The fact Justin Veilleux has risen to principal at Henderson-based FEA Consulting Engineers — one of the Top 10 hotel engineering firms in the United States — is an impressive feat in and of itself. The fact he did by the age of 37? That speaks volumes about the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering Alumnus of the Year’s talent and work ethic.
Veilleux joined FEA shortly after earning his bachelor's in computer engineering from UNLV in 2004. Today, as one of the youngest engineering firm principals in Southern Nevada, he manages FEA’s electrical, lighting, and low-voltage departments, while also running the company’s operations and developing client relationships.
Having recently added his professional engineer certification in mechanical engineering to his existing one in electrical engineering, Veilleux is one of only a handful of Nevada engineers with dual PE certifications. His professional development has even circled back to his alma mater, where Veilleux is currently pursuing his MBA from the Lee Business School, and he expects to complete that degree in 2020.
As dedicated as he’s been to advancing his career, Veilleux is just as committed to giving back to the Southern Nevada community. He has volunteered to judge the Fred & Harriett Cox Senior Design Competition at UNLV, where more than 110 engineering students developed product prototypes that showcase innovation and entrepreneurship. Veilleux also has helped the College of Engineering develop workshops and programs that educate students about current technology in the plumbing, mechanical, and electrical fields of engineering.
Taking the lead for FEA in its charitable endeavors, Veilleux is involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada as a Birthday Club sponsor and participant in the annual Boys Day and Girls Day. He also manages the firm’s participation with Special Olympics Nevada’s Bowl for the Gold event, and he represents FEA on the Magnet Advisory Committee for the i3 Learn Academy at Mike O’Callaghan Middle School, helping in the strategic planning of STEM programs.
What moment or experience at UNLV had the most profound effect on your life and career? And how can the next generation of Rebels make their mark in the various fields of engineering?
Like most engineering students, the first three years of my education were spent taking technical classes that taught me foundational concepts and critical reasoning in engineering areas. But it wasn’t until my senior design project that I put the pieces together and really began to understand engineering by applying critical thinking to every step and process along the way. That project helped make me the man I am today, as it developed my work ethic, taught me patience and the importance of being committed to quality, and showed me how to analyze every aspect of every project. I’ve taken those core principles and applied them in everything I’ve done in my career.
As for the next generation of Rebels, the great thing is they get to advance through an engineering department that has grown immensely in the 15 years since I graduated. Just look at such groundbreaking innovations as the blockchain course and the entertainment engineering and design program. So Rebels have a front-row seat to an exciting new wave of engineering innovation, and I look forward to seeing them spearhead the world’s next technological and engineering breakthroughs.
