First Vice President, Texas/Southern Operations Robert Ferguson, LEED AP, has completed 20 years at Hill International. For nearly his entire tenure at Hill, Robert has led our program, project, and construction management operations in Texas. Under his leadership, Hill’s Texas/Southern team has achieved strong, consistent growth in the healthcare, education, government, and transportation sectors throughout Texas and beyond.

Robert kicked off his career in construction in 1993, working for contractors in the Houston area. Through a variety of hands-on roles, he developed technical skills in cost, schedule, safety, risk, and contract management, as well as strengths in coordinating with stakeholders and clients and leading effective, collaborative teams on complex construction projects. He also began to develop a thorough understanding of Houston’s construction market and build relationships with local and state agencies, authorities having jurisdiction, and other key stakeholders in the region.

In 2005, Robert earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and joined Boyken International, a project management firm specializing in healthcare and higher education. In his first role with the company, he worked for a year as a project manager on projects across Antigua. Following this assignment, Robert transferred to Cleveland, TN, to manage the construction of a 50,000 SF residential project.

For his expertise, leadership skills, and proven success on his clients’ projects, Robert was promoted to operations manager of Boyken’s Houston office in 2007. It was under Robert’s leadership that Boyken received its first five-year contract with the University of Texas (UT) System. Hill, which acquired Boyken in December 2009, is now on our fourth five-year contract with the UT System, demonstrating Robert’s ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and assemble capable teams that deliver reliable, high-quality professional services.

Following the acquisition, Robert continued to manage Hill’s operations in Texas, overseeing a team of seven employees, including a business development leader and six staff. Hill had two clients in Texas at the time, the UT System and the Houston Methodist System. So, Robert and the Hill team prioritized honing their expertise in managing healthcare and higher education projects, earning a regional reputation for helping owners in these sectors deliver projects safely, on time, within budget, and in line with stakeholder expectations.

Building on the team’s reputation, Robert has since continued to grow Hill’s presence in healthcare and higher education throughout Texas, developing strong relationships with clients such as the Texas State University System and the Texas A&M University System. With the support of Senior Vice President Rail and Transit Sector Lead Tom Spearing, Executive Consultant Mike Smith, and Senior Vice President, Western Region Manager Greg Heinz, Robert played a pivotal role in advancing Hill’s presence in our core market sectors of rail and transit, aviation, roads and bridges, and municipal buildings.

Since our small start in Houston, Hill has expanded across Texas with offices in Dallas and Austin. Soon, we will open our new San Antonio office. The geographic footprint of our Southern Operations also includes Louisiana and Oklahoma. Today, our Southern team manages more than $10 billion in construction value for clients such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit, San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, Austin’s Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, and, most recently, Houston Metro.

“Robert has been essential to the growth and success of Hill’s operation in Texas,” says Greg Heinz. “He and his team continue to accomplish impressive things across a variety of market segments, particularly in higher education, rail/transit, and healthcare. I attribute much of his success to his hands-on leadership approach and his genuine care for his Hill colleagues and clients. He represents the best of what we offer as a company, and I’m proud to work with him and to call him a friend.”

“A lot of people have been part of Hil’s success in Texas over the years,” says Robert. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our partners throughout the industry and, of course, our entire hard-working Southern Operations team. For all of us, it’s a point of pride to support Texas’ academic and healthcare systems, state and local agencies, and all of our other clients. By helping these organizations carry out their missions through efficient, well-managed projects, we help them better serve the people of Texas. I’m lucky to be part of a tremendous organization and look forward to many more years of supporting Hill’s continued growth in the region.”

Through Robert’s vision and leadership, as well as the consistent performance and high-quality management services of his entire team, Hill continues to enjoy success and growth across our Southern Region. Congratulations, Robert, and thank you for 20 years of commitment and outstanding service.

To speak with Robert about your program, project, and construction management needs, reach out to him at [email protected].