Suzuki recognized for her significant contributions to the engineering industry early in her career and extensive volunteer work.
Kennedy Jenks announced today that Alicia Suzuki, of the company’s Honolulu office, was named a 2022 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Young Professional of the Year. This award honors five young engineers annually who have made significant contributions to the industry early in their careers in the United States. Suzuki was honored this week at a ceremony held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Suzuki, who earned both a BS and MS in Civil Engineering, is a leader in KJ’s wastewater and water practice in Hawaii where she has developed meaningful and impactful solutions for clients. She serves as Deputy PM and Lead Design Engineer on key projects like a wastewater facility plan for the County of Maui and for a complex water project for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and its customers of Windward Oahu.
These projects, among many others, like the process optimization at the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was recently award the ASCE Hawaii Section 2022 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for Best Small Project, have required Suzuki to leverage her educational background, local knowledge and experience, and people skills to bring solutions to the unique challenges of treating water and wastewater in Hawaii.
Suzuki is an active volunteer serving on the board of the Hawaii Water Environment Association as president and with the American Society of Civil Engineers. She credits Kennedy Jenks’ flexible work arrangements as a critical factor in allowing her to fulfill her volunteer positions as well as inspire future generations of engineers.
“I am honored to receive this award,” Suzuki said. “Engineering is rewarding to help people and I’ve made a great life for myself doing this. I want everyone working in this industry to have as great an experience as I have had.”
Through her work with HWEA, Suzuki noted that she became more acutely aware of the challenges of staff shortages in both the public and private sectors. She recently joined the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Engineering Sector Partnership to create student resources aimed at educating students about what it means to be an engineer.
Suzuki is currently participating in the ACEC Hawaii Emerging Leaders Program and plans to continue delivering excellent client service and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
About Kennedy Jenks
Kennedy Jenks is a leading water and environmental engineering firm that serves public agencies and industrial clients with over 425 employees nationwide. The employee-owned firm delivers innovative design, construction and technology solutions for water, industrial and environmental projects across the United States.
Media Contact
Suzanne Broadbent, Senior Director of Communications
media@kennedyjenks.com
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