NEW YORK, NY – STV, a leading professional services firm that plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America, today announced that Kristen Van Gilst, PMP, CCM, has stepped into the role of chief of staff to the CEO. The role encompasses core operational and strategic business responsibilities and providing direct assistance to the CEO and senior leadership team as the organization continues to implement its Strategic Plan.

Van Gilst has served in various roles at STV, allowing her to gain a deep sense of the business and its operating groups. Most recently serving as digital advisory lead, she has leveraged her industry expertise to develop digital tools and process improvement solutions for clients and internal stakeholders. Prior to STV, she worked on project and program management at a globally established architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firm, primarily on large-scale design-build programs. She has managed the design and engineering coordination as well as stakeholder engagement for a multibillion-dollar capital program and worked on disaster recovery construction projects.

Van Gilst is actively engaged within the industry and serves in multiple leadership roles. Earlier this year, she was elected to serve as vice president on the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Charlotte Metro Chapter’s 2023-24 Executive Board. She also sits on the Construction Advisory Council at Purdue University, the Technology Subcommittee for the Construction Management Association of America and serves as a mentor in the ACE Mentor Program of Charlotte, where she leads the Uptown Charlotte team. She also serves as a mentor and regional judge for the global Future City Competition.

Van Gilst earned her MBA with a concentration in Project Management from Southern New Hampshire University. She also holds a Master of Science in Construction Management Technology from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.