Professional Summary
Mitch Reister is a civil engineer and government executive with over 30 years of experience in infrastructure design, capital project delivery, and organizational leadership. He has served as Public Works Director and County Engineer in multiple Washington jurisdictions, as Public Works Director for the City of Bozeman, Montana, and as Interim Planning Director for Chelan County – in addition to key engineering positions with WSDOT. His expertise in policy, permitting, contracting, legal issues, and public systems makes him a trusted Owner's Engineer and Principal Project Manager for clients navigating complex regulatory environments.
Selected Experience
- Partner/Principal – M2 Consulting, PLLC (2018–Present)
- Contracting Services Manager, Office of General Counsel – Chelan County PUD No. 1 (2021–2026)
- Public Works Director – City of Bozeman, MT (2019–2021)
- Community Development Director (contracted) – Chelan County, WA (2018)
- County Engineer – Douglas County, WA (2017–2018)
- Utility Division Manager – City of Wenatchee, WA (2017)
- Public Works Director / County Engineer – Spokane County, WA (2015–2017)
- Public Works Director / County Engineer – Chelan County, WA (2011–2015)
- Region Design Engineer – Washington State DOT (2007–2011)
- Design, Construction, Scoping & Hydraulics Engineering – Washington State DOT (1992–2007)
Committees & Affiliations
- Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board – Gubernatorial Appointee
- FHWA Liaison Committee; Local Agencies Design Standards Committee – Member
- WSDOT Stormwater Policy & Stormwater Research Technical Committees – Member
- WA Dept. of Ecology – Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern WA Subcommittee
- Member – ASCE, APWA (WA & Rocky Mountain Chapters), AWWA, NSPE, APA, ACI, ITE
Selected Recognition
- NAPA Quality Construction Award (2017) – Hawthorne West Road Reconstruction, Spokane County
- County Project of the Year, Eastern Washington – FHWA/WSDOT (2016 & 2012)
- Environmental Design Project of the Year – WSDOT (2010)
- FHWA Environmental Excellence Award, Honorable Mention (2007)
- Distinguished Lecturer – Washington State University, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering (2000)
Publications
- McAllister, Reister, et al. (2013). A Wildlife Barrier Fence North of Wenatchee, Washington. Proceedings of ICOET 2013.
- Reister & Foster (2010). CA4PRS – Applicability & Recommendations for Design and Construction Projects at WSDOT. WSDOT White Paper.
- Reister & Fiedler (2006). A Simplified Analysis Method for Natural Dispersion of Highway Runoff in Rural Areas. Transportation Research Record, Vol. 183.
- Reister, M.S. (1994). First and Last Frontier – A History of the North Cascades Highway. The Confluence, Vol. 11, No. 2.
