Bobbie Wood, Chief Structural Engineer for Private Sector Building Design, is the recipient of the 2025 Engdahl Award, given annually to a Haskell team member who has provided leadership and made significant contributions to design excellence.
Wood was five years into her engineering career when she joined Haskell in 2011, a newly minted PE studying for the Structural Engineering licensing exam.
“Haskell groomed me from a young engineer all the way through to Chief,” she said. “There have been so many people who have helped me along the way, given me advice and encouraged me to grow. I always say Haskell gave me a place to shine.”
A pioneer in design-build project delivery, the company also allowed her to indulge her interest in design and construction beyond her discipline.
Wood grew up in Graniteville, South Carolina, where her parents, Jim and Becky Wilder, both engineers, owned Facilities Engineering, a Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) firm. By high school, she was drafting for them.
“I grew up in high school putting together riser diagrams and stringing together receptacles and one-line drawings,” she said.
She graduated from Clemson with a degree in architecture and began her career in that field. Before long, she was attending night classes, and she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a civil engineering degree in 2005.
“I love buildings and how they come together,” she said. “I changed from architecture to structures because I’m better at engineering and math than I am at the artsy side, but it didn’t mean I left that love of architecture behind. It’s just that now I approach it from a different angle. I get to work with architects and MEP, and because I have that background, it helps me see how the building structure affects other disciplines.
“When you do have a team that really understands how different disciplines integrate, then you can make better decisions. All of the decisions can come together to give the client a better building in the end and a better result, rather than all of us pushing against each other and working in competition.”
Wood is a LEED-accredited professional and is licensed in 25 states and territories.
“Bobbie’s commitment to a collaborative approach and attention to constructability help our design team streamline integration and coordination, reduce design-related delays and support efficient project delivery,” said Jim O’Leary, Haskell Chairman, CEO and President. “She builds excellent relationships with our customers, and that is so important because the lifeline of our organization is our customers. She is also extremely thoughtful in sharing knowledge and experiences, leads by example and, most importantly, lives our values every day of Team, Excellence, Service and Trust.”
Engdahl Award Winners
Haskell’s Engdahl Award recognizes team members who exemplify exceptional leadership, design excellence and creativity in the design field, honoring the legacy of its namesake, former Chief Architect Dave Engdahl. Established in 2007, it signifies Haskell’s commitment to professional achievement and innovation. Here is a list of past winners:
- 2008: Peter Skirbst
- 2009: Ted Moore
- 2010: Roland Udenze
- 2011: Jimmy Barber
- 2012: Antonio Valdivia
- 2013: Mike Byron
- 2014: David Schoening
- 2015: Eric Lycke
- 2016: Bela Jacobson
- 2017: Frank Brooks
- 2018: Tom Reel
- 2019: Jeff Pearse
- 2020: Matthew Ford
- 2021: Chris Flagg
- 2022: Bob Streets
- 2023: Ron Garnett
- 2024: Tina Sanchez
- 2025: Bobbie Wood
With more than 300 professionally licensed design professionals, Haskell has deep expertise across the architectural and engineering disciplines. Contact us to discuss your facility’s needs.
