Alabama

Gallet & Associates Inc. of Birmingham recently announced the following promotions and other news:

Nick Branham has been promoted to Construction Materials Testing Lab supervisor in the Vinemont, Ala., office. Braham has attained ACI I Certification, NICET Soils I, Concrete I, Asphalt I, ALDOT Asphalt I and ALDOT Lab II.

John Towns of the West Alabama office has passed the Geologist in Training (GIT) exam and was also recognized as top teaching assistant for geology at the University of Alabama.

Chris Leathers of the Birmingham office recently received his NICET Level 4 certification in asphalt and concrete. Also, he has attained NICET Level 1 certification in geotechnical engineering technology construction and laboratory.

Anthony Mellini Jr. has joined the firm as senior project geologist/supervisor of the Niceville, Fla., office. Mellini is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in geology.

Birmingham-based healthcare construction firm Robins & Morton recently announced the promotion of Melissa Butler to director of marketing. She will be responsible for planning and directing company-wide marketing initiatives and coordinating sales activities.

Butler joined Robins & Morton in 2000 as marketing coordinator and later served as marketing manager.

Butler received a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations from the University of Alabama. She is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services and Public Relations Society of America.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Robins & Morton has completed more than 700 health care facilities nationwide.

Arkansas

Dusty Graham has joined Tucker Sadler Architects as a junior designer/intern architect in the Rogers, Ark., office of the San Diego-based architectural firm, announced managing partner Greg Mueller.

In his new position, Graham is responsible for design, presentation and drafting of commercial, residential and master planning projects.

Graham brings three years of design experience to Tucker Sadler Architects. Previously, he completed an internship with Hnedak Bobo Group, an architectural firm in Memphis, Tenn. He also contributed to multiple local projects as an intern architect for Perry Butcher and Associates in Rogers.

Graham earned his bachelor's degree with a minor in legal studies from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture, located in Fayetteville, Ark. He was awarded the School of Architecture Literature Award twice during his college career and was also awarded the Boston Society of Architects 2003 Unbuilt Architecture Award for his project, "The Vertical Power Center: Stacking the Big Box Retail."

Louisiana

SJB Group LLC of Baton Rouge announced recently that Tommy P. Martinez has joined the company as business development director. In this role, Martinez will manage the planning, implementation, maintenance and coordination of SJB Group's public sector business development efforts on the local, state and federal levels.

Martinez's specific responsibilities include identifying and qualifying new business opportunities in assigned government organizations, developing and executing capture strategies leading to contract awards and serving as a key liaison with government agencies, key clients and industry partners.

Martinez has extensive experience in the public sector having served as the Ascension Parish President from 1993 to 2000, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Legislative Liaison, and most recently as the executive director of Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority.

Group Industries LLC, a Baton Rouge-based industrial and commercial contractor, recently announced a new hire.

The company has named Stan Amphion as safety manager and human resources director of its two subsidiaries, Group Contractors LLC and Arrighi Simoneaux LLC. He is responsible for safety management, personnel, recruiting and workers comp management for the companies. He previously worked as the HR Director for Epic Group, an electrical and instrumentation contractor.

Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter in Baton Rouge recently announced the appointment of Caitlin Boe' as director of member services. Boe' is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in public relations and management.

Caitlin is replacing Jamye St. Romain, who accepted an opportunity in the entertainment and food service industry. Since coming on board with the Pelican Chapter in 2004, Jamye has been a key member of the ABC Pelican Chapter staff. Under Jamye's direction, many new and innovative programs and events were successfully introduced and executed.

Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corp. of Baton Rouge, La., recently named Charles East Jr. as communications and public relations manager, overseeing the communications department, handling advertising, public relations and corporate communications.

East was owner of East Advertising and Public Relations, representing corporate, institutional and governmental clients.

The American Institute of Architects' Baton Rouge Chapter recently announced the 2006 board of directors.

Members elected as officers are: President Christopher Sapp, Sapp & Sapp Architects; Vice President/President Elect David Cronrath, Louisiana State University; Treasurer Jason Hargrave, Post Architects; and Secretary Stephen Maher, Ritter Maher Architects.

Serving as directors are Richard Brown, Bani, Carville & Brown; Brent Bueche, BBI Architects; David Cronrath, Louisiana State University; Jack Ford, Ford Dickinson; and Rick Lipscomb, Washer, Hill, Lipscomb Architecture.

William L. Bailey, president and CEO of Alliance Inc. of Shreveport, was recently accepted for membership in the Design-Build Institute of America. Bailey is leading the firm in furthering the design-build project delivery method in several of Alliance's projects.

Mississippi

David C. "Burley" Barton, executive director of the Mississippi Road Builders' Association (MRBA), headquartered in Jackson, Miss., has been presented a statewide "Distinguished Engineering Service Award."

The award was presented recently at the Mississippi Engineering Society's annual meeting in Jackson for Barton's "dedication to the engineering profession and his leadership and professionalism during his career." He has been a member of the Mississippi Engineering Society for 27 years.

Barton has more than 38 years experience in the construction industry, including 36 years with APAC-Mississippi, where he retired as president.

He is a graduate of Mississippi State University of Starkville, Miss., with a degree in civil engineering and a law degree from Jackson School of Law, Jackson.

He was named executive director of the MRBA in 2003.

Tennessee

Denark Construction Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., recently promoted two of its top management professionals. Steve Lucas has been promoted to chief operating officer and Chris Camp has been promoted to vice president/finance, as well as being appointed as a member of Denark's Executive Committee.

Lucas began his career with Denark in 1999 as vice president. In his new position, Lucas will interact more with the other divisions of the company. He will continue serving in his current capacity on some of Denark's major work, the most recent being the new $49 million Sevierville Events Center.

Other projects Lucas has overseen include the Knoxville News-Sentinel, UT Hesler Biology Building renovations, Maryville College Lloyd Residence Hall and Maryville City Schools.

"Over the past three years, Steve has truly stepped up to the plate - working hard, meeting challenges head on, and taking on more responsibility," said Frank Rothermel, president of Denark.

Lucas serves as vice president of the Knoxville Builders Exchange, director of the Associated General Contractors and as a board member of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.

Camp, the latest member to be appointed to the Executive Committee, has more than 25 years of accounting experience, the last eight years being in the construction industry.

"Chris has had an extremely positive impact on our company and its performance in finance and cost control," said Raja Jubran, Denark's CEO. "Because of her professional experience, her commitment and her knowledge of Denark's business philosophy, Chris will be a great addition to our Executive Committee."