New Vice President of Water Infrastructure at Cordoba Corporation

Cordoba Corporation, the statewide full-service engineering, program and construction management firm specializing in infrastructure projects in the water and energy, transportation, and education sectors, has announced Richard Coles as the new Senior Vice President of Water Infrastructure. Coles has more than two decades supporting air quality, dust control, water conveyance and water conservation projects for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Program where he led teams that implemented innovative solutions and environmentally sustainable approaches that have successfully reduced dust emissions, conserved water, and restored the local environment.

Coles most recently served as the QA/QC Manager for the design-build team supporting the Water Replenishment District (WRD) of Southern California’s Groundwater Improvement Program Advanced Water Treatment Facility in Pico Rivera, California. This project includes expansions to existing water treatment facilities, spreading operations, and stormwater capture facilities. In various positions prior to WRD, Coles has provided value engineering, design management, program/project management and construction management leadership expertise on dozens of wastewater treatment, recycled water, water filtration, reservoir, pipeline, and pump station projects. Additionally, he has worked on numerous port, harbor, dredging, levee and wetlands restoration projects, throughout California, within the United States and overseas.

“I am thrilled to have Rich Coles join Cordoba Corporation,” stated President and CEO George L. Pla. “He is a proven expert with experience in all aspects of water infrastructure planning, development and construction. He is an extraordinary addition to our growing water team.”

Coles is a renowned water infrastructure expert with a solid track record of leadership in the engineering and construction management industries and building high performance teams that deliver superior results. He has managed a wide range of large design, design-build, and construction projects, and is experienced in simultaneously managing multiple design teams and construction teams.

“This is an exciting time in the water industry in California with new opportunities to build innovative infrastructure to capture, treat, recycle and reuse water,” stated Cordoba’s Maria Mehranian, managing artner and CFO. “We are fortunate to have Rich on board with his vast wealth of experience to lead Cordoba’s efforts with our water clients.”

Having earned his B.S. in Environmental Science from California State University, San Bernardino, Coles went on to earn his M.S. in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University. He has also completed a corporate leadership program at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

“I am thrilled to join the Cordoba Team,” stated Coles. “I am looking forward to exciting opportunities and being part of a corporate culture dedicated to ‘Making a Difference’ for our clients and our communities.”

Coles is a member of the American Water Works Association, the Western Dredging Association and the American Association of Port Authorities. He will be based out of Cordoba’s Santa Ana Regional Office.