Southwest People: Construction business updates for June 2020
The PENTA Building Group, Las Vegas, has promoted Marisa Palomo to executive director. In her expanded role, she oversees strategic planning; compliance; division department performance; development of financial plans; risk and legal matters; and business development in PENTA’s operating areas, including Las Vegas, Southern California and Phoenix.
Joel Canchola has joined Burns & McDonnell’s Phoenix office as manager of facilities construction to lead the firm’s construction and design-build services in the Southwest. During his 15-year career in construction management, Canchola has led major capital projects for critical infrastructure clients in the commercial, health care, manufacturing, residential and transportation sectors. Adrienne Pauly has been promoted to manager of Burns & McDonnell’s energy and process department in Phoenix. With nearly two decades of diverse experience, Pauly has managed large-scale projects for natural gas, simple- and combined-cycle and coal-fired power generation assets. He has spearheaded more than 30 projects in the past six years.
Martin-Harris Construction has promoted three individuals in its Las Vegas office. Paul Toplak was promoted to chief operating officer. Toplak began his career with his family’s construction company in Vancouver, British Columbia. He joined Martin-Harris in 2000 as a project engineer and has served in several positions during his tenure, most recently as senior vice president of operations. Wade Pope has been promoted to vice president of operations. Pope has more than 42 years of construction experience and joined Martin-Harris in 2013. He previously served as a senior project executive. Brian Schmidt was promoted to vice president of major projects. Schmidt joined Martin-Harris in 2002 with a background in managing complex industrial projects. He has served as a project manager, and most recently, as a senior project executive.
Lee Underwood has joined Horrocks Engineers’ Las Vegas office as aviation manager. He has more than 35 years of aviation experience and has worked on airside and landside projects in 12 states and in Saudi Arabia.
Tod Whitwer has been hired at AECOM’s Phoenix office as a senior project manager. Whitwer has more than 30 years of environmental and project management experience. In his new role, he will be responsible for regulatory support services and environmental remediation services.
Chad Halmrast has been hired at TDIndustries as preconstruction director. In this role, Halmrast will be involved in design-build and design-assist project pursuits and execution, drawing on his experience with early collaboration project delivery methods.
HMC Architects has hired Bailey Sullivan as a designer at the firm’s Phoenix studio. Sullivan is currently working on projects throughout the region, including the Banner Boswell Medical Center and Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital.
Sean Ray, director of craft workforce development for Sundt Construction, Tempe, Ariz., has been named vice-chairman of the National Center for Construction Education and Research’s National Workforce Development Committee.
