Rodney Chester is the chief executive officer of Gresham Smith, a leading architecture, engineering, and design practice that provides creative solutions for clients. As CEO, Chester is responsible for the alignment of Gresham Smith’s leadership in order to execute the overall strategy and operations of the firm in pursuit of smart, sustainable growth that provides opportunities for employees and value to its clients.
Through a servant leadership approach—leading with empathy, fairness, and respect—he has focused on building a strong company culture while promoting teamwork and collaboration across Gresham Smith’s markets and offices to ensure a “one-firm” perspective. He also promotes the firm’s core purpose of planning, designing, and consulting to create healthy and thriving communities.
Chester has spent his entire 26-year career at Gresham Smith. He has served on the company’s board of directors since 2015 and as board chair since January 2023. Prior to his role as CEO, he served in a variety of leadership positions at the firm, including chief operating officer, senior vice president of firmwide operations, division vice president, office leader, principal, project manager, and engineer of record in the firm’s transportation business. Chester takes an active role in making an impact on the industry through his involvement in the American Council of Engineering Companies, where he currently serves as national board director, chair of the National Workforce Committee, and board member for the state of Tennessee chapter of the ACEC.
He is also committed to improving the local community through his service as a board member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and as board chair for GraceWorks Ministries, a local nonprofit charitable organization.
Chester is a licensed professional engineer in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and is an alumnus of Leadership Brentwood. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in civil engineering from The University of Alabama, where he remains actively engaged as an advisory board member for the College of Engineering. He has been recognized as an Engineering Fellow of the civil engineering department, the highest commendation awarded to graduates who have strengthened the reputation of the program through career achievements.
Chester and his wife, Michelle, currently reside in Brentwood, Tennessee.