Will Klingner, PE, CFM, has been named the 2021 American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) Emerging Professional of the Year.

Klingner is a licensed engineer and Certified Floodplain Manager with 11 years of experience. Working primarily with levee and drainage districts, Klingner’s work is crucial for the protection of towns, manufacturers, farms, and infrastructure. He regularly provides hydrologic / hydraulic modeling, drainage / site design, and permitting for numerous levee and drainage district clients across the Tri-States. Most notably, Klingner played an integral role in the flood fighting efforts for the record flood of 2019.

Outside of the firm, Klingner is the secretary for the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (Western Illinois Chapter), an American Council of Engineering Companies (IL) – Rock Island United States Corps of Engineers liaison, and treasurer for the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County. He also regularly attends the ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit to discuss engineering and design industry issues with local representatives. Klingner holds a Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering with a specialization in Hydraulics from the University of Iowa; a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia; and a Master of Business Administration from Quincy University.

The ACEC-IL Engineering Excellence Awards is an annual celebration of outstanding engineering achievements in Illinois. Awards are given to recognize excellence in design, demonstrated leadership amongst member firms, and the accomplishments of emerging professionals. The Engineering Excellence Awards were held virtually on April 8.