FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2012
Contact: Darrel Berry, Marketing Communications Manager
Hanson Professional Services Inc.
(217) 747-9291
dberry@hanson-inc.com
Dawson, Fletcher named Rising Stars in engineering
PEORIA, Ill. — Matthew Dawson, P.E., PTOE, and Mat Fletcher, P.E., S.E., from Hanson Professional Services Inc., recently were honored as Rising Stars in Civil and Structural Engineering by ZweigWhite, a business management consulting firm serving the architectural, engineering and environmental industry. The Rising Stars in Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering awards programs recognize civil and structural engineers 40 years old or younger working in the U.S. who have shown exceptional technical capability, leadership ability, effective teaching or research, and public service benefiting the engineering profession, their employers, project owners or society.
Dawson serves as a transportation engineer and technical design lead in Hanson’s Peoria, Ill., office. He has worked on major, high-profile projects throughout Illinois and across the nation. His involvement in local projects includes the Interstate 74 reconstruction through downtown Peoria, Northmoor Road reconstruction and expansion, and the Washington Street and TIGER II Warehouse District redevelopment projects.
Dawson also serves on the board of directors for the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Illinois Valley Branch. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2000 and a master’s degree in civil engineering in 2010, both from Bradley University. He is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and a certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE).
Fletcher, who also is based in the company’s Peoria office, currently serves as a senior bridge engineer and project manager for Hanson’s railway market. He has worked with clients ranging from Class I railroads to industries and government agencies. Fletcher has specialized experience in planning, designing, bidding and constructing railroad bridges nationwide. He currently is the engineer of record for the Alaska Railroad Corp.’s (ARRC) Tanana River Bridge — part of the 3-mile section of the ARRC’s Northern Rail Extension. This future dual-use bridge — a crossing 3,300 feet long with 165-foot spans and 19 concrete piers — will support the loads of freight and passenger rail as well as military vehicles.
Fletcher is a member of ASCE and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA). He currently serves as a member of AREMA’s Committee 15, Steel Structures. This committee is responsible for the development and publication of recommended practices and information relating to the design, fabrication, erection and painting of steel railway bridges. He also is a member of the Fulton County Board, chairing the zoning committee.
Fletcher earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993 and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Bradley University in 2000. He is a licensed professional engineer in seven states and the province of British Columbia, and he is a licensed structural engineer in Illinois.
Hanson is a national, employee-owned consulting firm providing engineering, architecture, planning and allied services. The Peoria regional office is located at 7625 N. University St., Suite 200, Peoria, IL 61614. The office may be reached by phone: (309) 691-0902 or fax: (309) 691-1327.
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