Three Texans Named to ‘40 Under 40’

New construction law chair elected to Texas State Bar; Retired Houstonian engineer joins board to preserve and maintain; Walton Construction expands Dallas office.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine announced its “40 Under 40” award winners. Gabriel A. Jiménez, Ph.D., P.E. is a principal and senior project manager for the Structural Diagnostics Services Group at Walter P Moore's corporate headquarters in Houston. Nationally recognized as a leading engineer in the restoration of parking and post-tensioned structures, Jiménez teaches and mentors young engineers with a strong focus on innovation. Richard Watters, PE, of Baird, Hampton & Brown in Fort Worth and Doug Lacy, PE, of CCRD Partners in Dallas rounded out the three winners from Texas.

Charlotte C. Foster was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the State Preservation Board. The board oversees preservation and maintenance of the Texas State Capitol, buildings within the Capitol Complex and its grounds, and operates The Texas State History Museum. Foster is a retired petroleum engineer. She received a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering from Stanford University.

Powers Brown Architecture has promoted Bruce Walck, AIA, to principal and Jeanette Robards, AIA, to project manager. Walck holds a bachelor's of architecture with a minor in construction management from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He will lead the Public Environment group for the Houston office. Robards is a graduate of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston.

Miner-Dederick Construction has promoted Julia Odell to vice president of project management.

Jim Wilson Architects announced that Kobey Seale, LEED AP, has been named associate principal. He will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm.

Gate Construction Materials Group has promoted Dean Gwin to president and chief operating officer. Gwin will be responsible for all phases of the construction group. Joe Luke will step down as chief operating officer and serve as a Gate Petroleum board member as well as chairman of the board. Earl Shimp will assume the position of senior vice president of operations. Shimp will be responsible for plant and field operations.

Hagen Lambert will assume the role of senior vice president in Jacksonville and will be responsible for all operations at that location.

The Dallas division of Walton Construction Co. LLC announced the following new hires: Brent Ellis has been hired as project engineer and will assist project managers and superintendents. He earned his bachelor's of arts in Spanish, computer science and mathematics from the University of Richmond. Amy Keddington has joined as project administrator. Russ Maples has been hired as quality control manager. He earned his bachelor's of arts from the University of Texas and his master's of hospitality management administration from Heritage University. Kevin McAllister and Randy Robertson have joined as project superintendents.

J.L. Steel LP announced the promotions of Carol Trevino to senior vice president and Rick Garces to vice president. Trevino will plan, direct and coordinate accounting and finance activities. Garces will direct the safety program.

Michelle Rieger, Winstead PC shareholder, was elected chair of the construction law section of the Texas State Bar. She succeeds Robert Bass, who now serves as the immediate past chair.

FKP Architects promoted Rich Farris, AIA, LEED AP, to senior associate in the Dallas office. Farris manages and assists a variety of project teams covering multiple medical campuses. He holds a master's of science in architecture and building design from Columbia University and a bachelor's of arts and a bachelor's of architecture from Rice University.

Skanska USA Building Inc. announced the addition of Richard Sowden as a superintendent.

Mayse & Associates Inc. announced that Barbara Rystrom and Jared Smith have become Registered Accessibility Specialists. Rystrom and Smith, senior project managers, may provide statewide project registration, plan review and inspection services for both privately and publicly funded buildings and facilities in order to verify compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards.

Dewberry's Dallas office announced the addition of Scott Trotter as a senior geographic information systems project manager. In his new role, he will join Dewberry's federal programs division and will be in charge of growing the geospatial practice in the southwestern United States.

Smith Seckman Reid Inc. hired Mitch McKinley as a communications consultant in the Dallas office and Bill White as a senior communications consultant in the Houston office. McKinley specializes in structured cabling systems, low-voltage communications systems, data network design and audio-visual integration. White holds a bachelor's of science in marine systems engineering from Texas A&M University Maritime Academy.

Gen-Tech Construction announced that Jeff Stocks and Roy DiPasquale have become partners, serving as chief executive officer and president, respectively. Gary Jorden, founder of the company specializing in health care and interior construction, is chief operating officer. Stocks holds a bachelor's of science in accounting from Duke University and a master's of law in international business from the London School of Economics. He received his juris doctor from South Texas College of Law. DiPasquale has held leadership roles in several industries throughout his career. A licensed mechanical contractor, Jorden has worked with Houston's key hospital systems and major oil companies.

Mark E. Lund has been named partner-in-charge of construction industry services for Weaver and Tidwell LLP. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional.

Key Construction named Corbett R. Nichter as its vice president of business development and Robert Akins as senior estimator. Corbett and Robert are longtime veterans of the construction industry, bringing more than 40 years of combined experience to the organization. Also added to the firm’s Texas business unit were Ross Loughmiller as superintendent; Bobby Brierton as superintendent; and Shaun Feltner as assistant project manager. 

SURVCON INC. added Hugh W. Clarkson, RPLS, as a principal assigned to the Houston office.

ParkingPlanners was recently presented a Mayoral Proclamation signed by Austin Mayor Will Wynn, recognizing the top architecture and construction companies in the Central Texas region. ParkingPlanners specializes in developing cost effective parking solutions for public and private sector clients across the United States.

Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. announced the addition of Vincent Musat, P.E., senior project manager. Musat graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's of science in civil engineering and from the University of Houston with a bachelor's of science in architecture.

Austin Commercial announced that Rob Cullison has re-joined the firm in its Houston office overseeing marketing and business development. Cullison is a graduate of Texas A&M University.

TDIndustries has named Bob Richards as president of its central Texas operations and Todd F. Lokash as vice president of TDManufacturing. Richards oversees TD's Central Texas operations including Austin, Waco and San Antonio. Richards graduated from Dallas Baptist University. Lokash will oversee TDIndustries' manufacturing division in Dallas. A graduate of Tarleton State University, Lokash earned his master's of business administration from Southern Methodist University.

LJA Engineering & Surveying Inc. promoted Timothy A. Hart, PE, CFM and Chad A. Johnson, PE, CFM, to senior project manager in its Hydrology & Hydraulics Division. Hart is a graduate of The Citadel with a bachelor's of science in civil engineering. Johnson is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor's of science in civil engineering.

Syska Hennessy Group has three new hires in its Houston office. Cody French, P.E., and Walter Szymanowski have been named associate partners and Eugene Moscinski, P.E., was named a senior associate. French will serve as a health-care market focus leader and received a bachelor's of science in architectural engineering from Kansas State University. Szymanowski will serve as commissioning practice leader and earned a bachelor's of science in mechanical engineering at Western Michigan University. Moscinski will serve as lead electrical technical manager and received a bachelor's of science in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Smith Seckman Reid Inc. has hired John Offield as a Building Information Modeling  program manager. Offield brings to this new position expertise in Revit/BIM building design software, 3D modeling and management of building data. His responsibilities will include research, development, implementation and training of the overall BIM process as it relates to the firm's projects.

Jaster-Quintanilla’s Stephen H. Lucy, P.E., a managing principal, has been appointed to the Civil Engineering Advisory Council of Texas A&M University. The council serves as a sounding board to the department leadership and provides information about the needs of the civil engineering profession, including strengthening and improving academic programs.

WALTER P MOORE announced that Doug Coenen, P.E., has joined the firm as managing director of its Houston civil engineering group. Coenen's broad range of management and design experience includes federal, state, municipal and private infrastructure engineering projects.

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. announced the appointment of Kara W. Stanicic as assistant chief operating officer. In this role, she will assist the firm's chief operating officer, Roy Follmuth, in managing LAN's day-to-day operations. Stanicic will be involved in managing the operational issues of the firm's business groups, including business process improvement initiatives and starting  and directing new improvement initiatives. Stanicic holds a bachelor's degree in organizational management from University of Texas at Austin.

HOLT CAT recently named Joey Rider general construction representative for Lewisville. In his new position, Rider will be responsible for selling general construction equipment.

Omniplan has promoted James R. Patterson, AIA, to associate principal of He holds a master's degree in architecture and a bachelor's degree in environmental design from the University of Oklahoma.

Turner Construction Co. has promoted Abrar Sheriff to vice president and general manager of Turner's Special Projects and Interiors Division. The Special Projects Division combines interior finish with the construction of smaller free-standing structures. Abrar has a bachelor's of science degree in civil engineering from Bangalore University in India and a master's of science in architectural engineering from the University of Kansas.

Rees Associates Inc. announced that Osborn Ogonyo has joined Rees as its Web master. Ogonyo is a graduate of Western Michigan University received a bachelor's of business administration in computer information systems; Kristina Dover, marketing coordinator, earned the designation of Certified Professional Services Marketer; Eric Kutche recently joined Rees. Kutche received his bachelor's of architecture and environmental design from Ball State University and a master's in business administration and health-care management from the University of Phoenix.

The U.S. Green Building Council North Texas Chapter announced the appointment of Cindy Stanley as its first executive director. Stanley will be responsible for leading the operational and strategic efforts of the North Texas Chapter and report to its board of directors.

Turner Partners Architecture LP honored Thomas H. Stovall with the designation as the firm's principal emeritus.

Ellerbe Becket announced that G. Frank Mills, AIA, LEED AP, has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a senior project manager.

Turner Partners Architecture LP has promoted Alex Bernard, AIA, to senior associate. Bernard is a graduate of the Vocational School of the Building Trade, Zurich, Switzerland, where he received his diploma in architectural design.

Hill & Wilkinson Ltd. has promoted Kirk Woltman to group manager of its Aviation division. In this role, Woltman is the company's primary liaison with owners and architects. He graduated from Harding University with a bachelor's of science degree in social science.

Smith Seckman Reid Inc. has hired Andy Nguyen, P.E., as a senior electrical engineer in the firm's Dallas office. Nguyen will be responsible for lighting system, emergency power system and power distribution design. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas in Dallas. The firm also hired Claudia Autry as a senior project manager and senior electrical engineer and Kenneth Palmer as an electrical engineer in the firm's Houston office. Autry will be responsible for the design of lighting, emergency power and power distribution for the firm's health-care projects. She holds a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering from University of Texas at Austin. Palmer will be responsible for lighting, emergency power  and power distribution design. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Lamar University in Beaumont.

Susman Tisdale Gayle recently added Kelley McEachern, RID, LEED CI to its interiors group as an interior designer. McEachern graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Architecture with a bachelor's of science in interior design.

HOLT CAT named Ron Craft and Bob Harwood new general manager for Machine Division Product Support. Craft holds an associate degree in Aerospace Technology. Harwood holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette.

Equipment Collaborative is pleased to announce the promotion of Jesse Garcia Jr. and Federico D. Reyes to vice president.

Linbeck announced the promotion of Ike Allen to the position of client executive. He received his bachelor's of science in architectural engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

O'Neill Hill and Associates has announced the promotions of Kristin Ledet, Sharon Penttila, Jason Pryor and Avan Wolff to associate.

The National Society for Marketing Professional Services recently named Melissa Lewis, marketing manager for Pape-Dawson Engineers, Chapter President of the Year. The award is presented annually to an SMPS chapter president who has demonstrated excellence in leadership while serving the chapter. She received her bachelor's of business administration in marketing from Texas A&M University.

Equipment Collaborative announced that Mike Darden has joined as project manager. Darden holds a bachelor's of business administration from the University of Houston.

FKP Architects announced the promotion of Thomas E. Woods, AIA, and Mezio S. Zangirolami, AIA, NCARB, to senior associate. Woods holds a bachelor's of architecture and bachelor's of science in environmental design from the University of Houston.

Perkins+Will announced the addition of Larry Gawloski as associate principal and senior designer for the Science+Technology and health-care market sectors of the firm. Gawloski received a bachelor's of science from Texas State University, a master's of architecture from the University of Houston and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Omniplan has announced that Lisa Lowrie, director of interiors and senior associate; Lauren McLain, senior associate; Melissa Tucker, interior design intern; and Amy Guenther, office manager, have passed the LEED Accredited Professional examination.

Corgan Associates Inc. has named Lindsay Case Wilson as vice president of Interiors. Wilson's responsibilities will include marketing and client development for the interiors team. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in interior design.

Miner-Dederick Construction announced the addition of Warner Strang as executive vice president of project management.