Midwest People: Construction business updates for May 2016

On the Move

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber has promoted two engineering professionals to the position of principal.

John-Birazzi John Birazzi has joined Chicago architectural restoration and structural engineering company Klein and Hoffman (K&H) as a new firm owner and associate principal. With 33 years’ experience in life safety evaluations, due diligence reviews of existing buildings and forensic architectural investigations, he was formerly with Booth Hanson as a principal and technical director. K&H also announced the promotion of Glenn A. Johnson, Terry McDonald and Allysia Youngquist as senior associates and new company shareholders. Joining the firm as a senior associate is Kyle Stanish, an expert in structural and materials assessment with a doctorate in concrete materials, formerly with Walker Restoration Consultants.

Achieving the highest leadership honor at Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber (FTCH), Thomas L. Gray II and Jeffrey A. Schumaker have each been promoted to the position of principal, in addition to their roles as senior vice presidents. Schumaker joined FTCH’s structural engineering department in 1996 and has served as project manager and lead design engineer on numerous steam tunnel design and renovation projects. Gray joined FTCH’s civil/infrastructure division in 2004, bringing 17 years of design, project management, contract administration and construction experience to the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based firm.

Margi-Kaminski Two new vice presidents in Chicago were among 11 leadership appointments and 236 promotions overall announced by global architecture, planning and design firm CallisonRTKL. A recognized leader in healthcare design, Margi Kaminski has more than 20 years’ experience in planning and Bill-Kwon designing interiors that improve patient quality of life in facilities ranging from cancer centers to neighborhood clinics. Since beginning his career at the firm over a decade ago, Bill Kwon has transitioned from his role as an architect to managing the implementation of BIM services. In 2015, Callison and RTKL came together under the Arcadis umbrella.

Daniel-Cecchi As part of a long-planned transition strategy, Collins Engineers Inc. founder Thomas J. Collins is assuming the role of executive chairman of the 37-year-old firm. Moving from executive vice president to president is Daniel G. Cecchi, who has been with the Chicago company for 34 years. Among 10 other leadership appointments, Elizabeth C. Burkhart and Thomas M. Collins have become executive vice presidents.

Glen-Missner The Missner Group announced several leadership promotions, including Barry Missner to chief executive officer from president and Glen Missner to president from executive vice president. The Des Plaines, Ill.-based development and construction services company also promoted Edward Adler to executive vice president, Drue Stoehr to vice president of new project development and estimating, Uros Stajakovic to project manager and Heath Yarger to senior project engineer.

Gloria-Calhoun Stantec’s office in Berkley, Mich., welcomed two new team members. A structural engineer with 25 years’ experience, Jim Yates will serve as the office’s structural team leader. Gloria Calhoun is a senior electrical designer with more than 20 years’ industry experience.

Erin-Inman Erin Inman is the new president and chief executive officer of Primera Engineers, based in Chicago. Most recently senior vice president and utilities division manager, she purchased the firm from retiring co-founders Michael DeSantiago and Pedro Cevallos-Candau. The 33rd-largest design firm in the new ENR Midwest rankings, Primera was founded 1987 as a minority-owned business with a deep commitment to diversity. It now becomes one of the largest Women-Owned Business Enterprise engineering firms in the region. A 25-year veteran of the industry, Inman joined the firm in 2003, and combined her expertise in engineering, business development and management to grow the utilities division from inception to more than 120 engineers and designers providing service locally in the Midwest as well as in the Northeast.

Keith-Dafcik Pepper Construction welcomed Keith Dafcik as project director-vice president, responsible for developing new business opportunities and client relationships in the industrial manufacturing and distribution sector. Active in the Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses, he joins the Chicago firm with more than 30 years’ experience in various aspects of the construction industry. Now in its third generation of family leadership, Pepper Construction serves clients across the country working in such markets as health care, education, waterworks and environmental remediation.

Bruno-Trouille Bruno Trouille was appointed senior hydropower adviser in Mott MacDonald’s global dams and hydropower business. Based in Chicago, he will provide the international power consultancy organization with insight into the North American market, while assisting with work elsewhere by collaborating closely with the Mott MacDonald’s existing dams and hydropower experts. Trouille spent 37 years with MWH, most recently as vice president of the energy and industry group.

Andy-Schlarman Environmental, engineering and testing services provider Professional Service Industries (PSI) announced a number of additions and promotions, including Andy Schlarman from project manager in the Lima, Ohio, office to branch manager in Dayton. Other recent promotions include Garret Zimmerman to project manager in Cincinnati, Camie Bearup to staff geologist in Waukesha, Wis., Kyle Erskine to construction services/geotechnical department manager in Troy, Mich., and Corey Kuhn to special project manager in Cleveland. New hires include Courtney Cocks as staff engineer in St. Louis, Tyler Schmidt as staff engineer in Cleveland, Taylor Arens as staff engineer in the Cleveland manager-in-training program, Justin Bufkin as staff engineer in the Columbus manager-in-training program and Andrew May as staff engineer in Columbus.

Minneapolis-based Westwood Professional Services announced the election of three company shareholders to the board of directors. As vice president of operations, engineer Jason McCarty supports functions and operations across all Westwood offices, and will be serving his ninth term on the board. Chris Moehrl is Westwood’s director of quality management. A civil engineer and land surveyor, he will be serving his second year on the board. Engineer and geologist Eric Hansen is the director of environmental services. He was appointed to the board for the first time.

Law firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP welcomed Tom Nocar as a senior attorney in the Columbus office. With 26 years’ experience in construction management and real estate development, he was most recently assistant general counsel in the litigation department of one of the Midwest’s largest construction companies.

Thor-Hess Thor Hess has been named executive vice president of multibrand dealer Southeastern Equipment Co., based in Cambridge, Ohio, with 18 locations throughout the Midwest. “My grandfather grew this business into what it is today,” said Hess, “and continuing that success throughout my career is very important.” He joined the firm in 2014.

Equipment manufacturing giant Case Construction announced the retirement of its vice president-North America, Jim Hasler, after 34 years with the company. Scott Harris moves into the role from vice president of parts and service for sister firm CNH Industrial.