In a planned succession, Black & Veatch has elevated Steve L. Edwards to chairman, president and CEO, effective in January. Named immediately to what the firm tells ENR is a first-time company role as chief operating officer, he will succeed Leonard C. Rodman, who has been president and CEO since 1998 and chairman since 2000. Edwards, who had been executive vice president, also is executive director of global EPC for the Overland Park, Kan., firm's global energy business. Rodman, 64, who the company says will retire in 2014, is a 42-year veteran.

EDWARDS

According to a Black & Veatch statement, Rodman led several major initiatives at the firm, including its conversion from an 85-year-old partnership to a privately held C corporation with an unleveraged employee stock ownership plan. Black & Veatch says it has $3.3 billion in total 2012 revenue. The firm also ranks at No. 32 on ENR's list of the Top 150 global design firms and at No. 118 on ENR's list of the Top 225 international contractors, based on its 2011 revenue.

José Abreu has joined engineering firm Gannett Fleming, Harrisburg, Pa., as a senior vice president, based in Miami. Most recently, he was director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Dept., where he supervised operations at Miami International Airport and four general aviation airports. According to the firm, he also managed a $6.4-billion capital improvements program. 

ABREU

Abreu also had been secretary of the Florida Dept. of Transportation, where he worked for more than 18 years. He was named an ENR Newsmaker in 2007 for his stewardship of the Miami International Airport's expansion project.

Bill Martin has joined Watertown, Mass., transportation consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) as a principal, based in Raleigh, N.C., following its April 15 acquisition of traffic engineer-planner Martin/Alexiou/Bryson P.C., of which he was founding principal. Also named VHB principals are MEB managers George Alexiou, Don Bryson, Lyle Overcash and Keith Lewis. All remain based in Raleigh.