SMMA’s Charles Gibson Wins ACEC/MA Young Professional of the Year Award

Charles "Chase" Gibson, a mechanical engineer and Associate at SMMA, was named Young Professional of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) at a ceremony in Boston last week.

Gibson, who joined SMMA in 2014, was recognized by the awards committee for his dedication to mentorship and volunteering, as well as his professional accomplishments in HVAC design. 

Gibson has mentored dozens of high schoolers as part of the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston, which introduces local students to careers in architecture, engineering, and related fields. Since 2016 he has helped his ACE students receive over $85,000 in college scholarships.

“I volunteer because I genuinely enjoy helping others,” said Gibson. “Whether that’s at church helping people in their spiritual journey, or with the ACE Mentor Program helping students figure out what they want to do as a profession, I like giving back the time, talent, and treasure that others have given to me.”

“One of the organizations my wife and I support has a slogan: ‘No One Gets There Alone.’ All of us know people who helped get us where we are today. Having that opportunity to help others on their journey is truly a privilege.”

In his engineering work, Gibson recently led the design to replace failing HVAC systems at the 100-year-old Henry K. Oliver K-8 School in Lawrence, MA. The project included replacing two gas boilers with highly efficient electric heating and cooling systems.

“The project was interesting for so many reasons,” said Gibson. “Any ad-reno is tricky for HVAC design, because the old school was designed without air conditioning or ventilation. Moving the building from fossil fuels to all-electric was challenging, as we were working with an existing building envelope. It was a poignant project to work on, knowing that the failure of the old HVAC system had forced students to leave the building in the middle of the school year.”

Gibson was given the award at ACEC/MA’s 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Another engineer, Mackenzie Tozier, was also awarded the prize. The award is given each year to two engineers in Massachusetts under 36 years old, recognizing “the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their interesting and unique work, and the resulting impact on society.”

“Chase stands out for his leadership in many areas that support the firm, his colleagues, and the community,” said Andy Oldeman, Director of Engineering at SMMA. “He has grown to become an important part of our firm, and I am delighted that he is earning recognition.”

Gibson is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration at Boston University. “Doing my MBA part-time while working has been a challenge, but I’m always interested in meeting people and getting involved with initiatives at SMMA. I have enjoyed being a mentor in our mentor/protégé program and seeing younger professionals develop in their careers.”