Robert Wilson has been hired by SmithGroupJJR as a senior project manager in the firm's San Francisco office. Wilson joins SmithGroupJJR from VOA Associates Inc., where he served as a senior vice president and technical director in the firm's Chicago office. In his new position, Wilson will serve in a leadership role for key office and workplace projects. He also will work to identify marketing opportunities for the firm in the corporate and public sectors. Wilson graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art and Architecture with a bachelor's degree in architecture. He is active with the American Institute of Architects, International Facility Management Association and International Interior Design Association.
Patrick N. Quinn has joined Blach Construction, Santa Clara, as director of client services. A lifelong Silicon Valley resident, Quinn has a wide network of contacts in the business, civic and philanthropic communities and brings nearly 30 years of experience to Blach. His previous experience includes having worked at Mission Concrete Products, a manufacturer of concrete landscape products, rising to become its president in 1992. At Blach, Quinn will focus on increasing the company's presence in the commercial, corporate office and high-tech market segments.
Brian Thomas has been appointed vice president of operations in California for Skanska USA's building business unit. A 33-year industry veteran, Thomas will oversee operations for Skanska's Oakland and Los Angeles offices. He will support project teams and proposals, oversee superintendent staff and assess self-performance capabilities and best practices. Thomas previously led operations for Skanska's Seattle office. He joined Skanska in 1995 and has worked in most of Skanska's major buildings sectors, including government, primary and higher education, health care, mixed-use and retail. He will be based in Skanska's Oakland office.
Christopher Piché has joined C.W. Driver, Pasadena, as director of business development. A 15-year design and construction veteran, Piché's previous experience includes implementing design-build delivery methods, conceptual estimating, providing architectural/design services and operations in a variety of commercial and institutional building markets. Before joining C.W. Driver, Piché served as vice president of project development and design for The Bergman Cos., where he was responsible for marketing and expanding business relations on behalf of the company's preconstruction, hospitality, mixed-use and entertainment divisions.
Chris Spengler was promoted to senior project adviser for SCS Engineers, San Diego. Spengler, a vice president, has been with SCS for 19 years. His responsibilities include managing the construction remediation practice, with a focus on remediating contaminated properties for and during redevelopment. In other SCS appointments, Chuck Pryatel was promoted to project director, Charles Houser was promoted to project manager and Tracy Thompson was promoted to staff professional.
Ane Deister has joined Parsons, Pasadena, as vice president in its environmental division. In her new role, Deister will focus on opportunities to expand Parsons' commercial environmental business with existing and new customers in the Western region. She brings 28 years of experience to Parsons, most recently as vice president at an international, environmental and natural-resource-management consulting firm.
Gordon Rogers and Heather Brown will assume leadership of Kitchell's growing engineering and architectural services department (EAS) later this year, as industry veteran Doug Lovell retires after 25 years. Rogers will assume the role of Kitchell EAS department executive and will oversee the department with Brown, who will become Kitchell EAS department director. Rogers, a 33-year veteran of the industry, came to Kitchell EAS in 2010 with an extensive background encompassing a variety of building types for public and private clients. Before coming to Kitchell, Rogers ran a successful architectural firm for nearly 20 years, completing projects in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. He specializes in master planning and design management as well as design review and value engineering services. Brown joined Kitchell in 2004 and has more than 17 years of mechanical engineering experience. She has worked on a variety of facilities, including health care, commercial, K-12 and higher education. She is a licensed mechanical engineer in California, Arizona and Nevada.