Noteworthy: The Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania named him its 2012 Engineer of the Year.
Age: 65
Residence: Mt. Lebanon
Occupation: Vice president and national practice bridge manager at Gannett Fleming Inc.
Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 1969; master's degree in civil engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1979
Background: Leech helped lead bridge work in Western Pennsylvania on highways such as the Parkway North and Parkway West. He was principal designer of the Bloomfield Bridge, the North Shore Connector Aerial Structure and the Joe Montana Bridges on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Nottingham. He is awards chair and magazine co-chair for the International Bridge Conference, spending 15 years on its executive committee. Leech edited a book that will be published in June, “Reflections,” essays from 21 bridge engineers about notable moments in their careers. He plays several instruments, including acoustic guitars, mandolins and the cello, performing in duets with his son.
Quote: “Anyone can relate to the grandeur of a bridge, especially if it's large in scale. ... As a young person, I wondered how they held themselves up. That really drove me to understand how bridges work, how the structural systems work and how you can build structures over a long span.”
