Charlie Townsend, PE, was selected for the 2023 President’s Award and Young Engineer of the Year award from the Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC). The Young Engineer of the Year award is given annually to an individual that stands out as an excellent engineer, displaying a consistent quality of work and outstanding record of achievement in education, employment, and professional and public service activities. The President’s Award is granted to an individual for their dedication to the advancement of engineering through educational programs. The 2023 PENC Achievement Award recipients were recognized at the organization’s annual summer conference, which was hosted in Charlotte this June.
Charlie is a Project Manager at VHB Raleigh where he works with clients in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors on innovative site/civil design and permitting solutions. With more than a decade of experience in the professional engineering environment, Charlie is passionate about giving back to his community, holding leadership positions with many civic and community organizations, including PENC. Charlie has been a part of the PENC Triangle Chapter since 2021 and is currently the Community Leadership Committee Chair where he organizes and supports community volunteer activities, is a liaison for the Math Counts and Future City competitions, and coordinates with PENC Education Foundation, and other higher education outreach efforts. He also serves as Secretary on the PENC Education Foundation Board of Directors.
“Charlie is well-regarded in our profession and shows dedication and commitment to organizations that prioritize emerging leaders,” said Reggie Scales, Managing Director of VHB Raleigh. “When not volunteering, Charlie plays a vital role in spearheading the expansion of our land development practice across North Carolina—providing innovative solutions to our clients that address today’s real estate challenges.”
Charlie has been the Regional Coordinator for the North Carolina Future City competition since 2021, a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) event for middle school students. He also actively serves on the PENC University Speaker Series Committee since 2022, where he helps coordinate and present to College and University Engineering Departments on the path to professional engineering licensure and engineering ethics. PENC promotes the values of ethics, competence, and licensure in the field of engineering, while also striving to improve the overall professional, social, and economic welfare of its members.
