3/13/2023
CEE alumnus Sergio “Satch” Pecori (BS 73, MS 74) has been awarded The Grainger College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Service for 2023.
Written by
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering alumnus Sergio “Satch” Pecori (BS 73, MS 74) has been awarded The Grainger College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Service for 2023. Recipients of this annual award are recognized for professional distinction through outstanding leadership, contributions to the field of engineering, creativity, and entrepreneurship; as well as service to society, the professional community, and to the department, college, or university.
Pecori was cited for "leadership in civil engineering consulting practice for more than 40 years; for transformative support of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center; for commitment to diversity in engineering; and for advancing the business climate and infrastructure in Illinois."
Pecori is a chairman and chief executive officer of Hanson Professional Services Inc., a national, employee-owned engineering, planning and allied services company. With nearly 50 years of experience in the engineering industry, he has led Hanson’s efforts to provide sustainable and resilient design services on complex projects worldwide. He is also highly regarded in the technical field, serving as an ambassador for the engineering profession in numerous leadership roles.
Pecori is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies and served as chairman from 2017-18. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving on its Industry Leaders Council. Pecori serves on the Design Professionals Coalition’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s board of directors.
He has served on the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Buildings Operations’ Industry Advisory Panel and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. In 2013, he was selected to lead the board’s Cyber Policy Task Group. Pecori has served on The Grainger College of Engineering Advisory Board, the University of Illinois Foundation President’s Council and the University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Business Advisory Council for the College of Business and Management.
He has received numerous awards, including the U.S. Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in 2015, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2019 and ASCE’s Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) award in management. He also received the CEE Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999 and is a distinguished chapter honor member of UIUC’s Chi Epsilon.
Pecori champions Hanson’s support of The Grainger College of Engineering, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and UIS’ College of Business and Management. As part of Hanson’s involvement in the Springfield Rail Improvements Project in Springfield, Illinois, Pecori has led the development and implementation of the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program, fostering minority students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) careers.
The other 2023 award winners are Steven Ashby (CS - MS 85, PhD 88), Eric N. Brown (MechSE - BS 98, MS 01, PhD 03), Ping Fu (CS - MS 90), Steve Sullivan (ECE – MS 91, PhD 97), Francesco Venneri (NPRE - PhD 88) and Carrie Zalewski (ISE - BS 01). This year's recipients will participate in a Chat with Alumni Award for Distinguished Service Recipients on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 4:00-5:00 PM CT as part of Engineering Open House activities. The event will be held live at NCSA Auditorium, and available to livestream via Zoom.