Cleavelin Named Top Young Professional by ENR Texas & Southeast

RICHARDSON, Texas — Halff Deputy Operations Manager Melanie Cleavelin was recently named one of 20 rising industry stars in the 2025 Engineering News-Record Texas & Southeast Top Young Professionals class.

Chosen from a pool of 129 applicants by a panel of judges, the 2025 class of Top Young Professionals works all over Texas and the Southeast in different roles within the industry.

Cleavelin is recognized as a servant leader and an excellent communicator known for her proactive, transparent approach with clients and coworkers. Over her 17-year tenure at Halff, she has risen from design engineer to deputy operations manager for an office of more than 350 employees.

Clients commend her meticulous attention to detail, particularly her skill in solving complex design challenges swiftly and effectively. Melanie has also been a driving force in improving companywide processes, and spearheading technical training and employee engagement initiatives.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Melanie serves as an active board member of the WTS Greater Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter and leads the Halff Community Initiative (HCI), fostering a culture of service through the firm’s nonprofit. Her dedication has earned her the inaugural Dr. Albert H. Halff Stetson Award and the Zweig Group’s Rising Stars in the AEC Industry award.

Cleavelin and the other honorees will be featured in the February 2025 edition of ENR Texas & Southeast.

About the Firm

Halff is an award-winning, employee-owned, diverse and full-service infrastructure consulting firm that improves lives and communities by turning ideas into reality. For nearly 75 years, Halff has provided smart solutions for clients throughout the United States. The people-first firm is committed to continuously investing in its employees and fostering a culture of collaboration.

Halff has more than 30 offices in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The firm was recognized as the 2023 Texas & Louisiana Design Firm of the Year by the Engineering News-Record. Halff is ranked No. 87 in the 2024 Top 500 Design Firms rankings by ENR. Halff is the No. 16 Top Workplace nationally in 2024 as ranked by Energage for businesses with 1,000 to 2,499 employees.