Founder & CEO Smita Shah Continues to Lead the Firm’s Vision and Growth
SPAAN Tech, Inc., a nationally recognized engineering, architecture, and construction management firm, has appointed Daniel Burke, P.E., S.E., as its new president. This marks the first time in the firm’s 25-year history that Founder and CEO Smita N. Shah, P.E., has expanded the leadership team with a president, reinforcing SPAAN Tech’s ability to scale and meet increasing demand for its expertise in high-profile, technically complex infrastructure projects. Shah remains CEO and continues to lead the firm’s strategic vision, ensuring that SPAAN Tech stays at the forefront of innovation and impact in engineering, architecture, and construction management.
Burke, a structural engineer with more than 30 years of experience, has led major transportation, municipal, and infrastructure projects across the City of Chicago, overseeing a $600 million capital program that includes bridges, transit systems, roadways, shoreline protection, and municipal utility systems. His expertise spans design, construction oversight, and infrastructure resilience, making him an ideal leader as SPAAN Tech scales its portfolio in transportation, aviation, and utilities—sectors where the firm has built a reputation as a trusted partner in solving complex engineering and design challenges.
“Dan’s reputation precedes him—he has led some of the most ambitious infrastructure and architectural projects in the region,” said Shah. “His technical depth and leadership in large-scale engineering make him the perfect fit for SPAAN Tech as the firm takes on increasingly complex, high-impact projects. As president, Dan will expand leadership capacity, allowing SPAAN Tech to build on its strong foundation and continue driving strategic growth.”
Prior to joining SPAAN Tech, Burke played a key role in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects for one of the nation’s largest municipal engineering programs, managing design, construction, and implementation of hundreds of million-dollar capital projects. His portfolio includes key projects such as:
- The Chicago Riverwalk Expansion – A major urban waterfront redevelopment integrating innovative architectural and engineering solutions.
- Wacker Drive Reconstruction – A complex multi-phase roadway and bridge project requiring advanced structural and architectural coordination.
- The Bloomingdale Trail (The 606) – Transforming an abandoned rail corridor into a multi-use urban trail with architectural and landscape design elements.
- Bronzeville Pedestrian Bridges – Enhancing connectivity through innovative structural and architectural design.
- Albany Park Stormwater Diversion Tunnel – A large-scale flood mitigation project with significant engineering and urban planning components.
“I’ve spent my career ensuring that infrastructure not only functions but strengthens communities for the long term,” said Burke. “SPAAN Tech is known for its expertise, innovation, and execution. Smita has built something extraordinary here, and I’m excited to be part of a team that’s delivering infrastructure and architectural solutions that make a real difference.”
As a licensed Structural Engineer (S.E.) and Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Illinois, Burke further reinforces SPAAN Tech’s technical capabilities. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a patented inventor in movable bridge technology, and is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Shah remains CEO and continues to drive SPAAN Tech’s long-term growth and strategic vision, ensuring that the firm stays at the forefront of solving the most challenging engineering and architectural problems with intelligence, precision, and impact.
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