Richardson-based engineering firm Halff has appointed Jessica Baker Daily as CEO, succeeding Mark Edwards.
“Her illustrious career highlights include serving as Halff’s liaison on a joint venture contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) worth nearly $600 million and leading a team of more than 100 professionals in delivering flood risk identification and disaster response services for FEMA’s Region 6,” reads a news release.
“She was named to ENR’s national Top 20 Under 40 list in 2018 and received the Outstanding Young Alumna Award at The University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering in 2014.”
Daily is a member of The University of Texas Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department’s External Advisory Committee and is on the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies Dallas chapter. She’s also a graduate of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Leadership Dallas program.
She received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and has worked for Halff since joining the firm as an intern in 2003. She was chief marketing officer in 2021 before becoming chief people officer in early 2023. Daily has also been a member of Halff’s Board of Directors.
Succeeding Daily as chief people officer is Ben Pylant, who was most recently senior vice president and water resources practice leader. He has been with Halff his entire career, starting as a civil engineer and progressing to team leader, director of water resources, and practice leader.
Halff operates 32 offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, and Arkansas. The firm was recognized by Engineering News-Record as the 2023 Texas & Louisiana Design Firm of the Year.
