Midwest People: March 2025
Chicago-based Clayco has elevated Anthony Johnson to CEO. He had been executive vice president and industrial business unit president. He succeeds Russ Burns, who retired but continues as company board chairman. Among other changes, Ryan McGuire is named president of the new Clayco Compute unit, focused on construction of data centers and other advanced technology structures. In addition, Shawn Clark, CEO of Clayco real estate arm CRG, is named newly created chief strategy officer. Kevin McKenna, president of construction, is the new chief administrative officer of Clayco enterprise, and Mike Pierle is chief operating officer of construction.
Sports and entertainment architect Populous, Kansas City, Mo., has elevated Bruce Miller, managing director of the Americas region, to global chair and CEO, effective March 31. He will succeed firm co-founder Earl Santee, who becomes executive chair. Christopher Lee will be vice chair and global design head and remains Europe-Middle East-Africa region managing director. Jonathan Mallie will be managing director of the Americas region, and Richard Breslin will be managing director of the Asia-Pacific region.
Chicago-based energy engineering firm Sargent & Lundy has elevated eight directors to senior vice president: Mehmet Arslan, Mike Breisch, Curtis Cox, Nelson Rosado and Stephen Wylie are based at headquarters. Steve Fogarty is in Albuquerque and Los Alamos, N.M., and Chris Blansit and Mike Flanagan are in Chattanooga, Tenn.
McCarthy Building Cos. has announced a new leadership team for its St. Louis-based central region. Ryan Sawall is named CEO, Chris Anvik is president, Doug Mangers is chief operating officer and Josh Gaghen is St. Louis business unit leader. Sawall succeeds John Buescher, who becomes a McCarthy senior level adviser, contributing to cross-regional and corporate initiatives.
Ryan Cos. US, a Minneapolis builder, developer, designer and real estate manager, has appointed Elizabeth Holmes vice president of capital markets for private capital. She now develops new private investment relationships and manages existing partnerships. Holmes was principal of the Martin Group of Cos., a residential and mixed-use developer in Oakland, Calif.
Brian Tande, former dean of the College of Engineering & Mines at the University of North Dakota, has been named the president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City. In his previous role since 2020, he presided over a fourfold rise in outside funded research in energy, rare earth elements, autonomous systems, transportation, cybersecurity and other areas, said the university. Tande also was chemical engineering department chair. The College of Engineering & Mines named associate dean Ryan Adams interim dean and expects to announce a permanent dean in July.
Design firm MG2, Minneapolis, has promoted Scott Owen Jr. to managing principal. He manages work for mixed-use and large-format retail brands including Best Buy, Target and Nordstrom. Owen is also vice president of the Retail Design Institute Twin Cities chapter.
Engineering firm Terracon has named Linda Yang as national director of growth for environmental services. A senior principal and vice president based in Glendale Heights, Ill., she consults in environmental, health, safety, sustainability and related areas.
Kermin Chok has joined DeSimone Consulting Engineering as an associate principal in Chicago. A structural engineer and computational design expert, he had been an associate principal at Arup.
