Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) has appointed Dr. Keith Kesner as a project director for its structural engineering division in New York City, hoping to bolster the firm’s repair and rehabilitation expertise and knowledge of concrete performance for new and existing structures.
Kesner will partner closely with professionals across the East Coast, while operating out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kesner brings more than thirty years of industry and academic experience, specializing in evaluating and repairing concrete, masonry, and steel structures; assessing concrete material performance and deterioration through non-destructive testing and corrosion analysis; and conducting facade inspections and repairs.
Kesner is an active leader in the engineering profession and has contributed to developing several codes and standards for existing concrete repair and new structural design. He is an American Concrete Institute (ACI) fellow, a member of the ACI Foundation Board of Trustees, and a current and past chair for several ACI committees involving concrete repair, non-destructive testing, safety, code development, and more.
Kesner received ACI’s Henry L. Kennedy Award for outstanding technical service in 2021 and its 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 International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) and has published papers and given presentations extensively throughout the industry.
Kesner holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Cornell University, where he also taught and oversaw courses in civil engineering and structural design. He also holds a B.S.E. 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 major structural repair and rehabilitation projects for the firm.
“Keith is a highly accomplished technical expert with a natural ability to understand client needs and help them solve their most challenging projects,” says Nathaniel Smith, SGH structural engineering division head, New York. “His passion for solving performance problems in the field adds to his personal enthusiasm for mentoring teams of engineers and sharing his knowledge across the industry. We are thrilled to have him join our team and already see the benefits of his collaboration with our experts across the country.”
