HIRES

Valmik Thakore was named vice president and senior healthcare provider of St. Louis-based Cannon Design. He was previously senior healthcare planner and project manager of St. Louis-based Christner Inc. Cannon is an architecture firm.

James Bender was named vice president of construction for St. Louis-based Environmental Operations Inc. He previously worked in construction management for O’Fallon, Mo.-based McEagle Properties. Environmental Operations is a consulting firm.

Leanne Meyer-Smith was named senior project manager of Darien, Ill.-based Wight & Co. She was previously principal of Newman Architecture in Naperville. Wight provides construction management, architecture and other services.

Tom Estrel was named senior project manager in the MEP Department of St. Louis-based KAI Design & Build. He was previously senior project manager in the Energy and Chemicals Group in St. Louis of Denver-based CH2M Hill.

Skip Keltner was named estimator for Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton. He was previously preconstruction manager of Fishers, Ind.-based Meyer Najem Construction. Shiel Sexton is a contractor.

Emily Korsch was named project specialist of St. Louis-based Vertegy Inc. She was previously project engineer with St. Louis-based Alberici. Vertegy is a sustainability consultant.

Brian Winters was named architectural sales representative in Eastern Missouri and Southern and Central Illinois for Wausau, Wis.-based Wausau Window and Wall Systems. He was previously an independent representative for Hurd Windows and Doors. Wausau is a manufacturer.

PROMOTIONS

Leopardo Cos. Inc. of Hoffman Estates, Ill., has announced the promotions of five to executive level: Todd Andrlik to vice president of marketing and public relations from director of marketing and public relations; Mark Fenton to vice president of interiors from project executive; Matt Miller to vice president of healthcare from project executive; Chris Novak to vice president of interiors from project executive; and Rory Tihinen to vice president of estimating from project executive. Leopardo is a general contractor.

Wight & Co. of Darien, Ill., has announced the promotions of Ray Prokop to vice president of support services and Stella Koop to director of the K-12 education practice. Previously, Prokop was vice president and director of construction, and Koop was senior project manager. Wight provides construction management, architecture and other services.

Randy Buescher was named vice president in the International Practice in Chicago of St. Louis-based HOK. He was previously senior associate. HOK is a design firm.

Michael Murphy was named vice president of operations of Fenton, Mo.-based Kaiser Electric Inc. He was previously vice president/senior project manager. Kaiser provides electrical contracting and engineering.

KJWW Engineering Consultants of Rock Island, Ill., has announced the promotions of Sudhakar Nagavalli to associate while continuing as general manager of Medical Equipment Solutions and John Panek to senior engineer. Panek was previously mechanical engineer. KJWW provides structural, mechanical and other engineering services.

Craig Kaibel was promoted to senior engineer for St. Louis-based Geotechnology Inc. He was previously staff engineer. Geotechnology provides services in geotechnical and environmental engineering, materials testing and geophysics.

HONORS & APPOINTMENTS

Louis Bowman, chairman of Chicago-based Bowman, Barrett & Associates, an engineering firm, has received a 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Thomas Taylor, general manager of St. Louis-based Vertegy, a sustainability consultant, was named chair of the Environmental Network Steering Committee of the Associated General Contractors of America in Alexandria, Va.

COMPANY NEWS

The Boldt Co. of Appleton, Wis., has become Wisconsin’s first general contractor to join the Wisconsin’s Green Tier program. Under Green Tier, qualified businesses make binding commitments to superior environmental performance

EMCOR Group Inc. of Norwalk, Conn., has acquired Team Mechanical Inc., a mechanical contractor in Buffalo Grove, Ill. EMCOR provides services that include mechanical and electrical contracting.

R.W. Collins Co. of Chicago has achieved Green Business Certification from the Institute for Green Business Certification Inc. in Michigan City, Ind. Collins provides environmental excavation and other services.