The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry Thursday night awarded George “Hank” Rettew, Jr. its annual Exemplar Award. Recently retired CEO of Lancaster-based engineering firm RETTEW, Hank spent more than 40 years leading the business. He also maintained involvement in dozens of nonprofit organizations throughout the past several decades.
The Exemplar Award recognizes a local business or individual who best exemplifies the chamber’s mission to build Lancaster County into a model of prosperity. The recipient must have made significant contributions to the business community as well as community organizations, and helped improve quality of life throughout the county through private enterprise.
“Hank has spent his life investing in the Lancaster community, building a prosperous business, and caring for everyone around him,” said Mark Lauriello, RETTEW president and CEO. “He is so deserving of this award, and we’re excited to celebrate with him.”
Hank joined RETTEW in 1973, leading within the firm at every level from project manager to vice president to CEO and chairman. After retiring as CEO at the end of 2015, he remains chairman of the board at RETTEW, providing leadership support to the company’s board members and shareholders on an as-needed basis.
He currently serves as an advisory board member of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and as a board member for the South Central Assembly for Effective Governance. Hank also maintains membership in several professional industry organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. In 2011, Hank established the RETTEW Endowed Scholarship at The Pennsylvania State University for students majoring in civil engineering or other related fields. In the past, he has been a strong supporter of many local nonprofits, including the United Way, Boys & Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House and the American Cancer Society. Hank’s past community leadership also includes serving as chairman of the Lancaster Chamber as well as multiple committees, on the funding board of the Lancaster County Coalition for Smart Growth and as a board member for the Lancaster County Conservancy.