Salem, MA – Doug Smith first joined Bioengineering in 1992 as employee number three, leaving 2 years later to broaden his experience internationally and expand his knowledge of large scale ecosystem restoration projects and construction management practices. He had the opportunity to live and work in Hamburg, Germany for Bestmann Ingenieurbiologie GmbH, long recognized globally as a leader in restoration design. With Bestmann he traveled to the Philippines, Korea, and Malaysia, working in consultation with leading academic researchers, government agencies, and engineering firms to address critically important infrastructure and restoration problems. Eventually, Doug returned to the US joining KCI in North Carolina where he became deeply involved in the establishment and implementation of the state’s earliest wetland and stream mitigation banking program. In 2002 Doug joined Buck Engineering where he continued to move into a business operations role, managing a $3 million federal contract to repair waterways damaged by hurricanes Ivan and Frances. The project required the completion of design,permitting and construction within one year, tapping Doug’s notable organizational and technical skills.
During a period of stunning growth, he tackled firm-wide financial metric and project performance tracking, and built his skills with software tools to support his efforts. During these years, Doug became a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and obtained his MBA. After Buck Engineering was acquired by a large firm in 2006, Doug returned to Bioengineering Group as Chief Operating Officer, bolstering the firm’s position for large scale ecosystem and infrastructure projects. Since that time the firm has won major contracts with federal agencies, including a $150 million IDIQ and a $50 million IDIQ for the US Army Corps of Engineers for work on the hurricane and flood protection infrastructure in New Orleans, and a $30 million contract for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. While overseeing these projects, Doug added yet another credential to his resume,certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Bill Hall handed over the role of President to Doug September 1st in order to pursue a role with Penn State. Mentored for nearly 2 years by Bill Hall, a seasoned professional with over 30 years in the industry,Doug is the obvious choice to help lead the firm into the future. “I wish Bill all the best in his new pursuits and am grateful for his insights and guidance to help our successful development during the last years. I am personally quite proud of Doug’s continuous progression from hands-on technical beginnings, to project management success, and into increasingly challenging management roles. It is sheer joy to have an old friend and long-time colleague step into this new level of responsibility for a team that knows and trusts him so well,” stated Wendi Goldsmith, CEO of Bioengineering Group.
“I started with a keen interest in all things ecological, which I still have, but along the way I realized
that effective firms need sound management methods in order to succeed—perhaps more so when they are innovators in their project practices. I am delighted to bring planning rigor to our business whil remaining rooted in our sustainability mission, and in my new role as President I can do both to a higher level,” said Doug Smith.
Doug is a great fit for his new role as President because of his experience, training, long history with the firm and sincere advocacy for restoration and sustainable design. His open personal style makes him a
popular choice with both employees and clients alike.