2019 Friends of PRI Award Goes to Kay Whitlock

Champaign, Ill. (April 11, 2019) –The University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute (PRI) has selected Rosemont-based engineer Kay Whitlock, PE, D.WRE and Vice President at Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL) as the recipient of the 2019 Friends of PRI Award.

The award recognizes service and commitment from friends of the Prairie Research Institute in helping the organization meet its mission of being the trusted science authority in service to the state of Illinois.

“Kay Whitlock has been a champion, an advisor, and a protector of the Prairie Research Institute for 15 years,” said PRI Executive Director Mark Ryan. “She has been instrumental in connecting our scientists to external partners and opportunities. Those opportunities resulted in numerous scientific studies that have improved the quality of life of Illinoisans, protected the Illinois environment, and enhanced economic development. Her leadership has made PRI better, more focused, and more effective! PRI is delighted to recognize her for her substantial contributions to our organization, and through us to the state of Illinois.”

In choosing Whitlock for the award, PRI cited her long history of strong support to the institute and its surveys, as well as her dedicated service on the PRI Advisory Board, where she serves as co-chair alongside the University’s Vice Chancellor for Research. Whitlock’s history supporting scientific surveys began as a governor’s appointee to the Illinois Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, a precursor to PRI.

“For her longstanding dedication not only to PRI, but to furthering science and scientific data for the state of Illinois, Kay is a wonderful choice for this award,” said Christopher B. Burke, PhD, PE, D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, and President of CBBEL. “We’re all so proud to have Kay’s expertise and enthusiasm on the CBBEL team.”

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Whitlock joined CBBEL in 2001. She serves as Vice President of the Rosemont, Illinois-based firm, managing multidisciplinary water resource, stormwater and flood control projects. She has decades of experience in the areas of water resource management, stormwater management, flood control, water and natural resource engineering, federal, state and local funding and legislative testimony for project authorizations.

As a part of the Master Civil Engineering team, Whitlock currently manages the hydrology, hydraulics and water resource permitting for the O’Hare Modernization Program. She serves as the project manager for the Ecosystem Restoration Project in the Town of Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Kay is passionate about supporting scientific data and applied science, encouraging minority students to enter engineering and truly fighting to end homelessness in her lifetime.