Longtime employee succeeds retiring Vice President Rich Mechaber as director of firm’s Center of Excellence
BEDFORD, N.H. — Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. (Sanborn Head) has promoted Sam Warner to Director of Data Management & Visualization (DM&V), marking a new chapter for one of the firm’s specialized technical practices as longtime leader Rich Mechaber prepares to retire.
Effective immediately, Warner will lead Sanborn Head’s Data Management & Visualization Center of Excellence, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that develops innovative data management, analytics, and visualization solutions to support environmental and infrastructure projects across the United States and internationally.
The leadership transition comes as Mechaber, Vice President and founding leader of the DM&V team, retires at the end of June after building the practice into a core component of Sanborn Head’s technical services platform.
“Sam’s promotion is a reflection of the talent and dedication we are committed to cultivating here at Sanborn Head,” said Barret S. Cole, President and CEO of Sanborn Head. “We are a firm that takes a long view, investing in our people and building for the next generation, and Sam’s career is a testament to that commitment. He has grown steadily throughout his time with us, building deep technical expertise and earning the trust of his colleagues and clients along the way. We are excited to see him step into this leadership role and confident that his experience, dedication, and vision will strengthen the DM&V team and the exceptional work we deliver to our clients.”
Warner joined Sanborn Head in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades with the firm, advancing through a series of leadership roles. During his tenure, he has led complex data management and visualization initiatives for environmental and infrastructure projects, applying expertise in 3D volumetric modeling, geographic information systems (GIS), environmental data management system development and migration, and advanced visualization technologies.
His work has supported projects throughout the United States as well as international assignments, helping clients better understand complex environmental and engineering data through innovative digital tools.
The firm’s Data Management & Visualization Center of Excellence provides specialized services that transform large and complex datasets into actionable information, enabling clients and project teams to make informed decisions throughout the life cycle of a project.
The team combines expertise from multiple disciplines, offering services that include environmental database development and management using EQuIS®, environmental laboratory data management, data usability assessments, environmental modeling, advanced 3D visualization through Earth Volumetric Studio®, GIS services using ArcGIS®, and computer-aided design through AutoCAD®.
By integrating these capabilities, the group delivers high-quality graphics, interactive visualizations, three-dimensional renderings, and analytical tools that support environmental investigations, infrastructure planning, and remediation projects.
Warner succeeds Rich Mechaber, who established the Data Management & Visualization practice and helped define its collaborative operating model. Under Mechaber’s leadership, the team evolved into a firmwide Center of Excellence that partners closely with Sanborn Head’s project teams to provide specialized technical expertise across a broad range of client engagements.
Company leaders credited Mechaber with building the team’s technical capabilities while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that has become a hallmark of the practice.
Sanborn Head expressed its appreciation for Mechaber’s leadership and lasting contributions, noting that his vision helped position the Data Management & Visualization team as an integral part of the firm’s environmental and engineering consulting services.
With Warner now at the helm, Sanborn Head said the team is well positioned to continue advancing innovative data solutions that help clients manage increasingly complex environmental and infrastructure challenges.
