Alabama

LBYD Inc., a consulting civil and structural engineering firm in Birmingham, Ala., recently announced that John D. Perdue has been certified as a licensed professional engineer by the State of Alabama by successfully completing all the requirements to practice engineering in Alabama.

Perdue is a graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

Professional activities and society memberships include the Structural Engineers Association of Alabama, the Precast & Prestressed Concrete Institute, the American Concrete Institute, the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Gallet & Associates Inc. of Birmingham recently announced the following appointments:

Daniel Brown, environmental technician, Birmingham; Alex Adams, construction materials testing technician, Huntsville; Bobby Monrreal, environmental geologist, Birmingham; Julie Robison, environmental engineer, Birmingham; Gigi Copeland, project geologist, Birmingham; and Ray Hendon, construction materials testing technician, Memphis, Tenn.

David McLean has been named construction manager in the Development Division at Arlington Properties Inc., based in Birmingham. In the newly created position he will act as liaison between Arlington Construction Co. and Arlington Properties on new construction, property renovations and retrofit projects, according to Jim Dixon, vice president of Arlington Properties. 

He was recently senior project manager with WCI Communities in Pensacola and is a licensed general contractor in Florida.

McLean has more than six years of construction related experience. He earned bachelor’s degrees in drafting and design and construction technology from Appalachian State University.

Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. has promoted Tracy Bassett and Freddie Lynn from studio managers to directors of architecture in the Montgomery headquarter offices, along with Jim Walker to director of architecture for the firm’s Mobile office.  Kirk Clayton, head of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood’s Land Surveying Department in Mobile, has recently earned his Professional Land Surveying license.

With more than 20 years of architecture experience, Bassett, director of architecture and head of the Construction Administration team, focuses on banking and hospitality project design.

Lynn, director of architecture and head of the Educational Design Group, also has 20 years experience and has led projects including the Harrison School of Pharmacy building at Auburn University and expansion of the Montgomery County Detention Center. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Educational Design Group including project supervision, business development, personnel management and strategic planning. Lynn is a graduate of Auburn University.

Walker brings 12 years of architectural experience to the role. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

Also in Mobile, Kirk Clayton recently earned his Professional Land Surveying license by the State of Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood is an architectural and engineering firm with offices in Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville and Vernon, Ala., and Crestview, Fla. 

Arkansas

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) installed new officers and directors at its 2007 Annual Meeting.

During the ceremony, William A. Harrison, president, Trane Arkansas of Little Rock, Ark., was installed as president-elect.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. Its sole objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.

Louisiana

J. Ray McDermott, a subsidiary of McDermott International Inc., recently announced that the J. Ray board of directors has promoted Bob Deason to the new position of chief executive officer.

Deason served as the chief operating officer and president since joining J. Ray in March 2003.

“Bob Deason has been a key and critical leader,” says Bruce Wilkinson, chairman and CEO of McDermott International, of Deason’s promotion.

Prior to joining J. Ray, Deason held positions with Fluor Corp., including vice president, operations and vice president, project management production, pipelines and marine services. He also served as executive vice president of Gulf Interstate Engineering Co. and senior vice president, operations of PLT Engineering. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Louisiana State University.

Max Foote Construction Co., a Louisiana-based company specializing in water and wastewater treatment plant construction, recently announced the addition of Bill Hussey to its project managing staff. Hussey brings 20 years of experience in the water and wastewater field. He is a graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga., with a civil engineering degree.

The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) recently elected Brian J. Cooney CCIFP as secretary.

Cooney is the vice president and chief financial officer of Barriere Construction Co. LLC of New Orleans. He has served as a national director and on CFMA’s Executive, Conference Planning and Membership Committees. Cooney is the chairman of the Heavy Highway Special Interest Committee.

He is a founding member of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter and has served as president, vice president and board member. Cooney received CFMA’s Debra Hahn Memorial Award in 2005.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently presented the distinguished Practice Specialty (PS) Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) award to Barry Abshire for construction. Abshire of Baton Rouge, La., received the construction SPY award for his efforts in promoting safety, health and environmental best practices in construction and demolition through chapter activities and other construction activities throughout Louisiana.

Abshire serves as ASSE Region IV area director of Louisiana and has been a professional member of ASSE for almost 15 years.

A member of the Pala-Group LLC team, a diversified construction services contractor in Baton Rouge, La., for the past 10 years, Abshire serves on its senior management team and has held positions of corporate safety director and currently corporate risk manager.

Shavers-Whittle Construction Inc. of Covington, La., announced the hiring of Wayne Evans as project manager. Evans previously served as territory manager with EFCO Corp. in New Orleans. He will be responsible for all areas of managing certain current and future construction projects.

SJB Group LLC recently announced that C. Rick Hathaway has joined the Engineering Department as senior project manager. Mickey Robertson, vice president and Engineering Division Manager of SJB Group says,

“With more than 25 years of experience and a diverse and wide-ranging portfolio including residential and commercial land development; municipal engineering; and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development engineering, we are pleased and honored to have Rick join our team.”

As project manager, Hathaway will manage the overall civil design of projects; plan preparation, permitting and reports as well as the supervision and coordination of project engineers’ and technicians’ duties. 

Responsibilities will include budgeting, staff management, client and regulatory agency interaction, project schedule and deliverable production on projects.

Hathaway has held positions with the City of New Orleans Department of Streets and regional consulting firms, with positions ranging from project engineer/ project manager to chief civil engineer and associate vice president.

Bill Petty, president and managing partner of the New Orleans division of Walton Construction Company LLC, recently announced the following promotions:

Don Thurlow has been promoted to vice president of pre-construction services and business development with 26 years of experience in construction in both estimating and project management. 

Thurlow started with Walton as a project executive of the $126 million Harrah’s Hotel in downtown New Orleans. He earned his bachelor’s degree in building science from Auburn University.

Tom Reeves has been promoted to vice president of operations. Reeves is currently project executive and has 23 years of construction experience including an extensive background in both military and commercial projects. He earned his master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University.

Nyra Naquin Canales has been promoted to manager of human resources, recruiting and diversity with more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry. Canales is currently administrative manager and has been with Walton since its inception. In addition to this promotion, Canales has recently been elected to the NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) Board of Directors - New Orleans Chapter.

Tennessee

Sam DiCarlo, director of the Healthcare Division of Nashville-based Hart Freeland Roberts Inc. architects and engineers, recently announced that Mark G. Tozzio has contracted with the Healthcare Division as an adjunct consultant. He will serve as senior consultant with HFR on a regular, ongoing basis while continuing to serve as president of his own firm, HPPD Inc., a comprehensive healthcare services consulting firm based in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Tozzio, who has 29 years of experience in healthcare business development and strategic planning, has worked with HFR at various intervals in past years on a number of healthcare planning and design projects.

“For all intents and purposes, Mark will function as a member of our staff while continuing to own and operate his own consultancy,” says DiCarlo. “As part of the HFR Healthcare team, he will focus on integrating our comprehensive architectural and engineering services with business development, marketing, strategic planning, physician relations and recruitment, and operational turnaround for our clients.”

The Lewis Group Architects (LGA) has recently welcomed two new members to its team.

David Baker will be working at The Lewis Group Architects as an architectural intern. He is a recent graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., where he received his master’s degree in architecture. He grew up in Houston, Texas, and now resides in Knoxville, Tenn., with his wife Kasey.

Rachel Trahan of Franklin, Tenn., will also be joining the Lewis Group. She is a recent graduate from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a degree in interior design. Rachel will be joining LGA’s Interior Design Department.

Regional

Alter Moneta, an independent equipment finance company serving customers in the United States and Canada, announced two recent additions to its U.S.-based sales team.

Don Chadwell joins Alter Moneta with more than 10 years of industry experience.  He will cover the Tennessee and southern Kentucky markets, where he has successfully spent the majority of his career.

Rosemarie Chambless brings with her more than 25 years of service to the equipment finance industry in Alabama.  With Alter Moneta she will continue to serve the Alabama market while expanding her geography slightly west to include Mississippi and southern Louisiana. 

Both Chadwell and Chambless have extensive knowledge in the construction, industrial, transportation, mining and machine tool industries. They will both report directly to Jerilyn Nicholsen, regional vice president covering the Central United States.