ASPE names James Paul Strickland 2007's Young Engineer of the Year

James Paul Strickland

The Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE) recently named James "Paul" Strickland of Benton its Young Engineer of the Year for 2007.

The group, which works to promote the licensed practice of professional engineering, represents more than 500 engineers of various disciplines across Arkansas, and is affiliated with the National Society of Professional Engineers.

The award is made annually to recognize an outstanding young engineer whose career is marked by a high level of service to the engineering profession and to the Society.

Whether volunteering to help restore a vintage carousel or logging 900 work hours to increase water flow capacity to Little Rock residents, mechanical engineer, Strickland is making the most of his career.

Strickland, a project manager and the mechanical engineering team leader at Garver Engineers in Little Rock, has quickly left his mark on the engineering profession. He has made a smooth transition from a top student at the University of Arkansas to a knowledgeable engineer, rising through greater roles and increasing responsibilities in Garver Engineers' systems group.

Hired as a design engineer in 2003, Strickland has evolved into a man responsible for the supervision, planning, development and coordination of a multi-disciplined staff; specifi- cation and design of industrial and mechanical improvements; and client service.

Strickland has provided service to wastewater treatment plants, chilled and cooling water systems, polyethylene film extrusion and material handling systems. One of his notable projects includes service on the $5.1 million Jack H. Wilson High Service Pump Station No. 1B project. Central Arkansas Water's new 40 million-gallonsper day pump station increased pumping capacity to thousands of customers in central Arkansas. His responsibilities included plans and specifications for the process and mechanical design of four 500 horsepower horizontal split case pumps, 48-inch diameter ductile iron process and yard piping, valves and appurtenances, he also designed the heating, ventilating, and plumbing systems for the pump station.

Lesser known is the fact that Strickland volunteered his mechanical expertise to Steve Raley, a fellow Garver Engineers employee, who had a key role in helping rehabilitate the Over the Jumps carousel, a popular attraction at War Memorial Park midway for 50 years before being retired in 1991. The 40-pony ride reopened last October at the Little Rock Zoo.

Strickland plans to become more specified in the area's regional industrial and manufacturing markets to aid Garver Engineers in increasing its services to industrial clients.

Strickland is professionally licensed in six states and is active in numerous professional and technical societies, including former service as the Central Chapter president of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers. He also is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers and the Little Rock Engineers Club.

He graduated as a First Ranked Senior Scholar from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in 1998 and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1993.

Before joining Garver Engineers, he worked as a plant engineer for Glad Manufacturing Co. of Rogers, providing engineering and management of capital projects.

Besides his professional experience, Strickland gives his time to civic and humanitarian activities. He and his family are members of First United Methodist Church of Benton and he has recently tried coached soccer Rewards Sports Ministries' 4-year-olds league.

Strickland lives in Benton with his wife, Laura, and his two daughters, Katie, 4; and Chloe, 2.