Leerie Jenkins, who joined RS&H 40 years ago and worked on the original master plan for the University of North Florida, will step down as chief executive officer of RS&H by July 31.
Jenkins, 63, will retain his position as chairman while handing the CEO leadership role to Brian Reed, the company’s senior vice president and director of the RS&H Aviation Program.
Jacksonville-based RS&H, which began in 1941, is a facilities and infrastructure consulting firm that works on a broad range of projects that include airports, bridges and college campuses.
It employs 750 people, posts revenues of $145 million a year and has 32 offices nationwide.
Reed, 53, the company’s senior vice president and director of the Aviation Program, will assume the CEO position effective July 31.
Over the past 20 years, RS&H said Jenkins and his leadership team, led the growth of the firm from revenues of $20 million to the current $145 million.
The number of offices expanded from five to 32 under his leadership, Jenkins said.
RS&H ranks among the top Engineering News-Record firms in the country.
“It’s been fantastic,” Jenkins said. “I’ve got a great leadership team.”
Jenkins said Thursday he wants to continue his roles in community and state business leadership.
He has served as chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the JAX Chamber and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, among other roles.
He also is a member of the Jacksonville Civic Council of business leaders who meet to consider how to help with major civic issues.
“I will continue to be very active in the community,” Jenkins said.
Chief Operating Officer David Robertson, 60, currently the chief operating officer, has been appointed president and COO effective immediately. Jenkins also was president.
As chairman, Jenkins will continue his focus on the company’s strategic direction.
By July 31, Reed will complete his transition, assuming responsibility for day-to-day corporate leadership. He will concentrate his focus on growth of the firm, while maintaining its current client service.
“RS&H is a great firm with a superb opportunity to grow while maintaining everything that makes us great today. We owe a great deal of our success to Leerie’s leadership over the years and we are thankful for his continued guidance as chairman of the board,” Reed said in a statement.
In an interview Thursday, Reed said he has been with R&SH for 19 years, growing its Aviation Program to include national and international clients and projects.
He said he wants to work with each of RS&H’s business units, which the company lists as aerospace and defense; aviation; corporate; education, health and science; public infrastructure; and transportation.
The company said construction engineering and inspection services are provided through a wholly owned subsidiary.
Jenkins and Reed said RS&H developed a five-year vision for 2016 and a vision for 2021.
They said they want the company to expand nationally and internationally.
“Hopefully you will see the company in the next 4-5 years close to doubling our revenues,” Jenkins said. “You will see us getting other areas of business.”
Reed said the strategic division calls for RS&H to have a water division.
“It would be an entirely new business unit,” he said.
“This is a good, stable market across the U.S., and particularly in developing countries.”
Jenkins, an Atlanta native, joined RS&H in 1972 as a project planner. He was appointed president and CEO of its North Carolina operation in 1982.
When the company changed ownership to Hunter/RS&H, Jenkins returned to Jacksonville in 1987 as COO and was soon named president and CEO.
Jenkins and employees later bought back the company assets and its name and he was elected chairman, president and CEO in the newly reformed RS&H in June 1990.
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