Engineer of the Year  |  Preston Trail Chapter

With over 40 years of experience in the Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) design industry, Ken has become a highly respected leader and resource in the built environment. He is a mechanical engineering graduate from Texas A&M University, holds a master’s degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University and attended 4 mechanical engineering classes at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has been a registered engineer in 12 states. His career began as an officer in the U.S. Air Force as a mechanical (HVAC) design engineer in the 4th Civil Engineering Squadron and later became the Mechanical Branch Chief of the 3770th Technical Training Group. He is a former Chief Mechanical Engineer, President, and Owner of the firm. Most of his career has been at RWB Consulting Engineers located in Dallas where he currently serves as Principal Emeritus. He is a former Chief Mechanical Engineer, President, and Owner of the firm.

Ken has been a long-time member of many different engineering-related societies during his career which has included the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), TSPE, NSPE, ACEC, AEE, APPA & SAME. He has had significant involvement in ASHRAE.  He currently serves on ASHRAE’s Board of Directors Executive Committee as a Vice President.  He has been involved in various aspects of the local, regional and national level of the organization.  These include Dallas Chapter President as well as Director and Regional Chair.  At the national level he has served in multiple positions, including Director At-Large, chaired the Publishing and Education Council, and served on multiple committees including four technical committees.  His dedication to this organization is demonstrated through his continued service in multiple roles since 1988. He has received multiple recognitions from ASHRAE, including awards for Chapter Service, Regional Award of Merit, Jack Thompson Chapter Leadership, Region VIII Golden Gavel, Regional Hall of Fame, Distinguished and Exceptional Service, and is a Life Member and ASHRAE Fellow.

He also received the Distinguished Public Service Award for his service on the Allen City Council, to include as Mayor, and other significant community service through his church, Boy Scouts, Rotary International, and other local service groups. Ken is a long-time member of the Preston Trail Chapter of TSPE where he has participated in meeting program presentations (3), career day events, a refresher course for P.E. exam prep, and other various events. Ken is passionate about workforce development in our industry, demonstrated through his work in career day presentations, establishment of scholarships, and by serving on the Texas A&M Industry Advisory Council for their Architectural Engineering Program. Outside of work, Ken enjoys hiking, backpacking, traveling, and sports, and treasures the time spent with his family: his wife, Susan, and three children John, Steven, and Erin.

Young Engineer of the Year  |  Fort Worth Chapter

Lindsay Lafferty, P.E. is a licensed professional engineer and graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering. Lindsay began her career as an intern at Baird, Hampton & Brown where she has worked full-time since graduation. Today, she currently holds the title of Associate and has a proven ability to deliver critical infrastructure projects for North Texas municipalities, successfully managing every stage from design through construction.

Lindsay is passionate about municipal work, and her leadership and technical acumen have made her a trusted partner for municipal clients throughout the DFW metroplex. She finds fulfillment in partnering with municipalities from initial scoping of a project through construction completion, particularly when the finished project positively impacts local communities. Lindsay’s responsibilities also include project management and client development. She is recognized for her proactive and consistent communication with stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of each project, allowing her to cultivate lasting relationships with clients and project partners. Her ability to effectively translate advanced technical concepts into clear, accessible information ensures that clients and decision-makers remain informed and engaged. Beyond technical work, Lindsay plays an active role in shaping company culture and inclusion. She is currently the President of the BHB Women’s Group where she organizes professional development opportunities, socials, and volunteer activities that foster relationships between women across all disciplines within the firm. Lindsay also regularly plans quarterly socials for the BHB Grapevine office to encourage team building and camaraderie.

Lindsay’s commitment to leadership and the engineering profession extends beyond the workplace. As an active leader in the professional engineering community, she currently serves as the ASCE Fort Worth Branch President, TSPE Fort Worth Chapter Webmaster, Vice Chair of the TSPE Leadership Programs Committee, and has previously held multiple other roles within ASCE and on various TSPE committees. In recognition of her contributions to the profession, Lindsay was named the 2021 ASCE Fort Worth Branch Young Engineer of the Year and the 2025 TSPE Fort Worth Chapter Young Engineer of the Year. She is also a proud Class 12 graduate of the PE Leadership Institute. Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys baking, working out, running, spending time outdoors, and travelling with her husband. She strives to live an active and adventure-filled lifestyle, and has run a half marathon, competed in HYROX, and travelled to five continents (so far!). Her goal is to travel to at least one new country every year!

Engineering Student of the Year  |  University of Texas at Austin

Audrey Baker is a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering and a founding member of the TSPE UT Austin Student Chapter, where she recently completed her term as President. Over the past two years, she worked closely with fellow officers to successfully reinstate the chapter, helping create a stronger connection between students and the engineering profession. Through the organization, she helped organize professional development events, connect students with industry leaders, and promote the importance of engineering licensure and ethical responsibility. During her presidency, the chapter expanded its membership, established committee leadership positions, and hosted its first Ethics Live event, which gave local engineers the opportunity to earn their professional development hour. 

This fall, Audrey will pursue a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering while working as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory. During her undergraduate studies, she also conducted research in Dr. Salvatore Salamone’s Smart Structures Research Laboratory, where she gained experience with structural health monitoring systems. Her academic interests center around structural design and sustainable development in the built environment.

Throughout her undergraduate career, Audrey developed experience in building design through collaborative studio projects focused on the schematic and preliminary design of office buildings and high-rise structures. She further explored her passion for structural engineering during an “Emerging Technologies” study abroad program in Japan, where she studied energy-efficient buildings and innovative structural systems in Tokyo and Kyoto. In addition, she has completed two structural engineering internships and will begin her third structural engineering internship this summer in New York City.

Outside of academics, Audrey was a member of the Texas Gymnastics team and competed at Nationals from 2023 to 2026. She enjoys spending time outdoors, going on walks, and staying active. As she continues her education and professional career, Audrey hopes to contribute to meaningful structural projects that positively impact communities through thoughtful and resilient design. She is grateful for the friendships, mentorship, and experiences TSPE has given her and is excited to stay involved with the chapter during graduate school.