INDIANAPOLIS – Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. (CMT) has announced William (Bill) Bailey, PE, SE, as the company’s CEO, effective as of the firm’s annual meeting of shareholders, which took place Feb. 25, 2023. Over the course of his 34-year career with CMT, Bailey has taken on diverse and progressively responsible roles, including chief structural engineer, Continuous Improvement program leader, Indianapolis office manager, human resource officer, executive vice president, and president. In addition to assuming the role of CMT’s sixth CEO, Bailey also remains president of the firm.

Bailey succeeds Daniel (Dan) Meckes, PE, whose tenure as CMT’s CEO began in 2013. Meckes remains in leadership at CMT as chair of the firm’s board.

“Bill has worn a lot of hats,” Meckes said. “Throughout his career, he has collaborated with people across all units of the firm. He is technically very strong, and he’s skilled in the business side of our work. Most importantly, though, he understands and embraces the people side of our business. He lives CMT’s values and is passionate about the well-being of everyone at CMT, as well as their families. On behalf of the organization, I’m thrilled to congratulate Bill on this new role. We all look forward to the impact his continued leadership will have on the future of CMT.”

Meckes, who will reach his 40th year with the company later in 2023, will continue his active engagement at the firm as well as at the industry level: Meckes was recently elected to serve as a 2023-2025 national officer with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the oldest and largest professional trade organization of engineering companies. Meckes and his fellow officers-elect will begin their terms at ACEC’s 2023 Spring Convention and Legislative Summit, slated for a June convening in Washington, D.C.

“I’m very humbled, excited, and proud to move into the role of CEO,” Bailey said. “I’m honored to follow Dan and other past CMT leaders who have come before us. We’ve had such great examples of leadership at CMT through our 76 years, and it’s a privilege to follow in their footsteps. What’s more, I’m glad to have the opportunity to further my strong working relationship with Dan as he remains active with the firm. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him – and all the talented individuals who make up the CMT team – on the vital work of delivering value to our clients, providing superior infrastructure solutions, creating growth and opportunity for CMT’s people, and moving the firm forward.”

With CMT since 1989, Bailey spent the first 15 years of his career focused on structural engineering projects ranging from major river and interchange bridge designs to buildings and water and wastewater treatment projects. In 2004, Bailey became manager of the firm’s newly established Indianapolis branch office, which has since experienced considerable growth under his direction. Over the years, Bailey has served in a number of leadership roles, both at CMT as well as within industry groups including ACEC Indiana; American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Metropolitan Indianapolis Branch; and Capital Chapter – Illinois Society of Professional Engineers. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Purdue University, and in 2021, was honored with the prestigious Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award presented by the university’s Lyles School of Civil Engineering.