WSP, an engineering, environment, and professional services firm, hired Mike Finnern as senior vice president and national zero-emissions fleet lead.

Finnern will collaborate with some of the industry’s best engineers, planners, and architects to elevate WSP’s fleet services practices, including zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and cultivate strong customer relationships. He is based in Greenville, South Carolina.

“Zero-emission transit is a topic of great opportunity for states and communities alike. Mike is a respected leader in technology and transit and is skilled at leading diverse teams that deliver effective implementation solutions,” said Inez Evans, WSP’s senior vice president and national bus practice leader. “His expertise is of great value to our clients who are managing complex challenges in the quickly evolving ZEV fleets market.”

Finnern comes to WSP with more than 20 years of experience, including more than 14 years with zero-emission transit pioneer Proterra.  His most recent role was general manager of transit at Phoenix Motorcars, an electric vehicle manufacturing company. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Over the past 13 years, Finnern has secured seven successful patent registrations, including a steering control mechanism for electric vehicles, a method of battery life maximization for fixed-route applications, and a system for automatic connection and charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station.