After 34 years of dedication and countless contributions to our firm, Thomas F. Deter, P.E., will step down as President of the H.F. Lenz Company effective January 19, 2026. His transition marks an important milestone in our firm’s history. Tom joined H.F. Lenz Company in 1992 and became a Principal in 1998. He was appointed President in 2016. Throughout his tenure, he provided consistent, decisive leadership during one of the most pivotal periods in the firm’s history. He guided the organization through the challenges of the COVID‑19 pandemic, maintaining operational stability while positioning the firm for sustained, long‑term growth. Under his leadership, the firm increased revenue by more than 60% and expanded staff by over 15% in the last five years. The firm now employs over 200 employees across five office locations in multiple states.
Tom’s strategic vision, commitment to design excellence, and emphasis on collaborative teamwork have left a lasting impact on the organization. He broadened the firm’s client base by expanding work with large-scale manufacturing and industrial facilities, higher‑education institutions, and government agencies throughout the United States.
While Tom will be stepping away from his day-to-day role, he plans to continue supporting the firm through consulting on current and future projects and by mentoring emerging professionals. The firm extends its sincere appreciation for his exceptional leadership and service and wishes him continued success as he transitions into this next chapter while remaining engaged with the organization. Please join us in celebrating Tom’s remarkable career and wishing him all the best as he enjoys more time for personal pursuits while continuing to share his experience, expertise, and leadership with our team.
George A. McMillan, IV, P.E. has been appointed President of H.F. Lenz Company. George has been with H.F. Lenz since 1994, beginning his career at the firm’s Johnstown headquarters before relocating to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1997. He played a critical role in the growth and success of the Erie office, serving for more than a decade as both a Project Engineer and Project Manager.
In 2010, George was named Director of H.F. Lenz Company’s Great Lakes Region. In this role, he was instrumental in establishing the firm’s Conneaut, Ohio office, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. His leadership in developing the Ohio office provided H.F. Lenz with a centralized location to expand services and grow client relationships across the Corporate, Healthcare, and Education sectors throughout the Midwestern United States.
George is a Licensed Professional Engineer in 38 states and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He has also completed graduate studies in Engineering Management at Kennedy Western University.
"I would like to thank Tom for his hard work, dedication, and tremendous leadership as President. I understand that the opportunity that I have is both an honor and a privilege, and I will work hard towards the continued success of the company. I am very fortunate to be a part of this organization and surrounded by such talented people."
This summer, George will relocate to the Johnstown Headquarters. He will also continue to oversee operations at the Ohio office. He will be supported by the H.F. Lenz Executive Committee, which includes:
- Matthew Donatelli, Chief Financial Officer
- David Blackner and Keith Gindlesperger, Senior Vice Presidents
- William Devlin, Jr. and Scott Mack, Vice Presidents
Please join us in congratulating both Tom and George!
As we begin our 80th Anniversary, and this leadership transition, we want to reiterate to our valued clients and employees that H.F. Lenz Company is still grounded by the same principles. We proudly operate by our mission statement: “Provide high quality, state-of-the-art, and cost-effective engineering and surveying services to a diversified clientele, which will assure a fair return on investment to provide for the continued employment and well-being of the employees, and the perpetuation of the company.”
Our philosophy remains the same, to put it simply, in the words of Roy Kelly, a former Vice President many years ago, “work hard, get it done right, and give the client what they paid for”, while supporting our employees and our communities.
We continue to strive to provide the best possible engineering solutions for our clientele!
Messages can be sent directly to tdeter@hflenz.com and gmcmillan@hflenz.com
