Primera Engineers is excited to announce that Joseph Avram has been promoted to Aviation Department Manager. Since joining the firm in 2019 Joe has hit the ground running, leading our Aviation group with a combined focus on growth, innovative problem-solving, attention to detail, and unmatched collaboration skills. When Joe joined Primera, our aviation portfolio was exclusive to the Chicagoland area with only a few employees supporting airport projects. Since then, his focused and strategic leadership, in tandem with the team’s efforts and expertise, has increased our portfolio to ten airports with more than 50 employees across Primera’s four Divisions supporting landside or airside airport projects last year. In his expanded role, Joe will continue to help carry out our expansion plans and help develop new service lines to elevate and expand the value Primera can provide to our clients Nationwide.

Joe’s expertise is the result of more than 15 years of experience in transportation engineering design and management. In that time, he’s developed a critical understanding of how to solve complex design challenges posed at a diverse set of airports, including two of the busiest in the Country—Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. His ambitious nature and innovative thinking have helped Primera land some of our largest aviation contracts to date. Most recently, he helped expand aviation services into the Mid-Atlantic region by securing multiple projects at Philadelphia International Airport.

Joe isn’t all business though which is why he’s excelled within Primera’s people-first environment. He also has a heart for giving back. He currently serves as Chair of the Giving Advisory Council for the Primera Foundation and sits on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Engineers’ Foundation. Both organizations empower young people in Chicago to enter STEM fields through outreach and scholarships. His commitment to philanthropic service comes from his dedication to foster a robust engineering community and his willingness to share his passion for the industry, inspiring the next generation. Joe is also an active member in several professional organizations, including the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the Airport Consultants Council’s (ACC) Engineer Committee and the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) Illinois Department of Transportation Aeronautics Committee. Joe’s industry contributions and enthusiasm for mentoring younger engineers earned him the 2020 Rising Star in the AEC Industry award from Civil + Structural Engineer magazine and the American Society of Civil Engineers-IL Section’s Young Civil Engineer of the Year in 2019.

Joe attended Purdue University, where he earned his master’s degree in civil engineering after receiving a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bradley University. Additionally, he received his MBA from Northern Illinois University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and six other states.

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, and project and construction management services.