Noyes will succeed Denis St. Peter on Jan. 1, 2027, as longtime CEO transitions to board chair
BANGOR, Maine — Haley Ward Inc., a 100% employee-owned engineering and consulting firm, has named Travis Noyes, PE, as its next president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2027.
Noyes will succeed Denis St. Peter, who has led the company as president and CEO since 2009. St. Peter will retire from the CEO role but remain chairman of Haley Ward’s board of directors.
Noyes currently serves as the firm’s chief operating officer and executive vice president. He joined Haley Ward in 1994 and later gained experience working for a municipality and a national engineering firm before returning to the company in 2008.
Since his return, Noyes has held a series of leadership positions, including engineering division director. In 2022, he became Haley Ward’s first chief operating officer.
In that role, Noyes has worked with St. Peter and the company’s leadership team on strategy, operations, acquisitions, technology and employee engagement. He brings more than 30 years of civil engineering experience, with expertise in site development and infrastructure design and analysis.
“Travis has been an integral part of Haley Ward’s leadership for many years, and I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead the company forward,” St. Peter said. “He understands our people, our clients, and the culture we have worked hard to build.”
St. Peter’s 17-year leadership
St. Peter joined Haley Ward in 2000 and became president and CEO in 2009. During his tenure, the company expanded beyond its Maine roots into New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida and Tennessee.
The company also completed a series of strategic acquisitions, changed its name from CES, Inc. to Haley Ward, and became 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
“Denis has built an extraordinary legacy at Haley Ward,” Noyes said. “His leadership has transformed our company while keeping our people, our clients, and our values at the center of every decision.”
Noyes said the company will continue to focus on client service, opportunities for employee-owners and community involvement while pursuing further growth.
The leadership change comes as Haley Ward continues to expand its services and geographic footprint. The company has more than 300 employee-owners and has appeared on Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms list for three consecutive years, reaching No. 394 in 2026.
The firm has also recently been recognized as a Best Place to Work in five states.
Noyes and St. Peter will work together during the coming months to support the transition. Following his retirement as president and CEO, St. Peter will continue as chairman of the board.
Haley Ward provides engineering, architecture, environmental, planning and surveying services and operates in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee and Florida.
