CHICAGO — Paul Loete has been named senior area manager for transportation in the Illinois and Wisconsin region at WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy.
Loete brings 25 years of project engineering experience to his new role at WSP. He will be responsible for driving the strategic direction of the Illinois and Wisconsin management team, establishing and maintaining strong client relationships, supporting diversification and growth of the transportation business in the region, and working with other Central Region area managers to develop business opportunities. He will be based in the Chicago office of WSP.
Prior to joining WSP, Loete served as the director of highways and chief engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), where he managed a staff of 3,500 and supervised a multi-year highway construction program averaging $2 billion annually. He previously served as the deputy director of highways for IDOT and has worked as a project engineer for professional and environmental service organizations.
“Paul’s extensive experience with IDOT over the past eight years has provided him with a unique perspective on the critical needs and concerns of one of the largest transportation markets in the Midwest,” said Joseph Willhite, Central Region business manager and senior vice president at WSP. “His first-hand knowledge of these issues will enable our team to become more responsive to finding viable, economic solutions to better serve all of our clients.”
Loete is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a civil engineering degree. He has served as the chair for the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) chief engineers committee, and as a member of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) transportation policy forum. Loete is also a former chair of the IDOT consultant selection committee. He is a 2017 graduate of the AASHTO Advanced Transportation Leadership Institute.
About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 9,500 employees in 150 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
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