GEI board selects Gillian Gregory as chairman

Boston — GEI Consultants, Inc.’s board of directors selected Gillian M. Gregory, Ph.D., P.E., as its new chairman, following her reelection to a second term on the board (she was first elected to the board in 2013). Gregory, who is replacing Naser J. Bateni, P.E., senior vice president, is the first woman chairman the company has appointed to the position.

Gregory believes that, as chairman, she has a responsibility to work with GEI leaders to ensure they always put client service at the forefront, while preserving GEI’s reputation as a great place to work.  She will lead the board in making sure GEI’s recent double-digit growth doesn’t markedly alter the company’s culture and values. She is committed to making great strides at promoting diversity in the workplace, and is resolute about ensuring a diverse workplace for generations to come, as GEI’s diversity can foster future success. One of her main initiatives is to work with her fellow board members, as well as the executive team, to find more ways to assist the company’s 36 offices to recruit, retain, and develop a more diverse workforce.

"The Board is delighted that Gill has accepted the chairman position,” says Raymond D. Hart, P.E., G.E., president and CEO. “Her 30 years of service to the company and her clear commitment to seeing GEI continue to make great strides in innovation and client service will guide GEI though the next decade. The firm stands to benefit immensely from Gill's extensive industry knowledge and nationwide experience."

Gregory began with GEI in 1986, and is a geotechnical engineer specializing in dam safety investigations and dam engineering, working out of the Boston office. Her experience conducting dam safety inspections, mostly for hydropower projects, has led to an invitation to participate on a committee assisting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the development of new engineering guidelines incorporating risk-informed decision making. In addition, she also serves on the Newsletter Committee of the United States Society on Dams (USSD), the nation's leading organization of professionals involved with all aspects of dams, including engineering, construction and rehabilitation, operation and maintenance, and safety. Gregory earned both a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Originally from the United Kingdom, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the UK’s University of Birmingham in 1980.

In addition to Gregory’s re-election and appointment to chairman, four additional board positions were filled: GEI’s shareholders voted to re-elect Mike Cornelius, in the Sacramento, Calif., office, and Bill Walton, in the Chicago office, to serve second terms, and elected first-timers Chris Dailey, from the Mt. Laurel, N.J., office, and Steve Verigin, from the Sacramento office. Bateni will continue to consult with his clients at GEI, and plans to offer advice and guidance to Gregory, the new chairman, during this transition, and will remain a trusted advisor to the board.