NEW YORK, NY Thornton Tomasetti, the international engineering firm, announces that President Raymond P. Daddazio, Eng.ScD., PE, F.EMI, has received the Keystone Award from the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) at its annual Leadership Awards Gala in New York City, New York. 

The BWAF is a nonprofit organization working to change the culture of the building industry by promoting a greater understanding of the diverse and broad roles of women in shaping the spaces where we live and work. Its Keystone Award is bestowed upon an executive leader or firm for increasing women's impact, representation and effectiveness at the top management levels in the building industry.

Daddazio has more than 40 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry and has held various leadership roles, including that of president and CEO of Weidlinger Associates, which merged with Thornton Tomasetti in 2015. 

As president of Thornton Tomasetti, and previously of Weidlinger Associates, Daddazio has been a constant champion of increasing gender diversity throughout the organization, and particularly in leadership. 

He is a founding member of Thornton Tomasetti's Inclusion and Diversity Committee, which focuses on creating a culture that empowers people to reach their full potential.  

Daddazio spearheaded the formation of an effective diversity program at Weidlinger, which included top leadership, that encouraged hiring, retention and promotion policies that had a tangible outcome on increasing women's participation in the firm at all levels. 

He has been a consistent advocate of the BWAF Industry Leaders Roundtable, where best practices for achieving a more diverse and equitable workplace are shared. 

"The success and sustainability of any professional services firm relies on the capabilities of its staff," said Raymond P. Daddazio, President, Thornton Tomasetti, New York. "It's simple. Half of the smartest people in the world are women. Long-term success cannot be achieved if we ignore this. I'm honored to receive the Keystone Award on behalf of the Beverly Wills Architecture Foundation and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of women in our industry and beyond." 

Daddazio serves on the industry advisory committee for Columbia University's Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, and is a chair emeritus for Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Board of Visitors. 

A licensed professional engineer in New York, Daddazio is Chairman of ACEC New York Metropolitan Region, a member of ASCE's Industry Leaders Council as well as the Engineering Mechanics Institute Board of Governors. He is a Director Emeritus of the New York Building Congress, and a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. 

Daddazio holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in civil engineering and engineering mechanics from Columbia University in New York City.