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The Delaware Engineering Society (NSPE-DE) is excited to announce the 2026 Delaware Young Engineer of the Year and Engineer of the Year. The awards are nominated by those in the engineering industry in the State of Delaware and are selected by the past presidents of NSPE-DE. This year’s award winners are J. Michael Riemann, P.E. (Engineer of the Year) and Ben Hearn, P.E. (Young Engineer of the Year).
J. Michael Riemann, P.E. has demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical expertise throughout his 24-year career at Becker Morgan Group. Beginning as an intern in 1997, he advanced through the firm to become a Principal and now serves as Civil Engineering Director. A registered Professional Engineer since 2006, he has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s footprint across Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina and is widely recognized for his expertise in civil site design and collaborative work with regulators and policymakers to promote smart, impactful development.
A staunch advocate for economic development in Delaware, Mr. Riemann was a founding force behind the Coalition for a Sound Economy (CASE), a statewide alliance that brings together business advocacy groups, trade organizations, and economic development leaders to advance policies that strengthen Delaware’s economy. Through CASE, he has helped align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities focused on job creation, infrastructure investment, housing production, and long-term economic competitiveness throughout Delaware.
Mr. Riemann was selected by the Home Builders Association of Delaware (HBADE) to serve as President from 2023–2026. He has served on the HBADE Board of Directors since 2011 and currently chairs the Government Affairs Committee. Leveraging his deep understanding of civil site design and Delaware land-use code, he works closely with regulators and elected officials to advocate for sustainable, high-quality residential development. In recognition of his leadership and advocacy, he was awarded the President’s Award in 2020 and received the Associate of the Year twice (2013 and 2022) as recently received the 2025 Distinguished Service Award, subsequently renamed the Michael Riemann Distinguished Service Award in honor of his lasting impact on the home building and construction industry.
Actively involved in numerous professional and civic organizations, Mr. Riemann was named to the Engineering-News Record (ENR) MidAtlantic 2019 Top Young Professionals list and was recognized as the 2015 Delaware Council of Engineering Societies Young Engineer of the Year. He served as President of the Downtown Dover Rotary Club from 2015–2016 and previously participated as a Rotary Interact Mentor from 2010–2014, supporting high-school students in community service initiatives. He was named Rotarian of the Year in 2014.
Mr. Riemann has been actively involved with ACEC Delaware since 2006, progressing through the organization’s leadership ranks as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and ultimately President from 2016–2018. In addition to his executive leadership roles, he served as Kent County Partnering Committee Chair from 2006–2014, Transportation Subdivisions Subcommittee Chair from 2012–2016, and Municipal/County Partnering Committee Chair from 2014 to present. His public-sector service also includes participation on the Downtown Dover Partnership Parking and Safety Committee (2011–2017), the Delaware Senate Bill 64 Floodplain and Drainage Advisory Committee (2011–2013), the Kent County Building Code Review Committee (2009–2019), the SCR 30 Water Task Force (2015–2016), and the DNREC Regulatory Advisory Committee tasked with evaluating stormwater management regulations. He was appointed by Governor Carney to the Water Infrastructure Advisory Committee in 2019 and was reappointed by Governor Meyer where he continues to serve in that role today.
Frequently called upon to represent HBADE and ACEC Delaware in regulatory and legislative matters, Mr. Riemann is known for his ability to work constructively with municipalities, counties, and state agencies to achieve practical, well-reasoned outcomes. With extensive experience across all three Delaware counties, his project portfolio spans commercial, retail, education, institutional, and residential development. He specializes in guiding clients through complex approval processes, securing permits efficiently, and delivering projects with a strong understanding of governmental procedures. His reputation for professionalism, integrity, and results continues to earn the trust of both public- and private-sector partners.
Mr. Riemann grew up in Felton, Delaware, graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1997, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2001. He and his wife, Heather, live in Dover, Delaware, with their two children, Mikayla and Cole.
Benjamin K. Hearn, P.E. is a Vice President and Senior Project Manager with George, Miles & Buhr, LLC (GMB). Ben specializes in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects that strengthen public health, improve system reliability, and support long-term community growth across Sussex County, Delaware. Since joining GMB as a Graduate Engineer in 2016, he has advanced through increasing levels of responsibility and is now a key engineering advisor to public agencies including the City of Seaford and the City of Lewes Board of Public Works.
Career highlights include the Lewes Water Main Canal Replacement project, a critical improvement that increased redundancy and capacity for the City’s beachside water system while requiring careful coordination under challenging site and regulatory constraints. He also played a key role overseeing construction phase services for the Western Sussex County Sewer Regionalization project, a major multi-contract effort conveying wastewater from the Town of Bridgeville to the City of Seaford’s treatment facility. In addition, Ben has supported initiatives such as elevated water storage tank evaluation, PFAS studies, and long-term resiliency planning for municipal utility systems.
Ben earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2016 and holds Professional Engineer licenses in Delaware and Maryland. He is an active member of NSPE and ASCE and is certified as a Qualified MS4 Stormwater Permit Compliance Professional.
In addition to his professional achievements, Ben is deeply committed to public service through his continued involvement in the fire service. He currently serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Lewes Fire Department, supporting emergency response efforts in his community. Ben grew up in Seaford, Delaware and graduated from Seaford High School in 2011, beginning his public service that same year when he joined the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department. He dedicated more than a decade to SVFD and served as Vice President from 2017 to 2020 before relocating to Lewes, where he lives with his wife Hannah. They enjoy hiking/backpacking, biking to the beach, and spending time with family and friends and their dog, Louie.