We are proud to share that four F&R professionals recently graduated from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia (ACEC-VA) Emerging Leaders Institute program. Over the past year, Ghulam Akhgar, Hillary Battle, Amanda Sandidge Engstrom, and Maurice Gentry, Jr., have attended a series of interactive professional development sessions taught by industry leaders and business experts.
- Ghulam Akhgar is a CMT Project Manager in the Richmond office. He joined F&R three years ago and has an additional 18 years of professional experience.
- Hillary Battle recently celebrated 15 years with F&R, after beginning her tenure as a summer intern. She serves as a Senior Environmental Scientist in the Richmond, VA, office.
- Amanda Sandidge Engstrom, CIH, CSP, is a Senior Industrial Hygienist with our Environmental team in Roanoke, VA. Amanda has been with F&R for six years. She is also an active member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Star Valley Chapter and currently serves as its Secretary.
- Maurice Gentry, Jr., is in F&R’s Fredericksburg branch office. He began his career at F&R as a Field Technician/Assistant PM in 2018, then moved into the Project Manager role and is now the CMT Department Manager.
Limited to 30 cohort participants per year, the ELI equips rising leaders with skills and insights critical to their long-term success at their respective firms. The core curriculum includes business foundations and presence, team dynamics and culture, risk and legal frameworks, financial strategy, and political advocacy and public policy. After completing the coursework, our graduates were recognized at the recent ACEC Virginia Annual Summer Conference in Virginia Beach, VA.
“We are proud of this next generation of leaders for their commitment to growth, leadership, and professional excellence through the ACEC Virginia Emerging Leaders Institute,” said Gary A. Bruce, PE, F&R President and COO. “Their willingness to invest in themselves today will help position them to serve our clients better, support their colleagues, and contribute to the long-term success of our company and industry. Congratulations on this well-earned achievement, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact each of you will continue to make in the years ahead.”
