We are excited to announce that Nick Ellis has joined the firm as our new president and chief operating officer (COO). Nick has nearly three decades of experience in transportation, commercial real estate, economic development, and construction. He will oversee the firm’s strategic vision to strengthen communities across the Southeast.
Nick will work closely with the other members of Stewart’s executive leadership team to achieve short- and long-term goals and support overall business operations. His extensive experience in building client relationships and fostering inclusive company culture closely aligns with Stewart’s core philosophy of servant leadership.
“Stewart’s people, culture, and approach have always set it apart, and this is a particularly exciting time to join the firm,” said Nick. “We are continuing to evolve our services across the Southeast, and I look forward to working closely with the entire Stewart team as we embark on this next chapter.”
Prior to joining Stewart, Nick was the senior vice president of TranSystems, and formerly served on SEPI’s executive leadership team as president, developing actionable strategies to improve operations, develop markets, grow revenue, and improve profitability. He also spent 21 years at Kimley-Horn and Associates. During his tenure, he served as chief financial officer and senior vice president, spearheading the firm’s significant national growth and market expansion.
“Nick knows the AEC business and industry at the local, regional, and national level, and he has a proven track record of propelling respected organizations to national prominence,” said Willy Stewart, CEO and founder of Stewart. “Beyond his impressive professional credentials, Nick also embodies our THREAD values of trust, humility, respect, excellence, accountability, and discipline that continue to guide our success.”
In addition to his extensive leadership experience, Nick currently serves as chairman on the Executive Board for Living with Autism – a 501c3 nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2010 that provides services for adults with a range of developmental disabilities. He also serves as chair of the Audit and Investment Committee for Catapult, an organization dedicated to providing human resources advisory services across a variety of industries.
We are excited to have him as part of the Stewart family!
