Memorial: Ralph R. Peterson, former CEO of CH2M Hill in USA: 1944-2009

Mr. Ralph R. Peterson (pictured right below) passed away on 1 September 2009 at his home in Denver, after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Peterson joined CH2M HILL in 1965 as its 148th employee. From 1991 through 2008 he served as the firm's chief executive officer.

"It is with great sadness, that I share the news that our dear friend Ralph Peterson has passed away," said CH2M HILL President and Chief Executive Officer Lee McIntire. "He was great man and industry icon. His passion, dedication and leadership built CH2M HILL into the place that I am so proud of today. I will miss his passion and desire to help others succeed. Our thoughts are with his wife Betty, their family and many friends around the world."

Widely viewed as a sustainable development thought leader in the engineering and construction industry, Mr. Peterson led the employee-owned CH2M HILL for 18 years, growing it to a US $6 billion global engineering, construction and program management enterprise.

In 1991, when the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Peterson as CH2M HILL's President and CEO, the company had 5,300 employees. At that time, CH2M HILL was a consulting engineering firm primarily experienced in water and environmental projects, with most of its work focused on United States federal, state and local government clients.

Thanks in large part to his leadership, vision and passion for CH2M HILL, its clients, and employees, the company noted the following accomplishments:

• Expanded the company to more than 25,000 employees delivering engineering, construction, program management, and operations and maintenance services in 84 countries and on 6 continents.
  
• Executed a global growth and diversification strategy that developed an industry leading portfolio of businesses and services.
  
• Pioneered a broad-based employee ownership program, with over 16,000 shareholders.
  
• Revenue grew from approximately US $400 million in 1991 to US $6.4 billion in 2008.
  
• CH2M HILL has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as a 'Most Admired Company' six times, and ranked among the 'FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For' four times.
  
• CH2M HILL was recently honored as the first engineering and construction firm ever to receive the Catalyst Award, an international honor for the advancement of women in the workplace; and as one of the 'World's Most Ethical Companies' according to the international Ethisphere Institute.

Throughout his impressive career, Mr. Peterson was honored with numerous industry and professional awards for his commitment to the profession and community service. His accolades included the Colorado Governor's Award for Outstanding International Trade Development, the American Society of Civil Engineers' Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Award, Colorado Business Hall of Fame, Oregon State University Academy of Distinguished Engineers and Engineering Hall of Fame, American Society of Civil Engineers President's Medal, National Academy of Construction inductee, and Keystone Center Leadership in Industry Award. In October Mr. Peterson was to receive the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2009 Distinguished Award of Merit.

Mr. Peterson also served as CEO for the Coalition to Advance Sustainable Technology, and played an important role in President Clinton's National Environmental Technology Initiative. He served as a private sector delegate at international forums including the World Water Forum, China's National Sustainable Development Conference, and the Rio + 5 Summit. He was a member of the Engineering and Construction Governors of the World Economic Forum, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Business Environment Leadership Council of the Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Secretary of Energy's National Petroleum Council and the Executive Committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

Born in Hayti, Missouri, October 12, 1944, Mr. Peterson is survived by his wife Betty D. Peterson, two grown children, Jamie Jones and Jeffrey Peterson, five grandchildren, three brothers and five sisters.

Headquartered near Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, management and operations for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With $6.4 billion in revenue and more than 25,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2009). The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by FORTUNE as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For (2009). Visit www.ch2mhill.com.

This memorial article is based on a press release issued by CH2M Hill on 2 September 2009