He steps into the room with calm energy. Not flashy, yet quietly magnetic. That’s the impression Edward Benes fosters, whether he’s guiding a global firm or mentoring a young engineer. His path feels less like a straight line and more like a series of carefully-placed stepping stones, each one reflecting both his heart and mind.
From Civil Engineer to Executive Leader
Ed’s story begins in Chicago’s engineering corridors. For over seven years, he worked as a civil engineer and project manager at consulting firms in the city, designing infrastructure that quietly shaped communities.
He then charted a bold new course, earning his Juris Doctor at Loyola University Chicago, after already holding a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. Ed didn’t just stop at law; he earned credentials as a Professional Engineer in Illinois and became a patent attorney recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mastering Legal Terrain in the Built World
Around 2012, Ed moved into senior legal roles in the architecture and construction industries. He served as senior counsel at Newmont Mining Corporation, advising on capital construction projects. Before that, he held the same title at AECOM, supporting design-build initiatives across the Midwest and North America.
Then came a milestone: In August 2012, Leo A. Daly welcomed Ed as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, tasked with handling legal, risk, insurance, contracts, HR policy, and risk-management training for both Leo A. Daly and its subsidiary, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN).
Colleagues hailed the fit as perfect. One firm leader remarked that Ed’s combined strengths in corporate and construction law, and his engineering roots, made him “an invaluable addition”.
Driving Strategy From the C-Suite
Over the years, Ed’s influence broadened. By July 2022, he was elevated to President and Deputy CEO of Leo A. Daly. In that role, he teamed up with Chairman and CEO Leo A. Daly III, shaping both strategy and operations from the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
His leadership style, guided by clarity, thoughtfulness, and fairness, helped the firm refine financial risk strategies, shrink insurance costs, and reduce claim exposure. He also led Human Resources for three years, transforming it into an innovative and proactive engine for employee engagement and talent development.
Then, in March 2024, Ed reached the summit: He became Chief Executive Officer of both Leo A. Daly and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, taking the helm of a remarkable team of more than 1,000 professionals.
A Leader With a Quiet Passion for People
Ed carries technical smarts worth noting, but it’s the way he brings people forward that truly stands out. He builds trust. He asks questions. He listens. And he cares about the story everyone is bringing to the table.
That’s partly why his tenure has extended across roles and projects, and people seem to follow him. He’s as likely to mentor a new engineer as he is to brief a boardroom. And yet, he does both with the same low-key conviction.
Even as CEO, he’s said to remain approachable, to keep in mind that great design and strong teams emerge when the ground is level and the path is shared.
Grounding Technical Wisdom With Legal Insight
What makes Ed unique as a builder of firms and a builder of bridges comes from his rare blend of skills. Here’s what he brings together:
- Engineering fluency: He knows design, structure, project management, and the technical pressures that shape planning decisions.
- Legal acuity: He understands contracts, compliance, risk, HR policy, mergers, and growth matters, all with a courtroom-ready edge.
- Strategic presence: He sees how the pieces fit, from top-level leadership down to individual talents.
- Thoughtful leadership: Numbers matter, but people matter more. Ed seems driven by respect, collaboration, and growth.
Public Roles, Private Impact
Ed’s rise from civil engineer in Chicago to CEO of a global architecture and engineering firm spans nearly three decades of quiet, steady work. Yet he has never lost the practical grounding; maybe that’s his greatest strength.
His story turns on questions like:
- How do you manage risk without stifling creativity?
- How do you align business goals with ethical and sustainable choices?
- How can you lead thoughtfully without losing drive?
Few find all those answers at once, but Ed Benes brings them together in a way that feels natural, not scripted.
Edward Benes, PE, Esq., isn’t the loudest voice in the room. But once he speaks, people listen, because he brings clarity, experience, and care to everything he does.
From his Purdue roots in engineering, through legal and HR leadership, all the way to today’s role at the top of Leo A. Daly and LAN, his journey reads like an elegant blueprint for what leadership can become when talent, service, and strategy align naturally.
