Mark Lilie, PE, founded Ensight Haynes Whaley in 2009 and has served as CEO since then. Though it could be said he’s been practicing engineering his whole life, starting with the elaborate machines and intricate buildings constructed entirely of Lego® bricks. Mark is a hands-on leader and is ultimately responsible for the outcome of every project the firm undertakes. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and started his career at Haynes Whaley Associates. He is a licensed structural engineer in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and holds a national record through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). He is a also a member of Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society. Mark is active in other professional organizations including:

• Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAoT)

• American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

• Structural Engineering Institute (SEI)

• Foundation Performance Association (FPA)

• Society for Marketing Professionals (SMPS)

 

Many of Mark’s leadership traits came from his time as a Boy Scouts of America scoutmaster. He’s led groups on trips through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at the Canadian border and at Buffalo Trails scout ranch in west Texas, both extremely remote places with no human presence for miles. The solitude and self-reliance taught him that leadership is only partially guidance and much more about enabling and letting go so the people around you can discover, learn, and grow on their own. Mark’s scouts are now grown so he spends less time conquering the land and more time wading in the waters of Matagorda Bay searching for the next big catch.

 

“What makes me different from many engineers is that I prefer to avoid completing things ‘the hard way.’ When faced with a complex problem, I first step back rather than focusing on the problem itself and look for a better way to create the same result. My goal is achieving the vision, not just solving the particular problem.”