2013 40 Under 40: Justin Davis, 34

Vice President, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Dallas

By Jessia DuBois-Maahs, Contributing Writer May 14, 2013

Justin Davis, PE, LEED AP, 34

Vice President, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Dallas

Kansas State University, BS Architectural Engineering

From an early age, mathematics and science came easy to Justin Davis. Complex problem solving was just part of his DNA, and he decided to pursue a career in engineering before even starting high school. After becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college, Davis spent his summer and winter breaks learning and absorbing building construction. His dedication and eagerness paid off; after he graduated from Kansas State University, he was recruited by the Dallas-based firm Blum Consulting Engineers in 2001. During his time at Blum, Davis faced many complex projects and challenges head-on. One of his benchmark projects included the redesign and replacement of the entire electrical system in an existing 607,000-sq-ft, 37-story high-rise tower in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, after it was damaged heavily by a tornado. At 29 and as the youngest of a staff of 12, he was managing the MEP group for PBK Architect’s Dallas office. His management experience continued to grow, and after 3 years of running operations for PBK, he made the move to Smith Seckman Reid’s Dallas office in August 2011. In October 2012, SSR recognized his leadership and management strengths and promoted Davis to operations manager for Dallas. Even though Davis’ work ethic is substantial, he lives by the mantra “work to live” and not “live to work.” When he’s not overseeing the office, he enjoys spending time with his four children, volunteering, traveling, and going to the lake.