Mel Sears has been named Northwest Pacific district manager and Seattle office area manager at WSP USA, formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.

In his new position, Sears is responsible for oversight of the firm’s operations in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

A WSP sr. VP, Sears most recently served as business development director for the firm’s West region. He worked with WSP’s 10 offices in the West to enhance relationships with key clients, expand business development opportunities, and invigorate marketing and pursuit efforts.

Sears has over 30 years leading architecture and engineering organizations, managing major infrastructure projects, shaping transportation funding initiatives, and serving in leadership roles in numerous professional and business organizations. He joined WSP in 2010 from a Northwest-based consulting engineering and environmental sciences firm where he served as principal. He also previously worked for Tri-Met of Portland, Oregon, managing light rail transit projects as part of the West Side-Hillsboro light rail extension.

Sears is a registered professional engineer in several states, and a certified Project Management Professional. He is a past president of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon, past president of the Oregon Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and serves on the boards of numerous professional and business organizations.