Honor recognizes Mendes’ national leadership advancing community-centered planning and transformative infrastructure delivery
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 19, 2026) – HNTB is proud to announce that Diana Mendes, AICP, corporate president of infrastructure and mobility, has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), the organization’s highest honor. The recognition honors planners whose careers have made transformative contributions to communities and the planning profession. Fellows are nominated by their peers and selected based on their sustained impact on the profession and the communities they serve.
Mendes has nearly four decades of experience guiding complex transportation initiatives that strengthen mobility, support environmental stewardship and improve how infrastructure serves communities. In her role at HNTB, she leads the firm’s national efforts to advance infrastructure and mobility solutions, working with transportation agencies to enhance planning, project development and delivery.
At HNTB, Mendes has helped shape the firm’s national approach to infrastructure planning and project delivery, establishing technical guidance, training programs and operational practices that strengthen support for clients advancing major transportation initiatives. Her leadership has helped bolster HNTB’s role in working with agencies to navigate federal requirements. Throughout the industry, her impact extends through national policy and professional development, including her work training more than 2,000 professionals through the National Transit Institute.
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the College of Fellows alongside so many planners whose work has shaped our communities and profession,” Mendes said. “Planning plays a vital role in helping communities grow, adapt and thrive. This recognition reflects the many partnerships and collaborations that have advanced meaningful infrastructure solutions across the country.”
Mendes will be formally recognized as part of the 2026 Class of Fellows at the American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference in Denver on April 26, 2026.