Gannett Fleming taps Tolson to lead expansion into South Carolina
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Roy Tolson will oversee the firm’s strategic growth across the state as the South Carolina transportation area manager.
Infrastructure and engineering firm Gannett Fleming has opened its first South Carolina office.
Long-time South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) official Roy Tolson will oversee Gannett Fleming’s growth in the state as the South Carolina transportation area manager, the firm said in a statement.
Tolson is a 45-year industry veteran with extensive program management experience. Most recently, he served as the director of innovative finance/tolls for SCDOT.
While operating in that role, Tolson reportedly boosted resources for state and federal projects and provided oversight for the Cross Island Parkway toll facility on Hilton Head Island.
His prior SCDOT leadership positions also included interim director of budget and cash management, director of the office of railroads, and director of program management.
Officials said Tolson managed major projects during his tenure, including the initial development of Interstate 526 from Mount Pleasant to Interstate 26 in Charleston County, the development of the Cross Island Parkway in Beaufort County, and the development of the widening of South Carolina Route 72 and U.S. Route 25 in Abbeville, Greenwood, and Laurens counties.
Tolson is an alumnus of Central Carolina Technical College, where he earned an Associate Degree in civil engineering technology. He also studied geometric design at Northwestern University, completed the management development program for engineers at the University of South Carolina, and is an alumnus of the Strategic Training for Transportation Agency Representatives program at SCDOT.
“Given his extensive knowledge of South Carolina’s infrastructure and his innovative approach, Roy is the perfect person to formally establish our presence in the state,” said Mike Holder, PE, vice president and regional business line manager for transportation. “While Gannett Fleming is no stranger to South Carolina, we look forward to extending our full suite of services and providing best-in-class client relations across the state.”
Gannett Fleming has previously partnered with South Carolina’s infrastructure leaders on several projects, including the acoustics review and traffic noise analysis for the SCDOT Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project, the firm said.
