Home to over 200 companies and nearly 12,000 jobs, Quonset Business Park is a leading driver of Rhode Island’s economic growth and job creation. A key component of Quonset’s continued success is the hardworking team at Quonset Development Corp. (QDC), including Edward “Ted” Spinard. He has long played a key role in infrastructure development at the Business Park as Quonset’s director of development services. As a testament to Ted’s commitment to excellence, the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers recently honored him as Rhode Island’s 2019 “Engineer of the Year.” Ted’s experience and skills as a civil engineer is one of the things that helps make Quonset Business Park a great place for companies to grow and employees to thrive. 

Quonset Business Park has leveraged $700 million of direct public infrastructure development to the nearly $2 billion in private investment - in large part due to Ted’s leadership and hard work. In 2018 alone, he managed the design and construction of $35 million of public investment. He supervised Quonset’s role in various infrastructure projects at the Business Park, including Electric Boat’s ongoing $700 million expansion, the rehabilitation of “workhouse” Pier 2 and $8 million of improvements to the Rhode Island National Guard facilities. 

Ted brings over 40 years of operations management, planning and consulting engineering experience and a passion for public infrastructure to his work at Quonset. He is licensed as a professional engineer in six states and is a certified professional planner, as well. Ted first became involved with the business park in the 1970s as deputy director of the division of property, management and development at the R.I. Economic Development Corp. He led daily operations for all engineering, planning and construction at the park, including roadway, utilities services and marine structure improvements.

“I am honored to be recognized by the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers,” said Spinard. “Quonset is a place where I can put my passion for infrastructure improvements and civil engineering to good use. I’m proud to be a part of such an amazing team doing important work to propel Rhode Island’s economy.” 

As department head of civil/site engineering with the Maguire Group later in his career, Ted gained private sector consulting engineering expertise but remained focused on public infrastructure design. He also lent his significant design and construction experience as the head of the civil Engineering group that assisted in the development of the Howland Hook Marine Intermodal Terminal on Staten Island, N.Y., and the Port Elizabeth/Port Newark Intermodal Terminal in N.J. Around this time, Ted also managed the modernization and reactivation of the former Sunoco and Citgo tank farms at the Port of Providence. 

The business park continued to grow and attract more innovative companies in the early 2000s, and it was clear to the QDC that the park needed a leader like Ted with experience in project management, infrastructure development and engineering. He returned to the QDC in 2010 and has been hard at work as director of development services ever since. 

Investments in our world-class infrastructure are essential to Quonset’s success. Ted has consistently brought his expertise and thoughtful leadership to hundreds of high-profile infrastructure projects over the years. He is an important part of Quonset’s leading role in Rhode Island’s economic development and job growth. His hard work continues to improve the state’s economy and overall quality of life for Rhode Islanders. Congrats Ted! 

Steven King, PE, is the managing director of the Quonset Development Corp., North Kingstown, R.I.