Lee Lennard has been elevated to president and CEO of Brown & Gay Engineers Inc., Houston. He succeeds Ronald Mullinax, who becomes chairman. Lennard, a 14-year company veteran, had been executive vice president; he also is immediate past president of the American Council of Engineering Companies in Houston.

LENNARD

Also, Kerry R. Gilbert has joined Brown & Gay as director of land planning services, the firm tells ENR. The change follows the company's Jan. 8 acquisition of planning firm Kerry R. Gilbert & Associates, of which he was a co-founder and president. The purchase brings Brown & Gay's workforce to 370, the firm says. It ranks at No. 207 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms.

Joan P. Kelly has joined Los Angeles engineer Psomas as corporate director of environmental services. The new role follows its Jan. 9 purchase of BonTerra Consulting, an Irvine, Calif., environmental services firm, of which she was managing principal. The acquisition adds 58 employees to Psomas, which ranks at No. 154 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms. 

BOHLINGER

Parsons Brinckerhoff, New York City, has named Linda Bohlinger a principal consultant in its strategic consulting group, based in Los Angeles. Most recently, she was a vice president of HNTB, also based there. Bohlinger had been executive director of the South Florida Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority (Tri-Rail) and interim CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Her earlier public-service career "influenced major infrastructure programs across the state of California," says PB. Bohlinger currently is chairwoman of the North American Transit Services Association.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has joined infrastructure investment advocacy group Building America's Future as a co-chair, succeeding former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). LaHood, who left DOT last year after five years, now joins group founders and co-chairs Michael Bloomberg (I), former New York City mayor, and Ed Rendell (D), former Pennsylvania governor. LaHood, a former congressman, had served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "Things are shaping up for a big year for Building America's Future—there's increasing chatter of a big infrastructure mention in the State of the Union speech," website Politico reported on Jan. 8. 

WALSH

Dewberry, Fairfax, Va., has named retired Major Gen. Michael J. Walsh as a vice president and director of water resources and coastal resiliency. Most recently, he was deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations at the Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for its $10-billion annual civil-works program. Walsh also led the Corps' Mississippi Valley Division and was president of the Mississippi River Commission.

Karen Horting has become CEO and executive director of the Society of Women Engineers, Chicago, in a succession announced last fall. Previously deputy executive director, she replaces Betty Shanahan, who has left the group. In 2012, Shanahan was named one of 100 women leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and workforce development by advocacy group STEMConnnector. SWE, which has 20,000 members, also elevated Peter Finn to deputy executive director and chief learning officer.

Pernix Group Inc., a Lombard, Ill., power construction firm, has named Don J. Gunther board chairman, replacing Ralph Beck, who has retired. Gunther is a former vice chairman, board director and 38-year veteran of the Bechtel Group. Pernix also named C. Robert Campbell a director. He had been executive vice president and chief financial officer of contractor MasTec Inc.

Jack C. Hobbs has joined construction risk-management firm Hill International as senior vice president and New England regional manager, based in Boston. The change follows its Jan. 7 buy of Collaborative Partners Inc., of which he was CEO. Principals Donna Camiolo and Joseph Naughton are new Hill vice presidents.