Kurt Evans joined the small Digital Engineering & Imaging Inc. In 1993, starting a 30 -year firm, and eventually made it a full service organization of more than 50 professionals. Outside the office, it is dedicated to serving its community in leadership places with organizations such as the Rotary Club of Kenner, YMCAS Local, churches, schools and industry groups, including the American Engineering Council of Louisiana Engineering Companies. He also is passionate about educating the next generation of leaders, working with industry associations to develop the professional and professional leadership skills of the people. Due to its history of significant works, community impacts and advances in the industry, the Editorial Edr team called Kurt Evans el Texas & Louisiana Legacy Awardee.
“His leadership has been integral to the success of digital engineering in the provision of complex infrastructure projects, including road exchanges, urban roads and large-scale disaster recovery initiatives,” says Fannie Marchotte-Bennett, the main and responsible for strategy for engineering and digital image (of) Involvement, Kurt Foster Welfare from the Gulf Coast region. “
December 2024, innovative for the Kenner Fire Station no. 38 in Kenner, la. The project is one of the many CMAR projects in which Evans has worked.
Photo Digital Courtesy Engineering & Imaging Inc.
Build a race
A carpenter’s son, Evans says that following his father’s footsteps after high school seemed to be the obvious path. “I thought I would become a carpenter, like my father, but he intrigued me the plans to build buildings,” he recalls. “I liked to solve problems and use the head to jobs.”
Evans enrolled in Louisiana State University (LSU) for a Civil Engineering Degree, becoming the first of his family to go to college. In LSU, Evans flourished, achieving exposure to a wide range of civil works, finally gravitating on road systems and road design.
When graduated in 1979, Evans had offers from construction companies and engineering companies. “I made an interesting phone call to my father and said,” Father, I have some really good job offers from construction companies, “says Evans.” He said: “You were under construction, you know what it is like. You are going to be a professional engineer for a while. You can always change your opinion later.”
“Through its tutoring and participation, Kurt promotes a culture of community service.”
-Fannie Marchotte-Bennett, director and head of strategy, engineering and digital image
Evans logged in with one of the largest companies in the industry, HNTB. As a project engineer, he not only exhibited in complex and interesting projects, but also gained a vision on how to direct projects professionally. “It was a well -off and well -directed organization,” he says. “I took the joy of working on incredible interstate systems, state routes and drainage systems, but also how to join projects and how to manage design design.”
While he could go through the ranks quickly, Evans finally saw a roof for young engineers, and in 1984 he decided to have a chance in a new company, GEC, in Baton Rouge, where he worked on roads, traffic engineering and stormwater management.
)[At HNTB]I was able to work beyond my age but there were a lot of people ahead of the line [for promotions]”, He says.” I am not a very patient person, so when the opportunities arrived at the door, I valued and jumped. “”
Entering the founding of the firm, Evans could continue to move forward and was appointed vice -president in the mid -1920’s. When the firm sold, Evans again sought new opportunities. In 1988, he joined ARRENDONO, Brunz & Associates in Dallas, and was asked to open an office in Orlando as vice president. Once in Florida, he moved to the Tampa Office of Glace & Radcliffe in 1990 “to help turn over the office.”
After briefly performing operations in Glace & Radcliffe, Evans decided to return to Louisiana and joined Hartman Engineering in Kenner, La., As a chief engineer in 1990. At the same time in Kenner, Digital Imaging Inc. It was founded by owner and president Jimmie Martinez as a company specializing in the conversion of non -digital engineering drawings into CAD files for local government agencies.
Three years later, Evans was offered an opportunity that would eventually define his career. Martinez recruited Evans to join his team as Vice President, adding professional engineering services to his offers. Again, Evans thought of his father’s first lessons.
“He taught me not to be afraid to try or be afraid to fail,” he says. “I have been blessed to have the confidence in myself of never giving up.
“If you have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, take it.”
—Kurt Evans, Digital Engineering & Imaging Inc.
In the first hour, the firm, which was renamed Digital Engineering & Imaging Inc., saw the growth potential of its engineering services. Two years later, Evans’s entrepreneurial spirit paid off and became an owner.
“At first we were in survival mode,” he recalls. “So we took anything we could put in our hands. And we did a good job with him, so people returned to this small business that we had just started. [Clients] He said, “We really trust you. Really take care of us. And it was when I learned the value of caring for communities and customers, not only looking at dollars. Provide a quality service and keep the community safe and healthy. Finally, the money will come and they did.”
Jose Gonzalez, administrative director of the city of Kenner, says that Evans has remained true to himself and his ideals for almost 35 years. “He is smart, honest, reliable and personal,” says Gonzalez. “I really enjoyed my relationship with Kurt over the years. With his experience and experience, he made things much simpler to me, in terms of dictating the scope of work for a project, dictating rates and working on the project as a government entity.” It was very easy to work with him and his team, compared to others perhaps with other people [firms] This is not so easy to work with. “”
Since then, Evans says that it still retains this desire to advance without fear of failure, while also guided by solid trade strategies. “When you arrive ten years on the line, start to become more selective in the type of work you do,” he says. “Look at the needs of the region and at that time we saw the coastal restoration [opportunities]So I started chasing the coastal money from Washington, DC, then they were wastewater and drinking water. “”
A large part of Evans’s mission is to instill in others the desire to mentor and develop future leaders.
Photo Digital Courtesy Engineering & Imaging Inc.
Service to the Community
Although in their various offers, Evans sees the community on the firm’s portfolio. “I look at the big picture and think,” How can we serve a community? “, He says.” How can we improve life and quality of life better for people? For me, failure does not do a project. If you have the opportunity to make the difference in people’s lives, take it. “
One of those opportunities arose in the wake of the Katrina hurricane in 2005. Waveland, Miss. “The Mayor of Waveland called and said,” Kurt, I need you here. You have to come and see how bad it is, “recalls Evans.” I’m going there and they asked us, “Can you reconstruct our city?”
“It was the biggest challenge we faced, to build a whole city for these people and to obtain the first response out of the ground with FEMA, water and sewer, electricity, and then rebuild this community. This was the most rewarding opportunity of my career, which all our knowledge meets at the right time to serve these people.”
Evans also proves a lot of their personal growth in their participation in industry and community organizations. Over the years, it has been involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers of Louisiana, the American Council of Engineering of Louisiana, the Society of American Military Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Institute of Transport Engineers, Louisiana Engineering Society and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.
“When I would go to association meetings, I would listen to everyone and ask me how to do this or this in your business,” he says. “Find people are willing to share with you if you are willing to listen to them. So I have only learned from them, whether it was their commercial strategy, their engineering style or their management of people. And over time, you are willing to share your own experience and to return it to others.”
Janet Landry, Vice President of the Louisiana ACEC, says that over the last 15 years, Evans has become a resource. He worked with ACEC and AIA Louisiana to launch a series of emerging leaders on management skills development for both professional and personal individuals.
“Kurt is a champion that knows how to get the best in everyone who finds it,” he says.
One of its lasting impacts was his research on alternative hiring for the participation of the early contractor and the head of construction at risk in preparing for the preparation of the language for the Louisiana legislature. Evans worked in collaboration with ACEC, AIA, and AGC to create consensus and support for the CMAR language, which was finally approved by the state legislature. Evans adopted an alternative delivery through his work to Digital Engineering, including the management of CMAR project programs for the city of Kenner and as a senior technical advisor to the CMAR recruitment of a $ 60 million water improvement program for St. Joan Baptist Parish, La.
He has been chairman of the Rotary Club of Kenner, President of the East Council Jefferson Ymca, member of the New Orleans Metro Metro Metro Council and the President of the School Board of the Holy Cross.
“I have always been a person in the community,” he says. “I can contribute and improve someone’s life and at the same time [myself] As a person. ”
While Evans settled as a leader during his 45 years of career, he also pledged to develop the next generation of leaders. “I learned that if we find good people, we can build a company around,” he says. “I also sought people who could help us define our culture [early on] And then find people who coincide with this culture. I sought the attitude in an individual who says, “I buy in your vision and I will put the sleeves and I will be all with you. We throw this wagon together.”
After his retirement on January 1, Evans has remained in digital engineering in a consulting role, including work to instill in others the need to tutor and develop future leaders.
“This is what many of the conversations, ensuring that we ensure the longevity of this family,” he says.
