Derek Kohl, PE
Vice President of Operations
From a young age, Derek was immersed in the world of engineering and surveying, thanks to his father’s influence as a surveyor and construction inspector. This early exposure, combined with his higher education at the University of Connecticut, ignited his passion for the industry. It laid the foundation for his career trajectory, which includes a strong technical background in his early years. Later, he transitioned to project management of large and complex public and private projects. Throughout his tenure at BL for the past 17 years, his focus has been largely on management, strategic growth, and leadership development.
He began his professional journey in public infrastructure work, water resource projects and civil site development. Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Derek’s dedication and loyalty to his work have been evident as BL Companies marks only his second job. Building strong and lasting relationships with clients has been a cornerstone of his approach to his work, and his leadership style revolves around challenging and supporting his team members.
As the VP of Operations working with the firm’s multiple disciplines and groups, Derek champions a culture of openness and forward-thinking. With a focus on employee ownership, leadership development and successful client partnerships, Derek has an unwavering commitment to dialogue, problem solving and idea-sharing to the benefit of our clients and their projects.
His approachable leadership style promotes empowerment among team members, inspiring them to contribute to BL Companies’ collective employee ownership values. Derek firmly believes that the heart of any successful company lies in its people. Recognizing this, he dedicates himself to personally mentoring and developing staff at all levels, encouraging the next generation of leaders within our ranks to learn and grow.
His emphasis on continuous learning, technical training, professional growth, and relationship building has cultivated a culture of excellence, driving BL Companies towards greater achievements. Under his guidance, BL Companies has expanded into new services, markets, and geographies with a solid path of momentum that continues to push BL forward.
