Alabama

TAG/The Architects Group Inc. of Mobile, Ala., recently announced that Elizabeth M. Brodbeck has joined TAG’s design team as Associate AIA/LEED Accredited Professional.

Brodbeck received her bachelor’s degree in architecture and bachelor’s degree in interior architecture from Auburn University in 2001 and is to complete her master’s degree in community planning and master’s degree in building construction in August.  In addition, she has completed National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification. 

Brodbeck’s design experience includes public and private higher education buildings, K-12 public schools, commercial buildings, athletic facilities, religious facilities and civic buildings. At TAG, her responsibilities will include client contact, programming, design, preliminary cost estimating, interdisciplinary coordination, construction drawings, construction observation and presentation design. 

Brodbeck is the founder and chairperson of the U.S. Green Building Council Alabama Chapter and received her LEED accreditation in December 2003.  She has worked for prominent architectural firms in Birmingham and Baltimore and served as a graduate research and teaching assistant at Auburn. 

TAG/The Architects Group was established in 1971 to provide comprehensive services for master planning, architecture, interior design and construction management.

Louisiana

Steve Whitelaw, former president of the Whitelaw Group LLC, has been named director of North Louisiana for the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. He received his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University and his master’s degree in business administration in international business from Harvard University.

He has held several positions in industry, including vice president and senior vice president of human resources, executive vice president of administration and president and CEO. Whitelaw has worked with the construction and engineering industry for more than 25 years throughout the U. S. and the Middle East. He has also been involved in several start-up companies both as a principal and executive consultant.

Whitelaw is a charter/founding member of the Human Resources Construction Council and the 2002 recipient of the Persy Award recognizing an outstanding business professional for Northwest Louisiana. The Department of Defense has recognized him as an excellent trainer and consultant.

Louisiana ABC also announced that Rachel Farmer has been hired as the director of governmental relations. She was formerly with the Governor’s Commissioner of Administration, Jerry Luke LeBlanc. Prior to that, she worked as a legislative analyst with the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. 

Farmer has spent many years working with the Louisiana Legislature and looks forward to bringing that experience to ABC.

Keystone Engineering Inc. of Metairie, La., recently announced that Barry Reed has joined as a partner with the title of general manager in its Metairie offices. Also, Adam Rogge has been promoted to general manager of Keystone’s new Northshore office, located off the West Causeway Approach in Mandeville, La.

With the changes in Louisiana’s demographics since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana Associated General Contractors has experienced a significant increase in membership and services, as well as an increase in legislative activities.

To accommodate these changes, LAGC recently announced a strategic change.

"We have developed a two-tiered system that will allow our association to continue moving in a positive direction that will greatly benefit the entire membership," said LAGC President Randy Gilchrist. "This two-tiered system will include a political arm as well as a programs and administrative arm. 

Derrell Cohoon, LAGC’s chief executive officer, will relinquish his duties as CEO and become the association’s chief lobbyist. As chief lobbyist he will handle all activities involved in the legislative and political process. He is a seasoned lobbyist with knowledge of the construction industry. 

"My passion and strengths lie in the political and legislative activities, so I’m excited about the move," Cohoon says. "Not just for myself, but for the entire association.  I think this step will enhance our programs as well."

Ken Naquin, LAGC’s executive director occupational division, will become the new CEO. As CEO he will be involved in every integral part of the association’s operations, administration and other programs. He has been with the association for the past 28 years and knows the integral workings of the association. 

"I stand ready to focus my energy and expertise on the programs of the association and on serving our members," said Naquin.

Mississippi

Robert James and Kevin Williams have joined Burns Cooley Dennis of Ridgeland, Miss., as staff pavement/materials engineers. James and Williams work at the BCD Construction Materials Engineering Testing (CMET) facility.

James has more than seven years in the civil engineering profession.  After graduating from Auburn University in 1999, he began his career with Law Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. (currently known as MACTEC Inc.).  In 2000, he began working for the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), where he had previously been employed as a lab technician in his undergraduate years. 

While working at NCAT, James enrolled in graduate school and completed his master’s degree in civil engineering in May 2005. After completing his master’s degree, James was employed with APAC Inc. Materials Services.

Williams has been engaged in the civil engineering profession for more than seven years.  In 2001, he began his career with the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), where he had previously worked during his undergraduate studies at Auburn University as a laboratory technician. 

From 2004 to 2006, Williams became an estimator for Hudson Co. of Tennessee, a general contracting company. In 2006, he became a materials engineer with Materials Services, APAC Inc. in Smyrna, Ga. 

A 2001 graduate of Auburn University, Williams received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Tennessee

Linda Guinn has been named vice president of technology and finance of Hardaway Group Inc. and Bryan Hay has been hired as director of business development for Hardaway Construction Corp., both of Nashville.

Previously, Guinn served as assistant director of finance and administration and has 22 years of service with Hardaway. She is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from West Virginia University.

Most recently, Hay served as account manager in construction equipment sales at Nortrax Equipment Co. Hay has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Hardaway Construction Corp. is an 83-year-old, third generation general contracting firm.

Tom Hill, Valarie D. Harris and Jamie G. Wade have joined the Nashville-based architectural and engineering firm of Hart Freeland Roberts Inc.

Hill, as senior civil engineer, will be involved in a wide variety of site planning and design projects. Prior to joining HFR, he served as manager of architectural and engineering technical services for the Tennessee Valley Authority. His 32 years of professional experience also includes owning and operating his own engineering consulting firm, a prior stint with HFR and employment by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Hill is a 1975 graduate of Tennessee Technological University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Harris joins HFR’s Healthcare Division as intern architect and CAD technician. She will be involved with project design and production while producing architectural renderings and other architecture-related graphics work. She previously served as chief illustration artist for Archifx 3D Studios in Norman, Okla., where she was a partner.

Harris is a 1996 graduate of Tuskegee University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture. While a student there, she received the AIA School Gold Medal, awarded for academic excellence in architecture.

Wade, a CADD technician, also joins HFR’s Healthcare Division, where he will be involved in a wide variety of computer-aided drafting and design work related to the division’s architectural projects. He previously served as project assistant, medical equipment planning, for Gene Burton & Associates of Ontario, Calif. He rejoins the HFR staff, having served as a project coordinator and draftsman for the firm from 1992 to 1997.

Wade is a 1994 graduate of ITT Technical Institute in Nashville, where he received an associate’s degree in computer aided drafting.

The Lewis Group Architects of Knoxville, Tenn., recently welcomed a new member to its team, building upon the growth experienced by the firm in the past few years.

Craig Lewis will be working at The Lewis Group Architects as the new marketing/public relations coordinator. He is a recent graduate of East Tennessee State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing. He grew up in Farragut and has lived in Tennessee his whole life.

Ron Osteen has been appointed as a Tennessee account manager for McGraw-Hill Construction. He lives in Nashville. 

Osteen previously was a regional sales manager, publisher and national account director for Sunshine Media Inc., a 70-year-old international publisher of construction trade magazines. He is also a licensed general contractor in Tennessee.

Osteen’s father, Jim Osteen, is past director of building codes for Nashville and his father-in-law, John Waterman, served as director of campus planning and chief architect at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

VP Buildings of Memphis, Tenn., a manufacturer of metal buildings, has named Danny Frans as the company’s new safety manager.

A native of the St. Joseph, Mo., area, Frans will be responsible for overseeing safety at all VP Buildings’ facilities. His new role will involve inspecting the five plants, conducting safety audits and training, maintaining OSHA regulations and coordinating all other areas of safety.

Frans joined VP Buildings in 1987 and has held several positions in manufacturing, including hand weld, panel and trim, and receiving. Since 1999 he has served as a production leader in the Frames Hand Welding Department. Frans also has experience as a safety instructor, an auditor and as a member of the Accident Investigation Team.

"Danny has proven himself as an integral part of the Missouri Team and has the experience and leadership skills to help make VP Buildings an outstanding success in safety awareness and performance," says Robert Andrews, vice president of manufacturing for VP Buildings. "He will remain at the VP Buildings facility in St. Joseph, Missouri, but also will spend time traveling to VP Buildings’ other plants."

Mike Haney has joined the staff at TLC Engineering for Architecture in Nashville as an associate and senior mechanical engineer. Haney has 14 years of mechanical and electrical engineering experience and significant prime project management expertise.

He joins the Nashville office from TLC in Tampa, Fla., where his projects included aviation, education and high-rise mixed-use buildings. Haney is an accredited professional with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. 

He is also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The 34-person Nashville staff provides structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection, communications and technology systems engineering for hospitals, universities, high-rise residential buildings and corporate office buildings.

TLC Engineering for Architecture has also expanded its design services with the addition of systems project engineer Mike Eaton. Eaton is initiating development of a communications and technology practice to complement the office’s structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design services.

A registered communications distribution designer, Eaton has more than 20 years of experience designing communications systems for hospitals, schools and office buildings.

Regional

Superior Industries of Morris, Minn., has appointed Scott Gulan as its territory manager for the Southeast region of the United States. Scott has 24 years of experience in sales and marketing.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N. C., Scott will be working with conveyor equipment and components customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.