Pennoni’s Employee Spotlight series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the talented individuals who make our company thrive. Each month, we highlight a team member’s journey, passion for engineering and innovation, and unique impact at Pennoni.
This month, we’re featuring Andrew Pennoni, PE, President and CEO of Pennoni. With extensive experience across engineering, construction, and infrastructure development, Andrew has led and supported projects ranging from bridges and highways to building construction and public works. His background includes construction and materials inspection, bridge fabrication and coatings, construction management, estimating, and contract coordination, giving him a deep, hands-on understanding of the work Pennoni teams deliver every day. A Drexel University graduate and current member of its Board of Trustees, Andrew brings a strong commitment to engineering excellence, collaboration, and the future of the profession as he leads Pennoni into its next chapter.
As you step into the role of President & CEO, what excites you most about leading Pennoni into its next chapter?
What excites me most is the opportunity to work closely with so many more great people at Pennoni. During my transition with Dave DeLizza, I was quickly reminded of the incredible talent and dedication within our team. My passion for engineering and construction continues to grow, and I am constantly amazed by the innovative solutions our team creates. This next chapter is about harnessing that collective expertise and creativity to drive Pennoni forward, building on our strong foundation and culture.
As we move forward it is about turning our collective strength into sustained impact. Practically, that means doubling down on people, while accelerating technology and innovation in the work we deliver. It means protecting and elevating our reputation through quality and client service, growing organically in the markets and services where we already excel, and—where it’s strategic—pursuing selective acquisitions that strengthen our services and broaden our reach. It also means keeping sustainability and resilience front and center, so our projects create long‑term value for clients and the communities we serve. These priorities: people, technology & innovation, organic growth, excellent reputation, will guide how we invest, how we collaborate, and how we lead in the years ahead.
You’ve worn many hats at Pennoni—from civil engineering to construction management and inspection to leading our Construction Services Region. How have those hands-on experiences shaped the leader you are today?
My first hands-on introduction to our work was in 1983 doing construction layout and land surveying. I quickly learned the importance of accuracy, checking our work, and teamwork. Early in my career, I worked in traffic engineering, civil and land development, construction inspection, materials testing, construction management, and even general contracting. All of these experiences helped shape me into what I am today. I had the opportunity to work with and observe many senior people who were highly regarded in the industry.
I learned to be organized, respectful, and to value reputation and quality. Understanding scope, schedule, and fee became second nature. Serving as an expert witness regarding the standard of care for inspection and testing services on what was, at the time, the largest settlement in the United States for a construction accident was a tremendous learning opportunity, with many lessons from that project.
Leading our construction services region through transformative change and significant growth while improving quality and profitability is one of my proudest accomplishments. We added service lines, obtained certifications, accreditations, and licenses. We significantly expanded our footprint and multiplied the size of our team, all while enhancing quality and driving profitability. We made key hires and focused on the long-term health and wellbeing of the company. Reputation remained our most important consideration, and we found that focusing on reputation made earning a profit and growing much easier.
Pennoni was founded by your father, Chuck Pennoni, who built the foundation we stand on today. What lessons from him (or from growing up around the business) have stayed with you most?
Growing up around Pennoni and watching my father build this company taught me lessons that have shaped every part of my career. His commitment to honesty, integrity, and service wasn’t just words—it was how he lives and led. He believed in treating people with respect, doing the right thing even when it’s hard, and always putting clients first. One thing he said was, “Be the job great or small, do it right or not at all.” I heard that at home and at work, and he meant it. These values became the foundation of Pennoni and remain at the heart of our firm today.
My father’s influence continues throughout the firm. We have a tremendous culture that he started and that so many long-tenured employees have carried forward. Dave DeLizza, my predecessor as President and CEO, is a prime example, starting as a college intern and stepping down 40 years later as CEO. That culture has guided our growth from a one-person structural engineering firm into a 1,400-person, 100% employee owned, multidisciplined engineering company. Our pillar of excellent reputation and core values of honesty, integrity, and service remain paramount. These lessons—hard work, perseverance, and surrounding yourself with great people—guide me as we continue to grow and innovate.
You’re deeply connected to engineering education, including serving on Drexel University’s Board of Trustees. Why is investing in the next generation of engineers so important to you?
This question touches me in many ways. I’m proud to continue my father’s legacy at Drexel University. He served twice as interim president and on the Board, giving so much to Drexel when it needed him most. He believed deeply in education, helping others, and leading by example – the values that guide me every day. Drexel is known for engineering, and we have many Drexel graduates at Pennoni; we continue to hire Drexel co‑ops and graduates. Serving on Drexel’s Board of Trustees allows me to support a community and a profession that have shaped my life and our company.
Supporting engineering is natural for me, it’s in my blood. As a kid, I stopped at construction sites, loved building things, was fascinated by construction equipment, and watched shows about major engineering and construction projects. Our profession improves communities, cleans the environment, strengthens commerce, creates jobs, drives the economy, and enhances quality of life and longevity. How can that not excite me? With a real shortage of engineers, investing in the next generation through education, mentorship, and opportunity is essential to ensure the talent, creativity, and ethical leadership needed to keep advancing our world.
For employees across the firm, what do you hope they feel and experience under your leadership and how can they expect to see that reflected in Pennoni’s culture moving forward?
I want every colleague to feel genuine pride in working at Pennoni, pride in their own reputation and in the reputation of our firm, alongside clarity of purpose, trust, and belonging. You should experience a culture that motivates us to work as one team to deliver innovative solutions for our clients, with a relentless focus on quality, customer service, and client value. As we grow and remain profitably disciplined, you can count on visible opportunities, transparent communication, and leadership that consistently lives our values of honesty, integrity, and service.
You’ll see this reflected in how we operate: values‑led behaviors, predictable firmwide rhythms, recognition tied to outcomes that protect our reputation and strengthen our economics, and career development and succession planning. We will invest in practical innovation and cross‑disciplinary collaboration to make great work easier and increase impact. At the end of the day, Pennoni is our people and everything we build will start with enabling our people to do their best work and be proud of it.