Remembering Hack Sain, Trustee

Charles “Hack” Sain

At age 70, Hack attended the seminar we presented with Dr. Stephen Covey, and he brought the officers of Sain Associates. Late in his life he was leading education and change. Hack started as a client of David, inviting him to coach and consult at Sain Associates. Soon, he became a trustee of our institute and strong advocate for leadership development for engineers and other professions. The Hack Sain Leadership in Engineering Program is named for Hack because of his leadership and determination pioneering efforts to provide leadership training for engineers.

Hack was a 2006 inductee into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. He founded Sain Associates, an award-winning professional practice that focuses on civil engineering and surveying. During Hack’s 50 years in engineering, he has founded a company that has offices in multiple states, led volunteer organizations, and taught principles and practices of leadership as well as engineering. He has been involved with the development of over 1,000 commercial projects; design and/or construction of Corps of Engineers dam projects and power plants; municipal, correctional, educational, housing, and health care facilities; and over 10 million square feet of industrial/distribution center projects on sites of 200 acres and more. Hack is an expert consultant on blasting, soils, and the hydraulics of streams. He is the author of Chapter 13, “Earthwork,” Merritt’s Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers.

Education and Professional Licensures

• Bachelor of Civil Engineering/Soils and Hydraulics, University of Florida, 1949
• Registered Professional Engineer (performed civil engineering work in 39 states)
• Technical and Professional Society Memberships, Service and Accomplishments
• Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame 2006
• Past President, Alabama Society of Professional Engineers
• Engineer of the Year 2000, Engineering Council of Birmingham
• Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award – International Council of Shopping Centers
• Life Achievement Award, Alabama Section – Alabama Society of Civil Engineers
• Board of Advisers, Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, UAB
• Board of Advisers, Civil and Coastal Engineering Department, University of Florida
• Foundation Council, College of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Chairman, Water Quality Committee, ICSC
• Member, American Society of Civil Engineers
• Member, National Society of Professional Engineers
• Member, Joint Engineers Council of Alabama
• Member, Alabama Council of Engineering Companies
• Consultant to Waterways Experiment Station, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers

Church

• Past Board of Deacons, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church
• Past President, Board of Directors – Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers
• Member, Baptist Center for Ethics
• Past Sunday School Teacher

Community

• Past Chairman, Board of Trustees and Leadership in Engineering Committee
• Johnny Johnson Loyalty Award, Personal Leadership Association (Life Leaders)
• Member, Newcomen Society–Birmingham, Alabama
• Member, The Exchange Club
• Vice Chairman, Jefferson County Board of Zoning Adjustments
• Chairman, Vestavia Hills Board of Zoning Adjustments