Stantec adds two to transportation team

Barbara Moffat and Dr. Suhail Albhaisi | Photos courtesy of Stantec

Global design and engineering firm Stantec recently added two senior executives to its transportation team.

The firm appointed Barbara Moffat as vice president, transportation in the U.S. West. Dr. Suhail Albhaisi joined the firm as a regional bridge leader and senior principal in the U.S. Northeast, according to a news release.

The firm said these have been strategic hires that Stantec expects will bolster its expanding transportation practice. Moffat will be based in Stantec’s Bellevue, Wash., office, while Albhaisi will be based in New York City.

“We are always striving to attract the best in the business to deliver projects for our clients, and I’m pleased to say that both Barbara and Suhail will help us continue to do that,” said Susan Walter, senior vice president, business leader, transportation. “Their experience and knowledge are extremely well-respected across the industry, and they will be a tremendous help as we execute on our major projects and grow our business.”

Moffat brings 35 years of experience, with a background in structural engineering for light-rail, bridges and tunnels. She is also skilled as a risk management facilitator and brings expertise in contract review and negotiations, including developing standard contracting templates.

In her new role, and as a member of the leadership team for the Transportation Business Line, Moffat is expected to manage the transportation design team and will oversee business development for U.S. West areas including Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. She is also set to take part in work on specific projects as needed.

“Stantec is leading and involved in some of the most exciting transportation projects in the United States,” Moffat said. “I’m excited to lend my expertise in making them successful and winning more key projects in the West Region as we grow the market. It didn’t take long to get into the swing of things—I’m already actively engaged in helping with the successful delivery of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red and Purple Line Modernization Program.”

Albhaisi joins Stantec with more than two decades of experience focusing on bridges, with extensive experience in bridge design and research.

Stantec says his research has focused on the design and construction of integral abutment bridges and seismic isolation of bridges. He is looked to as a national expert in the field of integral abutment bridges and is credited with numerous publications on the topic.

Additionally, Albhaisi has played a key role on bridge projects throughout the U.S., including the Alexander Hamilton Bridge in New York; the Downtown Crossing in Kentucky; and the California High Speed Rail Bridges. Stantec explained that Albhaisi has also taught Bridge Engineering courses for graduate students at Rutgers University.

“Bridges are key to community connectivity and growth, as well as economic prosperity,” Albhaisi said. “Stantec is involved in numerous interesting bridge projects across the region, and I look forward to working with our design teams to deliver top quality work that our clients demand.”

Stantec notes that the hiring of Moffat and Albhaisi comes on the heels of the strategic addition of Bruce Webber to the firm’s ranks in Fresno, Calif., as a senior project manager in Transportation.

Earlier this year, Stantec also announced the addition of Charles R. Collins III, PE, to its Chicago office as a senior rail engineer.