Southwest People: January 2023
The University of New Mexico has hired Donna Riley as dean of the School of Engineering, effective April 1. She heads Purdue University’s School of Engineering Education and teaches environmental and ecological engineering. In her new university role, Riley also will be professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. As dean, she will succeed Christos Christodoulou, who will direct the engineering school’s COSMIAC space electronics research center.
Gilbane Building Co., Providence, R.I., has elevated Dan Keaveney to vice president and Arizona area manager. He is based in Phoenix. Most recently, Keaveney was metro Chicago private sector leader for the contractor.
Jaron Hildebrand has joined the Nevada Builders Alliance in Carson City as executive director. The group, which represents the state construction industry and affiliated sectors, says it has more than 1,000 members. He had been executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association.
Contractor Clayco has named Scott Ellison vice president of operations, based in Phoenix. He was senior vice president of design and construction at Bluebird Development and, previously, Tutor Perini Building Co. senior vice president. Also joining the firm are Jodi Wayne as project manager, Erica Storck as preconstruction director and Adam Soper as MEP project director.
Sridhar Seetharaman, vice dean for research and innovation at Arizona State University’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and a materials science and engineering professor, has been named a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. He is one of 38 international researchers recognized in 2022, and one of only two from the U.S., says ASU. Seetharaman’s focus on manufacturing decarbonization also includes recent work funded by the U.S. Energy Dept. and others to improve the recyclability of steel.
Brinkmann Constructors, a St. Louis-based building contractor, has named Joe Strobbe, a vice president at the firm, to lead a new office in Scottsdale, Ariz., to expand its Southwest U.S. operations, the company said.
Jensen Precast, a Reno, Nev., precast concrete firm, has elevated Eric Jensen, president, to the added role of CEO, succeeding Donald Jensen, who founded the company in 1968 and remains board chairman. Eric Jensen is a former board member of the National Precast Concrete Association. Jensen Precast has more than 1,000 employees.
Sundt Construction has hired Jenny Browne as a business development representative in its industrial group, based in Tempe, Ariz. She has more than 19 years of real estate industry experience and was a senior solutions adviser for a real estate investment group.
Mike Willingham has joined Phoenix-based contractor and design-build firm Stevens-Leinweber Construction as director of field operations, a newly created position, said the company. He was formerly field coordinator at Ryan Cos.
Brian Schalk, former managing partner of Holistic Engineering and Land Management Inc. (HELM), Phoenix, has joined Albuquerque-based consultant and CM firm Wilson & Co. in an undisclosed management role after a Jan. 4 announced acquisition. HELM specializes in flood hazard mitigation, stormwater management and water conservation services. Wilson & Co. said it has more than 600 employees in 15 offices.
