Reading, PA - Daniel E. Smith, Director of CER Operations of Entech Engineering, Inc. has announced his plans for retirement after 38 years with the company and 51 years in consulting engineering.
Reflecting on his time working at Entech and the consulting engineering field, Smith shared:
“Since joining the company in January of 1978, I have seen and been part of the consulting engineering evolution, starting with and the progression from rows of drafters in an open room with drafting boards. Technology at that time included the manual art of hand drafting.
Technology has progressed from drafting boards to mechanical drafting machines to Intergraph CAD/CAM stations to tabletop PC Machines to where we are today.”
After working alongside Smith for many years, Principal Christopher Hannum P.E. expressed:
“We celebrate Danny Smith, a remarkable colleague, as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement. Danny's career has been defined by a commitment to excellence, a drive for self-improvement, and a single-focused determination that has impacted everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him.
As we say goodbye to Danny, we are filled with gratitude for all he has given us and pride in all he has achieved. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence and integrity that will resonate with our team for years to come. Danny, thank you for your hard work and the company you helped build. We wish you all the best in this next chapter, knowing you'll bring the same passion and joy to your retirement as you did to your career. Enjoy every moment—you've certainly earned it.”
Smith will continue interfacing with his Design Engineering Team with Coaching, Mentoring and Quality Control checking as he begins with his transition from full-time employment in December 2024 to an as-needed basis in the Spring and continuing into the Summer of 2025.
Current President Robert Weir stated:
“When I think of Dan Smith, I think of legacy. We are celebrating the retirement of Dan Smith, who has been the cornerstone of Entech for nearly four decades. Dan has embodied the toughness, quality, and work ethic that have become synonymous with our company’s reputation. Since Entech’s earliest days, his dedication to excellence and his relentless pursuit of high standards have helped shape our identity, and his contributions are deeply embedded in the fabric of our culture.
Dan’s impact goes far beyond just the work – he has been a mentor, a teacher, and a role model to so many. Through his guidance, he’s developed generations of technical talent, leaving a legacy that will benefit Entech for years to come. His unique ability to balance high expectations with uncompromising quality and support has been key to building a team that strives to reach its full potential.
As Dan moves forward into this next chapter alongside his wife, Lori, we reflect on the incredible foundation he has built here at Entech. We’re excited for him as he embarks on this well-deserved journey, knowing that his influence will always be a part of Entech’s story.”
Current Executive Vice President Bryon Killian P.E. stated:
“After 38 years of dedication, loyalty, and hard work, Danny has left an indelible mark on Entech. His wisdom and passion have been a guiding light for us all. I am still unsure how one person can understand all facets of engineering and design. Still, working aside him for all these years, I have yet to see anything that he was not intimately familiar with and knowledgeable about. Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement!”
A Memorable Career
Smith is a graduate from Wilson High School in West Lawn, PA, and Berks Vocational Technical School in Leesport, PA where he earned a 4.0 GPA in Architectural Design and Drafting. He was the first junior in his class awarded with the opportunity to embark on a Spring Semester co-op program that consisted of working for a local land surveyor. There, he was exposed to survey crews and perk and probe testing, then moved into office work utilizing drafting boards with ink pens.
Smith then continued to expand his career from land surveying, drafting and land planning into the consulting engineering field working at Gilbert Associates, Inc. in Green Hills, PA where future Entech Engineering Associates founders Tom McMahon, Bill McMahon (unrelated), and Daniel Castellani had also worked.
During his tenure at Gilbert, Smith was briefly assigned to the Municipal Water/Wastewater Division, the Nuclear Pipe Support Group, and a two-year field assignment at Carpenter Technology in Reading, PA.
Smith worked primarily within the Industrial Division of the Mechanical Department at Gilbert, when, after over thirteen years with the company, Daniel Castellani asked Smith to join his small engineering firm in January 1987.
Smith’s expertise in Facility Layouts, Process Piping, HVAC, Plumbing and Fire Protection were a complement to Entech’s growing design capabilities. He provided in-depth design and construction details to eliminate ambiguity between project manual bidding documents, technical specifications, and drawing plans.
The Entech Civil/Environmental Resources (CER) business unit was created when Entech moved into the municipal market, beginning in 1996 with the City of Reading Water Bureau.
A City of Reading “project island” was created at Entech. Under the leadership of Castellani, Smith and a handful of other key Entech professionals provided concept layouts, detailed design, and construction oversight of 142 individual projects. This municipal water work design quickly expanded into municipal wastewater, civil design, and industrial water/wastewater fields, which ultimately resulted in the opening of six (6) additional branch offices within the Commonwealth, growing the Entech team to its current size of over 180 employees.
Smith became a shareholder in 1996 and assisted with building the CER Municipal Design Team by the selective addition of Drafters, Designers, and Design Engineers, who all collaborate with Smith to fulfill Entech’s mission, vision, and core values to their clients.
Smith has been laser focused on the core values of commitment, trust, and quality. Entech’s quality was recognized by owners, contractors, and competitive consulting engineers, who later became members of the Entech family.
A resident of Heidelberg Township in Berks County, Smith currently serves as a Consistory Elder of St. John’s Reformed Church in Sinking Spring, PA and continues to provide community service as a former Trustee and current Property Committee member by providing his expertise with oversight on a current capital campaign design and pending construction project. Smith is excited to experience new and different challenges in retirement with Lori, his wife of more than 47 years.
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