Joel Oppenheimer named Civil Engineer of the Year by ASCE-Maryland

BALTIMORE — Joel K. Oppenheimer, P.E., was named Civil Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers Maryland Section. According to the chapter, the award is given to a civil engineer of recognized standing whose sustained and usual efforts have enhanced the advancement of the profession and provided a service to mankind during the year.

Oppenheimer is a vice president with STV and the manager of the firm’s Baltimore office. He has been with STV for eight years and serves as the deputy program manager overseeing the engineering, planning and environmental work of other firms on one of the state’s largest current transportation initiative, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Red Line.

"We congratulate Joel on this outstanding achievement," said Milo E. Riverso, Ph.D., P.E., president and chief executive officer of STV. "We know that he is an accomplished professional who goes the extra mile by being involved in the civil engineering community. He also reaches out to young engineers in the firm who are starting their careers. We are proud of Joel’s achievements with STV and join him in celebrating this tremendous honor."

Oppenheimer also served as a manager on several other projects including the MTA Purple Line Corridor Study and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit’s Dulles Corridor Metrorail Extension project, as well as other assignments undertaken on behalf of the MTA, the Maryland State Highway Administration and Baltimore City.

Oppenheimer mentors young engineers at STV through a program he created in the firm’s Baltimore office called the EDGE group (Enriched Development for Growth and Excellence). This program brings young engineers and professionals together on a regular basis to discuss issues of mutual interest to further their careers and quality of life in a business environment. He has been an active member of the ASCE and served the group in many capacities, including program chairperson, Maryland secretary, vice president and then president. He chaired the Maryland Section’s National ASCE 150th celebration and the 150th Gala Celebration. He currently serves as the chair of the Maryland Section’s own 100th Anniversary Committee, which is planning a year of special activities to mark its centennial.

"Joel Oppenheimer is deserving of the Civil Engineer of the Year Award for the Maryland Section of ASCE because of his professionalism, he accepts challenges and sees them as opportunities; he is always eager and available to take a leadership role in business and professional organizations including ASCE and NSPE," said Ray Streib, president of the Maryland Section ASCE. "All the while, he dedicates his time and efforts to mentoring young and future engineers, while still making time for family. Joel is the role model that young engineers should follow when looking to be successful in their own careers."

Oppenheimer actively supports the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers and has served as the Maryland State coordinator for the organization’s MATHCOUNTS program for the last 16 years. The program engages more than 700 middle school students in a series of competitions and culminates with the Maryland State Competition for the top 180 math students.