HOUSTON – Kuo & Associates (KUO), a civil engineering and surveying firm serving Houston and Southeast Texas since 1985, has hired local engineering industry veteran Ricky Gonzalez to serve as its new executive vice president.

The move is part of KUO’s long-term growth strategy, which includes a leadership succession plan, according to Shaheen Chowdhury, PE, RPLS, president and a principal of KUO, along with Steven Weng, PE, RPLS, vice president of the firm.

“This important strategic hire aligns with our vision of elevating KUO as a premier infrastructure design consultant in the local and regional market while developing a high-performing leadership succession plan,” Chowdhury said. “Ricky has built a great network of people and strong relationships in the region over several decades, and we’ve done business with him for many years. Our goal is to prepare Ricky to eventually lead the company. This will be a good thing for the company.”

Gonzalez has spent 32 years serving Houston, Texas, and surrounding regions, most recently as a senior associate and municipal/roadway team leader and regional business development principal, for engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.

His design and project management experience encompasses hundreds of public infrastructure improvements, including roadways, traffic signals, trails, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and traffic engineering projects throughout the region, with particular emphasis on turnkey services for “complete streets” design in underserved communities. In his regional business development role, Gonzalez worked with the firm’s executive leadership to develop and execute short-term and long-term strategic growth plans.