Melinda B. Peters has been appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to head the state highway administration. She is the first woman to run the agency, one of the state's largest with an annual budget of $1.1 billion and a staff of 3,100. A civil engineer who joined the agency in 1995, Peters had been, since 2006, project director of the $2.5-billion Intercounty Connector (ICC). The 18-mile, six-lane toll road, the largest single highway construction project in Maryland's history, opened in late November. Peters was named an ENR Newsmaker (ENR 1/17 p. 36) for her achievements on the project, which included $370 million in environmental protection. She succeeds Neil J. Pedersen, who retired on June 30 after eight years in the position; he remains an ICC project adviser. Beverley K. Swaim-Staley was named Maryland's first woman transportation secretary in 2009.
Seattle developer Lorig Associates has promoted Tom Fitzsimmons to CEO from chief operating officer. Before joining the firm, he was chief of staff to Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) and director of the state's Dept. of Ecology.