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Louisiana
ABC’s educational affiliate, the Trimmer Education Foundation, presented its 2008 John Trimmer Excellence in Teaching Award to Dr. Lawrence Leslie “Les” Rosso, associate professor in construction management at Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, La., during a March 8 ceremony held at ABC’s 2008 National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“ABC is pleased to honor such a strong proponent of the merit shop construction philosophy at the university level,” says Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO. “Dr. Rosso is a dedicated supporter of the principles of free enterprise and open competition in the construction industry. We applaud his efforts to help shape the next generation of construction professionals, and it is an honor to recognize him with this well-deserved award.”
The award recognizes an outstanding college or university professor in a construction management program, and is named in honor of John Trimmer, who served as ABC’s national executive vice president from 1952 to 1976. Trimmer was a tireless advocate both for merit shop construction and for superior construction education programs.
“Dr. Rosso has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advancing construction education, serving as a co-advisor to LSU’s Construction Student Association and as a departmental representative to the university’s Construction Industry Advisory Council,” says Pickerel.
John L. “Jack” Donahue Jr. was inducted into the LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Hall of Distinction. The ceremony was held April 10 at the Lod Cook Alumni Center on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at LSU established a Hall of Distinction to recognize individuals who have made stalwart contributions to the profession. Donahue is chairman and CEO of DonahueFavret Contractors Inc. in Mandeville, La., and serves as State Senator representing District 11. He earned a civil engineering degree from LSU in 1967.
DonahueFavret Contractors Inc. was founded by Jack Donahue in 1979.
M. Claire Pickering, an architect with Wink Design Group, the A/E office for Wink Companies LLC, recently became certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
LEED is a Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. It provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Individuals recognized for their knowledge of the LEED rating system are permitted to use the LEED Accredited Professional (AP) acronym after their name, indicating they have passed the accreditation exam given by the USGBC. The accreditation enables individuals to facilitate the rating of buildings with the various LEED systems.
A New Orleans resident, Pickering received bachelors and masters degrees in architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She joined the WDG staff in 2007.
Charles Abboud has been named manager of employee benefits and financial services for Wright and Percy Insurance, a division of BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc.
Abboud previously served as financial services supervisor and has been with the company for 12 years. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Abboud is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Baton Rouge-based Wright and Percy, established in 1882, handles property and casualty, employee benefits, bonds, life and health, as well as specialization in pharmacy benefits consulting, value added loss control services, marine and construction. BancorpSouth is a $13 billion banking company based in Tupelo, Miss.
The Lemoine Co. LLC of Lafayette, La., recently announced promotions of four employees who have dedicated themselves to Lemoine’s commitment to excellence.
Tim Burdette has been promoted to project manager. Burdette has demonstrated leadership and dedication to challenging projects such as Lafayette General Medical Center’s new Labor and Delivery addition (Lafayette, La.).
He has more than three years of experience with Lemoine as a project engineer. He earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Matthew Jones began his career at Lemoine five years ago as a co-op student while completing his bachelor’s degree in construction management at Louisiana State University. Upon graduation in 2003, Jones became a full time employee and has demonstrated the skill and knowledge necessary to advance to the position of project manager. Through his tenure with Lemoine, he has held positions as project engineer and office engineer.
Jason Miranda has been promoted to project manager. Miranda has five years of experience with Lemoine, and has proven his management skills as project engineer and office engineer. Most recently, he has worked on the Vista Bella Condominium project in Gulf Shores, Ala., and The Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, La. He earned a degree in construction management from Louisiana State University in 2003.
Andrew Sexton has been promoted to project manager. Sexton has demonstrated excellent leadership and dedication to challenging projects such as the Acadian Ambulance campus relocation project in Lafayette, La. Sexton has over five years of experience with Lemoine, and has held positions as project engineer and office engineer. He earned a degree in Construction Management from Louisiana State University in 2002.
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) has announced the promotion of Paul D. Buffone to vice president of risk management services. He will oversee risk management services for LWCC, including claims, occupational medicine, operations and the special investigation unit.
Buffone, who joined LWCC in 1993, served as director of litigation services for the company from 2001 to 2006, when he was promoted to assistant vice president of risk management services. Previously, he was LWCC’s senior corporate counsel after practicing for several years in the areas of state workers’ compensation and maritime law.
Buffone received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1989 and his law degree from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1993. He also is a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow.
WHL Architecture of Baton Rouge, La., recently announced the addition of Jerry C. Blanchard as senior project manager. Blanchard comes to WHL with 35 years of experience as an architect in the Baton Rouge area.
His experience includes 12 years with Louisiana State University, managing the design and construction of all campus facilities, including six years as associate athletic director for Athletic Facilities, overseeing the largest expansion of sports facilities in the school’s history.
Mississippi
Robert Varner has joined Burns Cooley Dennis Inc. as senior concrete materials engineer. Varner is working in the Construction Materials Engineering and Testing facility and is responsible for managing concrete material services and expanding those services to better serve clients.
He served as executive director of Mississippi Concrete Industries Association from 2000 to 2007 and director of technical services from 1998 to 2000. He is a 1992 graduate of Mississippi State University, holding a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Tennessee
Robert T. Trotter, CBO, CFM has been elected to serve as chair of the International Fire/Performance/Wildland Urban Interface Code Committee (FCIC), one of five Interpretations Committees governed by the International Code Commission (ICC).
The purpose of the ICC Interpretation Committee is to process committee interpretations for the International Fire Code, International Performance Code, and the International Urban-Wildland Interface Code. Committee interpretations represent the official position of the International Code Council. As Chairman, Trotter presides over the 21-member committee and is responsible for calling committee meetings, and distribution of the agenda and meeting minutes.
Trotter, a consultant in regulatory compliance services for Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR), an engineering design and facility consulting firm, has more than five years experience with the committee, and also serves on the ICC-Fire Service Exam Development Committee. His 18-month term will run until June 30, 2009. Trotter holds 24 professional certifications from the International Code Council including Certified Building Official and Certified Fire Marshal.
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