Michaud named as next President and CEO of S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc.

Chaput to retire next year following more than 12 years at the helm

Bangor, Maine: S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc. (S.W.COLE), a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing firm, is pleased to announce that Chad B. Michaud, PE, has been named as the firm’s next President and CEO. On January 1, 2027, Michaud will succeed current President and CEO Robert E. Chaput, Jr., PE, who has held the position since 2014.

Michaud joined the firm in 1999, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a position he has held since 2014. He also serves as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer. During his time with the firm, Michaud has played a key role in the firm’s growth across New England, both through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.

“Chad has been an integral part of our leadership team and growth initiatives. He is a trusted business partner who is ready to carry on S.W.COLE’s legacy,” said Chaput. “Chad knows our team, clients and culture are the keys to our success.”

Michaud plans to prioritize client service and continue to strengthen the firm’s culture. “My career was built on hard work and a drive to provide excellent client service,” said Michaud. “This is S.W.COLE at its core, and as CEO, it will be my mission for all of our teams to practice in this manner.”

Chaput will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board through April 2027 and will remain on staff as a Senior Advisor and Principal Geotechnical Engineer until he retires in June 2027. Under Chaput’s leadership, the firm has seen significant growth across New England and placed a renewed focus on the firm’s core service areas of geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing while also expanding its geotechnical and environmental drilling services under its subsidiary, Seaboard Drilling, LLC.

Michaud praised Chaput for developing a culture built on teamwork, sharing: “Bob had a vision to build on the already solid foundation of this company by promoting teamwork and placing an increasing emphasis on our core values.”

Established in 1979 in Bangor, Maine, S.W.COLE provides geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and special inspection services to private- and public-sector clients from offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Seaboard Drilling, LLC, provides geotechnical and environmental test-boring services. The firm has seen significant growth in the past decade and currently has more than 150 employees.

Michaud, Chaput, and the entire S.W.COLE leadership team will be working together during this transition to continue to support and serve the firm’s employees, clients and strategic partners. The firm will continue to focus on client service and developing practical solutions that are in the best interest of its clients.