A Culture of Connectivity: Cross-Country Collaboration at Kimley-Horn

Celebrating Connections

Collaboration is at the core of all that we do at Kimley-Horn. Despite our more than 150 offices nationwide, we maintain a one profit center mentality—meaning that we operate as one firm regardless of location, delivering consistent and exceptional client service from coast to coast.

Each year, we hold regional Kickoff meetings to bring together all employees in their respective regions. These gatherings are an opportunity to celebrate the past year’s achievements, align across all regions, and prepare for the year ahead—together.

One highlight of our Kickoff meetings is recognizing our Connections Awards recipients. Established in 2011, these awards commend significant teamwork—spotlighting our people who go above and beyond to support partners across regions in delivering outstanding client service.

Below, we proudly honor some of our 2025 awardees.

Collaborating for Community

Teamwork is at the heart of how we serve—not just our clients, but also the communities where we live and work. Kelly Smith, PE, CQM-C, was recognized for her significant contributions in partnering with JBW Federal and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to assist with Hurricane Helene debris cleanup in Western North Carolina.

When residents faced severe damage to their homes, storm-related debris, and limited access to resources, Kelly took a proactive approach to help a community in need and coordinated with JBW Federal to join in the cleanup efforts with USACE Wilmington District and FEMA. Although based in Jacksonville, Florida, Kelly collaborated closely with our right-of-way team in Loudon, Virginia to expedite pre-contract actions, assist with proposal development, and plan resource mobilization.

Within four days, Kimley-Horn deployed a nationwide team to manage private property debris removal and implemented a GIS-based platform to streamline right-of-entry permitting—processing over 2,500 permits across four counties. Kelly’s strategic leadership exemplifies the spirit of the Connections Award, demonstrating exceptional dedication to serving communities across state lines.

Driving Cross-Country Innovation

Driven by a passion for electric vehicles (EV) and a commitment to advancing sustainable transportation, Bryce Christensen, PE, has played a pivotal role in Kimley-Horn’s nationwide EV program. Bryce, though located in Aspen, Colorado, has helped develop hundreds of EV charging sites across the country and was honored with the Connections Award for his cross-regional leadership and support in driving our EV program’s growth in Illinois and the surrounding states.

When we began to expand our EV space in the Midwest, Bryce stepped up and served as a senior advocate throughout the program’s development, partnering closely with teams to ensure a smooth program transition and providing strategic guidance. By fostering a culture of mentorship and teamwork, Bryce has helped accelerate the growth of Kimley-Horn’s EV program and has contributed significantly to our mission of providing innovative solutions and driving impactful change.

Connecting through Mentorship

As a firm, we embrace a culture that champions connectivity through learning, growth, and mentorship. Jeremy Pitts, based in Dallas, Texas, has played a pivotal role in expanding Kimley-Horn’s residential practice in Fort Mill, South Carolina—becoming a trusted advisor to new clients and helping others develop professionally. For his dedication to building partnerships through mentorship and leadership, Jeremy received the prestigious Connections Award.

In addition to helping manage large, complex residential projects under tight deadlines, Jeremy consistently provides support for projects with intricate challenges—often traveling to South Carolina to meet with clients and coach partners, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening inter-regional relationships and collaboration. His efforts have produced integrated solutions that have transformed first-time clients into trusted partners and contributed significantly to the growth of the local practice.

Strengthening Client Relations

With a focus on client success, almost 90% of our business comes from repeat clients. Nikki Kerry, PE, from Orange, California, earned a Connections Award for her exceptional collaboration in strengthening Kimley-Horn’s long-standing partnership with Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Nikki applied her expertise in healthcare and relationship-building to help elevate our role in Mayo Clinic’s multi-billion-dollar expansion plan—bringing together local staff and national experts to leverage their strengths and deliver design excellence.

Her ability to identify staffing needs, assemble dedicated teams of experts, and coordinate across regions to serve clients represents the epitome of the Connections Award: setting a benchmark for excellence and lasting impact. Nikki’s contributions have strengthened our healthcare practice well beyond Arizona.