DEA is pleased to announce the appointment of Mel Sears, P.E., PMP, as the Director of Alternative Project Delivery (APD). Based out of the Portland, Oregon office, Sears will lead DEA’s APD business development strategies, champion APD pursuits, develop teaming strategies, and serve as a vital liaison between DEA’s APD teams. He will report directly to DEA’s Chairman and CEO, Al Barkouli. Additionally, Sears will support DEA’s CEO on special initiatives across the range of infrastructure services offered by DEA.
Al Barkouli, Chairman and CEO, DEA, said, “Mel Sears brings invaluable expertise to his role as DEA’s Director of Alternative Project Delivery. His impressive track record in business development and executive leadership, and his commitment to community-driven projects have left an enduring impact on the industry. We’re delighted to have Mel leading DEA’s APD efforts, driving growth, and delivering excellence.”
Sears is a seasoned transportation executive with nearly 40 years of experience in both the public sector and private industry. He has a proven track record in business development/sales, profit and loss (P&L) accountability, and fostering client relationships for complex infrastructure projects throughout the Western United States. He also has executive experience overseeing consulting businesses in multi-state regions and offices, as well as forming strategic alliances.
Sears holds professional engineering licenses in Oregon, Washington, and California, and he is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute. With an impressive industry background that includes executive positions at national and regional A/E firms, in addition to public sector roles at Trimet and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Sears has directed a wide range of well-known initiatives and programs, spanning highways, interchanges, light-rail transit, arterials, water, and wastewater projects.
Sears’ career focus has been on developing and implementing a collaborative project development strategy that meets both owner and community objectives. His combination of public and private experience allows him to understand and resolve the complexities of delivering projects in today’s complex business environment, with a focus on community and equity.
Sears has also been involved in industry associations throughout his career, including serving as President of ACEC Oregon, President of ASCE Oregon, as a member of the Board of Directors for Oregon Business and Industry (OBI), and in leadership roles on many transportation funding ballot measure campaigns in Oregon, Washington, and California, among others.
