Dennis Papilion to Helm WSP USA’s Industry-Leading Environment Business
Industry veteran with broad experience guiding environmental and engineering consulting organizations takes over leadership role from J. Steven Paquette, who is retiring.
NEW YORK, January 10, 2022 — Dennis Papilion has been hired as president of the Earth & Environment (E&E) business line at WSP USA, a leading environmental, engineering and professional services consultancy. Papilion will assume his executive role on Jan. 10.
“Dennis’ success in leading organizational, operational and strategic growth initiatives for global consulting firms will greatly benefit our rapidly diversifying Earth & Environment business, and the entire organization,” said Lou Cornell, president and CEO of WSP USA. “Dennis has a keen understanding of the evolving needs and unprecedented opportunities of today’s environment market, centering resilience thinking in solving business and environmental challenges. He will provide significant value in helping WSP, and our clients and communities, become Future Ready®.”
Papilion succeeds J. Steven Paquette, who will retire at the end of January after an esteemed career of more than 35 years in senior management, operational and business development roles for major engineering firms. Prior to his current role, Paquette served for six years as president of the Water & Environment business at WSP USA. He also served as the executive leadership advisor to the WSP USA Inclusion and Diversity Council.
“Steve has been a tremendously valued member of our leadership team, and the steady hand in guiding our W&E and E&E businesses through times of change, exponential growth and recent uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cornell said. “He has served as a mentor to his leadership team and staff, as an ambassador for inclusion and diversity at WSP and in the industry, and as a major force in positioning WSP as a leader in the environment market. We wish Steve all the best.”
Papilion comes to WSP with more than 35 years of industry experience, including 25 years in leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility.
For the past four years, he was president of the western U.S. and Latin America environment business unit for an international engineering firm, where he managed more than 1,500 staff across 40 offices and delivered the highest annual sales in history for that region. Before that, he spent 17 years in executive and operational leadership roles for strategy and development within a wide range of markets.
Papilion excels in driving growth in existing, new and underserved markets; promoting collaboration among cross-divisional project teams for integrated service delivery; advising client account management teams to enhance strategic engagement and visibility; and reducing operational risk through best governance practices.
“I am very excited to join WSP as president of the U.S. Earth & Environment team,” Papilion said. “I am impressed with WSP’s vision to be the premier environmental, social and governance-centered environmental consulting company in the world. Leading this vision in the U.S. is truly an honor, as I look forward to bringing my passion for employee engagement, strategy and client service to achieve great successes. Integrating recent acquisitions will be our focus to reach maximum growth in 2022 and beyond!”
Papilion graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. He has served on the University of California, Irvine, College of Environmental Science Graduate Program Faculty and Advisory Committee, as well as the University of Colorado, Boulder, Leeds School of Business Customer Experience Program Advisory Committee. Papilion is passionate about inclusion and diversity — having served on the Inclusion & Diversity Committee at his previous firm — and is a champion of safety culture.
WSP’s E&E business in the U.S. comprises approximately 2,300 professionals delivering innovative solutions in all segments of the environment sector and supporting major infrastructure and development projects across the transportation, water and wastewater, power and energy, industrial, mining, oil and gas, and federal markets. Combined, WSP’s global environmental resources of more than 14,000 professionals ideally position the firm to lead the acceleration of the world’s green transition.
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 12,000 employees in 200 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
