News & awards

CLEVELAND, May 2019 – Karpinski Engineering (KE) has added two principals to its leadership team.

James Dudt, PE, LEED AP BD+C and Joe Hofstetter, PE, CEM, LEED AP have been promoted to Principal. Dudt is Director of Pittsburgh Operations and Hofstetter is Director of Building Performance and Sustainability.

“Our vision is for Karpinski Engineering to last far beyond any one generation of leaders,” said KE President Jim Cicero, PE, LEED AP. “We’re excited to have James and Joe join the firm’s third generation of leadership. They embody Karpinski Engineering’s culture and values, and they continually demonstrate their drive and commitment to guide the company forward.”

At KE, principals are responsible for strategic vision, business development, operations, financial wellbeing, and general management of the five office, 125+ person firm. They also remain active on projects, engaging with clients and providing engineering leadership.

James Dudt, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Dudt directs KE’s Pittsburgh office, which he opened in 2015. Under his leadership, the office has experienced year-over-year growth and is poised to keep growing.

“When James started the Pittsburgh office, he brought Karpinski Engineering’s culture of engineering excellence and client service with him,” said Cicero. “As the office has grown, that culture has taken root and blossomed.”

Dudt spent the first two years of his career as an engineer in Dubai. He joined KE in 2009, shortly after returning to the U.S.

In 2013 and 2014, Dudt began laying the groundwork for the Pittsburgh office. He drove from Cleveland to Pittsburgh hundreds of times, introducing KE to potential clients.

“One of James’s gifts is that he’s a people person,” said Cicero. “He enjoys meeting people and making connections. James knew everybody even before we opened the office. That’s a unique talent.”

The office officially opened in 2015. Today, Dudt and his team provide engineering services for clients in the healthcare, higher education, corporate, and hospitality sectors.

Dudt earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Grove City College. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Dudt is involved in the Pittsburgh-based American Institute of Architects–Master Builders’ Association (AIA-MBA) Joint Committee, where he was part of a design-assist taskforce authoring a best practices guide on design-assist.

Joe Hofstetter, PE, CEM, LEED AP

Hofstetter leads KE’s Building Performance and Sustainability (BPS) Department. He helps building owners get more value out of their building assets through energy, sustainability, and infrastructure improvements.

“When I go to meetings with Joe, it’s neat to watch him work,” said Cicero. “A client can tell Joe all the problems they’re having with their building. Joe listens, takes everything in, and develops a clear path forward to solve their issues.”

Hofstetter started his career as a mechanical engineer at KE. He then spent several years with Johnson Controls as a project development engineer for energy-based performance contracting. There, he developed and supported the implementation of more than $110 million worth of energy conservation projects.

Hofstetter returned to KE in 2014 and started the BPS Department. His team serves all five of KE’s offices, and their work encompasses everything from energy audits to sustainability consulting to building performance projects.

“Joe has done outstanding work supporting key clients and bringing in new business,” said Cicero. “He’s a strategic thinker, and it shows in his approach to both engineering and business.”

Hofstetter earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Dayton and his MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Certified Energy Manager, and a LEED Accredited Professional. He is a member of ASHRAE and participates in the ASHRAE National Technical Committee for Building Energy Performance. He was recently named Committee Chair for the third edition of the ASHRAE Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits. He is also a member of the advisory council for Baldwin Wallace University’s Institute for Sustainable Business Practice.

###

About Karpinski Engineering

Karpinski Engineering designs environments that inspire. The firm partners with organizations and design professionals to develop spaces for healing, learning, business, and discovery. KE consistently ranks on Building Design + Construction’s Top Engineering Firms list and Consulting Specifying Engineer’s MEP Giants list. Its design teams have worked on landmark buildings and with anchor institutions throughout Northeast Ohio, Columbus, and Western Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KE employs more than 125 people in three states. Learn more at www.karpinskieng.com.