California and Northwest People: October 2024
Jill Hudkins, who stepped down in May as president of water consultant Tetra Tech, Pasadena, Calif., has joined AECOM as CEO of its new water and environment advisory global business line. Specializing in innovative water treatment programs and advanced data analytics in global water, environment and sustainable infrastructure work, she launched Tetra Tech’s digital water practice. The advisory business will expand company work in advanced digital water asset management and PFAS remediation. Hudkins also is former president of the Southeast Desalting Association.
Behnam Mehraie has joined Orange, Calif.-based Zephyr Rail as vice president of program and construction management. He has more than three decades of experience in the industry, previously serving as senior director at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Mehraie managed $1.5 billion in highway projects at the agency, including contracts on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor aimed to alleviate congestion through the Sepulveda Pass in the LA Basin. He will lead project teams for agencies including California High Speed Rail Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink.
Santa Barbara, Calif.-based MNS Engineers has hired Joe Pope as the firm’s new vice president of construction management. Pope has an extensive background handling public water systems, including serving as director of water and sanitation for Ventura County and public works director of Naval Base Ventura County. Damien Delany will lead the firm’s new housing practice. He brings more than 30 years of housing and project management expertise to the team.
Trademark Concrete Systems has promoted Michael Campbell to vice president based out of the firm’s Sacramento office. A 15-year veteran of the firm, Campbell will be growing Trademark’s decorative concrete revenue in Northern California while continuing his involvement in the Southern California market.
Heather Wills has joined STV as the firm’s vice president and national tolling director based in Portland, Ore. In this role, Wills will drive the planning, delivery and growth of pricing initiatives, serving both national and state clients. She has almost 25 years of experience in the industry, most recently as national tolling and transportation operations director for WSP USA. She has also worked with the Federal Highway Administration and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation.
Level 10 Construction has hired John Assunto as an executive for the firm. He will handle a business development role contributing to growth across the company’s offices. Assunto’s previous roles include vice president of Truebeck Construction and general manager with Turner Construction.
OBITUARY
Movses Agopovich, 84, a veteran transportation project manager and senior executive at engineering firms that formed the foundation of AECOM and WSP, died in Redlands, Calif., on April 25, 2022, according to a family obituary provided recently to ENR. He was a senior engineer on projects that included the Baltimore Metro, Taipei Underground Metro, WMATA subway in Washington, D.C., Vancouver BC Skytrain and Singapore Metro. He also was principal in charge of the Oceanside-to-San Diego Commuter Rail Line and of an Interstate-210 segment in Los Angeles County. Agopovich was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and involved mentor, the obituary said. He earned an M.S. degree in civil engineering from Stanford University.
