flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Rich Smith named President at Henderson Engineers

Rich Smith named President at Henderson Engineers


February 7, 2013
L to R  Dana Kettle, Dave Haake, Duane Henderson, Rich Smith, Rick Lahm, Tony P
L to R Dana Kettle, Dave Haake, Duane Henderson, Rich Smith, Rick Lahm, Tony Pianalerson, Rich Smith, Rick Lahm, Tony Pianalto

LENEXA, Kan. - February 7, 2013 - Henderson Engineers, Inc. (HEI), a national top 10 architectural engineering company, recently announced several executive level promotions to plan for long term stability and success of the company.

Rich Smith has been promoted to President of HEI. He will serve as a liaison to HEI’s clients and will be the primary public representative of the company. As President, Smith will focus on the overall vision and brand of the company. Additionally, Smith will remain heavily involved in business development and assisting with diversifying and growing the firm.

Duane Henderson will remain as CEO. He will continue to be involved in the daily operations and help lead of the company through the transition period. Henderson has been CEO since 1988; his father Fran founded the company in 1970.

Dave Haake has assumed the role of Chief Operations Officer. His responsibilities will include overseeing the daily operations of the company, including internal design teams, specialty divisions, and branch offices.

Dana Kettle has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer; she will oversee and manage all financial aspects of the firm.

Rick Lahm has stepped down as CFO, a position he has held since 1990. Lahm will assume the role of Board Treasurer.

Tony Pianalto has assumed the role of Chief Technical Officer. He will oversee and manage the technical engineering aspects of the firm, including quality control, training, standards, building information modeling, sustainability and commissioning.

“HEI’s Board of Directors examined the roles and organization of our company and interviewed key personnel through a six month discovery period,” said Duane Henderson, CEO. “We wanted to make sure we were taking into consideration our shareholders’ thoughts and ideas with regard to the future of the company.”

“The plan presented will allow for a smooth leadership transition for our company,” said Rich Smith, President. “I’m excited about the opportunity and the changes and feel it will strengthen the management structure as our firm continues to grow both regionally and nationally.”

About Henderson Engineers, Inc.

Henderson Engineers, Inc. was founded in 1970 and provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing and refrigeration design services through its headquarters in Kansas City, as well as branch offices in Bentonville, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, New York Metro, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Tampa. Licensed in all 50 states, Henderson is comprised of over 450 employees including 150 Licensed Engineers and over 100 LEED® Accredited Professionals. In addition to its core services, Henderson Engineers, Inc. houses four specialty divisions: Impact Illumination (architectural lighting), Fire Dynamics (fire protection and code consulting), Collective Tech/ADG (comprehensive technology, security, audio visual, and acoustical design), and Outcome Cx (Commissioning). For more information visit www.hei-eng.com.

Related Stories

K-12 Schools | May 7, 2024

World's first K-12 school to achieve both LEED for Schools Platinum and WELL Platinum

A new K-12 school in Washington, D.C., is the first school in the world to achieve both LEED for Schools Platinum and WELL Platinum, according to its architect, Perkins Eastman. The John Lewis Elementary School is also the first school in the District of Columbia designed to achieve net-zero energy (NZE). 

Healthcare Facilities | May 6, 2024

Hospital construction costs for 2024

Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for a three-story hospital across 10 U.S. cities.

Engineers | May 6, 2024

WSP acquires AKF, expanding its Property & Buildings Practice across the U.S. Northeast

WSP Global Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of AKF Group LLC. Headquartered in New York City, AKF is a specialized mechanical, electrical, and plumbing firm that designs complex healthcare, science and technology, and mission-critical facilities. Its 365 professionals operate throughout the eastern U.S., with an additional complementary presence in Mexico.

MFPRO+ Special Reports | May 6, 2024

Top 10 trends in affordable housing

Among affordable housing developers today, there’s one commonality tying projects together: uncertainty. AEC firms share their latest insights and philosophies on the future of affordable housing in BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Annual Report.

Retail Centers | May 3, 2024

Outside Las Vegas, two unused office buildings will be turned into an open-air retail development

In Henderson, Nev., a city roughly 15 miles southeast of Las Vegas, 100,000 sf of unused office space will be turned into an open-air retail development called The Cliff. The $30 million adaptive reuse development will convert the site’s two office buildings into a destination for retail stores, chef-driven restaurants, and community entertainment.

Codes and Standards | May 3, 2024

New York City considering bill to prevent building collapses

The New York City Council is considering a proposed law with the goal of preventing building collapses. The Billingsley Structural Integrity Act is a response to the collapse of 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx last December. 

K-12 Schools | Apr 30, 2024

Fully electric Oregon elementary school aims for resilience with microgrid design

The River Grove Elementary School in Oregon was designed for net-zero carbon and resiliency to seismic events, storms, and wildfire. The roughly 82,000-sf school in a Portland suburb will feature a microgrid—a small-scale power grid that operates independently from the area’s electric grid. 

AEC Tech | Apr 30, 2024

Lack of organizational readiness is biggest hurdle to artificial intelligence adoption

Managers of companies in the industrial sector, including construction, have bought the hype of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative technology, but their organizations are not ready to realize its promise, according to research from IFS, a global cloud enterprise software company. An IFS survey of 1,700 senior decision-makers found that 84% of executives anticipate massive organizational benefits from AI. 

Codes and Standards | Apr 30, 2024

Updated document details methods of testing fenestration for exterior walls

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a document serving a recommended practice for determining test methodology for laboratory and field testing of exterior wall systems. The document pertains to products covered by an AAMA standard such as curtain walls, storefronts, window walls, and sloped glazing. AAMA 501-24, Methods of Test for Exterior Walls was last updated in 2015. 

MFPRO+ News | Apr 29, 2024

World’s largest 3D printer could create entire neighborhoods

The University of Maine recently unveiled the world’s largest 3D printer said to be able to create entire neighborhoods. The machine is four times larger than a preceding model that was first tested in 2019. The older model was used to create a 600 sf single-family home made of recyclable wood fiber and bio-resin materials.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




MFPRO+ Special Reports

Top 10 trends in affordable housing

Among affordable housing developers today, there’s one commonality tying projects together: uncertainty. AEC firms share their latest insights and philosophies on the future of affordable housing in BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Annual Report.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021