Michael Sutton’s journey in civil engineering began in his hometown of Altgeld Gardens, a public housing project on the south side of Chicago. Despite facing challenges in his early life, Sutton excelled academically, earning a civil engineering degree from Northwestern University. His passion for engineering and community service led him to work in various roles within the Illinois Department of Transportation before founding Infrastructure Engineering Inc. (IEI).
Established in 1998 with just two employees, IEI has grown exponentially under Sutton’s leadership. Today, it employs over 170 professionals across eight cities, including New York, Newark, Detroit, Indianapolis, Peoria, Houston and Atlanta.
Under Sutton’s guidance, IEI has built a reputation for excellence, delivering high-profile projects that improve transportation, economic opportunities and quality of life in underserved areas. A recent example of this is the company’s involvement in the Chicago Transit Authority Redline Extension Project, a transformative $4 billion initiative aimed at extending the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street. This project is expected to significantly impact the south side of Chicago by enhancing transportation access and stimulating economic growth.
Sutton is not only a successful business leader but also a dedicated philanthropist. He founded the Infrastructure Engineering Foundation (IEF) to support charitable causes in the communities where IEI operates. The foundation focuses on four key areas: workplace initiatives; promoting diversity in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry; environmental sustainability and community outreach. Additionally, Sutton created Infrastructure Engineering University to foster professional development within IEI, ensuring that the company’s employees have the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
“Part of my vision was to make a company where all types of people could belong,” said Sutton. “This commitment to fostering a diverse workplace has been a cornerstone of IEI’s success, driving innovation through the strength of varied perspectives.”
As a leader, Sutton has championed initiatives to support underrepresented groups in the AEC industry, including founding the Council of Black Architecture and Engineering Companies (CBAEC). Sutton’s efforts to promote diversity have earned IEI numerous accolades, including the ACEC New York diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) award in 2023.
“Michael’s extensive experience, visionary leadership, and commitment to advancing diversity and social impact truly mark him as a titan in civil engineering,” said his staff. “He leads by example in the industry, in our firm, and in philanthropy, demonstrating IEI’s core values – integrity, excellence and ingenuity – in all that he does.”