Mike Hughes Heads to Schaumburg Consulting Firm

Former Elmhurst Public Works Director Mike Hughes is bringing his 28 years of experience in municipal government engineering and operations to TranSystems in Schaumburg. He submitted his resignation to the City of Elmhurst earlier this fall.

TranSystems is an engineering and consulting firm that provides "integrated solutions for transportation infrastructure challenges to facilitate the movement of goods and people," according to a press release distributed by the company.

Hughes is senior resident engineer, focusing on clients in the Chicago area. Hughes worked for many years with TranSystems Construction Division leader Lou Beugnet, who said he has been impressed with Hughes's knowledge of local government operations and project management.

“Mike adds the municipal/local government perspective to our already outstanding team," Beugnet said in a prepared statement. "That perspective will enable our team to better anticipate our clients' concerns and to address those concerns in the most proactive manner possible."

Hughes began his engineering career with Zimmer-Howell, a small consulting firm in the Chicago area. In 1985, he joined Elmhurst as a civil engineer, where his duties included design and construction oversight of all types of municipal projects. He was the city’s field representative on numerous construction projects within Elmhurst. 

In 1989, Hughes was promoted to city engineer. In addition to overseeing the design and construction of all capital improvements in Elmhurst, he was responsible for all private development activities in the city. The engineering group also provided inspection and utility locating services.

In 1993, Hughes was promoted to Elmhurst's assistant director of public works. He was responsible for all municipal operations, including streets, electrical, sewer, water, forestry, building maintenance and fleet maintenance.  In this role, he obtained hands-on experience in local government operations from the daily maintenance of all types of public infrastructure. He also was responsible for snow removal, storm water management and flood fighting.

Hughes became director of public works in 2001, taking on all facets of the Public Works Department including operations, planning, project management and budget preparation, and he was the Public Works liaison to Elmhurst City Council and the mayor. Working with the City Council and city manager, Hughes was the leader in developing the Elmhurst’s long-term flood mitigation plan, which required extensive coordination and public outreach.

Hughes holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from University of Illinois.

The search for a new public works director in Elmhurst continues.