Marc Sandhu, P.E.

TSPE Dallas Chapter President

President, ARS Engineers, Inc.

 

Why are you involved in TSPE? 

I have a unique story…TSPE was literally a part of my childhood. My father served as Dallas Chapter President from 1987-1988, when I was a whopping 2 years old. I attended TSPE meetings and conferences throughout the years growing up, and he always introduced me to everyone he could. As a senior in high school, I won the TSPE Dallas Chapter Scholarship, which helped get me through the Civil Engineering program at Texas A&M.

When I graduated and came back to Dallas in 2009, the Dallas Chapter luncheon was one of the very first Professional Society meetings I attended on my own. It was there that I sat next to a rising star in the Dallas Chapter – Jessica Baker, PE, CFM, PMP. In a very personal way, she described to me how much value she found in TSPE and how volunteering furthered her personal and professional development. I was hooked. I got involved shortly after that, and ended up serving on the board a few years later while she served as our chapter president.

I have served under and alongside so many other incredible leaders in TSPE, and now I can proclaim to others how much value I have found both personally and professionally. I have made connections that have helped further my career, but more importantly, I have learned how to lead people and make a difference with others.

From MATHCOUNTS to PE Day at the Capitol to Shoreline Spruce-Up to North Texas Food Bank volunteering to SMU Engineering Student Scholarships, it’s easy to see the impact this wonderful organization has had in our industry and community.

And, it is an absolute honor to serve as Dallas Chapter President this year, 35 years after my father before me.

What do you feel is the most pressing issue related to engineering?

I believe that the most pressing issue related to engineering is making sure we put people first.

Although our engineering work is based on formulas and sound design principles, projects are not won on those principles alone. Taking care of people both inside and outside our firms should be our greatest focus, while continually doing our part as professional engineers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public is protected.

The public are people. Industry colleagues are people. Clients are people. Co-workers are people. Our families are people. Every decision we make should be based on putting people first.

Marc serves as president of ARS Engineers, Inc., a civil engineering, land surveying, and utilities firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 2009, Marc started his career at ARS and has been with the firm for over 13 years.

Before taking over as the firm’s President in 2021, he honed his project management and design skills on dozens of projects throughout the State of Texas, including the TxDOT IH-35Express Managed Lanes Project, USACE Panther Island/Central City Project, and Routh Street in the Dallas Arts District.

Marc has overseen the hiring of several key staff members over the last five years, helping ARS grow its workload and compete with larger firms. However, he always works hard to maintain a “small firm” company culture focused on high-quality work, efficiency, and responsiveness.

Actively focused on the engineering community, he was awarded the TSPE Dallas Chapter Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2014 and the ASCE Dallas Branch Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2015. He has also served on the TSPE Dallas Chapter Board for over seven years, where he previously managed the Chapter’s annual donation to the North Texas Food Bank, helping raise over $10,000 for those in need. He currently serves as the TSPE Dallas Chapter President.