AECOM appoints Mendes to top design post

AECOM has appointed Diana C. Mendes, AICP, as director of transit/rail, Design and Consulting Services, Americas.

Described as “a nationally recognized industry expert with more than 25 years of management experience specializing in the delivery of transit solutions to promote vibrant, livable communities,” Mendes has held several leadership positions in client services, business development and operations within AECOM, including national director of transit planning and transit director for the U.S. West Region, as well as director of strategic investments for North America transportation. Most recently, she was the Chesapeake District general manager, responsible for leading AECOM’s business throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Prior to joining AECOM, Mendes most recently served as vice president, national director of transit planning at URS, which combined with AECOM in 2014. Mendes began her career as a planner with Wallace Roberts & Todd. She received her bachelor of arts in Sociology at Mount Holyoke College and her master’s in City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mendes has been active on several boards and committees for professional organizations such as the Institute of Transportation Engineers, APTA, the American Planning Association, the National Building Museum and the non-profit Rail~Volution. She was also on the advisory board for the American Planning Association publication Planning and Urban Design Standards, and was a contributing author.

“Diana has an exceptional understanding of the intricacies involved with transit, sustainable transportation and environmental management, and AECOM has immensely benefited from her expertise ever since she joined the company in 2002,” said AECOM Executive Vice President and Transportation Business Line Executive, Design and Consulting Services, Americas Matthew Cummings. “She has demonstrated not only continued technical excellence but also an unwavering focus on giving back to the industry, and I am excited to see our transit business expand to new levels under her leadership.”