Stewart appoints AEC veteran Nick Ellis as president and COO  

RALEIGH, N.C. – Stewart, an interdisciplinary design, engineering and planning firm, today announced that it has appointed Nick Ellis to the role of president and chief operating officer (COO). Building on nearly three decades of experience in transportation, commercial real estate, economic development and construction, Ellis will oversee the firm’s strategic vision to strengthen communities across the Southeast.  

In his new role, Ellis will work closely with Stewart’s executive leadership team to achieve short- and long-term goals and support overall business operations. His extensive experience in building client relationships and fostering inclusive company culture closely aligns with Stewart’s core philosophy of servant leadership.   

“Stewart’s people, culture and approach have always set it apart, and this is a particularly exciting time to join the firm,” said Ellis. “We are continuing to evolve our services across the Southeast, and I look forward to working closely with the entire Stewart team as we embark on this next chapter.” 

Prior to joining Stewart, Ellis was the senior vice president of TranSystems, a Kansas City-based firm that plans, designs and oversees construction to enhance the transportation networks and infrastructure that make communities more livable. He formerly served on SEPI’s executive leadership team as president, developing actionable strategies to improve operations, develop markets, grow revenue and improve profitability. Ellis also spent 21 years at Kimley-Horn and Associates, one of the nation’s largest engineering, planning and design consultants. During his tenure, he served as chief financial officer and senior vice president, spearheading the firm’s significant national growth and market expansion. 

“Nick knows the AEC business and industry at the local, regional and national level, and he has a proven track record of propelling respected organizations to national prominence,” said Willy Stewart, CEO and founder of Stewart. “Beyond his impressive professional credentials, Nick also embodies our THREAD values of trust, humility, respect, excellence, accountability and discipline that continue to guide our success.” 

In addition to his extensive leadership experience, Ellis currently serves as chairman on the Executive Board for Living with Autism – a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2010 that provides services for adults with a range of developmental disabilities. He also serves as chair of the Audit and Investment Committee for Catapult, an organization dedicated to providing human resources advisory services across a variety of industries.  

For more information about Stewart, career opportunities and open positions, visit www.stewartinc.com/lifeatstewart/careers.  

About Stewart 

Stewart is located throughout the Carolinas, comprising nearly 200 employees with eight office locations. With a unique interdisciplinary collaborative approach that results in stronger and more creative design solutions, Stewart serves domestic and international clientele, offering a full range of services to meet the needs of its clients, including: 

• Civil Engineering 
• Community Planning 
• Geomatics 
• Geotechnical & Construction Services 
• Landscape Architecture 
• Structural Engineering 
• Transportation

Founded in 1994 by Willy E. Stewart, PE, the firm is owned by a select group of professionals who are personally involved in our clients’ success. Stewart has developed a rich culture of servant leadership, summarized by the acronym, THREAD: Trust, Humility, Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Discipline. These core values are at the heart of how we work with each other, our clients, our partners, and our community. THREAD has evolved into a curriculum that is taught to employees through our THREAD Institute. 

The company has been recognized multiple times as a Best Place to Work in the Triangle and Charlotte markets by American City Business Journals. Engineering News-Record has nationally recognized Stewart as a Top 500 Design Firm since 2019. For more information, visit www.stewartinc.com or follow Stewart on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.