Primera Engineers is happy to share that Nick Sternowski has been promoted to Sr. Director of Operations. As a leader at Primera since 2022, Nick partners with managers across the firm to drive performance, productivity, profitability, and innovation while maintaining accountability for safety and quality. In his first year with us, Nick identified several areas to improve our project management performance and developed and deployed a company-wide training curriculum. Since then, he helped lead efforts in developing a new award-winning intranet that revolutionized the way Primera’s employees access information. He has also played a vital role in helping the firm enhance its information security practices, spearheading our efforts toward ISO 27001 certification, proving Primera’s dedication to information security. In his expanded role, Nick will continue to oversee Primera’s operational processes and assist the executive management team with developing strategies and implementation plans that enhance the firm’s operations.

Nick’s expertise is the result of more than 20 years of experience. He is a third-generation military veteran who began his career as a Submarine Officer and moved up the ranks as a leader in power plant operations, engineering, and operational strategy. In 2022 he was recognized as a Notable Veteran Executive by Crain’s Chicago Business. He is a two-time U.S. Navy Battle Efficiency Award winner, certified Engineer Officer by the Department of Naval Reactors, and as an Operations Shift Manager his generating station was awarded the highest excellence rating by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators.

As an active member on Primera’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Nick serves as an advocate for veterans, among other groups. On top of cultivating bonds and supporting other veterans, Nick has helped promote internal awareness of the challenges and opportunities unique to this community. He has served as both a member and mentor for numerous employer veterans’ groups and is a proud supporter of the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Founded in 1987, Primera is a full-service, certified woman owned (WBE) engineering design and consulting firm offering a wide range of professional services with a focus in four major areas of expertise: Buildings, Transportation, Utilities, and Consulting. Primera’s core service offerings include a wide range of professional services in the disciplines of mechanical, electrical, plumbing (M/E/P), structural, civil, and telecommunications engineering, as well as commissioning, energy, architecture, sustainability, life safety, lighting, transportation, natural gas, power delivery, project and construction management, and business consulting services.