Rich Smith, president and CEO at Henderson Engineers, is a 2021* recipient of the Distinguished Engineering Service Award (DESA) from the University of Kansas (KU) School of Engineering. A proud KU alum, Smith received the accolade for his significant contributions to the field of engineering and society as well as his close involvement with his alma mater. DESA, which has been awarded to outstanding KU alumni for more than four decades, is the highest honor granted by the School of Engineering.

After earning a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a master’s in architectural engineering from KU, Smith joined Henderson in 1994 and took on the mantle of president and CEO in 2013. His leadership tenure has been the most successful period in the firm’s history, helping grow the company twofold to nearly 1,000 employees and $175 million in annual revenue.

To read KU’s announcement about Smith’s DESA award, visit https://bit.ly/3BP8gZu.

*Smith won the award in 2020 but COVID-19 delayed its official presentation to 2021.