Posey Hire Expands Otak’s Water Resources Capabilities
September, 2020
Norton Posey was recently hired as Senior Water Resources Project Manager for Otak’s Redmond, WA office. Having spent the past 27 years working for King County in their Department of Local Services, Road Services Division, Norton brings with him a vast knowledge of roads, transportation, and water resources, and extensive experience ushering such projects through the government process.
“I wanted to bring the experience I gained at the county to the consulting world and be able to help there. I like the diversity of projects, particularly at Otak, that the consulting world offers,” he said.
At King County, Norton was initially charged with managing roadway and transportation projects, including road widening, roundabout design, and traffic signals, but he transitioned over the past eight years to leading water resources projects, particularly fish passages.
It is that experience that he brings to Otak managing Washington Department of Transportation’s various fish passage projects that aim to replace or renovate the state’s many culverts, allowing streams and the fish that swim in them to run freely. Norton emphasizes that this work is among his favorites due to the challenges of finding the best solution for each site, and the chance to work collaboratively with environmental groups, tribes, and communities to ensure equitable solutions. With the addition of Norton, Otak is able to expand its ability to manage such projects.
Because Otak believes new hires learn company processes and build relationships more quickly if they start delivering work immediately, Norton is already busy with fish passages and working on stormwater improvements to prevent street flooding for the City of Renton. His tasks include identifying water quality improvements and stormwater treatment for new facilities in the City of Burien, and helping with basin plans for several municipalities. With his extensive background in roads and transportation, he will also be helping on some of Otak’s highway widening and facility improvement projects.