ACEC Nebraska announces that Rob Brigham, Chief Executive Officer at JEO Consulting Group, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Charles Durham Achievement Award. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the engineering profession and a strong commitment to community service.
Brigham’s journey in the engineering industry began nearly 40 years ago when he worked summers on a survey crew for JEO while earning his undergraduate degree in finance. Upon graduating from law school in 1996, Brigham returned to JEO in a business operations role, and in 2007, he was named CEO.
Under his leadership, the firm has more than tripled in size and expanded its footprint into Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota, strengthening its multidisciplinary services and regional impact. Brigham also helped lead the creation and growth of the company’s other subsidiaries, including JEO Building Company, JEO Investments, and Sand Creek Construction Company—each dedicated to community-focused development.
Although not an engineer by training, Brigham has played an active leadership role in the engineering industry. He served on the ACEC Nebraska board from 2010 to 2017, serving in each of the officer roles, including president from 2014 to 2015. He was also a member of the ACEC Nebraska Political Action Committee Board of Trustees for over 20 years, chairing the board from 2015 to 2020. He currently serves as vice chair of the ACEC National Market Intelligence Committee and is a member of the ACEC National Leadership Circle focused on legislative advocacy for the engineering profession at the federal level.
“I’m blown away by this recognition,” Brigham said. “I’ve been blessed to work alongside and learn from so many amazing people both within JEO and the industry. This award belongs to them as much as it does to me.”
A strong believer in civic responsibility and community involvement, Brigham has also dedicated his time to local leadership roles, including serving 24 years on the Wahoo Public Schools Board and many other community and civic organizations.