Denis St. Peter will retire as president and CEO following more than 17 years at the helm. His successor, Travis Noyes, comes from within. They will work together to support the transition.
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A leadership transition plan is underway at Bangor-based engineering firm Haley Ward.
Denis St. Peter will retire as president and CEO following more than 17 years at the helm.
His successor comes from within. Travis Noyes, now chief operating officer and executive vice president, will become president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2027.
St. Peter and Noyes will continue working together to support the transition and St. Peter will continue to serve as the board chair.
Founded in 1978. Haley Ward is a 100% employee-owned professional engineering, architecture, environmental, planning and surveying consulting firm based at One Merchants Plaza in Bangor, with 136 employees in Maine and 300 overall in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida.
The firm ranks No. 9 among the state’s largest engineering firms in the 2026 Mainebiz Book of Lists.
Legacy of growth
St. Peter joined the company in 2000 and took the helm in 2009. During his tenure, Haley Ward experienced significant growth in its geographic reach, services and workforce.
The company expanded from Maine into New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida and, most recently, Tennessee; completed numerous acquisitions; changed its name from CES Inc. to Haley Ward; and became a 100% employee-owned company through an employee stock ownership plan.
“Denis has built an extraordinary legacy at Haley Ward,” said Noyes. “His leadership has transformed our company while keeping our people, our clients and our values at the center of every decision.”
First COO
Noyes joined the firm in 1994, then left to join a municipality and later a national engineering firm and then returned to Haley Ward in 2008. Since then, he has held progressively greater leadership responsibilities, including engineering division director, before becoming Haley Ward’s first COO in 2022.
Noyes is credited with playing a significant leadership role in the company’s growth, working with St. Peter and the leadership team on company strategy, operations, acquisitions, technology and employee engagement. His technical experience spans more than three decades in civil engineering, with a focus on 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,” said St. Peter.
Looking forward, Noyes said, the focus will remain on delivering results for clients, creating opportunities for the employee-owners, strengthening communities and growing the company.
