Hidden Gems: Meet Mae Whiteside Williams of CKL Engineers LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Whiteside Williams.

Hi Mae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a civil engineer by training and the Founder and CEO of CKL Engineers, a woman-owned engineering firm specializing in capital program delivery.

After graduating from the Illinois Institute of Technology, I began my career delivering roadway and highway projects as an Administrative Engineer with the Chicago Department of Transportation. During that time, a trusted friend encouraged me to explore an opportunity on the O’Hare Modernization Program as a Civil Construction Engineer. At first, I viewed it simply as a chance to broaden my experience. Instead, it became a turning point in my career.

Working on one of the largest airport expansion programs in the country exposed me to a side of engineering I had never considered. I developed a strong appreciation for aviation infrastructure and discovered a particular interest in geotechnical field inspections and erosion and sediment control. When it came time to select a discipline for the Professional Engineer (P.E.) exam, I chose that branch of civil engineering and passed on my first attempt.

Throughout my time on the O’Hare Modernization Program, I worked on a variety of projects, including basin relocations, soil extraction and sampling, earthwork, subgrade preparation, and pavement construction. Every assignment presented new technical challenges and reinforced how rewarding airport construction engineering and inspection could be.

As my experience grew, I realized I wanted to build a career focused on helping airports successfully deliver complex infrastructure programs. To make that vision a reality, I decided to create a firm dedicated to providing those services. In fact, the idea for CKL Engineers, LLC was born while I was performing plasticity tests on clay soils ahead of subgrade compaction for Runway 10L-28R at O’Hare International Airport.

What began as an idea on an active construction site has since grown into a firm that supports the delivery of critical transportation and infrastructure projects. Looking back, it is remarkable to think that the foundation of CKL Engineers was formed while standing in the field, doing the engineering work that I continue to love today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. When I founded CKL Engineers, my original vision was to focus exclusively on airport projects because I had genuinely enjoyed the work I did on aviation programs. I imagined building a firm made up of aviation construction engineers working on airports across the country.
Winning public-sector work requires navigating complex RFQ and RFP processes, building relationships over time, and having the financial capacity to pursue and deliver large projects. Those realities were a significant learning curve.
Rather than limiting the company to airports, I expanded our mission to supporting the growth and improvement of critical infrastructure more broadly to include roads, bridges, and toll facilities. Also, there were times when I had to balance technical work, business development, and payroll concerns all at once, which is a reality many founders don’t talk about enough.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about CKL Engineers LLC?
The idea for CKL Engineers began while performing geotechnical inspection on Runway 10L-28R at O’Hare International Airport. Standing in the field on one of the nation’s largest airport modernization programs, I realized I wanted to build a company dedicated to helping airports successfully deliver critical infrastructure projects. That field-first mindset remains part of our DNA today.

CKL Engineers is a woman-owned engineering firm specializing in capital program delivery, construction engineering, inspection, and infrastructure services. While our roots are in aviation, our experience has expanded to include airports, highways, bridges, toll facilities, and local transportation infrastructure. Our services include construction engineering and inspection, resident engineering, design and inspection of erosion and sediment control, field inspections, roadway design support, pavement assessments, and program delivery services that help clients move projects from concept to completion.

What sets us apart is our practical project delivery experience combined with a commitment to innovation. We understand infrastructure from the owner’s perspective, the contractor’s perspective, and the field perspective. At the same time, we are actively exploring how technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and emerging visualization tools can improve project delivery, communication, and decision-making. We believe the future of infrastructure will require engineering expertise supported by technology, and we are intentionally investing in both.

Like many firms in our industry, we pursue opportunities through RFQs and RFPs, maintain strong relationships with clients and industry partners, and actively participate in professional organizations and industry events. These activities help us stay connected to emerging trends, strengthen partnerships, and continue serving the transportation industry at a high level.

What I am most proud of is what the CKL brand has come to represent. When I started the company, it was simply an idea and a vision for what could be possible. Today, CKL is recognized as a trusted engineering partner known for quality, reliability, resilience, and integrity. The greatest accomplishment is knowing that clients, employees, and partners trust the CKL name even when I am not in the room. That trust has been earned project by project, relationship by relationship, over many years.

At its core, CKL exists to help communities grow and thrive through safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure. We combine engineering expertise, field experience, and technology-driven innovation to help clients successfully deliver projects that have a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
One of the reasons I value mentorship so much today is because I didn’t always have it. As I’ve grown as a leader, I’ve come to appreciate how important coaches, advisors, advocates, and peer networks are to building a successful company. That’s why I’m committed to creating those opportunities for others.

Michelle Cecchin encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, pursue opportunities I might not have otherwise considered, and think bigger about what was possible. I credit her influence as one of the catalysts that ultimately led to the creation of CKL Engineers.

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was also influential in my journey. Through opportunities created during his administration, I was able to gain exposure to relationships and leadership circles that helped broaden my perspective as both an engineer and business owner. Those experiences helped position CKL for future growth and reinforced the importance of creating pathways for small businesses to succeed.

On a personal level, my biggest supporter has always been my sister. Through every challenge, opportunity, and decision, she has been a trusted sounding board and a constant source of encouragement. Every entrepreneur needs someone who will listen honestly, celebrate the victories, and help carry the burdens that come with building a business, and she has been that person for me.

I am also grateful to the clients who took a chance on a young engineering firm and entrusted us with important projects. Their confidence in our capabilities created opportunities for us to grow, develop our staff, and establish our reputation in the industry.

CKL’s success would not be possible without our employees, teaming partners, and industry colleagues. The firm’s reputation has been built through the hard work, expertise, and dedication of many talented people over the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ckleng.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckl_engineers/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mae-whiteside-williams/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/maecwhiteside/