(Richardson, Texas) – City Manager Don Magner has announced the appointment of Nicholas “Nick” Kohel as Richardson’s next Director of Engineering. Kohel currently serves as the City’s Assistant Director of Engineering, a position he has held since coming to Richardson in February 2023.
Kohel’s career spans 20 years in the field of engineering. He worked in the private sector with Walker Partners in Killeen, Texas before moving to the City of Plano as a Senior Engineer in 2019. He came to Richardson in 2023 and has helped oversee such notable projects as the 825 Pressure Zone Improvements, the opening of the Temporary City Hall and Library, and the reconstruction of West Prairie Creek Road, Custer Road and Custer Parkway.
“I am excited to name Nick as our Director of Engineering/Capital Projects,” Magner said. “Nick’s two decades of experience, coupled with his commitment to cultivating a team that delivers superior capital projects while focusing on customer service, makes him the ideal person to lead the talented staff we have and bring our current bond programs to a successful completion.”
In his new role, Kohel is responsible for administering the activities of the Engineering/Capital Projects Department, including planning, preparing and administering current and future bond programs; project management for various Capital Improvement Projects; acquisition of needed rights-of-way and easements; providing inspection for public works construction projects; and administering the City’s Drainage Utility Program. Engineering/Capital Projects also maintains and updates the City of Richardson Standard Construction Details, administers the local portion of the National Flood Insurance Program and provides engineering and surveying support to other City departments.
“I am excited to be selected as the Director of Engineering,” Kohel said. “I am proud to be part of the Richardson team and look forward to continuing to lead the talented staff in the Engineering/Capital Projects Department. The City of Richardson takes great pride in providing the best level of service to its residents—it’s the Richardson Way. I am thrilled to continue the tradition.”
Kohel holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Central Texas Branch from 2010-11.
