University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering

Sergio "Satch" Pecori

[title]

For leadership in civil engineering consulting practice for more than 40 years; for transformative support of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center; for commitment to diversity in engineering; and for advancing the business climate and infrastructure in Illinois

Chairman and CEO of Hanson Professional Services Inc.

  • BS, Civil Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, 1973
  • MS, Civil Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, 1974

Sergio “Satch” Pecori is a chairman and chief executive officer of Hanson Professional Services Inc., a national, employee-owned engineering, planning and allied services company. With nearly 50 years of experience in the engineering industry, he has led Hanson’s efforts to provide sustainable and resilient design services on complex projects worldwide. He is also highly regarded in the technical field, serving as an ambassador for the engineering profession in numerous leadership roles.

Mr. Pecori is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies and served as chairman from 2017-18. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving on its Industry Leaders Council. Mr. Pecori serves on the Design Professionals Coalition’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s board of directors.

He has served on the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Buildings Operations’ Industry Advisory Panel and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. In 2013, he was selected to lead the board’s Cyber Policy Task Group. Mr. Pecori has served on The Grainger College of Engineering Advisory Board, the University of Illinois Foundation President’s Council and the University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Business Advisory Council for the College of Business and Management.

He has received numerous awards, including the U.S. Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in 2015, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2019 and ASCE’s Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) award in management. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grainger Engineering’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1999 and is a distinguished chapter honor member of UIUC’s Chi Epsilon.

Mr. Pecori champions Hanson’s support of The Grainger College of Engineering, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and UIS’ College of Business and Management. As part of Hanson’s involvement in the Springfield Rail Improvements Project in Springfield, Illinois, Mr. Pecori has led the development and implementation of the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program, fostering minority students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) careers.

Current as of February 2023