IEI is excited to share that Vice President and Aviation Business Practice Lead, David Robbins, M.S., was recently featured in Airport World with his article, “Rules of Engagement.” In it, David dives into the importance of early collaboration, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement in delivering successful airport capital programs, especially in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Drawing from hands-on experience, the article emphasizes how inclusive planning, strong partnerships, and a focus on long-term value can help airports tackle funding pressures, operational hurdles, and shifting passenger needs. It’s a great example of IEI’s commitment to smart, forward-thinking infrastructure solutions.

Read the full article here.

Learn more about IEI’s Aviation Engineering.

We are grateful for the recognition alongside so many talented peers shaping Chicago’s infrastructure on the 2025 Crain’s Chicago Business List of Largest Engineering Firms! This milestone reflects the dedication of our incredible team and the trust of our clients and partners.

Here’s to continued growth, great projects, and building a better future!

 

Today on National Women in Engineering Day, we recognize and celebrate the talented women at IEI who help drive our success every day.
Diversity drives ingenuity—and the contributions of women across our offices strengthen our work, our culture, and the communities we serve.
Thank you for all that you do!

Juneteenth, a federal holiday, is observed annually on June 19th to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, bringing freedom to the last enslaved people in the Confederacy.

The 2025 theme, “A Reckoning: Reclaiming the Past, Remembering Black Voices, Reshaping the Future,” calls us to reflect on our history, uplift Black voices, and continue the work toward justice and equality.

As an African American-owned civil engineering firm, we understand the importance of championing diversity in our industry and making contributions towards equity and equality in the communities we serve.

For more information about Juneteenth, visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Every June, Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for equality. It’s a time to recognize both the progress made and the challenges that remain.

This year’s theme, “Activism and Social Change,” highlights the powerful role LGBTQIA+ individuals have played in advancing justice and equality through diverse forms of advocacy and leadership.

At IEI, we honor the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community and reaffirm our belief that inclusive, impactful solutions come from embracing diverse voices and experiences.

Join us this month as we celebrate Pride—by standing in solidarity, promoting equity, and championing authenticity for all.

Please visit LGBT+ History Month 2025 for more information.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, observed each May, honors the history, culture, and contributions of individuals from East, Southeast, and South Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands.

The 2025 theme, “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience,” celebrates those who have led with purpose, overcome adversity, and empowered their communities. AAPI individuals have long transformed challenges into opportunities, driving innovation and lasting change.

At IEI, we celebrate cultural heritage months as part of our commitment to diversity, recognizing that inclusive perspectives strengthen our work and enrich our firm.

For more information about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, please visit: FAPAC – 2025 AANHPI Heritage Month Theme: A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

This April, we recognize National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) and honor the history, contributions, and cultures of Arab Americans to our past and present.

The theme for NAAHM 2025, “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” aligns with IEI’s values of integrity, excellence, and ingenuity. This month, we reflect on the contributions and achievements of Arab Americans in our industry and look toward a future in engineering where diversity and inclusion continue to drive creativity and progress.

At IEI, we value the varied perspectives that make us stronger as a team.  We remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity drives the solutions that help us better serve our clients and the communities where we live, work, and play.

For more information about Arab American Heritage Month, visit these websites.

Arab America

National Arab American Heritage Month – Arab America Foundation %

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Empowering Current and Future Generations in Engineering

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we acknowledge the significant contributions of women across all industries, particularly in the field of engineering. Women continue to break barriers, lead innovative projects, and inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. The 2025 theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” highlights the strength, dedication, and leadership that women bring to their careers, their communities, and the world.

Women have played a key role in developing engineering solutions that address the world’s most complex challenges. The 2025 theme recognizes these contributions and the lasting influence women continue to have on current and future generations of engineers and innovators.

At IEI, we are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, guided by our core values of integrity, excellence, and ingenuity. As one of the largest minority-owned civil engineering firms in the country, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives. Women in our firm have been essential to the success of our projects and to building sustainable, resilient communities. Their experience and leadership advance our mission of “Connecting communities” and our vision of “Engineering Excellence.”

Read more here. LINK TO https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

Since 1976, February has been set aside to recognize the significant contributions of Black people to the history of the United States. It’s an opportunity for all Americans to learn about the African American leaders whose work and lives impacted our culture in a myriad of ways across all sectors of society. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our collective past and inspires us to create possibilities for a brighter future.

This year’s theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the important ways that work – whether in skilled or labor-intensive roles, voluntary or otherwise – has been a central part of the Black experience. From the agricultural labor of enslaved Africans to the assembly lines of American manufacturing to the African Americans who are titans of their industries in 2025, Black labor has been foundational to the forming of a global economy and continues to be an integral part of economic growth, both in the U.S. and the world. This year’s theme celebrates Black work, in all its forms, for how it has and continues to shape history and influence culture.

At IEI, this theme resonates with us, as an African American majority-owned firm, we know that our success is part of the long legacy of Black labor. We honor that history with our commitment to diversity on our board, Strategic Leadership Team, and in our overall workforce, as well as our focus on delivering projects that transform and connect the communities we cherish. From the foundational work of enslaved Africans who helped build America’s infrastructure to Black professionals advocating for better opportunities and equality, our firm stands on the shoulders of those who fought and continue to fight for equality in all industries.

As an engineering firm, we’re especially focused on honoring the contributions of African American engineers and inventors, from pioneers and trailblazers, like George Washington Carver, whose agricultural innovations transformed farming, to Garrett Morgan, whose inventions, including the traffic signal, shaped modern safety practices to the talented engineers on IEI’s team who continue the legacy of Black innovation and impact the cities where we work. They continue to push boundaries and make lasting impacts on our communities.

Join us in reflecting on the achievements of Black labor and in working alongside us to continue advancing progress for the next generation.

For more information about Black History Month, visit www.blackhistorymonth.gov.