek Restoration and RiversEdge: Life on the St. Johns. Corey is the Past President of the Florida Engineering Society’s Northeast Florida Chapter and an  incoming State Director. She is a proud Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) Class of 2022 alumna, where she served as the Fundraising Chair and built beds for children in need.

Two engineers have been awarded with Outstanding Service recognitions. These awards celebrate individuals who have made substantial contributions to the engineering profession throughout their careers.

The Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession honor was awarded to:

William E. Wilson, Jr., PE, F.ACEC of Jacksonville

A professional with over 46 years of experience, William’s career began at Fred Wilson & Associates Engineers, and he is currently a Principal Engineer at Chen Moore and Associates where he has successfully designed approximately 1,000 electrical power, control, and lighting projects. He is a Class of 1982 graduate of the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI), is a 2011 Florida Engineering Society (FES) Fellow, and a 2022 American Council of Engineering of Florida (ACEC Florida) Fellow. Additionally, William was the 2019 President of the ACEC Florida, and was named Florida Engineer of the Year in 2019.

The Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement goes to:

Kamal S. Tawfiq, PhD, PE, F.ASCE of Tallahassee

A highly accomplished professor and former chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Dr. Tawfiq has an impressive educational background, including degrees from Ain Shams University, Ohio State University, and the University of Maryland. Dr. Tawfiq has developed award-winning online Master of Engineering courses and served as an advisor and trustee to international universities. He has made significant contributions in areas such as soil-structure interaction and novel pavement material systems, resulting in patents and numerous published papers. Dr. Tawfiq’s commitment to bridging theory and practice is demonstrated through his work as a consultant, expert witness, and technical advisor on diverse projects.

Additionally, four engineering leaders were designated as Fellow Members of FES for their exemplary character and distinguished accomplishments.

Engineers designated as 2023 Fellow Members of FES include:

John M. Carroll, Jr., PE, CGC, of Vero Beach

John is an engineering professional with over 40 years of expertise in designing large-scale subdivisions, analyzing historic structures, and leading diverse engineering projects. He has a background in structural engineering design and inspection, including retrofitting existing buildings. As a licensed General Contractor, he has successfully designed and built a range of projects, earning local recognition. John’s extensive experience spans across the United States, the Caribbean, and Arab countries, with a focus on governmental, commercial, industrial, and transportation engineering.

David C. Carter, PE of Winter Haven

David has 46 years of service to private and public clients. As the leader of Carter Engineering for 28 years, he has overseen site development and construction projects, collaborating with professionals. Currently, he provides project management for local municipal capital improvements. David’s contributions extend to serving on State of Florida technical committees and receiving multiple Engineer of the Year awards. Additionally, he has dedicated over 15 years as the local MATHCOUNTS® moderator.

Fernando V. Gomez, PE, PSM of Miami

Fernando has established a successful career in engineering, focusing on structural engineering, civil site development, and land surveying. He co-founded Snubbs Consulting (N.K.A. AllBright Engineering), contributing significantly to its growth. With over 13 years of dedicated service to the Florida Engineering Society Miami Chapter, Fernando has made contributions to MATHCOUNTS® and Future City competitions.

Lin Li, PE of Miami

Lin has been an asset to the Miami engineering community for two decades. His work as a consulting engineer and public service professional in Miami-Dade County departments has contributed to infrastructure improvement, including water and sewer systems, parks, transportation, and public works. Lin participates in professional societies and has played a role in coordinating MATHCOUNTS® competitions for Miami Middle School students for 16 years. As the past President of the Miami Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society, his leadership is widely recognized.

Lastly, one engineer has been awarded the Engineering Faculty Member of the Year:

Matthew Trussoni, PhD, University of Miami

Dr. Trussoni is currently an Assistant Professor in Practice at the University of Miami. His professional registrations include Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, and Certified General Contractor in the State of Florida. He has been published in the ACI Materials Journal, the ASCE Journal of Architectural Engineering, amongst other refereed journals, conference proceedings and periodicals.