Baird, Hampton & Brown is saddened yet excited to reflect upon the recent retirement of Konstantine Bakintas, PE after being a key leader in the firm, and part of the family, for 29 years. His tenure and leadership with BHB included spreading our vision to Grapevine by opening and running an office there for 17 years, and it included time as President of the corporation where he pioneered our success for seven years.
Konstantine began his career in 1985, working alongside BHB’s three founders at another engineering firm. In 1993, the year after BHB was founded, he was hired as our ninth employee. He was named Principal in 1996, established our Grapevine office in 2005, and was elected President in 2013.
“I am pleased and proud to have worked with a number of accomplished engineers and surveyors at BHB for almost my entire career,” Konstantine said, “I am also thankful for the opportunity to have been a member of BHB’s leadership team, and to serve as an officer of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.”
He has been heavily involved in professional organizations, serving as President of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers in the Mid-Cities Chapter and at the state level. He has been recognized as Engineer of the Year by the DFW Mid-Cities Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and Distinguished Engineer by the Texas Engineering Foundation.
Over the years, Konstantine has become an invaluable asset to our team. He has extensive experience in engineering design and project management, as well as a passion for improving the landscape of our communities. Some of his most memorable projects include a tactical vehicle wash facility for the US Corps of Engineers at Fort Hood, the Glade Road & Pool Road roundabouts for the City of Colleyville, the Dry Branch Creek Regional Detention Pond for the City of Fort Worth, and the Monterra Medical Campus in Alliance Town Center. He has worked closely with several small municipalities, even serving as City Engineer for the City of Bridgeport and Town Engineer for the Town of Edgecliff Village.
Mayor Mickey Rigney of Edgecliff Village has maintained an outstanding working relationship with Konstantine over many years. “Konstantine worked many projects for the city of Edgecliff Village, and each project was handled professionally and with a personal touch that satisfied our complex needs,” Mayor Rigney said. “His briefings to our city staff and to our city council were always detailed, but understandable to all levels. When Konstantine talked, everyone listened.”
Konstantine’s words of wisdom to BHB employees are to invest the time and effort to set goals, do the work, and plan for success. “Consider this perspective: you work with BHB and not for BHB – ultimately we all work for ourselves,” he said, “I encourage you to view this organization as the vehicle through which you can pursue your personal career goals… whatever they may be – and appreciate that your success is BHB’s success!”
To leadership at our company, he emphasized the importance of remaining actively engaged in professional and business organizations, reviewing industry publications, following local, state, and national business and political news, and continually consulting with our clients. “By identifying and understanding trends, and considering industry forecasts, you can best evaluate and update our corporate strategy – and assure continued success.”
In his retirement, Konstantine plans to spend his time exploring new places, trying new hobbies, and learning about potential topics of interest outside of engineering including astronomy, technology, astrophotography, or even apiary. He and his wife Stephanie plan to travel to Scotland, France, Switzerland, and several U.S. National Parks.
We would like to express our endless gratitude to Konstantine for his dedication to BHB and wish him nothing but the best in all of his future ventures.