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Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award
Category: Industry & Commerce

David A. Gupta founded SDI in 1996 and today continues to lead the firm as chief executive officer. The company is headquartered in Chicago with offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles and has served some of the largest and most complex utilities, government agencies and airports in the world. The firm has repeatedly been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune and BuiltIn Chicago.

Gupta is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategy and is particularly involved in strategic account development and relationship management throughout the Chicago and Los Angeles areas. Gupta also founded PGV Solutions, a full-service information technology systems integration firm based in southern California, which merged into SDI Presence in June 2016. Prior to founding SDI, Gupta was a senior vice president in the electrical engineering group at Environmental Systems Design, where he was responsible for the design of power and data systems for more than 10 million square feet of commercial real estate. 

Gupta volunteers his time and expertise through pro bono consulting and hands-on opportunities as well. His volunteering focus is centered on children, education, economic empowerment, and science and technology and has graduated over 150 students through SDI’s internship and apprentice programs. He supports a host of charities including the Lake Forest Academy, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Chicago History Museum, the University of Chicago Graham School, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Executive Education and, of course, the CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science. David has four children (including one CU Boulder graduate) and resides in Chicago with his wife Dawn.