Dunham has named current Executive Vice President Jay Rohkohl as the firm’s new president and chief executive officer. Jay replaces current President and CEO Katy Kolbeck, who is retiring after serving in that position for more than 14 years.
“During Katy’s tenure as president, Dunham has led the way in sustainable design and remained on the cutting edge of mechanical and electrical engineering technologies,” said Rohkohl. “I’m honored to be taking the reins of such a highly respected firm, and I look forward to building on Katy’s remarkable achievements.”
Kolbeck began her career at Dunham in 1976 as an electrical engineer. She was named president of the firm in 1996 and assumed the additional role of CEO in 1998. Dunham completed numerous award-winning projects during her time as president, including a Grand Award in ACEC’s 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards competition for the LEED Platinum certified Great River Energy Headquarters in Maple Grove, Minnesota. After she retires, Kolbeck plans to travel and enjoy time with her family.
Rohkohl joined Dunham Associates in 1997 as the firm’s director of electrical engineering and has served as executive vice president for the past seven years. Prior to joining Dunham, Rohkohl spent 14 years at another Minneapolis engineering firm. He is a registered Professional Engineer in 22 states, a LEED-Accredited Professional and a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology.
“Jay has the natural leadership skills and strong vision for the future to ensure Dunham continues to thrive in the decades to come,” said Kolbeck. “His dedication to our customer-centric philosophy will guarantee our clients the same high level of service and expertise they’ve come to expect from our firm.”
Dunham Associates has been implementing the change in leadership over the past 15 months to create a smooth transition for its clients and staff in anticipation of Kolbeck’s retirement. The transition will be complete when Kolbeck retires on April 1, 2011.