News & awards

Karpinski Engineering has promoted three staff members to the firm’s leadership team. Evan Hammersmith, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CGD, Raymond P. Hoon, PE, LEED AP BD+C, and Ryan Smith, RCDD are now principals.

“Our goal is to give this company the strongest leadership it can have,” said Karpinski President James T. Cicero, PE, LEED AP. “Having these three individuals as principals positions them to both grow their talents and support our growth as a company. It also gives the company more leadership capacity and the resources to do more.”

At Karpinski, principals are owners of the firm. They are responsible for the strategic vision, business development, operations, financial wellbeing, and general management of the five-office firm. They also remain active on projects, engaging with clients and providing engineering leadership.

Evan Hammersmith, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CGD

Mechanical engineer Evan Hammersmith is one of the firm’s education sector leaders, with dozens of K-12 and higher education facilities in his portfolio. He is also a mentor to junior staff, helping them to grow as engineers and professionals.

“Under Evan’s leadership, our education team has deepened its expertise and maintained a strong reputation,” said Cicero.

During his tenure at Karpinski, Hammersmith has been involved in more than 15 LEED certified projects, such as Bowling Green State University’s Moseley Hall and Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District’s Heights High School. He has specialized experience with high-efficiency HVAC design, including geothermal systems.

As a principal, Hammersmith wants to share with his colleagues what he has received.

“I’ve benefited from and enjoyed great mentorship in the past years to grow into a leader. I want to be influential in the professional growth of our team members to reach their highest potential,” said Hammersmith.

Hammersmith joined Karpinski in 2003, after earning a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional, and one of five Certified Geoexchange Designers in the State of Ohio. He is a member of ASHRAE.

Hammersmith is also a leader at his church, and he operates Hammersmith Confections, a seasonal chocolate business.

Raymond P. Hoon, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Ray Hoon joined Karpinski in 2006, looking for new engineering challenges and project opportunities. During that time, he has made his mark not only because of his engineering work, but because of his project management, business development successes, and consistent client care.

“Ray is known for incredible client service,” says Cicero. “I get phone calls from people thanking me for having Ray on their team.”

Hoon has worked across market sectors, from higher education and historic renovations to healthcare and senior living, with a specialty in corporate projects. He has provided engineering design and leadership for high-profile projects including Goodyear’s Global and North American Headquarters and the recently-completed Swagelok Global Headquarters and Innovation Center. His project leadership has earned longstanding, repeat clients – something that Hoon takes pride in.

One of Hoon’s goals is to be more involved in the business aspect of consulting engineering.

“I enjoy supporting our administrative departments, the directors of our specialty services, and our regional offices,” he said. “At the same time, I will still be closely involved with projects and serving our clients. I very much appreciate the relationships I have with people throughout the industry.”

Hoon earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cleveland State University while working fulltime for a Cleveland engineering firm. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional, and ASHRAE member.

When he’s not at the office, Hoon enjoys outdoor activities, such as golfing and jet skiing, with family and friends.

Ryan Smith, RCDD

Ryan Smith is Karpinski’s Director of Technology. In addition to leading the technology team, Smith designs complex technology infrastructure and manages project teams.

“Ryan has always been interested in the company as a whole,” said Cicero. “He has become one of the firm’s best project managers. He thinks about the entire project and how to improve the whole team.”

Smith joined Karpinski in 2007 as a technology engineer. At the time, he knew very little about the role he was taking on. Since then, he has excelled as both an engineer and project manager. Over the years, he has delivered on progressively larger and more challenging projects, such as Case Western Reserve University’s Health Education Campus or Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Weston Campus Expansion.

Smith says he values the trust that his clients have placed in him to get the job done right. Now as a principal, he looks forward to being in a position where he can make the greatest positive impact on a company that he is committed to.

Smith graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He is a BICSI-Registered Communication Distribution Designer and a member of BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Services International).

In his spare time, Smith enjoys spending time outdoors and processing firewood.

“Our goal is to give this company the strongest leadership it can have. Having these three individuals as principals positions them to both grow their talents and support our growth as a company.”

– James T. Cicero, PE, LEED AP, President