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Lifetime Achievement Award
2017 Recipient

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Niles Hushka

Hushka will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his innovative philosophies and creative solutions in the engineering industry and business community. His dedication to high ethical standards, quality work and entrepreneurial spirit has propelled him to lead KLJ, one of the nation's largest, regional, multi-disciplinary engineering and planning firms. Hushka served as president and CEO of KLJ and during his 9-year term led the company from a 300 person local firm to an 800 person regional company.

As a lifelong learner and leader, Hushka is actively involved in the communities KLJ serves. He volunteers his time to educational and community-focused organizations with a goal of generating and sharing positive ideas. Hushka serves on several boards of directors including Blue Cross Blue Shield North Dakota. He is a long-time member of the American Consulting Engineers Council and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He also served as chair of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association.

He earned his B.S. in civil engineering from NDSU in 1978 and immediately began working for KLJ. During the first 30 years of his career, Hushka planned, surveyed, designed and managed construction for infrastructure improvements across the upper Midwest. His significant field experience allows him to stay connected to and understand the challenges faced by clients.

Hushka's ability to see opportunity and create strategies has led to many successful business ventures allowing him and KLJ to expand beyond traditional engineering. He retired from KLJ in December of 2016 facing health challenges. Hushka currently lives in Bozeman Montana where he continues to create and grow businesses.

NDSU Dept 2880P.O. Box 6050Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701)231-7767ndsu.ugpti@ndsu.edu