STV names Avanessians chief of staff; Van Gilst transitions to new leadership role

STV announced the appointment of Natasha Avanessians as chief of staff to the CEO. The firm also announced that Kristen Van Gilst, PMP, CCM, who previously served as chief of staff, will transition into a new role as deputy operations director.

“Natasha brings strategic insight and operational rigor that will strengthen how we execute at the enterprise level,” said Greg Kelly, president and CEO of STV. “Kristen’s unique background in project and program management combined with her knowledge of emerging technology will help further drive operational excellence at STV and deliver better service to our clients and our communities.”

Avanessians will support enterprise-wide strategy, executive operations and coordination across the firm’s operating groups, working closely with STV’s CEO and executive leadership team as the organization implements its new 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. She most recently served as senior advisor to the NYC Deputy Mayor for Operations where she led City Hall’s work across major infrastructure projects, including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway and transition to sustainable freight movement, among other projects. Prior to this role, she served as chief of staff for the Long Island Railroad, where she oversaw daily operations and the LIRR Forward initiative, including coordinating capital construction across the network. She has also held leadership positions at the Partnership for New York City and other industry-leading organizations throughout New York City. Avanessians earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Bachelor’s in Political Science from Columbia University.

In her new role, Van Gilst will support STV’s Chief Project Officer to help drive the evolution of project delivery at the firm in the age of AI. Van Gilst has served as STV’s chief of staff since 2024, providing direct support to the CEO and senior leadership team on core operational and strategic responsibilities as STV implemented its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. Previously, she served as a digital advisory lead at STV, where she leveraged her industry expertise to develop digital tools and process improvement solutions for clients. Van Gilst is currently serving as president on the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Charlotte Metro Chapter’s 2024-26 Executive Board and has held numerous leadership positions at leading industry organizations nationwide. Van Gilst earned her Master of Science in Construction Management Technology from Purdue University and MBA with a concentration in Project Management from Southern New Hampshire University; and also holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.