John Carrato Receives ACEC Chair Emeritus Award
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) has presented the 2023 Chair Emeritus Award to John Carrato, PE, SE, past President, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Benesch. This highly prestigious award is given each year to individuals who have provided exceptional service and value to ACEC.
John’s commitment to the organization spans many years. He served as the inaugural Chair of the ACEC Research Institute and currently serves as Past Chair. The vision of the Institute is to be the leading source of knowledge and thought leadership for creating a more sustainable, safe, secure and technically advanced built environment.
In addition to his work with the Institute, he has served ACEC in a variety of ways including as Vice Chair on the ACEC Executive Committee, and as President and National Director for ACEC-Illinois. Additionally, he has served on numerous state and national committees and is an ACEC Fellow.
“ACEC is an incredible organization,” said John. “Their advocacy work is invaluable to our industry, and their educational opportunities support professional development at every level. It’s an incredible organization, and it’s been an honor to contribute to those initiatives as the organization has been instrumental in shaping my career.”
John’s professional career began in 1980 when he first came to Benesch. As an engineer, he specialized in the design, inspection and evaluation of railroad bridges. He has held several leadership positions within the firm, the most recent being Chairman of the Board. Prior to that, John was President and CEO from 2009 to 2020. Under his leadership, Benesch experienced thoughtful and measured growth which greatly expanded the company’s footprint while further diversifying the services provided to clients across the nation. He has played an integral role in the development and implementation of strategic growth initiatives for the company and has set in place many of the current operating standards that help Benesch remain competitive within the AEC industry.
“John is a passionate leader—not just at Benesch but across the industry through his involvement with ACEC and other organizations,” said Kevin Fitpatrick, the firm’s current President and CEO. “He’s always looking for ways to help—not just the people at our firm, but those at other firms as well. He thinks about the big picture and how his efforts can further our industry and benefit everyone. He is incredibly deserving of this award!”
The Chair Emeritus Award was presented to John during ACEC’s Fall Conference on October 17 in Austin, Texas.
