By City of Kentwood
City of Kentwood engineer Dan VanderHeide was recently named “Young Engineer of the Year” by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. The honor was presented on Friday, May 3, during the MSPE Annual Conference in Lansing.
VanderHeide has been actively involved with the Western Michigan Chapter as chair of the Engineers in Government committee since 2017. Prior to earning the state title, he was also awarded “Young Engineer of the Year” by the local chapter.
“Dan’s leadership at the local and state level has been outstanding,” said Scott Conners, president of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. “His contribution to the Western Michigan Professional Engineers in Government committee has been valuable to many of our peers.
“Dan’s work with this committee has created a governmental collaboration that is being talked about in engineering circles all across the state.”
VanderHeide first joined the City of Kentwood in 2014 as the assistant city engineer. He was promoted to city engineer in October 2018. In his current role, he provides essential community services related to all development occurring in Kentwood, managing many of the City’s largest infrastructure projects. VanderHeide is also responsible for recommending policies related to roads, water, sewer and storm water to the City Commission.
“Dan has made impressive achievements since joining the Engineering Department, including successfully managing numerous road projects, amounting to more than $10 million in construction value over the last three years,” said Tim Bradshaw, director of Engineering and Inspections. “The City of Kentwood has the best rated municipal road network in West Michigan, and I believe that’s largely due to Dan’s expertise at prescribing the right fix at the right time.”
VanderHeide also currently serves on the Barrier Free Design Board for the State of Michigan and coaches the Tri-Cities Youth Soccer Organization. In the past, he has served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers – West Michigan Branch and as a member of the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds Storm Water Ordinance Committee.
Prior to becoming employed by the City of Kentwood, VanderHeide gained nine years of experience in engineering consulting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Calvin College in 2005.
