WithersRavenel co-founder Tony Withers recently received a prestigious honor from his alma mater, North Carolina State University.
Tony is among six alumni who were part of the 2024 class for the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) Hall of Fame. There are now 57 members of the CCEE Hall of Fame, which honors N.C. State engineering graduates who have made lasting contributions to the profession and their communities.
“An engineering degree from N.C. State is a valuable accomplishment, and it’s an honor to be recognized by the University and a program I strongly support,” Tony said. The recent induction ceremony took place on campus in the Duke Energy Hall of James B. Hunt Library.
A civil engineering graduate in the Wolfpack’s Class of 1975, Tony also has a master’s degree in landscape architecture from N.C. State. In 1983, he founded engineering company WithersRavenel with fellow State graduate Sam Ravenel, growing the company through the years while expanding service offerings and the firm’s footprint in North Carolina.
WithersRavenel is now employee-owned after Tony and Sam sold the company in 2014, though they both continued to work at and build the business. Today, the company has more than 460 employees, with its headquarters in Cary and nine other offices across the state.
Tony was not recognized solely for his professional success. He also co-founded the Miracle League of the Triangle, which provides a safe place for individuals to play baseball, many participating in a team sport for the first time in their lives. Tony continues to serve on the organization’s board. He is also a board member for the Centennial Authority, which guides the management of the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, home to Wolfpack men’s basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes.
With fond memories of his days on the N.C. State campus, Tony encourages students and graduates to strive for success but also to seek work-life balance.
“Work and your career are very important, but so are faith, family, and health,” Tony said. “And volunteer service is another key component.
“Coach a youth team, work in your church, join a civic club, deliver meals, work at a food shelter. There are oodles of ways to help. You will be amazed at what service to others will do for you!”