Chris Hillis is Vice President and Regional Manager at Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates (HCEA), a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm headquartered in Maryland. In his current role, Chris oversees the firm’s offices in Annapolis Junction, Maryland and Chantilly, Virginia, with a focus on operations, business development, and growth.

Chris graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2010 and joined Hillis-Carnes shortly after graduation. During his time with the company, he has had the opportunity to work in nearly every part of the business, starting in technical and project-level roles before moving into operations and leadership. In 2016, he earned his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

His history with Hillis-Carnes goes back much further than his professional career. Chris’s father co-founded the company in 1989, so he grew up around the business and many of the people who helped build it. That background has given him a unique perspective as HCEA enters its next stage of growth. Today, one of his primary focuses is helping the company expand thoughtfully while maintaining the operational excellence, technical quality, and client relationships that have been fundamental to its success.

Chris married his high school sweetheart, Eliza, and they live in Baltimore County with their two daughters. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and tennis, cooking, and learning about—and drinking—good wine.