Engineer of year candidates: top professional to be honored for achievement and contribution to Alaska.

For nearly 60 years, the National Society of Professional Engineers has recognized its members for their achievements with a celebration of National Engineers Week.

Established in 1951, the NSPE is celebrating its 56th year and will honor its top individuals in the engineering field.

The weeklong, annual event is always commemorated around the time of our country's first president's birthday. George Washington was also a military engineer and a land surveyor.

In Alaska, the first Engineers Week was started in the late 1950s. It has grown to involve hundreds of engineers in a variety of community activities, presentations of student scholarships, and recognition of individual engineers for their accomplishments.

Nominees must be residents of Alaska, practicing a noteworthy career in an engineering capacity in a recognized field of engineering within the state.

This year's six candidates have shown significant engineering contributions in their respective fields, as well as taken active roles in their communities.

The 2007 Engineer of the Year will be announced during the National Engineers Week (Feb. 18 to 23) on Feb. 23 at the annual banquet at the Millenium Alaskan Hotel in Anchorage.

For their dedication to engineering as well to Alaska, the engineering community and Alaska Business Monthly is pleased to honor and recognize the feats of these hard-working professionals. ABM would also like to congratulate last year's choice of Dr. Jon Zufelt as Engineer of the Year.

Craig Fredeen, P.E.

Craig Fredeen, P.E., senior mechanical engineer with PDC Inc. Engineers, is nominated by the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers. Besides his professional engineering license, Freeden is a LEED-accredited professional. His design expertise includes HVAC, plumbing, fuels and fire-suppression systems. Freeden has project experience in commercial, industrial, residential, institutional and correctional facilities, from North Slope power plants to schools in SouthEast, ranging in size from single-family rural homes to the $120 million renovation of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Freeden has first-hand familiarity with most of Alaska in Arctic, sub-Arctic and marine climates, which has brought him a better understanding of how projects impact communities and end users. Freeden participates in engineering activities at local, state, and national levels. A member of the Municipality of Anchorage building board, current vice chair of the...