Kleinfelder announced today that the firm has named three experienced and accomplished engineering professionals, Derek Fisher, Dirk Applegate, and Louis Armstrong, to senior positions leading its North American operations. Combined, the new firm leaders have more than 80 years of engineering and management experience. The announcement of these new appointments coincides with the beginning of Kleinfelder’s new fiscal year, which began on April 1.

“Kleinfelder’s ability to attract proven executives of this caliber is a testament to our firm, our people, and our history,” said Kleinfelder CEO George J. Pierson. “Kleinfelder recently completed an extremely successful year that saw a significant increase in operational performance and a 20 percent increase in sales. With the addition of extraordinary leaders like these, we are confident that the firm will continue to enjoy ongoing success.”

The three new Directors include:

Derek Fisher – Executive Vice President, East U.S. Division Director

Derek Fisher has nearly 25 years of consulting, management, and leadership experience in the engineering consulting industry. In his 12 years with Kleinfelder, he has progressed from a Program Manager to Regional Manager and he has overseen some of the firm’s most successful projects and programs.

Dirk Applegate – Executive Vice President, Central US and Canada Division Director

A newcomer to Kleinfelder, Dirk Applegate leads the newly combined U.S. Central and Canadian Division.  With over 25 years of industry experience, Applegate has managed all aspects of strategic planning and implementation, operations, staffing, business development, and marketing. Prior to joining the firm he served in senior operations and business development roles with Brown and Caldwell and Arcadis.

Louis Armstrong – Executive Vice President, West Division Director

As an engineering professional with nearly 30 years of experience, Louis Armstrong is an accomplished business leader who excels at capturing new markets, and growing market share and profitability across industries. Prior to joining Kleinfelder, Louis served as Executive VP, General Manager-Pacific at AECOM.

Each Division Director will have full authority, responsibility, and accountability for business development, project execution, client satisfaction, and profitability – a shift from the previous organizational strategy. Pierson added, “These appointments will help us align with our purpose – connecting great people to the best work, and our objectives – to provide a superior return to our shareholders and invest in our people.”

Kleinfelder hasbeen connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As an integrated, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 60 offices in the US, Canada and Australia.