Each year, the Clark Dietz Board of Directors selects a winner of the President’s Award from among all nominated staff.
Established in 2007, the President’s Award recognizes a team member who demonstrates leadership within the company, profession, and community; exhibits creativity and high performance; and reflects the Clark Dietz core values in all they do.
This year, we are proud to honor Chester Kochan, PE, as the 2025 recipient of the President’s Award.
Leadership That Builds People
For more than three decades at Clark Dietz, Chester has been known not only for delivering successful construction projects, but for developing the people around him.
Al Lapinskas, PE, who nominated Chester, shared:
“Chester has been an outstanding resource and mentor at Clark Dietz, not only for me but for the other construction staff and staff throughout our offices. He always engages with us in a manner that makes us not only better engineers, but even better people.”
Colleagues consistently describe Chester as steady, patient, and generous with his experience. He actively shares lessons learned, industry relationships, and practical insight so that others can grow faster and lead with confidence.
That commitment to mentorship has also been recognized beyond our firm. Chester was recently named the 2026 ACEC Illinois Mentor of the Year, reflecting the broader impact he has made across the engineering profession.
Creativity Grounded in Experience
Construction engineering demands both discipline and creativity. Chester’s approach reflects decades of hands-on experience and sound judgment in the field.
As Al noted in his nomination:
“Creativity comes from having extensive knowledge in something and knowing what works and what doesn’t. By that definition, Chester definitely knows what works and what doesn’t when it comes to processes, constructing items in the field, or knowing what to say at the right time.”
That ability to adapt, problem-solve, and guide teams through complex challenges results in consistent high performance and strong relationships with project partners.
High Performance Recognized in the Field
Chester’s leadership is consistently reflected in project evaluations and feedback.
Project teams have praised his professionalism, communication, and steady guidance throughout construction. Evaluations describe him as courteous, responsive, and committed to maintaining high standards of accountability. His ability to mentor staff while managing complex field conditions reinforces both team performance and client confidence.
These testimonials speak to more than technical expertise. They reflect reliability, professionalism, and trust, core values that define the Clark Dietz approach.
Living the Clark Dietz Values
The President’s Award is rooted in our core values: Commitment, Flexibility, Community, and Trust. Chester embodies each of them in action.
Al also reflected on Chester’s pride in the firm:
“He lives the brand and shows leadership and pride in the company he works at. Chester is not only a great ambassador of the engineering community, but even more of the Clark Dietz lifestyle and work ethic.”
Commitment
Chester is dedicated to improving the quality of life for our clients, staff, and communities through thoughtful oversight and attention to detail.
Flexibility
He navigates complex field conditions and evolving challenges with calm judgment and adaptability.
Community
He treats every project site as if it were in his own neighborhood, taking ownership of concerns and ensuring stakeholders feel heard and respected.
Trust
He builds strong relationships through consistency, transparency, and professionalism.
With more than three decades at Clark Dietz, Chester continues to model what it means to lead with integrity and purpose.
Recognizing Excellence
All nominated employees are recognized for their contributions, and the Executive Committee selects one recipient to receive the crystal President’s Award and recognition points.
This year, that honor goes to Chester Kochan, PE.
Congratulations, Chester, on this well-deserved recognition. Your leadership strengthens our teams, your mentorship shapes our future, and your professionalism reflects the very best of Clark Dietz.
President’s Award Recipients
Since its inception in 2007, the President’s Award has recognized outstanding leaders across Clark Dietz:
2007 – Andy Torola
2008 – Steve Cihasky
2009 – Brian Cater
2010 – Sean Widener
2011 – Vern Sharp
2012 – Joyce Marzano
2013 – Emily Basalla
2014 – Chris Gutkowski
2015 – Jim Edenburn
2016 – Kevin Risch
2017 – Kevin Loiselle
2018 – Antonio Acevedo
2019 – Larry Rix
2020 – Andrea Bretl
2021 – Tom Foley
2022 – Jim Loew
2023 – David Wichman
2024 – Keary Roberts
2025 – Chester Kochan
