Hannah Iezzoni named 2023 Delaware Valley Young Engineer of the Year
Hannah Iezzoni, a University of Colorado Boulder alumna, was recognized in February as the 2023 Delaware Valley Young Engineer of the Year – during Delaware Valley Engineers Week, part of a national observance dedicated to recognizing the accomplishments of all types of engineers.
Iezzoni earned her master’s degree in civil engineering in 2014 from the University of Colorado Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science. She now works as a design engineer at Keller North America in the Northeast Business Unit, specializing in earth retention design and small-diameter drilling. She is also furthering her education and earning a doctorate in civil engineering at Villanova University, where she is researching the seismic behavior of rigid inclusions.
The annual award recognizes an outstanding engineer who is age 35 or under, has demonstrated leadership capabilities and has made a recognized contribution to the engineering profession within the Greater Philadelphia region. Beyond the field of engineering, the recipient must also have contributed to and participated in charitable, civic and technical affairs.
“Hannah is an extraordinary example of the young engineering talent we have in the Delaware Valley,” said Bob Wright, chair of the Delaware Valley Engineers Week Committee. “Her passion for helping people and drive to make a lasting impact in the engineering industry makes her a stand-out honoree for this year’s Young Engineer of the Year and a role model for the next generation of engineers.”
Iezzoni started her career in geotechnical design and contractor support as a field intern for Hayward Baker in Chicago, later acquired by Keller Group. To supplement her experience, she earned her Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Having been recognized as the Delaware Valley Young Engineer of the Year, Iezzoni said, “I am very appreciative to have been nominated by the Delaware Valley Geo-Institute and selected by the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia for this honor. I sincerely appreciate the recognition.”
In her profession, Iezzoni advocates for women in construction and mentors upcoming engineers. She is active in Keller’s internal group, Keller Women in Construction, and The International Association of Foundation Drilling’s Women in Construction Roundtable. She also created and kick-started the Deep Foundations Institute’s mentoring pod program, aimed at establishing, maintaining, and growing women’s confidence in the industry.
"I have excelled in my 10 to 15 years in the industry because people have taken the time to explain things or open doors for me that were shut by other people who flat-out did not want a woman on a job site or did not think we were capable,” Iezzoni said. “It is a continuous process where everybody pulls each other up one step at a time, but we pull each other up just a little bit further each time.”