Two Honored with Pillar Award

Roger Figard Honored for Service to State’s Engineering Industry

Roger Figard, Executive Director of the Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD), was awarded the 2023 Nebraska Engineering Pillar Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies Nebraska (ACEC NE) for his leadership and service to the profession.

“I am humbled and appreciative for this award,” Figard says. “There are so many outstanding engineers in our community, and to be recognized in this light is extremely rewarding.”

Figard graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. His career began with the Nebraska Department of Transportation where he served in a few roles. In 1979 he became an engineer for the Public Works and Utilities Department before becoming the superintendent of water production and treatment for the Lincoln Water System in 1985. In 1991, he was hired as the city engineer, a role he held until retiring in 2016. As the city engineer Figard also became executive director of the RTSD, a position he still maintains.

“I’ve always felt blessed that I never questioned doing something different,” Figard says of his engineering career. “What I love about engineering is that it’s about caring for people, communities and assets. Engineering is about life, health and safety issues, and building things that make quality of life better and easier

Dan Kutilek Recognized for Service to State’s Engineering Industry

Dan Kutilek, Douglas County Engineering and Planning Manager, was awarded the 2023 Nebraska Engineering Pillar Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies Nebraska (ACEC NE) for his leadership and service to the profession.

“I was totally surprised and swept off my feet,” says Kutilek, who has served as Douglas County’s engineering and planning manager since 1971.

Kutilek was looking forward to his career in engineering when he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1969, but his plans were put on hold when he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. After serving for eight months, he was injured and returned to the US to finish his tour of duty at Fort Riley, Kansas.

“Military experience changes you, and it’s something that made me appreciate life,” Kutilek explains. “It was a life changer for the better. It has helped me be a better person overall.”

When he returned to Omaha in 1971, a friend of Kutilek’s recruited him for a for people.”

Over his years serving the City of Lincoln, Figard witnessed growth and many changes to the city, but he has also experienced the evolution of the engineering field.

“The single biggest thing I have seen change in engineering is recognizing it takes public process to be successful in getting projects done,” he explains. “Engineering has evolved into public involvement and listening and evaluating different options by engaging with the public.”

He adds that some things haven’t changed, though.

“A commitment to ethics and building sustainable solutions has stayed the same,” Figard says.

Figard has been involved in many critical and life-changing projects during his tenure, the biggest of which was the Antelope Valley revitalization project, which spanned 20 years and involved strategic planning between the City of Lincoln, UNL and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.

Tony Dirks, Division Manager for Benesch in Lincoln and Incoming ACEC Nebraska President, has known Figard as a pillar in the engineering community for nearly 20 years.

“Roger has always been very passionate about serving the City of Lincoln with great infrastructure,” says Dirks. “He has been instrumental in building consensus within the community and navigating all the competing interests associated with private, public and regulatory groups. He’s truly a great engineer.” job at what was then called the county surveyor’s office. Kutilek was willing to give it a try. Now, 51 years later, he’s grateful he accepted the position.

Figard credits his success to his personal faith, wife of 50 years and their four children and seven grandchildren, and the great relationships he has built over the years.

ACEC Nebraska established the Nebraska Engineering Pillar Award to recognize outstanding engineers who have supported the organization and its mission, as well as contributed to the engineering community in the state. The organization represents 48 consulting engineering firms in Nebraska, and its mission is to improve the quality of life in the state by strengthening the business environment for the consulting engineering profession.

“What’s interesting to me is at the county level you can make life changing experiences and projects and efforts that affect a lot of peoples’ lives quickly. What we do enhances lives for a lot of reasons, and that is rewarding.” Kutilek says.

Over the years, Kutilek has been involved in many transformational projects for the city of Omaha, including the 84th Street tunnel in the 1970s, Sorenson Parkway in the 1980s and the recent completion of the 180th Street bridge.

“Hundreds of other projects in between, some big and some small, all have a story, too,” he adds.

Douglas County Engineer Todd Pfitzer first met Kutilek in 1990 and describes him as a quiet, modest leader.

“He’s ethical, honest, hard-working, and he’s the type of guy who does whatever needs to be done, even if that is driving snowplows or doing maintenance work,” Pfitzer says of Kutilek. “Dan is an unsung hero, and I don’t think there is anyone else in our engineering community who would say differently.”

Kutilek also earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from UNO in 1980 and has been involved in many professional and civic organizations throughout his career, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Institute of Traffic Engineers and the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers.

ACEC Nebraska established the Nebraska Engineering Pillar Award to recognize outstanding engineers who have supported the organization and its mission, as well as contributed to the engineering community in the state. The organization represents 48 consulting engineering firms in Nebraska, and its mission is to improve the quality of life in the state by strengthening the business environment for the consulting engineering profession.