2025 Community Impact Award Winner Esteban Gonzalez, PE
Esteban Gonzalez, PE
Area Discipline Leader, Bridge | Jacksonville, FL
Esteban Gonzalez, a leader in the Jacksonville, Florida, office, is this year’s recipient of the Community Impact award. Esteban’s dedication to service exemplifies RS&H’s values of integrity, accountability, curiosity, and teamwork. He led our involvement in the 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Walk, raising nearly $20,000 and mobilizing over 70 walkers to promote inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As Northeast Florida Chapter Coordinator for MATHCOUNTS, Esteban has helped middle school students build confidence, teamwork, and a love for STEM. His volunteerism with Feeding Northeast Florida and Build, Putt, Give has provided thousands of meals to families facing food insecurity. He’s also inspired future engineers through Construction Career Days and university outreach—showing students that careers in engineering are not only possible, but purposeful. Esteban’s impact is felt in every life he’s touched, and his leadership continues to build stronger communities across Northeast Florida.
Esteban began his career as a structural engineering intern, where he laid the foundation for earning his Professional Engineer license. Esteban is a boomerang associate, meaning he left and came back, saying, “What brought me back wasn’t just the company’s technical excellence, but its vision to go far beyond project delivery. RS&H is known not only for our industry expertise, but also for how we invest in our people, strengthen our communities, and live with purpose. RS&H is a forward-thinking firm with clear vision and purpose, and I’m proud to help lead the way.”
When asked what this award means to him, Esteban expressed how deeply meaningful it was to him, “Personally, it reflects the values my parents instilled in me after we moved to the U.S. from Colombia in 1998. They instilled in me the value of hard work, resilience, and the importance of giving back,” he says. “Professionally, it serves as a reminder that our impact extends far beyond the technical side of what we do. RS&H celebrates how we contribute to our communities, and I’m honored to be part of an organization that values purpose just as much as performance.”
Esteban’s greatest accomplishment thus far was when he stepped into his first leadership role. His mentor at the time had gifted him the book, The 5 Levels of Leadership by John C. Maxwell, which completely transformed Esteban’s view of leadership and, as he said, “ultimately changed the trajectory of my career.” He goes on to mention, “It taught me that true influence doesn’t come from titles or authority, but from investing in others. I believe in developing leaders because when we invest in people, we multiply our impact. That’s how we create exponential growth, not just for our teams, but for the communities we serve.” Esteban recently had the opportunity to read The 5 Levels of Leadership again, but this time with a group of young engineers in the Jacksonville office. He said “Watching them connect with the ideas and start thinking about their own leadership journeys reminded me why I’m so passionate about developing future leaders. That’s how we create exponential growth, not just for our teams, but for the entire organization.”
Outside of the office, Esteban recharges by spending time with family, staying active, and diving into home renovation projects. He says it’s a fun way to tap back into his architecture background, keeping his creativity flowing. Before heading to the office, he enjoys reading personal development material to start the day with clarity and intention.
