Christopher E. Brazell, senior vice president of EMC Engineering Services, Inc., has been named the 2017 Outstanding Alumnus of Middle Georgia State University by the institution's Alumni Association.
 
Each year, the Middle Georgia State Alumni Association recognizes one of its own with the Outstanding Alumnus award. The award is given to selected alumni who have distinguished themselves academically, professionally, or through community involvement - and achieve positions of influence and regional or national reputation.
 
Originally from Vidalia, Ga., Brazell received an associate's degree in Nuclear Engineering & Physics from Middle Georgia College (now Middle Georgia State University) in 1999. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, both with highest honors distinctions. He returned to Middle Georgia State to obtain an associate's degree in Survey/Geomatics. Brazell later served Middle Georgia State as an adjunct professor teaching land surveying courses for seven years.
 
Brazell began his career with EMC Engineering Services in 2002 as a construction inspector in Savannah. He later relocated to Atlanta where he was instrumental in starting the firm’s branch office there. In 2006, he took leadership of the Columbus Branch, growing the regional staff and market share to become one of the leading business units at EMC. As the firm’s youngest principal owner and as senior vice president of the West Georgia Division, Brazell manages EMC’s Albany, Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus, Thomaston, and Valdosta branches and is the liaison for all military projects.
 
He is a licensed professional engineer in 23 states and is in training to become a licensed land surveyor in Georgia. He is a graduate of the 2009 class of Leadership Columbus and Leadership Harris County. He was the recipient of the Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2010, presented by The Georgia Engineering Alliance.
 
Brazell serves his community through multiple organizations, including North Columbus Rotary Club, Columbus Habitat for Humanity, Young Professionals of Greater Columbus, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Harris County Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, and the Columbus Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers.