Moving Up From Within

Professionals take on new positions, titles and responsibilities. Also, Sprague, director of health facilities at HKS Inc., receives national recognition.

The TBE Group’s Austin office promoted Travis Isaacson, PE, to assistant director and he will continue as senior project manager. Isaacson is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering.

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors announced that Duane Pozza will remain chairman of the employee-owned company but will turn over the title and responsibilities of CEO to Randy Pawelek. Harry Moeller has been promoted to executive vice president. Tally “T.J.” Rogers has been promoted to vice president of estimating. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in construction and engineering technology. Nathan Olson has been promoted to division manager of special projects. Olson graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science in construction science.

Joseph G. Sprague, FAIA, FACHA, received the Facility Guidelines Institute Commitment Award for his achievements as the chairman of the 2006 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities. Under Sprague’s leadership, the Health Guidelines have been retooled, modernized and updated to account for new health-care delivery systems, technologies and changes based on research. Sprague is a principal and director of health facilities at HKS Inc.

Crist Industries Inc. announced several senior management position changes. Clay Trantham has joined the company as president and COO responsible for all operations. Trantham is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Shannon Whalen has joined as vice president of sales. Whalen is a graduate of The State University of New York. Matthew Gomez has been named vice president of business development. Gomez is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a master’s of engineering from California State University in Fullerton. Scott Fairchild has joined the company as plant superintendent.

LJA Engineering & Surveying Inc. announced that Dennis W. Seeman, PE, has joined as the Water/Wastewater division manager in the firm’s West Houston office. Seeman is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering.

Gilbane Building Co. has named Brent Ivey vice president. Ivey previously served as the district manager of Gilbane’s Central Texas office. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science degree in construction science.

HKS has added Dr. Michael ‘Mik’ Pietrzak as vice president of medical affairs. He is directing international and governmental business development for the firm’s health-care sector. He received his medical degree from the University of Iowa.

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. announced the addition of John Winkler, P.E., as regional manager of its Infrastructure Central Texas Business Group, and J. Scott Taylor, P.E., joins the firm’s Infrastructure Extended Texas Business Group as a project manager. Winkler holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Texas Tech University. Taylor holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Texas Tech University. The firm also announced the appointment of Willie Sutton as team leader of energy services for its Facilities Group. Sutton holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kansas University.

Perkins+Will has named David Asaud, AIA, director of health-care architecture for its Houston office. Asaud received a bachelor’s of environmental design from Texas A&M University.

HDR announced that Russell Zapalac, P.E., has rejoined as the central region director for transportation. His responsibilities include developing and overseeing business development strategies, new business prospects, technical services, quality, production methods and standards. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

RTKL Associates Inc. announced that Robin Jacoby and Jan Madey, AIA, LEED AP, have joined the firm to help grow the firm’s Houston-area health-care practice. Jacoby earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. Madey holds a master’s degree in architecture, with a concentration in town planning, from the Technical University of Gdansk.

HOLT CAT has announced additions to its Irving operations. Christy Jacobs joined HOLT CAT Power Systems team as a marketing associate and Randy Ross as a general construction sales representative.

Cobb, Fendley & Associates Inc. is the first firm to simultaneously employ the current president of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the current president of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. William F. Fendley, PE, RPLS, founding principal of the firm, is the president of TSPE, and Coleen M. Johnson, RPLS, survey manager, is the president of TSPS.

KBR announced T. Kevin DeNicola as the company’s senior vice president and chief financial officer. DeNicola holds a master’s of business administration degree from Rice University and a master’s of science in chemical engineering degree from the University of Virginia.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction’s board of directors named Doug Jaeger chief executive officer.

Hill International announced that Gary Johnston has joined the firm as a vice president of Hill’s Project Management Group. Johnston earned his A.A.S. in civil technology from Colorado State University of Pueblo, and his bachelor’s of science degree in technology and management and his master’s of general administration in management from the University of Maryland.

HOLT has named John Pinter, service manager, Dan Gill, parts manager and Jeff Fiedler, general construction sales representative, for its San Antonio location. Pinter has a bachelor’s of science degree from West Point. Gill has a master’s degree in management. Fiedler holds a master’s degree in business administration.

McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. announced the hiring of Mark McElroy as project director with the firm’s Texas Division. McElroy graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering.

T. Howard + Associates has added three new project coordinators. Joining the firm are Angela Garcia-Prieto, Jonathan McCurry and Wade Moore.

Jim Wilson Architects announced that project manager Kobey Seale has been certified as a LEED Accredited Professional.

O’Connell Robertson has promoted Jason Andrus, AIA and Nick Patterson, PE, to senior associate at Andrus received his bachelor’s of architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Patterson received his bachelor’s of science degree in architectural engineering from Kansas State University.

Morris Architects announced the appointment of Christof Spieler, P.E. to the newly created position of director of technology and innovation.

HOBAS Pipe USA has promoted Bijan Khamanian to division manager, west. Khamanian graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering.

Rees Associates Inc. announced that Matt Schmidt has become a LEED AP. A graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in interior architecture, Schmidt is an intern architect and member of REES’ Design Studio.

Intertech Flooring announced the appointment of Stacy Mueller as director of training and safety. Mueller has an extensive background in operations, construction management and public safety.

TBG Partners has promoted Amy Harr, ASLA, LEED-AP; Jamie Gele, ASLA; and Kaleb Franklin, ASLA, to associates in the firm’s Houston office. They will oversee landscape design and planning. Harr holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Texas A&M University. Gele holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University. Franklin is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

Collegiate Development Services LP announced that Frank Haas, CPE, has joined the firm as senior estimator. Haas received a bachelor’s of science degree in building construction from Texas A&M University.

Wilson Architectural Group Inc. announced additions to its staff. Ching-Ya Yeh, AIA, NCARB, LEED, received his master’s of architecture degree from Texas A&M University. Micah Simecek, AIA, LEED AP, received a master’s of architecture and business administration from Texas Tech University. Meghan Simecek, LEED AP, joined the Interior Design team, Simecek is a graduate of Texas Tech University where she received a bachelor’s degree in interior design. Kristi Miller joins WAG with experience in interior design. A graduate of Baylor University, Janna Flynn joins as the new marketing coordinator. A graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University, Flynn received a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing. McKee Kelly and Robert Borgeson join the team from Texas Tech University, where they are participating in the Houston Practicum + Studio Endowment.

Equipment Collaborative announces the addition of Westin W. Wendt as an expeditor. Wendt is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s of science degree in biomedical engineering.

SHW Group announced that Michael Martinez, AIA, recently joined as a senior project manager for the San Antonio office.