“Looking at the arc of the careers of our original founders and our current youthful staff, I consider myself lucky to have the ongoing counsel of our senior principals, as well as the opportunity to do project design work with cutting-edge architects and engineers. One clear message I get from the efforts of our senior shareholders is the importance of building a long-term relationship with clients and simultaneously finding time to keep my hand in the design and project world. Our recent “brand evolution” initiative and all the research and creativity that went into that process really hammered home the importance of HUNT’s community building mission.

Dean Hackett, HUNT’s Vice President for Business Services, directs the marketing and business development functions for the firm, and at the same time, still overseas conceptual master planning for major school projects and subdivisions. Named a firm principal in 2007, Dean assumed his new role in 2016, and was added to the Board of Directors in 2018.

In his role as a landscape architect, Dean has provided site analysis, planning and design for new subdivisions, school and college campuses, small parks and plazas, and commercial properties.

Comfortable with specifying successful plant species and extracting from the land the client’s greatest benefit, Dean draws on civil engineering analysis and proper site programming. He enjoys consulting with colleagues and working with clients, and he is particularly skilled at resolving construction issues.