In 2018, Toole Design Group celebrates 15 years of creating places where people take priority. As the company has grown from a small office in downtown Laurel, MD into a multidisciplinary team of 140 staff members in 13 offices across the US, it has expanded its leadership team to better serve our growing number of clients and communities we serve. This year, TDG is excited to announce new changes to our leadership team that will allow us to continue to provide clients with the people-focused solutions they seek to make their communities more accessible, regardless of mode.
“TDG was founded on a commitment to make the lives of people better and safer. In 2018, we are set to deliver on that promise in more communities than ever”, said Jennifer Toole, President of Toole Design Group. “This latest evolution in our leadership team ensures our continued growth is seamless, deliberate, and guided by our values.”
Roswell “RJ” Eldridge continues in his role as Chief Operating Officer, and adds a sharper focus on TDG’s emerging markets as Director of Growth and Innovation. RJ will take charge of new offices and prospective markets as TDG continues its growth across the country. This includes recent expansion in Texas and California, as well as continuing to guide our western offices in Berkeley, Seattle, Denver, and Portland.
Adding to his role as Vice President, William “Bill” Schultheiss, P.E. has been named Director of Sustainable Safety. In this role, Bill will continue his leadership in developing national, state, and local design standards and guidance based on the latest technical research and innovation. He will manage TDG’s research group and take a more active role in the firm’s Vision Zero work from a design and engineering perspective. Bill’s focus on holistic engineering practices for all users will guide TDG clients and staff as they continue to innovate and advance multimodal design in communities of all sizes.
Alia Anderson, AICP has been named Director of Planning, North America. She will oversee planning operations across all TDG offices, ensuring that our planning practice has the tools, resources, and expertise they need to continue delivering forward-thinking, people-focused results for our clients. She will also oversee TDG’s marketing department and collaborate closely with Director of Strategy Andy Clarke on strategic communications for client projects and company announcements. She is based in TDG’s Silver Spring, MD headquarters, where she previously served as Mid-Atlantic Director of Planning.
Minneapolis, MN Office Director Ciara Schlichting, AICP has been promoted to Director of Operations, Midwestern US. In this role, she will manage day-to-day operations, business development, and key pursuits for our Minneapolis, Madison, and Columbus offices. Ciara will manage our expansion in the Midwest, and will continue to oversee staff and our robust suite of planning and design projects in the region.
Spartanburg, SC
Office Director Ernest “Ernie” Boughman III, AICP has been promoted to Director of Operations, Southeastern US. He will manage our growing body of work in the region, including day-to-day operations, business development, and key pursuits for our Spartanburg and Atlanta offices. Additionally, Ernie will continue to oversee staff and TDG’s strong portfolio of projects throughout the Southeast, as well as future expansion in the region.
These promotions reflect the continued growth of the company, with an emphasis on elevating staff from within; staff that our clients know, trust, and can be assured will continue to be personally committed to their success. Numerous job opportunities are available with Toole Design Group, so if you have a passion for creating great communities for people, visit our Careers & Benefits page for more information.
