The Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers named Pete Ellis as their 2016 Young Engineer of the Year. Ellis is a civil engineer at GUY Engineering Services, Inc. Each year, only one Young Engineer of the Year is selected for Oklahoma, based on educational and collegiate achievements, professional and technical society activities, civil and humanitarian activities, professional experience, and achievements within the field of engineering.
Ellis graduated from Oklahoma State University with a civil engineering degree and began working at GUY Engineering. His responsibilities include infrastructure design, hydraulic analysis, bridge inspection, coordinating with clients and local officials, project management and supervising the efforts of engineering interns and technicians. During his time at GUY, Ellis has been involved with over 100 infrastructure design projects and has provided hydraulic analysis for over 60 individual bridges and culverts. As a bridge inspector, Ellis has performed almost 2,000 safety inspections.
In addition to his engineering accomplishments, Ellis is passionate about community outreach and STEM Education activities. He has spent countless hours mentoring students by speaking at schools, Boy Scout meetings, and other public events. He recently was a featured speaker at the Engineers’ Breakfast for high school students during annual Engineers’ Week activities as well as at an Engineers Signing event for high school seniors planning to major in engineering. He is also a former president of the Engineers Without Borders – USA Oklahoma East Chapter. As a former member of this organization, he worked to bridge the gap between engineers and indigenous communities in order to provide sanitation, and safe infrastructure. He has put his beliefs into action through mission trips to Bolivia and Honduras.
“At the heart of civil engineering is the desire to connect people with those things they need, to foster relationships, and to strengthen our society. We lived in a world where we can take advantage of the work and efforts of those who came before us, those who sought to provide their descendants with clean water and safe infrastructure. It’s our responsibility as engineers to make sure that those same advantages are passed on to our children, and that our society advances in such a way as to provide those same basic needs to all.” said Ellis.
Ellis continues to work in his community and to serve the public of Oklahoma. He is honored to have the opportunity to improve lives and safety though his work improving Oklahoma’s infrastructure.
This is the second year in a row that a GUY engineer has received this honor. VP of Operations Aaron Peck was the 2015 OSPE Young Engineer of the Year.