Updates About Construction Professionals

VIP Structures Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., has hired Marc Leonardis as senior project manager. Leonardis brings more than 16 years of construction experience to the position, and his background also includes environmental consulting.

Horizon Engineering Associates, Hauppauge, N.Y., was ranked 79th in The Zweig Letter's Hot Firms for 2011 list. This is the fifth year that the firm has been recognized in the online publication.

Pat A. DiFilippo, executive vice president of Turner Construction Co., New York, has been named the 2011 Honoree of St. Mary's Annual Tribute Dinner to be held on Nov. 21. He is being recognized for his contributions in raising funds and awareness for critical programs and services for St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children.

DiFilippo is a member of the Turner Construction executive management team and is a board member of EE Cruz Co., a partially owned subsidiary of Turner. He has taken on leadership roles in such high-profile projects as the U.S. Open Tennis facility in Flushing Meadows, Queens; the Goldman Sachs Tower at 30 Hudson St. in Jersey City, N.J.; the Xanadu Entertainment Facility in East Rutherford, N.J.; Yankee Stadium; the Jet Blue Terminal at JFK Airport; and The World Trade Center Hub.

VIP Structures Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., has hired Tim Brown as project manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in general construction and construction management with an emphasis on health-care and educational facilities.

Skanska USA's civil business unit in Whitestone, N.Y., has hired Rich Aquino as vice president of business development. Previously, Aquino served as vice president and general manager at URS Corp., San Francisco, and vice president of business development at EMCOR Group, Norwalk, Conn.

KSS Architects, Princeton, N.J., has won a merit award for its Warch Campus Center at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., as part of the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects' annual Design Awards Program. The project was one of three to win the award in the category of Architectural/Non-Residential.

Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor, Warren, N.J., has hired Ronald Weston as senior director of architecture. Weston will oversee operations in the firm's Newark, N.J., office. Weston brings more than 25 years of experience as an architect to his new role. Previously, Weston was the owner of a start-up architecture, planning and consulting firm. He spent the last 17 years of his career managing a variety of projects at RMJM, Edinburgh, Scotland.

IPD: Engineering, Syracuse, N.Y., has hired Mike Hayes as an electrical design engineer. Hayes has more than 30 years of experience in electrical engineering. His responsibilities will include power distribution, photovoltaic systems, fire alarm systems, lighting, security systems, short circuit analysis and generator installation design. He is also president-elect of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers.