CEO Conversations: Fouad Daoud

At the age of 18, Fouad Daoud took a leap of faith and left his home country of Lebanon. His parents strongly encouraged him to leave during Lebanon’s Civil War to pursue his interest in civil engineering in the United States. Fouad arrived in the US in 1982 after he was accepted into the undergraduate civil engineering program at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, Iowa. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in the summer of 1985 and obtained his Master's degree in the summer of 1987.
 
Following graduation, Fouad was hired as an entry-level Structural Engineer at WHKS & Co. in Mason City, Iowa, by its then-President, Frank Schmitz. It was Frank who decided to sponsor him to become a US citizen. In the years that followed, Fouad underwent the immigration process, obtaining his American residency in 1992 and U.S. citizenship in 1996.
 
In 1992, he passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, followed by the Structural Engineer (S.E.) exam in 1993 which allowed him to perform structural engineering work in states with high wind and seismic forces. Fouad became the first person in Iowa to pass the S.E. exam and to obtain an S.E. license; he is now a licensed professional engineer in many states.
 
Years of hard work, perseverance, and commitment saw Fouad transition from an entry-level engineer at WHKS & Co. in 1987 to its President and CEO in 2004. Fouad held various positions along the way, including Engineer Intern, Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Department Head, and Vice President.
 
Fouad has also served in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including his position as President in 1992 of the local Iowa Engineering Society (IES) Chapter. He was on the Bridge Committee for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) from 1994-2012, where he served as the Bridge Chair from 2006-2012. Fouad was elected as President of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Iowa, serving from 2007 to 2012; and in 2011, he was appointed as the Iowa National Director for ACEC.
 
Additionally, Fouad has served on several boards and organizations in the greater Mason City, Iowa area. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Trinity Health Hospital. 

Daoud has a vast array of leadership experiences which he will touch on during his CEO Conversations session on Thursday, December 8.
 
Register today! Seating is limited to encourage thoughtful, valuable conversations.
 
Attendance is limited to 20 participants to encourage meaningful conversation. Registration is $20 and includes lunch.