Alissa Schuessler has been named the next CFO of Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City, Mo. Current CFO Dennis Scott plans to retire at the end of 2021 after a 30-year career at the firm. Schuessler joined the firm in 2005 as a staff accountant, then rose through the ranks to her most recent role as vice president of finance for the employee-owned, Kansas City-based engineer and contractor that ranks first in the power category on the ENR Top 400. 

“Alissa is known within our company and the community for having a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a results-driven approach,” said Burns & McDonnell CEO Ray Kowalik. 

Also at Burns & McDonnell, Brett Williams will take over the Construction/Design-Build (CDB) Group in 2022. He is a 22-year employee of the firm and has held many construction-related roles over the course of his career. Williams will replace President Randy Griffin, who is also retiring at the end of 2021.

Environmental Systems Design Inc. (ESD), a Chicago-based design engineer of buildings, mission critical facilities, workplace interiors, and health care and life sciences environments, has hired David Weihing as the new managing director for structural engineering. He brings more than 25 years of experience in structural design for local, national and international projects. 

SmithGroup has promoted Jennifer Miller to serve as director of business development in its Ann Arbor, Mich., office. 

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named John Somers vice president for the construction and utility sector. Somers replaces Megan Tanel, who will succeed Dennis Slater as AEM president on Jan. 1, 2022. Somers will be responsible for the strategic direction of construction and utility programs and services for AEM membership, and he will serve as the primary liaison to AEM’s construction equipment sector board and with construction equipment-specific industry organizations, customer groups and government agencies, both in North America and worldwide. AEM 
is based in Milwaukee.

Graycor Construction in Oak Brook Terrace, Ill., has promoted Timothy F. Hanifin to president. He most recently served as senior vice president.
“Tim is a strong leader who embraces the importance we have placed on our culture, our defining business objectives, our core values and ultimately our reputation,” said David L. Wing, president and COO of Graycor Inc. “We are excited to have Tim lead Graycor Construction Co. as we embark on our next century in business.”

Hanifin began his career with Graycor as an intern in 1995 while attending Northwestern University.

Thomas DeHaven has joined HNTB’s national bridge practice as a consultant and vice president. Based in Minneapolis, DeHaven provides leadership on bridge projects across the nation, including design-build pursuits and constructibility reviews. 

DeHaven brings 38 years of experience to HNTB, which includes a specialization in the design, inspection and onsite construction of multiphase bridge projects throughout the U.S. He also has experience in management, strategic planning, business development, budgeting and forecasting for bridge construction projects.