Rachel Hayden ‘89, president and founder of Hayden Consultants, Inc. and former American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Dallas branch president, was awarded the 2015 Civil Engineering Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Hayden was selected for her outstanding entrepreneurial efforts with her company, which recently celebrated 15 years in business. Hayden earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1989 from Texas A&M University. She maintains her involvement with the department by serving as a member on the department's advisory council.
Hayden Consultants, Inc. is an engineering partner to Texas municipalities, state agencies, transit agencies and private developers. The company was founded in 2000 by Hayden as a woman-owned, historically underutilized, disadvantaged business enterprise with a staff of one. The firm now has a staff of 22, and provides a diverse range of engineering services.
The ASCE Committee on Leadership and Management established the award in order to recognize entrepreneurs who create successful private-sector organizations that employ civil engineers and/or expand the civil engineering horizon. The award is given annually to an owner, founder, principal, or manager of a private company who was primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company. The individual must be an ASCE member in good standing and preferably a licensed professional engineer.
Qualifications judged include success standard, character and professional integrity, how individuals have contributed or have given back to the community, how they have empowered and retained employees, and innovative approaches and their business model demonstrating vision and growth.
— The Texas Section of the ASCE contributed to this article.