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Chapter EOY Award Recipients

2026 Chapter Engineers of the Year

Bexar

Mike Bratten, P.E.

Dallas

Paul A. Lipscomb, P.E.

Dallas Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Paul is a respected civil engineer with over five decades of professional and community service. A licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and Mississippi, he earned his B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University. His career spans aerospace engineering with Boeing, private consulting, and founding his own civil engineering practice, delivering major water, wastewater, transportation, and municipal infrastructure projects across Texas.

A Life Member and past president of TSPE, he has also demonstrated outstanding civic leadership, including key involvement in the creation of DART and long-term community and church service.

Paul Lipscomb, P.E.

El Paso

Ruben Chavez, P.E.

Preston Trail

Felicia Jackson, P.E.

Travis

Jorge L. Morales, P.E., CFM

Travis Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Jorge brings together service, leadership, and civil engineering expertise to help make Austin one of the most resilient and desirable cities in the country. As Director of the Watershed Protection Department for the City of Austin, he leads efforts to safeguard lives, property, and the environment from flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

A former U.S. Army Sergeant of Communications, Jorge values clear and consistent communication. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas and later returned for an Executive Master in Public Leadership from the LBJ School. His servant‑leadership approach and commitment to employee growth continue to strengthen the community he serves.

Jorge Morales, P.E., CFM

Congratulations to this year's 2026 chapter award winners! This page will continue to be updated as our award winners are announced.
Visit our Engineers Week page to learn more about upcoming chapter events in your area.

VIEW CHAPTER YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2025 Chapter Award Winners

Bexar

Shauna L. Weaver, P.E.

Bexar Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Shauna is a Managing Principal with Pape-Dawson Engineers with 30 years of experience managing a wide range of public and private land development projects throughout Texas. She joined Pape-Dawson Engineers in 1994 after graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Shauna is an active member of TSPE and has served the Bexar Chapter in various positions, including chapter president. She was honored as Bexar Chapter’s Young Engineer of the Year in 1999. Shauna served on the TSPE State Board as Regional Vice President and currently serves as Executive Vice President. She was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer of the Foundation in 2022.

Shauna is currently serving as Treasurer for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bulverde. She and her husband Scott have been married for 29 years and enjoy spending time with friends and family in the Texas Hill Country.

Shauna Weaver, P.E.

Central Texas

Jonathan Cannon, P.E.

Dallas

Howard Gibbs, III, P.E., CFM

DFW Mid-Cities

Mano Pydipelly, P.E.

DFW Mid-Cities Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Mano Pydipelly, P.E., Associate Vice President with AECOM in their Global Aviation Program Management group. He has multifaceted diverse skillset of leadership and technical expertise. For the last eight years, Mano has been serving prominent public clients as a Program Manager and delivering award winning complex civil infrastructure projects. In his prior roles, Mano managed and provided hands-on design services for various public clients such as US Army Corps of Engineers, DFW International Airport (DFW), City of Dallas, City of Fort Worth and TxDOT and land development of over 1300 acres for sixteen subdivisions. Mano has been an active participant and contributor to the advancement of NSPE and is a member of DFW Mid Cities TSPE chapter. He has been serving on NSPE national committees and task forces and currently on the National Membership Committee. Through his collaboration with the Mid Cities chapter board, he is leading the efforts to establish students chapters at the North Texas Universities.

Mano Pydipelly, P.E.

El Paso

Kelvin Kroeker, P.E.

El Paso Chapter - Engineer of the Year

With three decades of experience in civil engineering, Kroeker has been a driving force behind projects that improve mobility across Texas, including interstate expansions, major highways, bridges and transit systems. His work has been recognized with accolades from Engineering News-Record Texas & Louisiana, Texas Public Works Association and the American Council of Engineering Companies.

“Kelvin’s leadership, service and dedication to the El Paso community have been instrumental in advancing impactful transportation solutions across the region,” said Summer Lawton, HNTB’s South Central Texas office leader and senior vice president. “This recognition is a testament to his far-reaching impact on both the industry and the communities we serve.”

Click here to read more on the HNTB website.

Kelvin Kroeker, P.E.

Fort Worth

Kemp Akeman, P.E.

Northeast Texas

Tom Pruitt, P.E.

Panhandle

Matt Gammon, P.E.

Permian Basin

Clint Kidd, P.E.

Permian Basin Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Clint Kidd, P.E. is Business Development Manager for DNOW Process Solutions, where he was voted Most Valuable Employee in 2020. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1998. He has spent the last 20 years in the Oil & Gas industry. In addition to his profession, Clint has dedicated many years to the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, serving in various roles in the Permian Basin Chapter, State level and as Region I Vice President. He has been instrumental in continuing to support the chapter's successes and growth. He serves on the UTPB Engineering Advisory Board to help provide direction for the growing UTPB College of Engineering and is involved in several other Professional and Technical Organizations. He has been married to his wife, Keysha, for 25 years and has two girls - Keely and Jemma. His hobbies outside of work include golfing, hunting, being a softball coach, and attending Aggie football games (whoop!).

Clint Kidd, P.E.

Preston Trail

Priya Mistry, P.E.

Preston Trail Chapter - Engineer of the Year

I was born in Illinois, but after a few years and moves, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex became my home. My husband and I feel blessed to call DFW home where we continue to create and share memories.

Professionally, I serve as a Municipal Project Manager and an Associate at CobbFendley. My engineering project experience ranges from new design and rehabilitation of water and wastewater infrastructure to paving and drainage.

When I am not working, you can find me volunteering, cooking, reading, sharing my passion for health and wellness, and enjoying the outdoors.

Priya Mistry, P.E.

South Plains

Brian Stephens, P.E.

South Plains Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Brian Stephens, PE, has been honored as the 2025 TSPE South Plains Chapter Engineer of the Year, the highest recognition awarded to a TSPE member. This award acknowledges his nearly 30-year career dedicated to advancing water and wastewater treatment solutions across Texas and New Mexico.

As Director of Treatment and a Partner at Parkhill, Brian has led critical infrastructure projects valued between $1 million and $80 million, ensuring access to clean, sustainable water for communities. He has built his career on developing wastewater treatment and reuse solutions and reducing reliance on potable groundwater through innovative practices.

Click here to read more on the Parkhill website.

Brian Stephens, P.E.

Travis

Sandee Khoury, P.E.

2024 Chapter Award Winners

Bexar

Blake Wright, P.E.

Bexar Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Blake is an Associate at Raba Kistner, Inc. where he manages the Construction Materials Testing group in New Braunfels and San Antonio. He also serves as the Region III Vice President for TSPE.

He previously served in many roles in the Bexar Chapter including Director, Committee Chair, Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, and President.

Additionally, he has served as a Lecturer for the Concrete Industry Management program at Texas State University and has been a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the United States Navy Reserve since 2003.

Blake Wright, P.E.

Dallas

Marc Sandhu, P.E.

Dallas Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Marc serves as President of ARS Engineers, Inc., a civil engineering, land surveying, and utilities firm headquartered in Carrollton, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M University, Marc began his career at ARS in 2009 as a roadway/utility design engineer, working on projects including I-35E TEXpress Phase I, LBJ TEXpress Lanes, New Parkland Hospital, Central City Riverside Oxbow Flood Water Storage, and DFW Airport Founders’ Plaza. In 2015, he shifted his focus to Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), working on projects including SH 289 at President George Bush Turnpike and Loop 9 Segment A, while helping ARS win nine Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Utility Engineering contracts to date as a Prime Consultant. In 2021, he took the mantle of President from his father Ayub Rehmat Sandhu, ARS’ founder and namesake. Ayub passed away less than 6 months later; Marc is honored to carry on his legacy and enduring values. Marc has overseen the hiring of several key staff members over the last several years, helping ARS grow its workload and compete with larger firms.

Marc Sandhu, P.E.

DFW Mid-Cities

Daniel Franklin, P.E.

El Paso

Brian Klaes, P.E.

Fort Worth

Michael Owen, P.E., PMP

Northeast TX

Clint Philpott, P.E.

Panhandle

Jon Braudt, P.E.

Permian Basin

Jose Ortiz, P.E.

Preston Trail

Kenneth Fulk, P.E.

Preston Trail Chapter - Engineer of the Year

Kenneth M. Fulk, P.E.1 is the President and Managing Principal of RWB Consulting Engineers, a mechanical and electrical building systems design firm, located in Dallas, TX, and now has approximately 75 employees. Ken graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1979 after which he served in the United States Air Force (USAF) for five (5) years and attained the rank of Captain. While in the Air Force, Ken completed a M.A. degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University and four classes at the USAF Institute of Technology, 12 hours of graduate level courses in engineering studies. Ken joined the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASH RAE) in 1980, and has been actively involved, serving as the Dallas Chapter President, Region VIII Director, Regional Chair and a 2nd term as a Director At-Large. He has served on multiple committees, councils, and technical committees which involved writing handbook chapters and included research project oversight. Early in his career, Ken joined SAME, NSPE/TSPE, Association of Energy Engineers and ACEC, realizing the importance of each of these organizations. Ken lives in Allen, TX where he has been very active in his community to include serving on the Allen City Council and recently serving as Mayor.

Kenneth Fulk, P.E.

South Plains

Heather Keister, P.E., CFM

South Plains Chapter - Engineer of the Year

With 22 years of civil engineering experience covering areas such as stormwater, transportation, infrastructure, planning and development, Heather has played a key role in establishing [their] Lubbock office in 2013 and overseeing operations in West Texas. Her tenure has seen a steady expansion of the firm’s regional presence, with her team growing from three to 28 members, specializing in transportation, stormwater, construction services and utilities. Heather’s work has included a significant role in the City of Lubbock’s Road Bond Program, where she led the Citizen Committee in the development and promotion of the project list with the Political Action Committee. She also spearheaded the Upper Brazos Regional Flood Plan, a component of Texas’ inaugural state flood plan. The project received the 2023 TSPE Trailblazer Award as the best engineering project. Heather embodies Freese and Nichols’ core value of community investment in her dedication to community and civic leadership through her committee and board member roles with the Lubbock Area United Way, Lubbock Chamber, City of Lubbock, TSPE South Plains Chapter, Leadership Lubbock and Texas Public Works Association.