May 23, 2017, Denver, CO, USA – Knight Piésold USA announces the appointment of Paul Ridlen as president of Knight Piesold and Co., effective January 1, 2018. Paul will succeed Tom Kerr, who will remain with Knight Piésold in a position that uses his expertise to focus on projects and clients. Paul is working closely with Tom through the end of the year to ensure a seamless transition.

Paul has more than 25 years of experience in business leadership, project management, and civil/geotechnical engineering. His primary expertise lies in tailings, water supply, and hydropower dams. He also has broad project experience in the design and construction of site civil works and foundations for coal, gas, and solar power plants; heap leach and process water ponds; water-supply wells; surface water and groundwater treatment plants; drinking water distribution systems; wastewater collection and treatment systems; geometric and geotechnical design of roadways and bridges; soil and groundwater remediation; and environmental permitting. Paul is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla with a B.Sc. in civil engineering and M.Sc. in geotechnical engineering.

In addition to his diverse engineering experience, Paul is also experienced in business management, having served as COO and CEO of a small- to mid-sized engineering consulting firm in Midwestern USA. He also served as office manager for the Tucson, Arizona office of a large international engineering firm prior to joining Knight Piésold in 2012.

“We are proud to welcome Paul to take over the helm. His extensive technical background, business acumen, and strong leadership will allow us to continue our growth and focus on high-quality project work and operational excellence,” the Knight Piésold USA management team said.

Tom Kerr has provided more than 35 years of service to Knight Piésold and has been a tireless and inspiring leader to the USA offices since relocating from Canada in 2004. He shaped the company’s strategic direction and put in place a world-class engineering team, forming a very bright future for the company. The company has achieved outstanding success under his guidance and has set a high bar for client service and technical excellence around the globe. Tom will now be able to spend all his time on these elements.