Fred Gibbs was awarded the BG Consultants, Inc. Fred Gibbs Mentor of the Year Award in 2022.

The Fred Gibbs Mentor of the Year Award, given by BG Consultants, Inc., has been created to recognize an individual who has provided exemplary mentorship and dedication to new interns, and seasoned and advanced professionals. This individual excels at the support of career development and advancement of the level of services provided through our firm. They have an extraordinary dedication to the development of others and the furtherance of their careers and education. This award will recognize and set forth mentorship behaviors that have inspired, encouraged, challenged, and empowered others to achieve professional excellence.

Before BG Consultants, Inc. was founded, Fred started his career journey as a student at Fort Hays State University pursuing a mathematics degree. During his time at Fort Hays, he would come to meet lifelong friend and future business partner, Steve Berland. After two years of school, Fred was still unsure of what he wanted to do and decided to pursue a full-time surveying job at Schwab Eaton in Manhattan. At the time Fred had no clue what surveying was, but on his first day he surveyed a simple road curve for Riley County, which included advanced calculations, and he fell in love.

After 13 years at Schwab Eaton, Steve, who had joined the firm years prior, presented the idea to Fred to start their own consulting firm. Fred liked the idea of running his own business and joined Steve in cofounding BG Consultants. On March 1st, 1976, BG opened its doors, focusing on surveying until the company got its first big engineering project. At the beginning it was just Steve and Fred conducting fieldwork, and after about a month the team had grown to 10 employees.

Nearing almost 50 years, BG has been an important part of the Manhattan, Lawrence, and Emporia communities. With many students and local members, the BG team has continued to grow over the years. Fred still comes into the office daily to personally get to know new members and spend time with everyone. His dedication to employees has contributed to our firm’s success and legacy, which has made him a respected mentor, not only in the survey department, but for the whole firm.

Fred’s motto for being a good mentor is “to treat people with respect and kindness, that’s all you need to do.” His mentoring efforts don’t just come from his work experience or knowledge, it’s about his willingness to get to know everyone and build long lasting relationships.

Future Award recipients will share the character and mentorship traits that personify Fred’s legacy as they guide and instruct others at BG to strive for professional excellence, professional achievement and high performance.  The award will be presented yearly to a BG employee that demonstrates the mentorship qualities the Fred Gibbs Mentor of the Year Award promotes, is nominated by a BG peer, and is deemed worthy by the BG Consultants, Inc. Board of Directors.