Whalen

Mark K. Whalen Patricia Ploeger

SG Blocks Inc., New York, has named Marc Bell and Frank Casano to its board of directors. Bell is vice president, secretary and general counsel of Vector Group Ltd., Miami. Casano is principal and executive vice president of China-based Air City International Forwarding Group.

Groton & Partners, New York, has appointed Warren Elghanayan, Eric Hahn, Dennis Rauchet and Thomas Rosenberger as partners.

Dagher Engineering, New York, has promoted Josephine Zurica to principal. She has worked as a professional engineer at the firm for six years and had previously served in the Peace Corps in Panama.

Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J., has hired Alexandros Washburn as a professor and founding director of the Center for Coastal Resilience and Urban Xcellence. Previously, he was the chief urban designer of New York City under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He also authored "The Nature of Urban Design: A New York Perspective on Resilience."

WSP USA, New York, has appointed Eric Hechler as director of risk. An attorney who specializes in the AEC sector, Hechler will provide legal support, coordinate risk mitigation strategies and manage insurance claims and processes, among other company duties.

Weidlinger Associates Inc., New York, announced that Samuel Summerville, a firm principal, now leads its transportation group. Former group head, Guang-Nan Fanjiang, will continue to work as a group senior principal. Associate principal Qi Ye was promoted to principal.

The Hudson Valley Mechanical Contractors Association Inc. board of directors has appointed as executive director. He succeeds . Previously, Whalen served as executive director for both the New York State Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors and the Plumbing Foundation City of New York Inc.