Keith B. Thayer, P.E., the 116th president of ASME serving the 1997-1998 term, is chief executive of Garuda U.S. Inc., Houston, Texas.

A prominent figure in the steel and petrochemical industries, Thayer has been involved on large-scale industrial projects as a planner, designer and financial advisor.  Hiss professional career began in 1950 at Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla., where Thayer designed HVAC and plumbing systems for industrial facilities.  He became assistant chief design engineer at Phillips, before moving on to Foster Wheeler Corporation, Houston, Texas.  At Foster Wheeler, Thayer was involved in the design of piping and HVAC systems for the company’s petrochemical projects. 

In 1953, Keith Thayer joined the Houston consulting firm of Raymond L. Jenkins. He joined Stubbs Overbeck & Associates in 1954 and became involved in complex and large-scale engineering/construction projects ranging from $100,000 to $100 million in capital value.  He worked on refineries and petrochemical plants, handling every facet of a project from long-range planning and financing to systems design and installation.

Thayer assumed various executive functions at Stubbs Overbeck and became president of the firm in 1974.  During his tenure, Stubbs Overbeck grew from small company to an engineering firm with approximately 1,500 people.  Thayer was instrumental in the merger of Stubbs Overbeck with CDI Corp., which was consummated in 1970.  He serves as vice chair of the Board of Directors of CDI Engineering Group.

Keith Thayer received his education and training at Kansas State University. He graduated with honors in 1950, earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

He has been an active and dedicated member of ASME International, serving on many committees and groups in the Petroleum Division, ASME South Texas Section, and also at the Society level. Thayer was chair of the Petroleum Division’s executive committee during 1984-85; the division honored him in 1995 at the former Energy-sources Technology Conference and Exposition (ETCE) by establishing the “Thayer Best Petroleum Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award”.

Within the South Texas Section, Thayer was chair and worked on the National Agenda Committee and Workbook Committee, among others.  In 1976-77, he directed the section’s Emerging Leadership program.  Activities at the regional level (ASME Region X) included education, certification and national agenda issues.

At the Society level, Thayer has been a member of many committees including the Member Interests, National Agenda, and Technical Planning Committees.  He has also served on several committees of the ASME Board of Governors and was elected to the Board in 1992.  Other key positions include vice president, Energy Resources Board, and chair of a Board of Governors committee charged with editing ASME’s goals.

Keith Thayer is a Life Fellow of ASME.  Other honors and awards include the ASME Centennial Award (1980) and Dedicated Service Award (1987). He is also the recipient of the Edgar H. Pavia Award (1983), Alan J. Chapman Award *1983), and Frank Evans Award(1991).  He is a former director of the Society of Piping Engineering and Designers and current member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers and Association of Iron and Steel Engineers.

Among other professional activities, Thayer has published articles in his areas of knowledge and expertise:  engineering management, quality improvement, and competition.  In these articles, Keith Thayer draws on nearly a half-century of experience in engineering management to assess the future of the profession in a rapidly changing, computerized and highly automated global society.

Keith Thayer and his wife, Ruthy, live in Houston. They have eight children.