Suntec Concrete Inc., a Phoenix concrete construction firm, has elevated Derek Wright to president. A 24-year veteran of the 700-employee contractor and formerly vice president, he started as a carpenter. Wright succeeds Suntec founder Jerry Barnier, who remains in an executive role. Suntec ranks at No. 140 on ENR’s list of the Top 600 Specialty Contractors, with $125 million in 2012 revenue. The firm specializes in structural, tilt panel and foundation construction.
Sharon L. Wood will become dean of the University of Texas-Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering on Sept. 1. She has been interim dean since 2013, after heading the school’s civil, architectural and environmental engineering department for five years. Wood is a structural engineering professor, specializing in earthquake response of concrete structures. She is nationally recognized for her research on the earthquake response of reinforced concrete structures. Currently vice president of the American Concrete Institute, Wood was elected to the National Academy of Engineering last year. The Cockrell School, with more than 7,800 students, is set to open in 2017 the $310-million Engineering Education and Research Center, which will provide 430,000 sq feet of open and flexible space for interdisciplinary teaching, research and hands-on student projects. “It is an exciting time for the school," says Wood. "When completed, the center will transform how our students learn and will establish UT Austin as a leader in multidisciplinary engineering education and research.”
Wood
Thomas Quigley has joined Oolitic, Ind.-based Indiana Limestone Co., the largest U.S. limestone quarrier and fabricator, as CEO. He was a division general manager for fiberglass manufacturer Owens Corning Corp., Toledo. Indiana Limestone, which was acquired in May by private equity firm Wynnchurch Capital, was founded in 1926 and supplied cladding for the Empire State Building and 35 U.S. state capitol buildings, says the firm.
Wendi Goldsmith has joined The Chester Group Inc., Pittsburgh as vice president and bioengineering group and national sustainability practice leader. The new role follows the firm's June 21 announcement of its acquisition of The Bioengineering Group, the Salem, Mass-based environmental and sustainability consulting firm of which she was founder and CEO. The firm becomes a division of Chester, which also is the parent of environmental, energy and water-wastewater design firm, Chester Engineers Inc., now also a division. Goldsmith, who founded her firm in 1992, is an appointee to the National Women's Business Council, a bi-partisan panel that advises the White House, federal agencies and Congress on economic issues for women business owners. Anthony R. Bridge also joins Chester Engineers as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was vice president of engineering, research and development for U.S. Steel Corp. Chester Group also formed two other new divisions earlier this year: Chester LNG and Chester International.
The American Council of Engineering Cos. has elected Richard “Dick” Wells as national chairman. Based in Greensboro, N.C., he is transportation market manager and vice president of corporate development for Kleinfelder. Wells prevously served as president and a director of the state ACEC chapter. ACEC represents more than 5,000 firms across the U.S.
Michael J. Petrisko has rejoined Hill International, again as senior vice president and chief information officer. He was vice president and CIO at STV Group. Prior to first joining Hill in 2007, Petrisko was director of global IT operations for AECOM Technology Corp.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Nuclear Safety Associates has named Elizabeth “Liz” Saris as vice president of operations and strategic development. NSA provides safety analysis, engineering, licensing and security services to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, public utilities and the commercial nuclear industry. She previously served as senior vice president at Leidos (formerly Science Applications International Corp.). NSA has agreed to be purchased by U.K.-based Atkins PLC. The deal is set to close within the next few months, the company said in May.
