January 5, 2026, Denver, CO, USA – Knight Piésold USA announces that Dr. Jeffrey Coffin has been appointed President and Regional Manager of its operations in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Coffin succeeds Paul Ridlen, who served in the role for eight years and will continue serving on the Board of Directors of the Knight Piésold Group.

Dr. Coffin joined Knight Piésold USA as a project engineer after completing his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Colorado. He progressed to a senior engineer role and then served as Regional Manager of Knight Piésold Ghana for three years before returning to Knight Piésold USA, where he served as Principal Geotechnical Engineer and most recently as Chief Operating Officer.

With 18 years of consulting experience in civil and geotechnical engineering, his technical expertise spans design, project management, construction implementation, engineering analyses, and materials characterization. Dr. Coffin's project portfolio includes geotechnical analysis and design for tailings storage facilities, heap leach facilities, waste rock dumps, plant site foundations, and environmental impact assessments. Over the past eight years, he has served as Engineer of Record for several tailings and water storage facilities.

Ridlen's tenure marked a period of significant growth and resilience for the company. Under his leadership, the company expanded its regional footprint, opening its first formal office in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 2019, beginning operations in Mexico in 2020 (in partnership with Knight Piésold Chile), and opening an office in Fort Collins, Colorado in 2023. His leadership also successfully navigated unprecedented challenges, including a global pandemic, economic volatility, and social change.

"I’m tremendously grateful for the opportunities I’ve had over the past eight years, with the support of everyone in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. What I am most proud of is helping foster an environment at Knight Piésold where talented, dedicated people feel supported and can reach their full potential," reflected Ridlen. "Having led an exceptional team at every level of the company, I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I’m excited to see the continued growth and success I fully expect under Jeff’s leadership as he and the broader leadership team move the company forward."

In his continued role as Board Director, Ridlen will focus on technical excellence and governance activities at Knight Piésold. He will also continue serving clients in his work as an Engineer of Record, senior geotechnical engineer, and Independent Review Board member. He will also maintain his leadership roles with the International Commission on Large Dams, U.S. Society on Dams, and other industry organizations.

This leadership transition demonstrates Knight Piésold's commitment to developing talent from within and ensuring seamless operational continuity. Building on the strong foundation established during Ridlen's tenure and leveraging Dr. Coffin's proven leadership capabilities and extensive technical expertise, Knight Piésold is well-positioned for its next chapter of growth, guided by its core values of unity, openness, ingenuity, and excellence.