About Ronald Colas, PE

Ronald Colas, of Miami, Florida, vice president of WSP USA Inc. and managing executive for south Florida and the Caribbean, earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1987. He has managed and completed engineering projects in California, Florida, and the Caribbean working in both the public and private sector for more than 32 years. His list of projects runs the spectrum of transportation-related engineering, ranging from highways to waterway ports to airport projects. Colas is an active member of several technical societies, including Florida Engineering Society, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Society of Civil Engineers, International Society of Soils Mechanics and Foundation Engineers, International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Enterprise Association, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He is also active in community service and philanthropic organizations such as the Transportation and Expressway Authority of Florida, Florida Airport Council and Engineers without Borders (EWB), and he has volunteered in Haiti to rebuild after an earthquake. He also coaches youth soccer. Colas, a registered professional engineer in seven states, has received accolades and awards for his contributions to the field of engineering including Florida Engineering Society’s Engineer of the Year award. He and his wife, Gaye, have three children — Isabelle, who works is in global public health, is married and lives in Los Angeles; Reginald, who works in the pharmaceutical industry lives in Boston; and Richard, who will be a freshman in college this fall, studying to become be an occupational therapist and an attorney. Colas is fluent in several languages, enjoys traveling with family, flies radio-controlled scale helicopter models and plays golf.