As Mead & Hunt celebrates its 125th anniversary, few stories capture the firm’s progression quite like John Rathke’s. When John walked into our Madison office for his interview on a Friday in 1992, he had no idea he’d start work the following Monday—or that he’d spend the next three decades helping shape the firm’s success and influencing the future of the engineering industry.
Starting as a structural engineer in Mead & Hunt’s Transportation group, John joined a company of just 125 employees largely based in Madison, WI. Today, we’re approaching 1,500 people in 50+ offices nationwide. John has played a key role in this growth through continuous adaptability, a commitment to technical excellence, and a people-first approach.
Now, as John fully steps into his new role as 2025-2026 Board Chair for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), he brings the same mindset to the national stage. We sat down with John to trace his career path and learn more about his vision for ACEC as he leads the organization.
Q&A with John Rathke
How did your engineering career begin?
“When I started at Mead & Hunt, I’d never designed a bridge before, and suddenly I was working on this major four-lane expansion in northern Wisconsin. But my structural engineering experience was relevant to the role, and whether you’re engineering a building or a bridge, the fundamentals set the foundation. What really helped at that point in my career was working with experienced designers who served as mentors. That’s why it’s so important to me to pay that forward to the next generation of engineers through my work at ACEC.”
How has the engineering industry changed during your time with Mead & Hunt and ACEC?
“In our industry, change is constant. We’re always adapting to new technology, shifting regulations, and evolving client expectations. I’ve watched it happen throughout my 30 years at Mead & Hunt and over 20 years with ACEC. We used to carry our hand-drafted drawings rolled under our arms, and today we carry entire projects in the cloud, accessible from anywhere in the world with a few clicks.
“The key is to embrace change while remaining true to core values. We’ll continue doing what engineers do best: looking at a problem, figuring out solutions that work, and finding a way forward. Engineering is still about solving problems, serving communities, and building a better future. At ACEC, we’ve been adapting and finding ways to succeed through changes in our industry for decades, and we’ll continue this legacy going forward.”
What does success look like for the engineering industry under your ACEC leadership?
“I feel fortunate to be inheriting an organization with such a solid foundation. With key initiatives in place, I want to continue strengthening our member organizations nationwide and globally. I’m focused on the five traits of enduring engineering firms: putting people first, financial soundness, client-focused strategy, succession planning, and leadership development.
“As we grow stronger as a business community and raise awareness of the value our firms bring to society, we’ll be better equipped to adapt, improve best practices, and collaborate to solve global challenges.”
What do you hope your legacy will be as Chair?
“ACEC tells the story of engineering better than anyone, and we need to keep adding new chapters to that story to prepare our industry for the future. I want ACEC to be sought out for industry insights and looked to as a thought leader.”
Looking Forward: Vision for ACEC Leadership
As John leads ACEC, he brings the same practical wisdom that has guided his career at Mead & Hunt. He listens, finds commonalities, and leads by example, sharing his decades of expertise in the industry.
After more than 30 years of learning, growing, and adapting through many phases of Mead & Hunt’s growth, he’s ready to extend that to the entire engineering industry by doing the same as Board Chair of ACEC, and we’re proud to support him on this journey.
