Seasoned leader will leverage decades of government experience to strengthen relationships with infrastructure policymakers
CHICAGO (April 17, 2025) – Brian Colgan joined HNTB as government relations director for the firm’s Great Lakes Division. He has more than 20 years of experience in federal, state and local government policy, stakeholder engagement, community relations and strategic planning.
Colgan will direct the firm’s government relations activities for Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. His responsibilities include strategic government and public affairs planning and collaborating with government relations professionals across the firm to develop and maintain relationships with policymakers who impact the transportation infrastructure industry.
“Brian is a distinguished leader with a remarkable talent for fostering relationships and bringing together diverse groups across legislative, infrastructure and regulatory initiatives,” said Chris Gale, PE, HNTB’s Great Lakes Division president and senior vice president. “His expertise will be invaluable to advancing our collaborative infrastructure solutions in the region. By offering essential support and insights to local governments and policymakers, he will play a crucial role in our efforts.”
Prior to joining HNTB, Colgan served as foundation vice president and chief strategy officer for a global manufacturing company. In this role, he led corporate social impact and global development strategy, advancing workforce development and sustainable infrastructure projects across 42 countries. Earlier in his career, he served as chief of staff to the Illinois Lieutenant Governor, and as a senior advisor to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Colgan earned a Bachelor of Arts in international, resource and consumer economics from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.