Forty Under 40: Jeffrey D. Geurian

Within a year after college, Jeffrey D. Geurian, now 37, was working for CEI Engineering Associates Inc., and six years later he became the president and CEO of the Bentonville engineering company. Now he has 189 employees in seven offices across the nation and can boast of $18.5 million in company revenue for 2002. The firm is also among the nations 500 largest engineering firms, according to the Engineering News Record.

Geurian, originally from Dardanelle, said he wanted to become an engineer because he thought hed get to work outside. Now, he finds himself jetting across the country meeting with CEI engineers and others about pending projects. But thats fine with him, Geurian said, and his goal now is to help the company grow and continue to be successful.

Geurian holds a 1989 civil engineering degree from the University of Arkansas. Before coming to work for CEI, he worked for Van Horn Engineering in Russellville during high school and throughout college.

Geurian is in good company at CEI. When asked who influenced his career, he points to Mike Shupe, chairman and co-founder of the firm. Shupe, he said, has an admirable work ethic.

Geurian is treasurer of the Arkansas Council of Engineering Companies.