Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) has appointed Dr. Keith Kesner as project manager for its structural engineering division in New York City, hoping to strengthen the firm’s repair and rehabilitation expertise and knowledge of structural concrete performance new and existing
Kesner will work closely with professionals on the East Coast, while operating out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kesner brings more than thirty years of academic and industrial experience, specializing in the evaluation and repair of concrete, masonry and steel structures; evaluate concrete material performance and deterioration using non-destructive testing and corrosion analysis; and performing facade inspections and repairs.
Kesner is an active leader in the engineering profession and has contributed to the development of several codes and standards for existing concrete repair and new structural design. He is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), a member of the ACI Foundation Board of Trustees, and current and past chair of several ACI committees involving concrete repair, nondestructive testing, safety, code development, and more.
Kesner received ACI’s Henry L. Kennedy Award for Outstanding Technical Service in 2021 and the Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award in 2020 for contributions to technical committees. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) and has published articles and given presentations widely throughout the industry.
Kesner has a Ph.D. and Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, where he also taught and supervised courses in civil engineering and structural design. He also holds a BSE in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Connecticut. Most recently, he served as a senior project manager with CVM Professional in Pennsylvania, leading large structural repair and rehabilitation projects for the company.
“Keith is a highly accomplished technical expert with a natural ability to understand clients’ needs and help them solve their most challenging projects,” says Nathaniel Smith, head of the structural engineering division at SGH, New York. “His passion for solving performance problems in the field is coupled with his personal enthusiasm for mentoring engineering teams and sharing his knowledge across the industry. We are excited to have him join our team and already see the benefits of their collaboration with our experts across the country.”
