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Growing up in Greece, George G. Perdikakis Sr. dreamed of becoming a civil engineer.
"My father built homes in Greece," said Perdikakis, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 18. "I came here to study and pursue my dream."
He ended up not just becoming an engineer, but directing some state and Baltimore-area government agencies, including the Maryland Environmental Service, Baltimore City Department of Transportation and Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.
Perdikakis recently joined KCI Technologies, an employee-owned Sparks engineering company, as director of special projects, corporate communications and marketing.
"Before I left Greece, my father gave me this advice: A job is a privilege, and you should take that privilege and make it an opportunity," he said.
Upon his arrival from Greece, Perdikakis earned his bachelor's in civil engineering from the University of Rhode Island and his master's in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Besides his public-sector positions, he owned GGP and Associates, a small engineering company in Timonium.
Perdikakis brings expertise in program management, as well as the design and construction of water systems, environmental protection, transportation and redevelopment projects, said Terry F. Neimeyer, KCI chairman and CEO.
"George is an excellent addition to our team," Neimeyer said in a statement. "Along with his recognized capabilities and expertise, he brings a new and exciting vision to our business development program and can greatly expand our client base across the United States and beyond."
With sales of $142 million in 2008, KCI ranked 88th on Engineering News-Record's most recent list of the top 500 engineering design companies in the country. The only Maryland firm ranked above KCI was RTKL Associates of Baltimore, at 52.
KCI has grown from a home-based business in 1955 to about 950 employees, with offices in 13 states and Washington, D.C. The company's vast experience in all facets of engineering has helped it thrive even during the recession, Perdikakis said.
"Everyone is having challenges these days," he said. "We are holding our own."
KCI recently purchased some other companies and opened a new "green" headquarters featuring a solar roof, water-efficient landscaping and climate-controlled plumbing and electrical systems.
Perdikakis is active in his church and in politics. He served on the transition team of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) in the areas of transportation and the environment and co-chaired the waste management subcommittee.
A resident of Sparks, Perdikakis and his wife, Zoe, have an adult son and daughter, George Jr. and Antonia. He likes to exercise.
"I do a lot of walking," said Perdikakis, 61.