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The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers named Sam McCachern, president and CEO of Savannah-based Thomas & Hutton as its Engineer of the Year for Private Practice.
The award honors licensed engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, the public welfare and/or humankind. McCachern was honored Saturday night at the 2015 Georgia Engineers Week Awards Gala at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta.
McCachern began his career with Thomas & Hutton in 1985 after he graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in civil engineering. His assignments included design engineer for projects on Daufuskie Island, project manager for Sun City Hilton Head and client manager for Crescent Resources and the Branigar Organization.
His management roles have included all of the corporate positions, and he currently sits on the board of directors and serves as president and CEO. McCachern also helped develop Thomas & Hutton University, which puts an emphasis on extensive training and skill development for staff.
Jim Collins, the firm’s
senior vice president/regional director, said he considers McCachern to be a leader from both a technical and managerial standpoint.
“During the recent economic downturn, it was Sam’s steady foresight and management ability that allowed Thomas & Hutton to not only persevere as one of the largest civil engineering firms in the state of Georgia, but to add two regional offices in South Carolina,” Collins said.
McCachern said the company’s staff grew by almost 20 percent last year and it is looking for more people.
“We have a lot of fun with our clients, work and employees,” he said. “It is a good time to be an engineering consultant in the Southeastern United States.”
McCachern also is active in several local organizations, including Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, Rotary Club of Savannah, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah Technical Institute Foundation, Georgia Southern CEIT Corporate Advisory Board and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
In her recommendation letter, Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson wrote: “(McCachern) and his firm represent the epitome of how the community and a company can work together for the benefit of all people.”
