George W. Rettew, Jr. Recognized for Contribution to Engineering Profession, Service to Engineering Council
Hershey, Pa. — The American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) honored George W. Rettew, Jr., PE, PLS, with the 14th Annual ACEC/PA Distinguished Award of Merit last evening at a ceremony held in Hershey, Pa. Rettew is chairman and CEO of RETTEW Associates, Inc., an Engineering News-Record top 500 design firm providing engineering, transportation, environmental consulting, planning and surveying services.
“ACEC/PA bestowed this year’s Distinguished Award of Merit to someone who has truly dedicated his life to the engineering profession and improving his community,” said Mark Lauriello, PE, president, RETTEW. “George Rettew is not only a consummate professional but also an upstanding gentleman who is highly respected among his peers and colleagues. We’re all very proud of our CEO, and on behalf of everyone at RETTEW I congratulate him on this deserved achievement.”
With a career that spans nearly four decades, Rettew received the award based on his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the consulting engineering profession and service to ACEC/PA. Along with his efforts to promote ACEC/PA to non-member firms, Rettew has served ACEC/PA in several capacities, including president, chairman of the board of directors, chairman of the municipal government committee and member of the transportation committee. Presently, he is a member of ACEC/PA’s awards committee. His professional endeavors also include memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Highway Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the World Presidents Organization, Keystone Chapter.
“George’s lifelong professional achievements demonstrate his steadfast commitment to the engineering profession and ACEC/PA,” added Andrew J. Hilt, executive vice president, ACEC/PA. “It’s a pleasure to have George Rettew join the ranks of our Distinguished Award of Merit recipients.”
Rettew is also active in the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), having served as LCCI chairman and member of the chamber’s inter-municipal cooperation committee and the business excellence committee. His leadership influence, business acumen and dedication to community have garnered him current membership on LCCI’s executive committee, strategic planning committee and community initiatives council. Rettew’s commitment to business excellence and quality improvement resulted in the firm’s receiving several business excellence awards from LCCI’s business excellence program. Additionally, he has served as honorary chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Class for Lancaster County, is a founding board member of the Lancaster County Coalition for Smart Growth and serves as board member for the South Central Assembly for Effective Governance.
As CEO of RETTEW, Rettew’s leadership has grown the company from a civil engineering and surveying firm to a firm that today provides engineering, transportation, environmental consulting, planning, land development and surveying services to a broad range of clients in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. RETTEW has seven locations staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals; offices are located in Bethlehem, Chambersburg, Lancaster, Mechanicsburg and Schuylkill Haven, Pa.; and Liberty and Margaretville, N.Y. The firm will soon open an office in Williamsport, PA.
The firm’s projects have garnered awards from organizations including ACEC/PA, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter; the Lancaster County Planning Commission; and the Association for Bridge Construction and Design, Susquehanna Chapter.
Rettew holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware and is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, and a professional licensed surveyor in Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Jackie, have three grown children, five grandchildren, and reside in Lancaster County.