Lien Dastgir is the President and CEO of KAD Engineering PLLC, a certified DBE/MBE/WBE civil engineering firm based in Illinois. With over two decades of experience in transportation infrastructure, she has led KAD to become a trusted partner to major public agencies, including IDOT and the Illinois Tollway. Under her leadership, the firm has received multiple recognitions, including the 2023 Engineering Firm of the Year from IDOT and the 2025 HACIA Small Business Professional Services Award.

Originally from Southern China, Lien’s story is one of resilience, grit, and determination. She immigrated to the United States as a young adult, overcame language and cultural barriers, and went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today, she is a licensed Professional Engineer and a passionate advocate for creating access and equity for women and historically underrepresented communities in engineering.

Beyond her business achievements, Lien is a dedicated community leader and champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She currently serves as President of the Illinois Association of Asian Civil Engineers (IAACE), where she has helped expand the organization to 23 corporate members and established student chapters at two major universities. She also serves as the Scholarship Chair for the ASCE Construction Institute (ASCE-CI), mentors youth through the WTS Transportation Committee, and teaches construction inspection courses at Joliet Junior College (JJC) and through HACIA University, helping train the next generation of engineers and technicians to address the workforce shortage in construction management.

Now serving as a HACIA Associate Board Member, Lien brings her voice, values, and vision to the table. She is deeply committed to empowering emerging entrepreneurs and professionals to break barriers, build capacity, and make lasting impact in the DOT industry.