LEO A DALY has tapped Kimberly Cowman, a 17-year company veteran, to be its first National Director of Engineering, which will become effective sometime after January 1, 2020.
The 38-year-old Cowman, PE, LEED AP, HFDP, and Senior Associate, will report to John Kraskiewicz, AIA, the firmâs Senior Vice President and COO. She is meeting this week with the companyâs brand leadership to discuss her staffing needs, as well as plans for restructuring LEO A DALYâS engineering services with an eye toward growing that practice.
In an interview this morning with BD+C, Cowman said she was âexcited and nervousâ about embarking on this ânew adventureâ in a career that is distinguished by her management of myriad healthcare projects. These include, most recently, multiple pharmacy UPS compliance renovations for CHI Health in Nebraska and Iowa, and a $13 million 34,000-sf addition/renovation to Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Neb.
Cowman sees her new job as more of a âbrand position,â where sheâll be working closely with all of the firmâs design studios and their brand leaders on strategy. She sees herself as an âadvocate for engineeringâ across geographies and market sectors, and for Integrated Project Delivery âwhich LEO A DALY does really well.â
âOne of the primary reasons I enjoy working at LEO A DALY, and have remained here for 17 years, is my commitment to our full-service integrated design practice,â she says.
IPD is âkey to creating sustainable, high-performance buildings that deliver the most value to our clients,â says Steve Lichtenberger, LEO A DALYâS President. âKimâs strategic vision for growing our engineering practice, her deep understanding of our design culture, and her passion for innovation make her the perfect choice to lead engineering for the firm.â
At a time when AEC firms are trying to attract more women to their ranks and corporate suites, Cowman has actively participated in recruiting and hiring engineers for the firmâs Omaha office, and has worked to develop new engineering positionsâsuch as High-Performance Building Engineerâthat enhance the practice. Cowman has also demonstrated thought leadership through publishing and speaking engagements.
Cowman is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, from which she earned a Masters in Architectural Engineering. Sheâs a mother of two boys, six and two, and her husband is a cartographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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