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
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2019
2019 Cultural Facility Giants Report: New libraries are all about community
The future of libraries is less about being quiet and more about hands-on learning and face-to-face interactions. This and more cultural sector trends from BD+C's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
3D Printing | Sep 17, 2019
Additive manufacturing goes mainstream in the industrial sector
More manufacturers now include this production process in their factories.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 12, 2019
Meet the masters of offsite construction
Prescient combines 5D software, clever engineering, and advanced robotics to create prefabricated assemblies for apartment buildings and student housing.
Giants 400 | Sep 11, 2019
Top 85 Industrial Sector Engineering Firms for 2019
Jacobs, Fluor, IPS, CRB, and SSOE head the rankings of the nation's largest industrial sector engineering and engineering architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 10, 2019
Carbon-neutral apartment building sets the pace for scalable affordable housing
Project Open has no carbon footprint, but the six-story, solar-powered building is already leaving its imprint on Salt Lake City’s multifamily landscape.
Giants 400 | Sep 9, 2019
2019 Industrial Sector Giants Report: Managing last mile delivery
This and more industrial building sector trends from Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Codes and Standards | Sep 9, 2019
Free app calculates maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings
A free app that calculates the maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction has been released.
Retail Centers | Sep 6, 2019
Another well-known retailer files for bankruptcy: Here's the solution to more empty anchor stores
Where can you find the future of retail? At the intersection of experience and instant gratification.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2019
Top 70 Hotel Sector Engineering Firms for 2019
NV5, EXP, Jensen Hughes, KPFF, and Thornton Tomasetti head the rankings of the nation's largest hotel sector engineering and engineering architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2019
Top 110 Hotel Sector Architecture Firms for 2019
Gensler, WATG, HKS, HBG Design, and Steelman Partners top the rankings of the nation's largest hotel sector architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.