John Rathke

About John Rathke

John Rathke, PE, SE, FACEC is a Vice President and Principal at Mead & Hunt and currently serves as the 20••••26 Board Chair for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).John has dedicated over 30 years of his career to Mead & Hunt, a full-service engineering, architecture, planning, and construction services company ranked in Engineering News-Record’s Top 100 Design Firms. John started his career at Mead & Hunt as an entry-level engineer. From there, he steadily advanced within the company, overseeing major projects and initiatives that contributed to Mead & Hunt’s growth and success over the years. His strong leadership and innovation led him to take on the role of Vice President and Principal of Midwest Transportation, overseeing the division’s strategy and financial performance, as well as overall client experience.John\'s leadership journey extends beyond Mead & Hunt to the engineering industry. His active presence within ACEC has grown steadily from state-level influence to national prominence. John began by making a significant impact in ACEC Wisconsin, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Here, he also served as Chair of both the Wisconsin Transportation Leadership Committee and the Wisconsin Transportation Steering Committee, where he played a key role in shaping transportation policy and advocacy efforts across the state.Building on this strong foundation, John transitioned into leadership roles at the national level. He played active roles on the Transportation Steering Committee and the ACEC/American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Joint Committee. John went on to become Vice Chair on the ACEC Executive Committee and serve on the ACEC Planning Cabinet, culminating in his current role as National Board Chair. John’s expanding leadership within ACEC reflects his deep commitment to the engineering profession and his drive to influence positive change at both the state and national levels.

Experience

1. Midwest Transportation Business Unit Leader

   Mead & Hunt

   Feb 1992 — Present · Green Bay, WI, US

   Vice President and Principal, the focus is on overseeing division strategy, financial performance, and client satisfaction. Contributions include managing diverse projects such as bridge replacements, highway improvements, and environmental studies, while ensuring seamless collaboration with agencies and stakeholders. Dedicated to integrating innovation and teamwork to deliver impactful infrastructure solutions.

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Platteville

  BSCE

  1983 — 1988

Skills

• Erosion Control
• Structural Engineering
• Airports
• Highways
• Transportation Planning
• Sewer
• Drainage
• Strategic Planning
• Pavement Engineering
• Team Leadership
• Construction Management
• Steel
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Traffic Engineering
• Concrete
• Highway Design
• Transportation Engineering
• Reinforced Concrete
• Site Development
• Transportation
• Land Development
• Road
• Civil Engineering
• Stormwater Management
• Organizational Leadership
• Bridge