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 firm’s Senior Vice President and COO. She is meeting this week with the company’s brand leadership to discuss her staffing needs, as well as plans for restructuring LEO A DALY’S engineering services with an eye toward growing that practice.
In an interview this morning with BD+C, Cowman said she was “excited and nervous” about embarking on this “new adventure” 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 “brand position,” where she’ll be working closely with all of the firm’s design studios and their brand leaders on strategy. She sees herself as an “advocate for engineering” across geographies and market sectors, and for Integrated Project Delivery “which LEO A DALY does really well.”
“One 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,” she says.
IPD is “key to creating sustainable, high-performance buildings that deliver the most value to our clients,” says Steve Lichtenberger, LEO A DALY’S President. “Kim’s 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.”
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 firm’s Omaha office, and has worked to develop new engineering positions—such as High-Performance Building Engineer—that 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. She’s a mother of two boys, six and two, and her husband is a cartographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Mar 29, 2022
Here’s why the U.S. needs more ‘TOD’ housing
Transit-oriented developments help address the housing affordability issue that many cities and suburbs are facing.
Contractors | Mar 28, 2022
Amid supply chain woes, building teams employ extreme procurement measures
Project teams are looking to eliminate much of the guesswork around product availability and price inflation by employing early bulk-purchasing measures for entire building projects.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 28, 2022
Is your firm a reconstruction sector giant?
Is your firm active in the U.S. building reconstruction, renovation, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse markets? We invite you to participate in BD+C's inaugural Reconstruction Market Research Report.
Legislation | Mar 28, 2022
LEED Platinum office tower faces millions in fines due to New York’s Local Law 97
One Bryant Park, also known as the Bank of America Tower, in Manhattan faces an estimated $2.4 million in annual fines when New York City’s York’s Local Law 97 goes into effect.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 25, 2022
Health group converts bank building to drive-thru clinic
Edward-Elmhurst Health and JTS Architects had to get creative when turning an American Chartered Bank into a drive-thru clinic for outpatient testing and vaccinations.
Higher Education | Mar 24, 2022
Higher education sector sees 19 percent reduction in facilities investments
Colleges and universities face a growing backlog of capital needs and funding shortfalls, according to Gordian’s 2022 State of Facilities in Higher Education report.
Contractors | Mar 23, 2022
Hiring Construction Workers in a Frantic Post-Covid Job Market
McCarthy Building Companies' Director of Talent Acquisition, Ben Craigs, discusses the construction giant's recruitment and training strategies in a hyper-competitive market. Craigs sits down with BD+C Senior Editor John Caulfield.
Architects | Mar 16, 2022
James Hoban: Designer and builder of the White House
Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, chats with BD+C Executive Editor Robert Cassidy about James Hoban, the Irish draftsman and builder who convinced George Washington to let him design and build the White House.
AEC Tech Innovation | Mar 9, 2022
Meet Emerge: WSP USA's new AEC tech incubator
Pooja Jain, WSP’s VP-Strategic Innovation, discusses the pilot programs her firm’s new incubator, Emerge, has initiated with four tech startup companies. Jain speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about the four AEC tech firms to join Cohort 1 of the firm’s incubator.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 24, 2022
First new, mixed-use high-rise in Detroit’s central business district in nearly 30 years opens
City Club Apartments completed two multifamily projects in 2021 in downtown Detroit including the first new, mixed-use high-rise in Detroit’s central business district in nearly 30 years.