Gresham, Smith and Partners, a multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm for the built environment, announced Water Resources Engineer-in-Training Annie Blissit, has been named a 2016 Young Professional of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The national award recognizes five young engineers whose contributions to the industry have made an impact on society.
“Annie’s commitment to service inspires everyone around her,” said James Bearden, CEO of Gresham, Smith and Partners. “Whether she’s designing water infrastructure for a client, sharing her passion for engineering with students or building a bridge for Nicaraguan villagers, Annie constantly seeks to use her knowledge for the benefit of others. We are incredibly proud of Annie and look forward to her continued growth and leadership in our industry.”
Since joining GS&P’s Atlanta office in 2013, Blissit has designed water and wastewater facilities, pipelines and pump stations for municipalities throughout the metro Atlanta area. Last year, she coauthored an original research paper on clarifier equipment at an aging water reclamation center and presented it at WEFTEC, the largest annual water quality event in North America. Blissit also takes her engineering experience into the classroom at local schools as a volunteer on behalf of GS&P at career fairs and for programs that promote science and engineering to young students.
Outside of work, Blissit is coordinating a mission trip through the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Rivers of the World to help design and build a footbridge across a deep creek in Nicaragua that separates homes in a small village from the nearby school, church and other community buildings. At home, she volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, the Northlake Children’s Chorus, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta, United Way of Greater Atlanta and other organizations. She also serves on the Water Environment Federation’s Student and Young Professionals Committee and the Water Reuse Technical Committee. The Georgia Section of ASCE, for which Blissit serves as director of the younger members, recently named her its volunteer of the year.
Blissit graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2012 with degrees in civil engineering and engineering and public policy and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She and other recipients of the 2016 Young Professionals of the Year award will be honored at ACEC’s October conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Source: Gresham, Smith and Partners
