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Terratec appoints region manager

May 2013

Bruce Matheson

Bruce Matheson has joined the Australian TBM and mining equipment designer and manufacturer Terratec with the portfolio to concentrate on developing the expansion of the company beyond the Australasian borders.

"I am thrilled about becoming part of the Terratec team," said Matheson. "It is an amazing time for Terratec right now with at least one machine going out the door every month. These include the eight machines heading to India for application on the current expansion phase of the Delhi Metro. Four of them are delivered to date, and all on time."

An exciting aspect of the appointment for Matheson is the increased product line as Terratec expands into the ever-growing raise boring machine market.

Terratec has been responsible for the design and fabrication or refurbishment of more than 50 TBMs and raise boring units since the company was incorporated in Australia almost 25 years ago. The company's design centre and one of its main fabrications facilities is located in Hobart, Tasmania.

After relocating to a home base in Scotland, Matheson will manage Terratec activities in Europe and the Middle East and other geographical regions outside Australasia. Contact Matheson at bruce.matheson@terratec.com.au.

References

Terratec rolls out Delhi Metro TBMs – TunnelTalk, December 2012
Bangkok Metro Blue Line Extension begins – TunnelTalk, September 2012

New partners, projects and offices for Aldea Services

Apr 2013

Two new partners and two additional engineers in the team are helping Aldea Services in Rockville, Maryland, USA keep pace with the rising demand for the specialized services offered by the firm. Mohamed Younis and Paul Headland have been promoted to Partners in the firm, joining Bob Goodfellow and Gina Goodfellow in the ownership group. Paul Headland, P.E., P.G., joins the Maryland operation as Vice President of Geological Services and offers more than 20 years of experience in tunneling and mining.

Paul Headland Mohamed Younis

Headland is known in the North American tunneling industry and has specialized expertise in microtunneling and trenchless design and construction as well as ground behavior and geological characterization for all types of tunnels.

Mohamed Younis, PE promoted to Vice President, Tunnel & Geotechnical Engineering. Mohamed has more than 20 years of international and North American experience in engineering management, design, and consultation. Younis has managed and lead the design for major tunneling projects includingthe Dubai Metro, the WSSC Bi-County Water Tunnel in Washington DC, and the Kolkata Metro.

Guadalupe Monge Fabian

Roozbeh Yousefzadeh

The two new engineering recruits are recent Colorado School of Mines graduate Guadalupe Monge Fabian who joins the Columbus, Ohio office; and Roozbeh Yousefzadeh, P.E., who joins as a structural engineer in the new Frederick, Maryland office, along with office administrator, Leslie Sullam.

"The new Frederick office provides us with another solid base for operations to support our national and international projects," said Goodfellow.

The Aldea team, collectively, has worked on some of the industry's most challenging tunneling and underground projects, including the Jubilee Line Extension, London; the East Side Access railway project in New York City; the Dubai, Kolkata, Mumbai and WMATA, Washington DC Metros; the Columbus, Ohio Wet Weather Plan Tunnels; the DC WATER Clean Rivers Tunnels, Washington DC; the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, Seattle; the Abu Dhabi Deep Sewer Program; and the Brunel Tunnel rehabilitation project in London, UK.

New Executive Director for New York Transit Center

Apr 2013

David Bragdon

The Transit Center, Inc at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the United States has announced the appointment of David Bragdon as its new Executive Director.

Bragdon is a specialist in urban and regional planning, urban transportation and sustainability issues. He served two four-year terms as the President of the Metro Council, the elected Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region of Portland, Oregon, from 2003-2010, and more recently worked as Director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability in New York City, where he managed update of the city's sustainable growth and infrastructure strategy, PlaNYC.

"We are delighted to have David's well rounded expertise as well as his 'hi-coastal' experience at the helm of Transit Center," said Board Chair Rosemary Scanlon. "We look forward to leveraging David's talents to build on our past success with the commuter benefits program to become a national force on a range of transit supportive issues."

Transit Center, Inc was founded at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the mid-1980s and, as the incubator and provider of pre-tax commuter benefits, sold the successful TransitChek program to Wage Works in January, 2012. From that transaction and its national contacts within the transit industry, the Transit Center's Board of Directors is committed to expanding the organization's mission to support the growth of sustainable mobility and transit ridership. Transit Center's future activities will include applied research and advocacy, particularly on innovations that drive the demand for transit use, such as land use changes, funding and investment strategies, and incentives and improvements to the rider experience.

In accepting the post, Bragdon said: "Increased urbanization worldwide, the need for better transportation systems, and the limitations of traditional financing programs all call for creative new ideas in how we grow and maintain urban form that supports sound transportation and attracts more and more satisfied riders."

Bragdon has an A.B. from Harvard College, where he wrote his honors thesis on railroad deregulation, and a Master's degree from Reed College. He is a resident of Brooklyn, NY.

New senior staff appointment for Buckland & Taylor in Seattle

Apr 2013

John Brestin

John Brestin is appointed as Vice President & Major Projects Director of the Buckland & Taylor office in its Seattle office in Washington State, USA. Brestin brings many years of experience to the post, most recently working as Vice President and Project Director at HNTB in Kansas City. Brestin is responsible for overseeing many national projects as well as project management on large complex projects.

"John will be an invaluable asset to Buckland & Taylor," said Steve Hunt, President of Buckland & Taylor. "He brings a wealth of experience and a unique engineering understanding of the US market that will be essential for our continued success".

Buckland & Taylor is a Cowi North America Company that provides specialized engineering services to clients worldwide from its head office in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, its offices in US in Seattle and New York City. Recently, Cowi North America acquired specialist tunneling firm Jenny Engineering Corporation in New Jersey, USA to its set of North American subsidiaries Buckland & Taylor; Ocean and Coastal Consultants; and Ben C. Gerwick, Inc..

References

Jenny Engineering is acquired by COWI – TunnelTalk, February 2013

PB announces California high speed rail appointment

Jan 2013

Terry Marcellus

Global infrastructure consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff announces the appointment of Terry Marcellus as Senior Commercial Specialist in its Sacramento office in California, USA.

In his new position Marcellus, who holds law and BA degrees from the University of California in Los Angeles, will be responsible for managing the delivery of design-build construction packages for the initial segment of the California High Speed Rail project.

He has more than 18 years experience in program management of major transit projects, including service as Contract Manager on multi-billion dollar programs of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority and the Los Angeles Community College District.

Charles Maass

Meanwhile, Charles Maass joins PB's New York Office as Senior Supervising Construction Engineer. In his new position he will serve as Resident Engineer for the city's Second Avenue Subway Project with responsibility for overseeing construction work on the 96^th Street Station and adjacent tunnels.

Maass, who holds a BS in civil engineering, joins PB following a 20-year career with the New York State Department of Transportation. His most recent role there was as Engineer in Charge on the US$130 million Roslyn Viaduct replacement project in Long Island.

References

TBM breakthrough in New York – TunnelTalk, September 2011
California HSR identifies qualified contractors – TunnelTalk, February 2012

Changes at Brierley Associates after founder leaves for fresh challenge

Jan 2013

Gary Brierley

US-based tunnel, trenchless, geotechnical and geostructural design firm Brierley Associates announces its founder Gary Brierley is leaving the company he established 13 years ago to begin a new sole-practitioner consultancy.

After fruitful discussions throughout 2012 Brierley is creating Dr Mole, which will be based in Brierley's offices and will continue to work closely with Brierley Associates. Ownership of his former company has been gradually transitioned to a new generation of leaders and owners over the last 12 months, and as part of that process Brierley Associates also announces three new management appointments as part of the company's restructuring.

Jay Perkins

Jay Perkins takes up the position of Eastern Regional Manager following a career that spans more than 30 years. During his tenure he has designed, managed and completed a variety of underground projects at local, national and international level. His technical experience encompasses geotechnical investigations and instrumentation programs; design of deep foundation systems for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings; and wastewater treatments facilities and tower structures. Jay is well versed in design of temporary excavation support and dewatering systems, evaluation of earth embankment dams and slopes, landfills, and cutoff walls. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Robin Dornfest

Robin Dornfest, a specialist in engineering geology and geotechnical engineering aspects of water and wastewater, dams, oil and gas, transportation, aggregate and hard rock mining, slope stability, tunnels, trenchless, and water supply projects, is appointed Central Regional Manager.

During his 15-year career Robin has provided third party reviews as well as serving as an expert witness. He served as the first President of the Northern Section of the Colorado Association of Geotechnical Engineers (CAGE), and is currently a CAGE Board Member and is on the Executive Committee and Treasurer for the Northern Colorado Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is a registered Professional Geologist in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming, as well as a Certified Professional Geologist.

Alan Howard

Alan Howard, one of the founding partners of Brierley Associates, is appointed as Western Regional Manager and Vice President, having just completed a multi-year assignment on the highly successful Caldecott Fourth Bore Tunnel Project in the Berkeley Hills.

He opened Brierley Associates' California office in 2010 and helped negotiate the strategic merger with Berti Lindquist Consulting Engineers shortly thereafter. Alan has over 32 years of experience in engineering geology and hydrogeology, including field experience on a wide variety of projects throughout the USA and overseas. He is a specialist in subsurface investigations and geotechnical instrumentation for tunneling, trenchless, geostructural, and other civil engineering and underground/mining projects. He is a registered Professional Geologist and Certified Engineering Geologist in California.

Parsons Brinckerhoff appoints a new vice president

Dec 2012

John Boulé

Former Commander with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), John Boulé, has been named a Vice President of Parsons Brinckerhoff.

In his new position and based in the firm's New York office, Boulé will serve as Senior Manager for Priority Project Delivery, initially responsible as lead manager for the Northeast Region's Superstorm Sandy recovery and mitigation efforts. Boulé is expected to quickly take on additional responsibilities as a senior manager for work on other major programs in the greater New York City market.

Boulé comes to Parsons Brinckerhoff following a 26-year military career. He retired as a colonel after serving in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility in the US and overseas. He served as USACE's New York District Commander from 2009 to 2012, responsible for managing a $1 billion annual capital budget in five states, at nine military installations and in Greenland. He previously served as Assistant Director for Civil Works at USACE headquarters in Washington, DC, helping to manage the Corps' $5 billion nationwide water resource development program. He has served as a US Army Engineer Battalion Commander in Baghdad and as a Team Leader, Department of Army Staff, Programs and Force Development, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

Boulé is a licensed engineer and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and later served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. He also has Master of Science degrees in Structural Engineering and Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology from Stanford University, a Master of Science degree in Resourcing National Strategy from the National Defense University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Need for improved profit sparks top level changes at Hochtief

Nov 2012

Marcelino Fernández Verdes

German tunnelling and construction giant Hochtief announces major changes to its senior management team, with the new chief citing the urgent need for improvements within the company.

Marcelino Fernández Verdes, a member of the Executive Board, takes over from Dr Frank Stieler as Chief Executive Officer, who has agreed an early termination of his contract and leaves with immediate effect. Stieler leaves after just 18 months in the company's top role.

"My priority for the years to come is to improve the profitability and to continue the sustainable growth of Hochtief. We need to strengthen the cooperation within the company and enhance our competitiveness," said Verdes.

The 57-year-old, who has been a member of Hochtief's executive board since April, has previously served as the company's Chief Operating Officer of its Americas division. Since studying construction engineering at the University of Barcelona he has held a variety of positions in the construction industry since 1984.

Thomas Eichelmann

In 1997, he became General Manager of ACS Proyectos, Obras y Construcciones, and then took over as Chairman and CEO in 2000. Following the merger between Grupo ACS and Grupo Dragados in 2003, Verdes took office as Chairman and CEO of Dragados. He served as Chairman and CEO of Construction, Environment and Concessions at ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios from 2006 and was appointed to the Executive Committee of the ACS Group in 2000, and to the Board of Directors of ACS Servicios y Concesiones (Chairman and CEO) in 2006.

Also leaving Hochtief is its 65-year-old Chairman Manfred Wennemer, who is resigning for personal reasons at the end of December (2012). He will be replaced by 47-year-old Thomas Eichelmann, who has been a member of the company's Supervisory Board since May 2011.

Having held positions with the Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, the economics graduate served as Chief Financial Officer of Deutsche Börse from 2007 to 2009. He has been CEO of ATON GmbH since February 2010.

Hochtief wins €150 million tunnel contract in Chile – TunnelTalk, November 2012

Normet UK strengthens its underground team

Oct 2012

Sergio Matias

In October 2012 Sergio Matias joined the growing Normet UK team as Technical Manager for underground construction and mining.

Matias, from Portugal, is a civil engineer and has had numerous roles, focused essentially on high performance concrete production in Angola, Portugal and now the UK. His most recent role of developing high performance sprayed concrete on the Crossrail project in London for a contractor further broadened his technical capability.

"Sergio has a professional passion for turning sand, cement and water into incredible civil engineering structures," said Ross Dimmock, Managing Director of Normet UK Ltd, "mixing in necessary construction chemicals to make them even better!"

Normet UK includes full acquisition in 2012 of UK construction chemical producer TAM International and now numbers a team of 18 business professionals, all dedicated to the underground construction and mining sector in the UK and Ireland. From its headquarters in Coventry, key projects in 2012 have included supply of a complete sprayed concrete package to contract C410 of the Crossrail project in London and TBM backfill grout products to its contract C300, as well as supplying sprayed concrete and equipment to the Tara Mine in Ireland; supplies for rehabilitation works on the London and Glasgow underground metro systems; and materials for repair work on the M6 motorway.

"A key mission of the Normet Group is to improve the health and safety of underground workers through mechanisation of the most demanding and dangerous stages of underground excavation and by improving the efficiency of customers' processes by saving time and money," said Dimmock.

The Group supports the technical development of underground processes through active participation on national and international tunnelling and mining groups and as part of that effort, Matias is a member of the BTS SCL Best Practice Group contributing reviews of applicable testing methods and materials for successful sprayed concrete tunnel linings.

The Normet Group today has sales and service companies on five continents, in 22 countries and 36 locations. It has an employee base of almost 900 and had net sales in 2011 of €170 million.

Caterpillar implements strategic management moves

Oct 2012

After amalgamation of Lovat Tunneling into the Caterpillar Group, a level of strategic management positions has been implemented.

After more than two years as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Corporation, Klaus Ukens has accepted a position within Caterpillar Mining and has relocated to Dortmund, Germany. In this new role Ukens will be responsible for shaping Caterpillar's Global Underground Mining Strategy. Effective in November, the position held previously by Ukens will be divided into two separate but complementary roles.

Klaus Ukens Craig Bournes Nick Natale

Craig Bournes will take up the position of Director of Sales. Bournes has been a key leader in the sales organization of the company and previously for Lovat for 16 years and has prior experience in both tunnel design and as a geotechnical engineer.

Nick Natale assumes the position of Director of Marketing and Product Support. Natale has spent the last year at Caterpillar Tunneling leading marketing efforts and championing parts growth. In his 14+ years with Caterpillar, he has held a variety of marketing and product support roles across North America and Europe.

Dick Cooper, President and General Manager of Caterpillar Tunneling, said of the organizational changes: "Klaus has led us effectively through the organizational transition from Lovat to Caterpillar Tunneling. With the establishment of Sales Director and Product Support Director positions we are striving to serve customers even better through this new organization designed to provide customers with the best tunneling equipment for their unique projects and ensure an industry leading product support organization to keep our customers mining."

New TBM division chief at Aker Wirth

Oct 2012

Ulrich Frenzle

German mining and civil construction equipment supplier Aker Wirth has appointed Ulrich Frenzle as manager of its Mining & Construction group which incorporates the TBM division.

Frenzle replaces Hans Greve, who moves to concentrate on selected projects and business development activities. Frenzle has more than 20 years experience in top management at well-known international companies specialising in mechanical and plant engineering.

"We have set some challenging objectives for the Mining & Construction product group for the next years. Our products offer the current market enormous potential and Ulrich Frenzle has the required expertise to bring the group in line with our corporate business strategy," said Aker Wirth CEO Einar Brønlund.

Four new promotions at Jacobs Associates

Sep 2012

USA-based Jacobs Associates announces four promotions to Senior Associate.

Keith Abey, PE, SE, is the lead structural engineer for the Pacific Northwest region, providing critical design review, numerical modeling and advice on historic structures for a variety of applications. He has nearly 20 years of experience in structural analysis, design and construction administration.

For more than 30 years, Ted DePooter, PE, has managed complex underground projects. His expertise has ranged from advising clients on project schedules and contract finances to conducting evaluations on complex tunnel control systems. He has analyzed problem areas, worked with clients and project teams to identify solutions and instituted programs to mitigate problems. Mark Lawrence, PE, has 30 years of experience in engineering and construction, and for the last 14 years has specialized in the design of permanent and temporary excavation support systems. Mark has considerable background in preparing design drawings, specifications and calculations for falsework, excavation shoring, and temporary structural supports, and for coordinating these projects during construction. Dan Van Roosendaal, PE, has 20 years of experience in project management, rock and soft ground tunneling, and blasting. He recently relocated to New York to serve as the project manager for New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Rondout West-Branch Bypass Tunnel Engineering Support contract.

Keith Abey Ted DePooter Mark Lawrence Dan Van Roosendaal

Chief's retirement prompts management reshuffle at AECOM (ANZ)

Sep 2012

The retirement of long-serving AECOM Australia/ New Zealand (ANZ) Chief Executive Richard Jackson has prompted changes in the global professional technical services company's Australasian setup.

Michael Batchelor is named ANZ Chief Executive, with Chris Tatam, who for the past three years has served as Managing Director (Transportation ANZ), taking the vacant role of Chief Operating Officer as of 1 October (2012).

Michael Batchelor Chris Tatam Peter Wyton Ian Hosking

Peter Wyton is appointed Managing Director (Transportation ANZ) with Industry Director Ian Hosking stepping up to replace him as leader of AECOM's NSW business. New AECOM ANZ Chief Executive Batchelor will oversee the region's 5,200-strong multi-disciplinary team of designers, economists, engineers, planners, scientists and program managers. He replaces outgoing Chief Executive Richard Jackson, who is retiring following 25 years with AECOM. "As Chief Executive, Mr Jackson oversaw the integration of EarthTech [a company providing global consulting, engineering, and design, build and operate services to the water, wastewater and transportation industries; purchased in 2008 for US$510 million]. He also oversaw integration of AECOM's legacy firms of Maunsell, Bassett, ENSR and EDAW in 2009, and the addition of Davis Langdon in 2010," said Batchelor.

"He spearheaded AECOM's move into many new markets and its expanded, integrated offer to clients, creating significant growth for the company and leaving a great legacy of leadership and innovation that I hope to continue."

Mr Batchelor said he was looking forward to the challenge of being at the helm of the ANZ business, and an integral component of AECOM's global presence that boasts 45,000 team members.

"AECOM's ANZ team of talented and passionate people help turn ideas into reality and deliver exceptional infrastructure solutions for our clients," said Mr Batchelor.

"I'm excited to lead this team of dedicated professionals and provide project outcomes that benefit the community and society as a whole."

Another addition to PB Technical Excellence Centre

Sep 2012

Norman Rhodes

American infrastructure consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff has added another leading expert to its Mechanical and Electrical Technical Excellence Center (TEC).

Norman Rhodes is appointed Tunnel Services Technical Director and will be based in the firm's New York City office.

Dr Rhodes is a world expert in the application of advanced engineering analysis to solve complex design problems. His experience extends from the development and application of the first general purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for three-dimensional ventilation and fire analysis to their present-day application in design.

Dr Rhodes is the former secretary of the PIARC (Permanent International Association of Road Congresses - now called the World Road Association) working group on fire and smoke control in tunnels, and is co-author of the following publications: Fire & Smoke Control in Tunnels; Systems and Equipment for Fire and Smoke Control in Road Tunnels; Operational Strategies for Emergency Ventilation; Design Fire Characteristics for Road Tunnels; A Guide to Optimizing Air Quality Impact Upon the Environment; and An Assessment of Fixed Fire Fighting Systems. He also served on a steering committee of the European Community for research on fires in tunnels and was responsible for the development of best practice guidelines for emergency response management.

Dr. Rhodes received a Ph.D. from Southbank University, London, a master's degree in Thermodynamics and Related Studies from Birmingham University and a first class honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dundee College of Technology.

Tunnel specialist heads up M&E at Parsons Brinckerhoff

Sep 2012

John Munro

American global infrastructure consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff has appointed tunnel services specialist John Munro as Director of the firm's Mechanical and Electrical Technical Excellence Center (TEC).

Munro, who will transfer from the company's Australia office to its New York headquarters, will provide leadership and strategic direction to the TEC with a focus on growing the firm's tunnel and underground infrastructure business, enhancing marketing capabilities and strengthening client relationships.

He has over 25 years of global industry experience, predominantly in tunnel technology and fire engineering strategies, and was responsible for the tunnel fire safety design for the recently opened Airport Link project in Brisbane, a multi-billion dollar combined toll road and busway that is now Australia's longest road tunnel.

As the manager of tunnel technology at the Roads and Traffic Authority in Australia, Munro was responsible for developing policy and standards for road tunnel fire safety. He held a similar position with the Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RailCorp), developing fire safety policy and standards for new and existing rail tunnels in addition to leading research and risk assessments as well as project delivery roles.

Munro, who holds a Master of Science degree in fire safety engineering from the University of Ulster, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Diploma in Industrial Studies from the University of Ulster, has written extensively on the subject of tunnel safety.

He has also served as a member of the Standards Australia Committee, during which time he was involved in the development of a recently published road and rail tunnel fire safety standard, as well as being a former member of the PIARC (Permanent International Association of Road Congresses, now called The World Road Association) committee on road tunnel operations. He has recently been invited to become a Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Normet Scandinavia appoints new chief

Aug 2012

Ola Woldmo

With more than 30 years experience in project management and as an advisor on major civil engineering and infrastructure projects in Europe, Africa, South America and southeast Asia, Ola Woldmo is appointed as Managing Director of Normet Scandinavia.

The Norwegian national brings with him to his new post globally-recognised expertise in rock mass grouting, sprayed concrete and rock support methods.

An expert in his field, Woldmo has built his career on 18 years in management positions with companies that have included Veiekke and BASF Construction Chemicals Norway. He has also served as Sales and Technical Manager for MBT-Degussa UGC in Hong Kong and later, in Singapore, as UGC Director for the Asia-Pacific region.

Woldmo joins Normet from Woldmo Consulting, where he acted as advisor to Leighton Contractors in Hong Kong, SKAVA in Codelco’s Andina Mine in Chile, and the Bombela/Bouygues partnership on the Gautrain project in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As well as being a member of the international committee of the Norwegian Tunnelling Society, Woldmo is a frequent lecturer on the world circuit on matters relating to rock support.

New managing director for Femern A/S

July 2012

Claus Baunkjær

Femern A/S, the client organization of the mega sea-link road and rail connection across the Fehmarnbælt between Denmark and Germany has appointed a new managing director. As of 1 September 2012, Claus F Baunkjær will replace current Managing Director, Leo Larsen, who will continue as managing director of the parent company Sund & Bælt Holding A/S.

Baunkjær, age 47, holds an MSc Economics degree and joins Femern A/S from a position as Deputy Permanent Secretary and Directorate Member of the Danish Ministry of Transport where he worked on a number of major road and rail construction projects. His previous appointments have included Head of Division with the Danish Ministry of Finance.

Baunkjær brings with him extensive insight into the Fehmarnbælt project. He was one of the main forces behind the drafting of the 2008 State Treaty between Denmark and Germany to create a fixed link across the Fehmarnbælt.

Femern A/S has been planning and designing the 18km immersed tube tunnel link between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden since 2009. Within the next 12 months, the firm will submit detailed descriptions of the project to the Danish and German approval authorities. At the same time, a public procurement process, on a unprecedented scale, will progress towards actual construction of the tunnel, which is scheduled to begin in just more than three years' time.

Baunkjær lives with his family of three children in Lejre, Denmark.

Political backing to Germany-Denmark link – TunnelTalk, February 2011
Cost comparison for Fehmarnbælt link options – TunnelTalk, November 2010
TBM tunnels considered for Fehmarn sea link – TunnelTalk, December 2011

New managing director for PB Australia-Pacific operations

July 2012

Mark Dimmock

Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Mark Dimmock as Managing Director of its Australia-Pacific operations, succeeding Jim Mantle in the post.

In his new role, Dimmock will oversee 2,500 employees working on a diverse range of projects covering transport, water, power, mining, oil and gas, industry and property. He will be responsible for setting the direction and positioning the business for future growth in the dynamic Australia-Pacific region.

"Mark brings 22 years of experience to the position and has tremendous depth and breadth of knowledge of our clients, our business and the region," said Guy Templeton, President and Chief Operating Officer of PB's Australia/Asia-Pacific/Southern Africa operating company. "Prior to heading up our global mining business, Mark worked on major projects in civil infrastructure, traffic, industrial, urban development, and mining, and was responsible for the management of multidisciplinary design teams for large industrial projects and developments."

In the new post, Dimmock will also continue as the firm's Managing Director of Global Mining.

Dimmock holds a Bachelor of Engineering (civil) from the University of Newcastle and a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Alun Thomas moves to Ramboll, Denmark

June 2012

Alun Thomas

Ramboll consulting engineers of Denmark has welcomed Alun Thomas as a new recruit to its tunnelling team in Copenhagen. Thomas will head the development of the practice's tunnel business.

"With a starting point of such world class tunnel references as the Fehmarn and Oresund immersed tube tunnel projects, Thomas will build our market position and make contact with more international customers," explained Ib Enevoldsen, Director of Transport for Ramboll.

When TunnelTalk met Thomas at the tunnelling conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia in April 2012, he explained that after several years with consulting engineer Mott MacDonald of the UK, it was time to embrace a new challenge and accepted the offer to head up an effort by Ramboll to establish an international bored and mined tunnelling division.

Thomas holds a PhD in tunnel engineering and authored a book on sprayed concrete lined tunnels. He has also contributed to industry standards such as the BTS Tunnel Specification publication. He has worked internationally on tunnel projects since 1994 and in more than 10 countries, most recently for the Crossrail project in the UK and the Bataapati Radioactive Waste Repository in Hungary.

Sprayed Concrete Lined Tunnels – TunnelTalk, Books and Reports

Download a pdf order form 

New Chairman for the British Tunnelling Society

June 2012

Damian McGirr

Chief tunnel engineer at Donaldson Associates, Damian McGirr took up his post of Chairman of the BTS at the Society's annual general meeting in May 2012.

McGirr succeeds Bob Ibell of LBA (London Bridge Associates) who has been Chairman for the past two years.

McGirr wants to build on this opportunity to promote tunnelling in the UK as a safe, cost effective and sustainable method of developing infrastructure. McGirr has reported that "the UK tunnelling industry and the BTS need to ensure that tunnelling has a continued and increasing role in the development of major projects."

In addition, McGirr wants to continue developing ways in which to attract more young people into tunnelling.

"We need to ensure that we have the engineers needed for the future support and development of our industry," he said.

BTS Chairmen – BTS website

Double senior appointments at Parsons Brinckerhoff

June 2012

Greg Kelly

Greg Kelly is appointed to the newly created position of Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), with Clifford Eby succeeding him as President of PB's Americas Transportation operating company.

"The COO position is being created to ensure the continued success of each of our operating companies and to enhance their abilities to work together across our expanding global operations," said George J. Pierson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Greg Kelly has led our largest business since 2008, and is ideally suited to take on this new role within the company."

Kelly, who holds an MS degree in civil engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a BS from Temple University, has served in a number of leadership positions during his 20-year career with PB. As President of the Americas Transportation operating company for the last four years he was responsible for managing a business unit with close to US$1 billion in annual revenue and 4,000 employees located in 70 offices throughout the USA. On a national basis, he was responsible for all planning, design, strategic consulting and construction services within the transportation market, including highways, bridges, transit and rail, aviation, and ports and marine. He is actively involved as a project executive on some of the firm's largest infrastructure assignments including those for clients in California; Washington, DC; Texas; and New York.

Clifford Eby

Eby, who holds an MBA in finance and investment from George Washington University, and a BS in civil engineering from Lehigh University, was previously a Senior Vice President in charge of PB's Technical Excellence Centers in the Americas Transportation company, and also supported the firm's strategic efforts in rail and infrastructure markets, particularly high-speed rail. He has nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, with specific expertise in rail safety, finance and economic regulatory practices, transportation policy, and rail infrastructure program design. Prior to joining PB, Parsons Brinckerhoff, he served as Acting Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from 2008 to 2009 and as Deputy Administrator from 2005 to 2008.

Both Kelly and Eby hold professional engineering licenses in multiple states.

New Director of Tunnels at AECOM Australia and New Zealand

June 2012

Mattias Rheinlander

AECOM welcomes Technical Director Mattias Rheinlander as its new Director of Tunnels for the Australian and New Zealand region.

Rheinlander, a qualified civil engineer, has more than 25 years experience in leadership, construction management and design and engineering roles in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Europe and South East Asia, where he has worked on high profile projects including the Victorian Desalination Plant, Waterview Road and tunnel project in Auckland, East Side Access metro tunnel project in New York, drainage tunnel projects in Hong Kong, and the Theodore Roosevelt Dam modification in Arizona.

His role will also involve identifying options for alternate delivery models across projects such as design build, alliances and public private partnerships, coupled with engineering design options of future underground space and tunnelling projects.

"Land use density increasing in our cities and expansions of new and existing mine sites within the resources sector has created high demand for traditional and multi-use tunnels as viable and cost-effective infrastructure for the power, water, resources and transportation industries," Rheinlander said. "I am looking forward to using the knowledge I have acquired during my time both in Australia and abroad to create solutions to the challenges our clients face across a whole project lifecycle."

HNTB hires national technical director of tunnel services

May 2012

Conrad Felice

HNTB continues to enhance and expand its tunnel practice with the recent addition of Conrad Felice, a tunneling expert and recognized authority in safety and security of tunnels and underground facilities with more than 30 years of direct project experience.

"The firm is excited for Conrad to join the growing tunnel practice," said Nasri Munfah, HNTB's Chair of Tunnel Services. "Tunnels are important elements in improving aging infrastructure in the United States, and it is imperative that we continue advancing our knowledge and expertise to stay competitive in an ever-changing market."

Felice joins HNTB as a Vice President and Technical Director of Tunnel Services. He has a demonstrated expertise in providing corporate leadership, program and project management, and technical engineering services on tunnels and underground structures, bridge foundations, dam, pipeline, energy and marine systems and other infrastructure projects. His areas of specialized technical practice are underground and tunnel engineering, structural foundation engineering for long span bridges, geotechnical engineering and hazard assessments, and security analyses.

Felice is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering, and the US National Academy of Sciences Committee on Underground Engineering for Sustainable Development, in addition to several other professional organizations including the Transportation Research Board's committee on Tunnels and Underground Structures and the International Tunneling Association. Felice has authored numerous papers and presentations and has peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers.

Felice will be located in the Seattle office of HNTB.

Jacobs Associates welcomes a new Associate

May 2012

Shimi Tzobery

San Francisco based consulting engineer Jacobs Associates has welcome Shimi Tzobery, PE, as an Associate. He has nearly 20 years of experience designing, constructing, and managing complex tunneling projects in excess of $2 billion in contract value, including highway, rail transit, drainage, and water tunnels.

Throughout his career, Tzobery has served as in the role as project owner, construction manager, senior designer, and general contractor. This experience gives him a wide perspective on project management and an understanding of each party's point of view. His diverse background includes work on challenging projects, including the Arrowhead Tunnels for the Inland Feeder System in California; the East Side Access and Harbor Siphon Tunnels in New York; and the Lake Mead Intake #3 Tunnels in Nevada. His expertise includes tunnel design and construction, TBM performance analysis, water control programs, claims investigation and analysis, contract negotiations, and tunnel data and risk management systems.

Tzobery received an MS in Tunneling from the Colorado School of Mines, and is a registered professional engineer in the States of California and New York. He has presented tunneling papers at both domestic and international industry conferences. He will be based at the firm's Pasadena office in Southern California.

Final breakthrough for Arrowhead - TunnelTalk, August 2008
East Side Access optimization - TunnelTalk, August 2008
New York harbor crossing under way - TunnelTalk, September 2011
Long wait over for Lake Mead TBM - TunnelTalk, September 2011

New vice president of sales at Xylem

May 2012

Mike Delzingaro

A new vice president for sales at the water technology provider Xylem has been appointed.

Mike Delzingaro, the company's former is appointed Vice President Sales at global water technology provider Xylem.

The company's former Regional Manager, who reports to newly appointed Managing Director Grant Salstrom (see below), has 14 years experience with Xylem and Godwin Pumps and holds BS and MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University.

Salstrom said: "I am very pleased to have Mike in this role. He is a well-known pump systems expert, with great customer focus. His knowledge of our business coupled with a passion for growing the Godwin and Flygt brands makes him an obvious choice for leading our sales organization."

New Managing Director at Godwin Pumps

Apr 2012

Grant Salstrom

Godwin, the pumps and submersible manufacturer, has appointed Grant Salstrom as its new managing director.

In his new role Salstrom has responsibility for the growth and development of the Godwin and Flygt brands within the dewatering market in the United States.

Salstrom joined Godwin Pumps in 1987 as a parts manager, progressed through a series of positions, and was appointed VP and Chief Operating Officer in 2008. His experience with Godwin Pumps, and now the Xylem dewatering solutions business, is vital in his new role.

Salstrom said: "We are growing sales and rentals throughout the US and adding capacity to our already strong network of branches and distributors. We are excited for the year ahead, and growing as a brand of Xylem."

Pumps and related services are offered through a network of distributors and 38 branch offices throughout the USA. In addition, Salstrom will oversee the Godwin manufacturing facility in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, and support global growth as Xylem looks to expand its dewatering business around the world.

Godwin, which since January this year has been a brand of Xylem, maintains a fleet of more than 6,000 portable rental pumps and 3,200 pieces of related equipment for use in dewatering in construction, mining and quarrying; in drinking water supply; and in wastewater bypasses.

Godwin Pumps moves under Xylem umbrella - TunnelTalk, January 2012
Godwin to join Flygt and Grindex in ITT - TunnelTalk, July 2010

Shotcrete Technologies recruit industry veteran

Apr 2012

Thomas Lauper (right)

Worldwide shotcrete expert Thomas Lauper has joined USA-based mining, tunneling and infrastructure supplier, Shotcrete Technologies.

The former SIKA/Aliva and BASF Civil Engineer brings with him more than 30 years of worldwide experience.

Lauper has worked all over the world, including the Xiaolangdi Multipurpose Dam project in China, the Lotschbergtunnel project in Switzerland as well as in the Philippines and Chile.

Lauper and the Shotcrete Technologies team, which has its head office in Idaho Springs, Colorado, will be in attendance at this year's North American Tunnelling Conference 2012 in Indianapolis (June 24-27).

Normet establishes Africa subsidiary

Mar 2012

Gary Clench

Gary Clench is appointed by tunnelling and mining group Normet to head up its new South African sales and customer support company, Normet Africa.

The new subsidiary, which will be based in Johannesburg, South Africa, will take care of sales and servicing of the entire Normet product range, and will also establish local production for construction chemicals.

Clench, a South African, holds an MDP from the Stellenbosch University, a CPIM through the American Production and Inventory Control Institute, as well as a marketing diploma. He has filled various roles at equipment suppliers in South Africa, most recently as Underground Sales Manager for Caterpillar mining products where his remit included capital equipment, aftermarket and rebuilds of soft rock equipment. He has been involved with various hard rock and soft rock tunnelling equipment manufacturers over the last 36 years.

He said: "As mining and tunnelling markets with Africa are growing, having our own entity and resources here will allow for a more focused market approach and growth strategy. We are going to have our own sales personnel for equipment and spare parts together with technical support and service personnel to support our existing and new customers."

New manager for Europe for Elasto Plastic Concrete

Mar 2012

Denis Crehan

Denis Crehan is welcomed by Elasto Plastic Concrete as General Manager of its European business.

"It is an exciting time for EPC, Elasto Plastic Concrete, having performed strongly in the past two years in spite of the global financial crisis," said EPC Managing Director Andrew Ridout. "The acceptance and use of BarChip on major tunnelling projects in Europe is as strong as it has ever been. I am delighted to welcome Denis to build on our success in our local markets as well as develop our business in emerging markets such as the Middle East, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe."

Crehan, who will be based out of the EPC European head office in Dublin, Ireland, has spent the last 25 years in the construction and civil engineering industry, with the past 15 years at board level with international client developers and contracting organisations working on various projects in Ireland, UK, Europe, USA, The Gulf, South Africa, and more recently in North Africa.

"Crehan's experience on behalf of owners and contractors provides a greater understanding of clients' needs," said Ridout. "Crehan wants to build on this so that all clients are aware that EPC offers expert design assistance, full technical support with a client presentation service, backed up with the most recent test reports and references from the company’s satisfied client portfolio."

"Crehan's strong commercial background will also ensure that all our clients and their consultant design teams have a dedicated one stop shop for all their macro synthetic fibre requirements," said Ridout. "The result is significant 'all in' cost savings, time savings and long term performance over steel reinforcement. These benefits are particularly relevant in underground facilities, tunnels, mining, hydro schemes, marine, precast, airport runways and general construction projects where the case for BarChip is compelling."

To learn more about Barchip's macro synthetic fibre system for tunnelling and mining projects in Europe, contact Denis at dcrehan@elastoplastic.com.

Senior management appointments for PB and Balfour Beatty

Jan 2012

Guy Templeton

Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Guy Templeton as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of its Asia/Australia-Pacific/Southern Africa operating company to succeed Chuck Kohler who was appointed to the position in July 2011 on an interim basis. Kohler, meanwhile moves up to Group Director of Operational Delivery for Balfour Beatty, Parsons Brinckerhoff's parent company.

From a base in Sydney, Australia, Templeton will oversee approximately 5,000 employees who work on hundreds of transportation, power, mining, water/wastewater and community development projects throughout Asia, the Australia-Pacific region, and southern Africa.

"Guy Templeton has demonstrated a consistent history of achievement and performance improvement across a number of industries, markets and countries," said George J. Pierson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parsons Brinckerhoff. "His strong leadership capabilities and considerable management experience in the Asia/Australia-Pacific region will enable Parsons Brinckerhoff to continue to be a leading presence in these critical markets."

Templeton said: "I look forward to working with my colleagues to help the company reach its full potential in this very exciting and diverse region."

Prior to joining Parsons Brinckerhoff, Templeton operated his own consulting firm, helping organizations in Australia and Asia improve their performance.

Chuck Kohler

He served as an advisor to WorleyParsons Ltd, a 35,000-person provider of services to the energy, resources, and complex process industries, leading simplification of the company's operations.

Templeton received an MBA from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of New South Wales. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a former member of the Business Council of Australia, and contributes to several not-for-profit organizations focused on education.

Kohler, a 24-year veteran of the company (see separate July 2011 Career Moves entry below), is a licensed civil and structural engineer, with an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, Chicago, and a Masters and Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign. He moves to Balfour Beatty to manage Operational Delivery for Parsons Brinckerhoff's parent company.

Rick Capka rejoins Parsons Brinckerhoff

Dec 2011

Rick Capka

Parsons Brinckerhoff has welcomed back Rick Capka as its Area Manager Construction Services in the company's Seattle office.

Capka, who is quitting his post as Construction Manager for Sound Transit to take up the post, will be responsible for managing PB's construction services operations in the Seattle area. The firm is currently involved with several key projects in the region, including the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel.

During his time with Sound Transit Capka worked on underground construction contracts associated with the University Link LRT. Before that he was resident engineer for PB, working on the Beacon Hill tunnel and station of Sound Transit's Central Link LRT.

Capka holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is a licensed professional engineer in Washington. He is a member of the Construction Management Association of America; American Society of Civil Engineers; Society of American Military Engineers; and the Underground Construction Association of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Seattle LRT breakthroughs - TunnelTalk, Nov 2011
Japanese machine for Alaskan Way mega drive - TunnelTalk, July 2011
Beacon Hill celebration and investigation - TunnelTalk, July 2009

Dean Brox joins Jacobs Associates

Dec 2011

Dean Brox

Jacobs Associates has welcomed Dean Brox, PEng, as a Lead Associate. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Brox will head up the establishment by Jacobs Associates of its first Canadian branch office.

With 26 years of experience as a senior project and design manager, Brox has worked on more than 600km of major tunneling and underground infrastructure projects around the world, including water, highway, rail, utility, pedestrian, and hydroelectric tunnels.

With extensive experience of both shallow and deep tunnels in hard rock under high stress conditions, pressure tunnel design for water conveyance, and wide-span excavations/caverns for hydropower projects, Brox also has a thorough understanding of rock slope engineering for the assessment of stability and stabilization requirements for excavations in rock. In addition, he has provided expertise on behalf of insurers for accident and damage inquiries and on behalf of both owners and contractors on claims for underground works.

Brox specializes in underground facilities and tunnels for mining and hydroelectric projects and has performed numerous design and technical review services for projects in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Panama, and Peru. He is also experienced in the planning of site investigations and the preparation of contract documentation for tunneling and underground projects.

Brox can be reached at brox@jacobssf.com.

PB appoints Senior Project Engineer for Port of Miami Tunnel project

Nov 2011

John Critchfield

Parsons Brinckerhoff has appointed John Critchfield as Senior Project Engineer in its Miami office, a role that will see him managing construction engineering and inspection of underground works for the Port of Miami Tunnel project.

Critchfield has more than 36 years of experience in geotechnical and underground engineering, with particular emphasis on tunneling. His project experience includes highway, transit and water/wastewater tunnels constructed by cut-and-cover, sequential excavation and TBMs. Most recently he has been involved in the Beacon Hill underground section of the Sound Transit South Link in Seattle and the ESIS and NEIS sewer tunnel projects in Los Angeles.

Critchfield holds an MSc degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana and a BSc in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Underground Construction Association.

Port of Miami Tunnel gets under way - TunnelTalk, July 2010
Miami Port Tunnel finally a project - TunnelTalk, Oct 2009

Tunnel and station ventilation expert for PB in LA

Oct 2011

Dr. Hasan Moinuddin

Parsons Brinckerhoff has engaged Dr. Hasan Moinuddin as a Principal Technical Specialist in the Los Angeles office, responsible for the design of tunnel and station ventilation systems, and plumbing and fire protection engineering for the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector projects in Los Angeles.

Moinuddin has more than 17 years experience designing mechanical systems for transit and buildings. He received his Ph.D., Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from OSAR (Odessa State Academy of Refrigeration).

He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as well as an associate member of the International Academy of Refrigeration.

Fig 1. Expansion plans for the LA Metro with the Subway to the Sea (dashed purple line) and the Regional Connector (dashed blue line) currently in design

The Westside Subway Extension of the LA Metro, known also as the Subway to the Sea and the Purple Line, extends the heavy rail route underground along Wilshire Boulevard and west towards Santa Monica (Fig 1).

The Regional Connector is a underground link to connect the Blue Line and Expo Line to the Gold Line and the city's central Union Railway Station. Both project are being planned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority as part of an expansive materplan of expansion for the city's metro system.

Americans approve billions for transit projects - TunnelTalk, Nov 2008

New director at Normet

Oct 2011

Heikki Ojala

The former Head Instructor of Finland's Emegency Services College has joined underground mining and tunnelling equipment manufacturer Normet as HSQE Director.

Heikki Ojala will start his new post on November 1. The 53-year-old , who holds a Master of Economic Sciences in Management, has wide experience in manufacturing, quality management, product development and emergency services.

Ojala spent 15 years as Quality Manager, Head of Factory and Director for Development of Global Business at Ponsse Oyj. He has also been Managing Director of Oy Logset, a manufacturer of forest machines.

He will be based in Normet Oy in Iisalmi, Finland.

Industry experts leave Parsons Brinckerhoff for HNTB

Oct 2011

Nasri Munfah

Two of the industry's most recognized tunneling experts have joined employee-owned HNTB Corporation to lead its tunnel practice.

Nasri Munfah, who is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University's civil engineering department, joins as Senior Vice President and Chairman of Tunnel Services. He has 30 years of experience in all aspects of transportation, transit and underground engineering projects and he has worked on the East Side Access Project in New York, the Windsor GreenLink in Ontario, Canada, the Istanbul Strait Road Crossing tunnel in Turkey and the Central Subway project in San Francisco.

Munfah, formerly Senior Vice President and Chairman of Tunnel Services at Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), was also the principal investigator and one of the main authors of the first tunnel design manual in the United States, as well as being an active member of the Executive Committee of the American Underground Association. He said: "After 32 years with PB, I have decided to take a different path in my professional career."

Joining Munfah is Sanja Zlatanic, who leaves her role as Assistant Vice President and Chief Structural Engineer at PB, to join HNTB as Vice President and Chief Tunneling Engineer. She has wide experience in the industry including work as Project Manager and Chief Structural Engineer on the No.7 Subway Line Extension, the East Side Access Project, the Trans Hudson Express Project and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit Project's Weehawken Tunnel.

Sanja Zlatanic

Zlatanic was recently elected as a member of the International Tunneling Association Committee for Underground Space and an ITACUS Ambassador for the Americas, promoting sustainable underground space use. She won the 2010 Technical Excellence Award from PB.

"Tunnels are an integral part of HNTB's work within the transportation sector," said Ken Graham, CEO, HNTB Infrastructure. "These experienced hires will enhance and expand our firm's ability to repair and improve existing, aging tunnel infrastructure as well as address the promise that even more impressive, modern underground structures hold to help solve pressing congestion and development challenges."

HNTB provides solutions and risk management on tunneling projects in the highways, transit, rail aviation and water resources markets and its planning, design and support services have contributed to a number of major projects including the Devil's Slide Tunnel in San Mateo, the Washington Dulles International Airport tunnels and the SR99 Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project in Seattle.

Black & Veatch looks to grow Asia-Pacific business

Sep 2011

George Currie

Black & Veatch's Management Consulting has appointed George Currie to lead and grow project financing and infrastructure management consulting services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Infrastructure spending in the region is expected to exceed US$5 trillion between now and 2020 according to an Asian Development Bank report. Currie will be tasked with growing a team of management consultants in the region and building direct relationships with Asia Pacific's banking and infrastructure investment community.

A civil engineer by training, Currie brings nearly 30 years of experience working outside his native UK across power, water and transport engineering projects.

Over the last 12 years UK national Currie has specialised as an independent consultant advising financial institutions investing in major infrastructure deals across Asia, the Middle East and Central America.

Prior to joining Black & Veatch, Currie helped devise a strategy and development plan to create a national rail system in Qatar to be ready for the World Cup 2022. He has also worked as an investor's or lender's technical advisor on a variety of projects including the New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP, Theun Hinboun Expansion hydropower project in Laos and CBK hydropower plants in the Philippines.

New Geotechnical Market Director for Avanti

Sep 2011

Britt Babcock

Chemical grout manufacturer Avanti International has appointed Britt Babcock as Geotechnical Market Director.

Babcock has more than 16 years of experience in the construction and engineering industries as a geotechnical engineer, most recently as a Regional Project Consultant and Mining Market Manager for Contech Construction Products.

In his new role he will oversee the use of urethane grouts and acrylic gels in groundwater control and soil stabilization applications in mines, dams, deep excavations, and tunneling.

Babcock earned his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and Texas. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineering and Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

His previous work experience includes performing preliminary studies, geological hazard evaluations, slope stability analysis and managing field and laboratory testing of construction materials such as soils, bedrocks, asphalts and concretes.

He has managed and supported a variety of projects in the residential, commercial, industrial, federal, military, and mining sectors, which earned him Contech's Project Consultant of the Year award.

Riku Mäkinen appointed as Normet Chief Finance Officer

Aug 2011

Riku Mäkinen

Finnish technology company Normet has appointed 44-year-old Riku Mäkinen as its new Group Chief Finance Officer.

Mäkinen, 44, a Bachelor of Economic Sciences from the University of Tampere, Finland, has wide experience in international business, and has worked in Russia and Brazil.

He will eventually be based at Normet's international headquarters in Switzerland but in the beginning will be working at the company's offices in Iisalmi, Finland. Normet, which last year recorded net sales of EUR 100 million, is a globally operating technology company which provides equipment and services for the underground mining and tunnel construction sector.

New head of Asia-Pacific-Southern Africa regions for Parsons Brinckerhoff

July 2011

Chuck Kohler

Chuck Kohler is appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Asia/Australia–Pacific/Southern Africa operating company of Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB).

In his new role Kohler, who succeeds Stuart Glenn, will oversee nearly 5,000 employees who work on hundreds of transportation, power, mining, water, wastewater and community development projects.

George Pierson, PB President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Chuck Kohler brings extensive international project experience, as well as broad expertise in finance and management to his new role. I know we can count on Chuck to expand Parsons Brinckerhoff's presence in some of our most important markets."

Kohler, a 24-year veteran of the company, was most recently the firm's Global Director of Projects. He joined the firm in 1987 as a bridge engineer in the Chicago office. He then spent eight years in the firm's Singapore and Hong Kong offices.

In Singapore, he served as Project Engineer on the Singapore Underground Road system, Project Manager of the Tuas Bay Tunnel, and Deputy Director for the program management of the Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. In Hong Kong, he was manager of the office's civil engineering division and Project Engineer on the Western Harbor Crossing.

He returned to the firm's corporate headquarters in New York in 2000, where he worked in corporate finance for three years, before returning to project work as Project Manager on the first phase of the Upper Rouge Combined Sewer Overflow in Detroit, Michigan. In 2005 he moved to the firm's Godalming office in the UK, where he served as Director of Operations for the Europe–Africa organization. He was named Executive Vice President in December 2007, and returned to New York where he assumed responsibility for overseeing the firm's major projects.

A licensed civil and structural engineer, Kohler has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, Chicago, and a Masters and Bachelors degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign.

Two extremes in one for Singapore's DTSS - TunnelTalk, March 2005
The good, bad and mixed on the DTSS - TunnelTalk, April 2004

www.pbworld.com

Tunnelling in focus for new director at Samsung C&T

July 2011

Dan Louis

Samsung C&T, the global construction arm of Samsung Group, has engaged Daniel A. Louis, P.E., G.E. as its Vice President and Technical Director for the Civil Engineering Division. In the position, Dan will focus on tunnelling and underground projects worldwide and develop new projects and opportunities in the Americas and Australia/New Zealand. He will also provide support to the ongoing globalization of Samsung C&T staff, processes and procedures.

Louis has more than 26 years of experience in tunnelling, heavy civil construction, and mining with emphasis in program management. He has worked on a number of prominent projects including East Side Access (New York), Antamina Mine (Peru), West Rail (Hong Kong) and the Los Angeles Metro. Most recently he served as Vice President, Infrastructure & Tunnelling Services for URS.

Louis is based at Samsung C&T headquarters in Seoul, Korea and will also work with Samsung's US offices in California and Texas. In addition to marketing and business development, he will provide technical support to Samsung's current overseas projects including those in Singapore, India and the Middle East.

Louis has a B.S. and M.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. His professional affiliations include the UCA of the Society of Mining Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Louis is the 1993 Winner of the British Tunnelling Society's Harding Prize.

Parsons Brinckerhoff appoints supervising engineer

June 2011

Larry Goldfarb

Larry Goldfarb has been named a Senior Supervising Engineer in the Herndon, Virginia office of Parsons Brinckerhoff. He is a member of Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Geotechnical and Tunneling Technical Excellence Center.

Goldfarb has 29 years of engineering experience working on major highway, bridge and transit infrastructure projects. His background also encompasses geotechnical work on port projects in the US and abroad.

Goldfarb has a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a BS in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Denver. His professional affiliations include the American Concrete Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Highway Engineers, Deep Foundation Institute, MultidisciplinaryCenter for Earthquake Engineering Research, and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

Career promotions at Jacobs Associates

May 2011

Dan Adams

Jacobs Associates has confirmed that Daniel N. Adams, PE, CPEng, currently Executive Vice President, is elected President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), taking over from current President and CEO William W. Edgerton, PE, who becomes Chairman of the Board. These changes accompany a shift toward a style of management that will allow the company to accommodate expansion while providing quality service to local clients. Messrs. Adams and Edgerton will continue their current project roles without alteration.

"I am honored to be following in the footsteps of Bill Edgerton, who has not only been a mentor to me, but a leader in the heavy civil construction industry," said Adams. "My vision for Jacobs Associates is to continue our tradition of providing practical solutions with a commitment to high quality and ethical client service standards." Adams is the sixth president of Jacobs Associates since the firm's founding 57 years ago.

Adams has focused the bulk of his 22-year career on underground construction, gaining experience on projects around the globe. He joined Jacobs Associates in November 1995, was elected to the Board of Directors in 2000, and was promoted to Principal and Vice President in 2002. Having served as Executive Vice President since 2010, he has pioneered several strategic initiatives that facilitated growth and improved financial performance of the firm, such as the regional management model.

"For this point in the company's development, Dan Adams is the right person at the helm, and I am glad to pass the baton to him at this time," said Edgerton. "In addition to his focus on team building and employee retention, his commitment to the advancement of the underground industry will be critical to Jacobs Associates' continued success over the coming years."

Jacobs Associates provides innovative solutions for difficult underground projects in the water, wastewater, and transportation sectors. With an emphasis on tunnels and shafts, it offers a full range of design and construction management capabilities. It also offes a package of claims and dispute resolution services. It has offices in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Pasadena, San Diego, Boston, New York, Melbourne and Auckland.

Jacobs Associates

New President of Atlas Copco's Mining and Rock Excavation business area

Apr 2011

Robert (Bob) Fassl

With effect from 1^st July, Robert (Bob) Fassl will take up an appointment as President of Atlas Copco's Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area. Fassl replaces, as head of the division, Björn Rosengren who is leaving the Group for a position with Wärtsilä of Finland.

Fassl was born in 1962 and is currently head of Atlas Copco's Drilling Solutions division, based in Texas, USA. A Canadian citizen, Bob joined Atlas Copco in 1982 and has held several positions including General Manager, Service Manager, Supply Manager, Production and Purchasing Manager, in North America, Sweden and Great Britain. He speaks Swedish, German and English.

"It's with great pleasure we welcome Bob to the Group Management team of Atlas Copco," said Ronnie Leten, President and CEO of the Atlas Copco Group. "His deep knowledge of the mining industry and global business experience will be great assets for the development of the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area."

The appointment coincides with restructuring within Atlas Copco from three to four more focused business areas. The new Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area brings together divisions for underground and surface drilling products, crushing, loading and hauling, and exploration equipment that equalled total revenue for the company in 2010 of about SEK 22.5 billion. The business area will be based in Stockholm.

Fassl's mission is to further develop the business area's market leading positions and to strengthen its aftermarket business through the creation of a dedicated service division.

New divisional structure at Atlas Copco to focus on customer priorities - Company News, April 2011

Atlas Copco's loss is Wärtsilä's gain

Apr 2011

Björn Rosengren

After 13 years with the company, Björn Rosengren is resigning as Senior Executive Vice President for Atlas Copco and as Area President for the Construction and Mining Technique business area to join Finland's Wärtsilä corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets.

On joining Atlas Copco as President, Atlas Copco Craelius division in 1998 and advanced to President of the Rock Drilling Equipment division before over presidency of the Construction and Mining Technique business area in 2002. Rosengren relocated from Stockholm to Shanghai during 2010 to head up the company's manufacturing, distribution, R&D, and after-sales service divisions in China and India. After earning an MSc Technology from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1985, Rosengren held various marketing and management positions in Scandinavian industrial companies before arriving at Atlas Copco and rising rapidly through the range to executive management level. Rosengren hosted the annual Atlas Copco luncheon for the international mining, construction, and underground excavation trade press each December. The trade press corps shall miss these enjoyable and engaging events while they wish him success in his new post and welcome his successor Robert Fassl.

2010 in retrospect - TunnelTalk, December 2010
2009 in retrospect - TunnelTalk, December 2009

Promotion to civil unit Chief Operating Officer at Skanska

Mar 2011

Mike Cobelli

The civil construction business unit of Skanska USA has announced that Mike Cobelli is promoted to a newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer, Skanska USA Civil Inc.

Cobelli will continue to serve as Executive Vice President (EVP) for Skanska USA Civil's West Region and COO will be responsible for the allocation and assignment of operational resources across all of Skanska USA Civil's offices, working closely with EVPs in every region.

"Mike has been an integral part of Skanska USA Civil's growth, initially in the Northeast, and his leadership has helped our western offices break into new markets," said Skanska USA Civil President & CEO Rich Cavallaro. "In his new role, Mike will strengthen our efforts nationally and help us all take advantage of emerging opportunities as we gear up for significant growth across all of our markets."

Cobelli has more than 26 years of industry experience, all with Skanska. He has worked in several regions of the country and has a portfolio that includes highway and transit projects on both the east and west coasts. He will continue to be based out of Riverside, California.

Black & Veatch expands utility strategic planning expertise

Mar 2011

Mark Gabriel

The Management Consulting business of Black & Veatch has expanded upon its expertise in utility strategic planning with the addition of Mark Gabriel. In his role, Gabriel will lead the company's Strategy Practice that helps clients manage risks and enhance performance across their utility operations.

"Mark is a nationally renowned industry leader and premier strategist in the utility business," said Rodger Smith, President of the company's Management Consulting business. "He has a proven and extensive track record in helping clients leverage people, technology, product and service offerings and competitive market position, to achieve sustained organizational success."

Gabriel, who is based in Denver, Colorado, has more than 20 years of utility-focused experience. Prior to joining Black & Veatch, Gabriel was a Senior Vice President at a national business and technical consulting agency. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Argos Utilities Inc.

Among his many accomplishments, Gabriel authored the book Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future. The book provides a blueprint for utility technology strategy and won the 2009 Indie Award for Excellence in Environmental Writing.

Black & Veatch's Strategy Practice provides energy and water utility clients with guidance and support in making decisions in the fields of improving business operations to maximizing return on investments and financial management; navigating today's complex regulatory landscape; and assist in acquiring or divesting specific assets or entire businesses.

Strengthening the Tam-Normet UK Team

Mar 2011

Bethan Haig

A Chartered Civil Engineer with more than six years of experience in the design of tunnels with Mott MacDonald, Haig comes directly from working on the C121 sprayed concrete lining design contract of Crossrail.

With design experience that includes the primary linings of the A3 Hindhead road tunnels, Haig used numerical modeling techniques to subsequently further developed SCL criteria for the Crossrail lining design. She was able to witness the implementation of this design and construction approach at close quarters as an engineering geologist at the face of the Hindhead tunnels.

Her Crossrail experiences include working in the team that identified state-of-the-art solutions appropriate for integration into the SCL lining design, working with London Underground to ensure compatibility with their standards, and developing the specifications for construction.

Haig is an active member of the British Tunnelling Society Young Members Group and works to promote careers in engineering to the next generation as a Stemnet Ambassador, supervising Headstart courses.

"Bethan has already established herself as an innovative tunnelling engineer in the UK, and this, coupled with her proactive helpful style, will bring enormous benefit to the construction teams seeking up-front efficient technical solutions," said Ross Dimmock, Regional Director based in the UK for TAM. "Her inclusion in our team ensures that TAM-Normet now has the most complete UK support team to support the exciting industry demands."

SCL and spray-on waterproofing at Hindhead - TunnelTalk, March 2010

A new year brings new appointments at Normet

Jan 2011

Mark Mudlin

Effective at the start of the new year, January 1, 2011, Normet makes two new appointments. Mark Mudlin joins the Normet Americas team as Sales Manager – Mining. In this capacity, Mudlin will reside and travel from Elko, Nevada, central to the large customer base in the western USA, and head up the sales effort to customers with Normet’s offering of equipment, Life Time Care parts and services, and TAM construction chemicals.

"Mark is a seasoned professional joining our rapidly growing team," said Mike Rispin, V.P.-Americas for the Normet Group. "He has that valuable combination of operating and engineering mining experience, coupled with a proven track record of sales and support to that same customer base."

Mudlin is a graduate mining engineer from the South Dakota School of Mines and his employment history includes Asamera Minerals, Barrick Goldstrike Mines and Anglogold, and he spent the last eight years with BASF as a Technical Sales Specialist in Nevada.

Rick Kraft

Rispin added: "With Rick Kraft, our mainstay in mining, taking on a global role with Normet as a Senior Project Manager, our customers can be confident with Mark joining the USA organization."

Kraft has been a long time contributor with Normet, for many years as principal of Normet USA and now with the global company. His experience and expertise with equipment and, in particular, the sprayed concrete process, is well known to North American mining operations. He will now expand his focus globally as part of the worldwide Life Time Care organization.

"We wish Rick great success in his new role and look forward to continued interaction with him in North America, albeit in his new capacity" said Rispin.

Steve Archer

Earlier in November 2010, Steve Archer was appointed General Manager of Normet Canada Ltd. With a Mining Engineering Technology Diploma and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management, Archer joins the Normet Team from Atlas-Copco, most recently as the Product Line Manager - Canada for Rock Drilling Tools. He also served as Vice President Construction Tools, DTH Product Manager - Americas, Area Manager - Southeast US and in a variety of sales, sales marketing and sales management positions. He started his sales career with Cubex Ltd.

Archer resides in Sudbury, Ontario and will be based at the Normet Canada headquarters there.

"With a track record of sales and management success in his career, Archer brings close to 30 years of experience and knowledge of the North American underground mining and tunneling industries and a passion for customer service," said Mike Rispin, Vice President - Americas for the Normet Group. "Normet Canada is having a very successful first year and is on a significant growth curve. We are very pleased to have Steve and his knowledge of equipment, parts and service on our team."

Normet Canada offers the full line of Normet equipment, parts and service, and will soon be offering the TAM line of construction products for mining and tunneling.

Management appointments at Parsons Brinckerhoff

Nov 2010

Steve Reffitt

In London, Steve Reffitt becomes UK Operations Director. Riffitt comes to PB with nearly 30 years of engineering and construction industry experience, the majority of which has been gained in the UK consultant market working for WSP and Atkins. At WSP, he was responsible for new business growth for a group comprising 2,500 engineers and specialists engaged in transportation, energy, industrial, infrastructure, and public and private building consulting. He led business improvement and was also responsible for establishing and developing the WSP outsourcing centre in Delhi.

In his previous role with Atkins, Reffitt was an operational leader with full responsibility for a range of businesses, including roles as head of structural engineering and UK Operations Director for buildings. Prior to Atkins, he worked for Taylor Woodrow Construction for 10 years on two AGR nuclear power station sites and various rail tunnelling projects.

Reffitt is a graduate of Imperial College and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Structural Engineers.

Thomas Anella

Thomas Anella has been named Project Operations Manager for the eastern region of Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB). From the firm's Princeton, New Jersey office, Anella will be responsible for technical and financial oversight of PB projects in the eastern United States.

A PB Vice President and Principal Project Manager, Anella has been with the firm for 27 years, most recently serving as Area Manager for the Princeton office. He has extensive experience in infrastructure design and construction and has managed numerous highway, bridge and roadway projects. Anella holds an MS degree in engineering management and a BS in civil engineering from Drexel University.

In Virginia, Irene (Renee) Bartnik joins the Norfolk office of PB as Senior Supervising Planner. In her new position, Bartnik will serve as PB's lead environmental planner on projects including the new Downtown Tunnel under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, and improvements to Dominion Boulevard in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Renee Bartnik

Bartnik comes to PB with more than 15 years of project management and senior design experience nationally and internationally on projects for federal, private, and public clients. Her specializations include: project management; land use environmental and airport planning; energy initiatives and studies; soil erosion control; permitting and zoning issues; public involvement; and trail and park design. Prior to joining PB, she was Senior Environmental Aviation Planner at another professional services firm.

Bartnik holds an MS degree in landscape architecture from the California State University at Pomona and a BS degree in landscape architecture from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Canada. She is a member of the US Green Building Council, the Landscape Institute in Great Britain, the American Planning Association and the Association for Landscape Architects, and has LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council.

Normet takes on a business developer

Nov 2010

Andreas Enzler

Andreas Enzler is to join the Normet Group as Vice President Business Development and Marketing.

Andy, 43, is a BA graduate of the University of St Gallen, brings along an experience of 12 years in the field of construction chemicals, mainly concrete admixtures but also epoxy resin and PUR flooring and waterproofing.

Enzler joins Normet after several years of international assignments for construction chemicals such as regional controller Latin America in Cleveland, USA, and CFO Asia/Pacific in Shanghai, for MBT, Degussa where he gathered extensive experience in business- and strategy-development. His expertise is in development of corporate structures particularly in emerging regions and markets.

Enzler will join Normet by January 1, 2011, and will be based at Normet International head quarters in Switzerland, reporting to President of Normet Group Tom Melbye and travelling extensively to support the further growth and development of Normet's business.

Normet develops, manufactures and markets equipment and vehicles for mining and underground construction and offers services for the maintenance and usage processes for the entire lifetime of the products. Together with its strategic partner, TAM International, Normet offers also a comprehensive range of constructions chemicals for underground mining and tunnelling processes.

Ross Dimmock joins TAM-Normet

Oct 2010

Ross Dimmock

After working 10 years at MBT/BASF Construction Chemicals, followed by a period as Technical Director of the Tunnel Division at Mott MacDonald, Ross Dimmock has rejoined former colleagues in the new Normet team as Regional Director - Europe & Middle East and Tunnelling & Mining Director – UK at TAM International Group.

Dimmock has specialising in project management of sprayed concrete tunnelling design when at MBT/BASF as Technical Director of the Underground Division, successfully developing and implementing new technologies for underground construction. He has a wealth of experience also in ground improvement and tunnel rehabilitation techniques.

Internationally recognised as an expert with 22 years of experience in sprayed concrete tunnel lining (SCL) design, Dimmock has held leading roles on major SCL tunnel projects in the UK, including the Channel Tunnel, the London Underground Jubilee Line Extension, and the current Crossrail project in London, which is the largest urban rail project in Europe.

"Ross is highly respected in the industry and with his knowledge and expertise he will strengthen the development and expansion of the TAM business. We are thrilled to have him aboard." said Martin Robbins, CEO of TAM International Group

Dimmock's contact details are:
Tel: +44 (0) 2476 253 098
Email: ross.dimmock@tam.uk.com
www.taminternational.com

PB appoints council for litigation

Oct 2010

W. Stephen Dale

W. Stephen Dale has been named Assistant General Counsel for Litigation at Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB).

In his new position, Dale will focus on the management and successful resolution of litigation involving the company. His responsibilities include developing strategies for dispute resolution and systems and procedures to address discovery; selecting, managing and coordinating outside counsel and consultants; and analyzing and reporting on the company's litigation experience to management.

Prior to joining PB, Dale was a partner in the SmithPachterMcWhorter law firm in Vienna, Virginia that concentrates on construction and government contracts law. He represented prime contractors before federal, state, and regional tribunals on more than $350 million in claims and litigation on large, complex infrastructure projects.

Dale holds a J.D. degree and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and formerly sat on the Board of Governors of the Construction Institute.

Sound Transit has a new deputy chief executive officer

Sept 2010

Celia Kupersmith

Sound Transit welcomes Celia Kupersmith as the agency's new Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

"Celia is a nationally respected transit leader who brings extensive engineering, capital project management and operations experience to Sound Transit," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. "She will play a pivotal role in delivering high quality transit projects and services to the people of our region. We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome her aboard."

"Few transit systems nationally are growing as fast as Sound Transit's, and none offer the professional challenges and opportunities that exist here," Kupersmith said. "There is not another agency in the country that could have lured me from the Golden Gate Bridge."

As General Manager of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District from 1999 through last month, Kupersmith oversaw not only the operations of the iconic bridge but a bus transit system offering more than 58 local and inter-county routes, and the largest ferry system in California. She led a staff of 830 employees under the direction of a 19-member board of directors.

From 1993 through 1999, Kupersmith served as executive director of the Regional Transportation Commission in Reno, Nevada, overseeing bus services, road construction, road maintenance, and long-range transportation planning for the northern Nevada region. From 1985 through 1993, Kupersmith rose through the ranks at Capital Metro in Austin, Texas, departing as Deputy General Manager.

At Sound Transit Kupersmith is taking over for outgoing Deputy CEO Ron Tober, who is returning to Charlotte, North Carolina.

"We talked Ron into coming out of retirement to join Sound Transit for a year, and then talked him into staying an extra eight months," Earl said. “During that time he made a major contribution to the residents of our region, particularly during last year's launch of Central Link light rail service."

Seattle embraces new transit system – TunnelTalk, July 2009
Build-out plans for the Seattle LRT – TunnelTalk, July 2010

Godwin Pumps appoints new global marketer

Sept 2010

Per Ohstrom

From world headquarters in Bridgeport, New Jersey, Godwin Pumps, has announced the appointment of as its Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Business Development.

"With more than 15 years of experience in industrial product and service marketing and business development, Per will be relied upon to drive Godwin's worldwide profitable growth and continued customer satisfaction," said Godwin President, Michel Bakhos.

Joining Godwin from RSC Equipment Rental, where he served as the Vice President of Marketing, Ohstrom grew revenue with new, value-added services and promotions - adding 4,000 new accounts and $10 million worth of sales in his two-year tenure there. Prior to RSC, he previously provided marketing leadership at billion-dollar companies including Hagemeyer North America, CHEP, Rohm and Haas, and International Paper.

Ohstrom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Lulea University of Technology (Sweden), and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University. Ohstrom will report directly to Michel Bakhos and will oversee Godwin's marketing, communications, training, product management and worldwide business development and market management.

Godwin Pumps is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of ITT Corporation since July of this year. It maintains a fleet of more than 6,000 portable rental pumps and 3,200 pieces of related equipment for use in dewatering in construction, mining and quarrying and in wastewater bypasses in municipal, industrial and environmental markets. It is the worldwide manufacturer and supplier of the Dri-Prime® pump that features fully automatic self-priming to 28ft, dry-running and solids handling capabilities.

Godwin to join Flygt and Grindex in ITT – TunnelTalk, July 2010

Greg Colzani makes a move to Parsons Corp

Sept 2010

Greg Colzani

Parsons Corp. has hired Greg Colzani as Tunnel Sub-Sector Manager within the Parsons Transportation Group. Colzani joins Parsons with more than 30 years of experience in mining, tunneling, and heavy civil and underground construction, with emphasis in construction management and quality control.

With exceptional knowledge of heavy civil and tunnel construction, Colzani has been recruited to many precedent-setting projects during his career. These include the H-3 Highway Tunnels in Oahu, Hawaii; the 5^th & Hill Street section of the Los Angeles Metro in California; the North Fork Stanislaus Hydro Project, California; the Stanford Linear Collider Project, California; the Hanging Lake Highway Tunnels, Colorado; the South Bay Ocean Outfall Project, California; the Willamette River CSO Program in Portland, Oregon; and the DCWASA Long Term Control Plan (CSO) project in the District of Columbia.

Most recently he led the Construction Management discipline at Jacobs Associates. He has provided value engineering and constructability reviews of a number of wastewater and water systems. Colzani is equally experienced with the Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation process and has facilitated several risk workshops for large complex tunnel projects. He is a recognized expert in the implementation and management of alternate contract deliver systems.

Colzani is active in American Society of Civil Engineers, Construction Management Association of America, and the Construction Specification Institute and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Chris Gause recruited to Normet Americas, Inc

Sept 2010

Chris Gause

Normet Americas, Inc. is pleased to announce that Chris Gause has joined the organization in the position of Sales Manager - Tunneling/Civil. In this capacity, he will lead the business development for Normet's equipment and technological solutions into the tunneling, underground, and heavy construction industries in North America. Gause joins Normet from BASF and brings with him 30 years of experience in construction chemicals and 15 years experience with chemical and equipment solutions for underground construction.

"We are delighted to have such a seasoned member of the American underground community join our team," said Mike Rispin, President of Normet Americas. "Gause has a wealth of expertise and experience with practical solutions for sprayed concrete and, in fact, all other cementitious disciplines, grouting and TBM operations. We look forward to his interaction with the underground contracting and engineering communities."

Gause also joins the management team of Normet's North American region. He will operate from his home office near Cleveland, Ohio; mobile: +1 216 835 6108 mail: chris.gause@normet.fi. "I'm extremely excited by my new role with Normet. It will get me back working with the client and offering solutions to the day to day challenges, which is what I enjoy most," said Gause.

Normet develops, manufactures and markets equipment and vehicles for mining and underground construction and offers services for the maintenance and usage processes for the entire lifetime of the products. Normet employs 460 professionals worldwide. The turnover in 2009 totaled 90 million Euros with more than 90% of the production exported by the Finish based company.

Gause joins several other recent recruitments by Normet as it consolidates its international presence and collaboration with the construction chemicals manufacturer TAM International. These include:

Mike Rispin, President of Normet Americas, Inc;
Odd-Bjørn Kleven, appointed Director Tunnelling and Special Projects;
Dr Roar Myrdal recruited as Technical Director, Chemicals, Mining and Tunnelling responsible for R&D of mining and tunnelling chemicals at TAM International;
Michael Keienburg as a Sales Director.

Transit and tunnel lighting specialist

Aug 2010

Michael Maltezos

Schréder Lighting USA has appointed Michael N. Maltezos as its DOT, Transit and Tunnel Specialist.

In his new position Maltezos will be responsible for overseeing lighting activities for transit and tunnel projects throughout the USA and Canada. He will work closely with municipalities, DOTs and transit agencies, as well as the specification lighting community including lighting designers, architects, and engineers. In Schréder Lighting, Maltezos will report directly to General Manager John Camp.

Maltezos has more than 25 years experience in electrical engineering, construction engineering, project/program management, and lighting design management. He has supervised the design and construction of several roadway systems and building facilities. Prior to joining Schréder Lighting USA, he served as an award-winning independent lighting designer and consultant, based in Tampa, Florida, where he worked on major commercial, public and municipal design projects. He also served as Senior Associate for CTE Engineers, Inc., and Project Engineer and Design Engineer for McDonough Associates Inc., both based in Chicago.

Maltezos is a member of the IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America), of the IESNA Roadway Lighting and Street and Area Lighting Committees, and of the American Public Works Association.

Recognized as an industry expert on roadway lighting, Maltezos has received seven International Illumination Design Awards (IIDA) from the IESNA.

Located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Schréder Lighting USA opened its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Addison, Illinois this year. The company is a member of the Schréder Group G.I.E., which was founded in Belgium in 1907 and has become an international organization with more than 2,600 employees, in more than 40 facilities, in 30 countries and on five continents.

Schréder Lighting USA

Normet International takes on a technical director

Jun 2010

Dr Roar Myrdal

Following its 40% buy into TAM International, the growing construction chemicals manufacturer and distributor, Normet International Ltd has appointed Dr Roar Myrdal as Technical Director, Chemicals, Mining and Tunnelling. Starting September 15, 2010, he will be responsible for R&D of mining and tunnelling chemicals and will report to Normet's Director, Tunnelling and Chemicals Odd-Bjørn Kleven, who is also COO of the TAM International Group.

Myrdal has a doctoral degree in chemistry and holds an adjunct professorship in concrete technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has been working with concrete technology in industry, public road authorities and research institutes since early 1990s and has a broad international experience in research projects and industrial cooperation.

Before joining Normet, Dr Myrdal has been working as a senior scientist at SINTEF, the leading international research institute and the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia, and as a member of the management group in COIN, the Concrete Innovation Centre at SINTEF. Previously, he was head of the R&D department at global producer of construction chemicals, Rescon Mapei.

Dr Myrdal played a key role in developing alkali-free accelerators for sprayed concrete and is well known for his contribution to the development of chemical admixtures for concrete. He has published more than 50 international papers and reports on chemistry and concrete technology related topics.

Normet and TAM form global partnership – TunnelTalk, April 2010 Back

Knights move to global position with Halcrow

Jun 2010

Martin Knights

As of Tuesday June 15, 2010, Martin Knights of the UK holds a new post as Global Director of Tunnelling for the UK-based international consulting firm Halcrow.

The move is significant in several ways. It ends a five year association with former employer Jacobs Engineering; it reinvigorates the global reach of the Halcrow practice; it is a significant career move for the immediate past President of the ITA (International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association); and continues Knights' connection with the global tunnelling industry as established during his association with the ITA, its Executive Committee and its Working Groups.

Knights was a Director at the UK division of Jacobs Engineering and before that was with the Brown & Root consultancy which took over the UK firm Howard Humphreys, which Knights joined in 1989 from Atkins.

"Working with Brown & Root was rewarding," said Knights. "We built a strong tunnelling/geotechnical engineering practice within the company, which, together with the British Tunnelling Society (BTS), supported my association with the ITA. The move to Halcrow is a new challenge and I am looking forward to working with the team of Halcrow professionals in their rail, water, tunnelling and geotechnical engineering divisions."

The move also continues a long association for Halcrow with the ITA. Knights, as the twelfth President of the ITA, follows in very big footsteps of two previous Halcrow engineers who also served the ITA with distinction.

Sir Alan Muir Wood, as the most influential founding member of the ITA and its first President from 1974 to 1977 - later elected its Honorary Life.

ITA-AITES Presidents 1974 - 1977 Sir Alan Muir Wood, UK (†) 1977 - 1980 H. C. Fischer Switzerland (†) 1980 - 1983 Günter Girnau, Germany 1983 - 1986 Jack Lemley, USA 1986 - 1989 Einar Broch, Norway 1989 - 1992 Colin Kirkland, UK (†) 1992 - 1995 Dan Zdenek Eisenstein, Canada (†) 1995 - 1998 Sebastiano Pelizza, Italy 1998 - 2001 Alfred Haack, Germany 2001 - 2004 André Assis, Brazil 2004 - 2007 Harvey Parker, USA 2007 - 2010 Martin Knights, UK 2010 - 2013 In-Mo Lee, Korea

Time President - was a Senior Partner with Halcrow & Partners and Colin Kirkland, the sixth President from 1989 to 1992 was also a Partner with the Halcrow Group. "The job with the Halcrow Group is focused on promoting the use of tunnels and underground space in all countries of the world," said Knights, "and to assist governments and client authorities to assess the feasibility of developing, financing and constructing their underground space and tunnelled infrastructure projects. It is a job closely associated with one of the main purposes of the ITA and brings an independent commercial element to that work. There is much to do to advance the possibilities of developing the underground space to the advantage of developed and developing countries alike."

As well as taking up his new career post this week, Knights is also recognised by the British Tunnelling Society with presentation of the coveted James Clark Medal honour. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the national and international tunnelling industry.

Knights is also a trustee of London's Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe, the Trustees of which were recently awarded this year's The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - the MBE for volunteer groups. The Brunel Museum is dedicated to the Brunels' and their great achievements, notably the Thames Tunnel. The aim is to bring greater understanding of the Brunels' daring engineering and radical thinking to new audiences.

Knights will be based at the Halcrow Group head office in London at Vineyard House in Hammersmith. Main office telephone number +44 (0) 207 602 7282.

BTS James Clark Medal award – TunnelTalk, Jun 2010

Halcrow Group
British Tunnelling Society
Brunel Museum

Jun 2010

John Bergen

PM/CM Lead for the Black & Veatch Northwestern U.S. practice
With more than 30 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure design and program and construction management (PM/CM), John Bergen has joined Black & Veatch's global water business as PM/CM Lead for the Northwestern U.S. region. He is based in the company's Walnut Creek, California, office.

Bergen will also assist with various national PM/CM efforts. His vast experience in civil-sanitary engineering includes program and construction management, facilities design, biddability and constructability reviews, value engineering, design-build and quality assurance/quality control. Bergen's work in infrastructure design and PM/CM for all types of water and wastewater facilities in Northern California totals approximately $500 million in construction cost.

Risk Manager with Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB)

Jun 2010

Will Willson

As a Risk Manager with Parsons Brinckerhoff's (PB) Geotechnical and Tunneling Technical Excellence Center in Princeton, New Jersey, Will Willson will be responsible for risk assessments, risk analysis and risk management for many of PB's major infrastructure projects worldwide. He will also advise transit and other agencies and authorities in the requirement for and application of risk assessment on federally funded projects.

A recognized industry leader in cost and schedule risk assessment, risk analysis and risk management of major infrastructure projects and capital construction programs in the United States and abroad, Willson was previously an Associate Principal with Davis Langdon and a Senior Vice President with Faithful & Gould.

Previous experience includes Project Planning Manager for the Channel Tunnel project in the UK during preliminary engineering and then head of the risk assessment for the project during detailed design through to financial close on behalf of London and Continental Engineering. Willson worked also on the Kowloon-Canton Railway's high-speed rail link to the New Territories in Hong Kong, the Los Angeles Gold Line Eastside Extension on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration, and on development of risk matrix and due diligence studies for infrastructure projects for Infrastructure Ontario.

Willson is a chartered quantity surveyor and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and an associate value specialist with the Society of American Value Engineers.

PB names head of New York operations

Jun 2010

Neil Lucey

As Area Manager for Parsons Brinckerhoff's New York office, Neil Lucey will handle client management and project performance of all New York operations. With nearly 40 years of experience in planning, design and construction for infrastructure projects and programs, Lucey has managed numerous high-profile transportation and facilities projects in the New York metropolitan region.

Lucey holds a master of science degree in transportation from Polytechnic University of New York and a bachelor of civil engineering degree from Manhattan College. Prior to joining PB, Lucey served as a Senior Vice President for a consulting engineering company, responsible for the Northeast Transportation practice. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and is incoming Chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies in New York State.

Schrader succeeds Hawksworth as Chairman of PB

Richard A. Schrader

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has announced that Richard A. Schrader is appointed Chairman, succeeding Keith J. Hawksworth who is retiring after 33 years with the firm.

Schrader, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will provide broad policy oversight for PB in its operations as a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering and program/construction management organization.

"I look forward to having Rich as a partner in guiding PB going forward," said George J. Pierson, President and CEO. "I will continue to rely on Rich's extensive expertise in financial management and will look to him for assistance in determining PB's strategic direction." Schrader will also undertake additional duties in service of PB's owner, the Balfour Beatty Group.

The firm has begun an executive search process for a CFO to succeed Schrader, who has been with PB for 27 years and has been a member of the firm's Board of Directors since 1992. Prior to joining PB in 1983 Schrader served on active military duty in the US Army Corps of Engineers for 11 years with assignments on military construction projects, including command of an engineer company in Germany. He has also served on the faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point as Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences. He has a bachelor's degree from West Point, a master's degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and an MBA from Long Island University.

Hawksworth, who joined PB in 1976, served as CEO from December 2007 through December 2009 and during that time led a strategic planning process that resulted in PB's October 2009 merger with Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group headquartered in the UK. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Hawksworth was Chief Operating Officer of PB's International division. He also served as head of PB's Asia-Pacific operation and was PB's Principal-in-Charge on many of the firm's largest international projects.

The PB Board will consist of George Pierson, PB's CEO; Ashok Kothari, a 35-year PB employee and long-term Board member, and Rich Schrader.

Parsons Brinckerhoff

Feb 2010

Bently Green

New project director at Black & Veatch
Bently Green, P.E., has joined the Black & Veatch global water business as a Client Accounts Project Director. Green brings more than 19 years of civil engineering and infrastructure experience to the position, including substantial water and wastewater project management capability.

A long-time member of WEF and AWWA, Green has special technical expertise encompassing design and planning of wastewater treatment facilities, water treatment facilities, large-diameter water and wastewater conveyance systems, and pumping stations. He has managed large, complex programs requiring extensive resources and has provided close collaboration with clients. Green will be based in the company's St. Louis office.

Team building at Normet

Feb 2010

Odd-Bjørn Kleven

Well known sprayed concrete and tunnelling expert Odd-Bjørn Kleven is appointment Director Tunnelling and Special Projects by Normet International. Kleven joins the team after 15 years with MBT/ Degussa / BASF, in Switzerland and worldwide and has already started at this new position.

With both practical and theoretical knowledge, Kleven has more than 25 years' experience in the underground construction industry both as contractor and as supplier of products and equipment. From his base in Norway and at the company's operations in Baar, Switzerland, he will have responsibility of Normet Tunnelling and Special Projects globally.

Normet develops, manufactures and markets equipment and vehicles for mining and underground construction needs and offers services for the maintenance and usage processes for the lifetime of the products. More than 90% of the production is exported to international end users. Normet employs some 450 professionals and in 2008, the group's turnover was €107 million.

Crossrail procurement manager

December 2009

Martin Rowark

Crossrail Ltd (CRL) has appointed Martin Rowark as Head of Procurement. Reporting directly to Commercial Director Martin Buck, he will lead the CRL Procurement Division to achieve best value in the delivery of the procurement requirements of the Crossrail project to programme and budget.

Rowark is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and commenced his career in construction as a management contractor. Joining Railtrack at their floatation, he worked at Great Western Zone and later Southern Zone, leading the Contract and Supply function. In 2001 he construction consultants Davis Langdon LLP as Head of Civil Engineering and Railways, operating from London. This role involved commissions on Channel Tunnel Rail Link, West Coast Route Modernisation, The White City Development, ERTMS and Metronet Trans4m/Alliance. Following this Rowark acted as Deputy to the Head of Procurement for the London 2012 Olympics. Most recently he has been advising the TfL team delivering the East London Line.

As head of procurement, Rowark will ensure that the acquisition of works, services and supplies from the external supply market is efficiently and effectively managed in line with relevant Procurement Regulations, Government policies and best industry practice. Rowark will join Crossrail on 21 December 2009.

New CEO for Parsons Brinckerhoff

December 2009

George J. Pierson

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has announced the appointment of George J. Pierson as the firm's Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2010. Pierson is currently President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the firm's Americas division and succeeds Keith J. Hawksworth, who becomes Chairman.

Pierson, who will continue as President and COO of PB's Americas division, assumes the management of a professional services company with 15,000 employees in 150 offices worldwide and 2009 revenues of $2.1 billion and following acquisition as a wholly-owned subsidiary by Balfour Beatty in October.

Pierson, a licensed engineer and lawyer, joined PB as General Counsel and Secretary in February, 2006. He was appointed COO of the Americas division in January, 2008. Pierson has a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an MBA from St. Mary's College of California, an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University.

Hawksworth has been with PB for 33 years and succeeds James L. Lammie as PB's Chairman. He was named CEO in January, 2008 and led a two-year strategic planning process that resulted in a merger with Balfour Beatty that was approved by 99% of PB's stockholders in October, 2009. “Having achieved the strategic objective of a larger, more diversified company that has the resources to remain competitive going forward, I believe the time is right for me to turn the management of the company over to George” he said.

UK contractor buys Parsons Brinckerhoff – TunnelTalk, Oct 2009

Nick Flew

October 2009
Nick Flew has been appointed Managing Director of the UK and European operations of Parsons Brinckerhoff following acquisition of the global infrastructure consulting engineering practice by UK contractor Balfour Beatty last month (September 2009).

Flew was previously Director of Balfour Beatty Management and played a key role in the acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff that was finalized this week. In his new position Flew will lead the integration of the operations of Balfour Beatty Management and the UK/Europe operation of Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Flew has 28 years of technical and management experience across a range of different sectors in the UK and internationally. He is a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. He joined Balfour Beatty Management from Atkins in 2004. Flew is a graduate of Cambridge University with a degree in engineering in 1981.

The company created by the merger of Balfour Beatty Management and the UK/Europe operation of Parsons Brinckerhoff will operate as Parsons Brinckerhoff in order to retain the strong Parsons Brinckerhoff brand, according to Stuart Glenn, Chief Operating Officer of PB's International division. “The acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff is an important step towards fulfilling Balfour Beatty's ambition to be a global leader in infrastructure services,” said Glenn.

Founded in New York in 1885, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) is a leader in developing infrastructure around the world and has 13,000 employees working in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia-Pacific regions.

UK contractor buys Parsons Brinckerhoff – TunnelTalk, Oct 2009
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Balfour Beatty

Dan Dobbels

October 2009
Dan Dobbels, PE, has joined Jacobs Associates as a Senior Associate in its Boston office. Dobbels has more than 25 years of experience in planning, design, and construction of a variety of underground engineering projects, including water/wastewater conveyance tunnels and pipelines; underground transit systems; electric, gas, and other utility tunnels and pipelines; hydroelectric facilities; rock slopes; waterfront structures; and deep foundations. He also has extensive experience in the application of trenchless technology for new pipeline construction.

Dobbels' practical knowledge covers a broad range of a project's life cycle, including planning, implementation, and reporting of geotechnical investigations; conceptual-level planning and design studies; detailed design and preparation of contract documents; construction phase services including office and resident engineering; claims analysis and evaluation and forensic studies.

Dobbels has BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and is a member of a variety of national and international professional associations.

Steve Hirtz

September 2009
Pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling contractor, SAK Construction LLC, has engaged Steve J. Hirtz as Vice President of rehabilitiation operations. SAK serves a variety of city, county and state agencies; industrial sectors; municipalities; and water and sewer cooperatives coast-to-coast.

Hirtz will be based in the SAK headquarters in of St Louis, Missouri, and brings to SAK more than 25 years of experience in cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), tunneling, and other trenchless technologies. He previously served as general manager for a major pipe services firm in Missouri and served in a number of operations and field management positions for a leading pipeline rehabilitation firm.

Founded in 2006, SAK Construction is led by industry veterans Jerry Shaw, President; Tom Kalishman, Chairman; and Robert Affholder, Vice Chairman. The three SAK leaders are well known for their expertise in trenchless underground technology, including CIPP rehabilitation. Trenchless technology is particularly needed today to rehabilitate the nation's aging water and sewer infrastructure, including 52,000 water systems comprising nearly a million miles of underground pipe carrying America's drinking water.

Recent SAK Construction projects include a 34,000ft CIPP sewer rehabilitation for the City of St. Paul; a 34,000ft CIPP sewer rehabilitation for the City of Jefferson, Missouri; a 30,000ft CIPP sewer and manhole rehabilitation project in the Nameoki-area for Granite City, Illinois; and the 2,300ft, 96in diameter Coldwater Relief Tunnel in unincorporated St. Louis County for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD).

September 2009
Jacobs Associates of San Francisco is pleased to announce these recent promotions within its team.

Rafael Castro

Rafael Castro PE has been promoted to Principal. Rafael has been involved in the underground engineering industry for 20 years on more than a dozen major tunneling projects on both the East and West coasts. His progressive experience includes design, construction management and condition assessment for sewage, water-conveyance, and transit tunnels. In addition, he has an extensive understanding of ground improvement techniques relevant to soft-ground tunnels and microtunnels. Such techiniques include chemical grouting, compaction grouting, jet grouting, compressed air, and dewatering. As a Principal of Jacobs Associates, Rafael is one of 12 senior technical leaders in the firm responsible for client satisfaction and for performing and supervising technical project work, including quality control.

Peter Raleigh

Peter Raleigh was recently promoted to Associate. Peter has more than 17 years of experience in tunnel engineering, and his expertise with TBMs has been an asset on a number of projects since he joined the firm in 2006. He is currently contributing to the University Link and North Link projects and is project manager and lead inspector on the Ballard Siphon Replacement Project, for which Jacobs Associates is providing construction management services.

Dan Van Roosendaal

Dan Van Roosendaal is also promoted to Associate. Since joining the firm in early 2009, he has been supporting a variety of East coast projects, including completing geotechnical evaluations on DC WASA's deep soft ground tunnels, and providing his blasting expertise to the Jacobs Associates Rail Group. Dan is a geotechnical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in rock and soft ground tunneling, rock and soil slope stabilization, and blasting.

September 2009
Michael (Mike) Rispin has taken up a position with Normet Americas, Inc as its Managing Director – NAFTA. Effective 1 September, 2009 Mike's base is at the company's operations in Union Grove, Wisconsin from where he will head up Normet's efforts in the North American Free Trade Agreement zone comprising USA, Canada and Mexico.

Mike Rispin

Rispin is a graduate of the McGill University Mining Engineering program in 1985, and is a Professional Engineer since 1987. His career in the mining and construction industries spans 25 years: 12 in explosives, with a focus on underground blasting technologies, and 13 in construction chemicals, focusing on sprayed concrete methodologies. He joins the Normet team after 13 years with Master Builders/Degussa/BASF in Canada, the United States, and Switzerland.

Rispin will bring the company's suite of underground equipment, Life Time Care (LTC) parts and service platform, and process expertise to the mining and tunnelling construction markets of the NAFTA area. The company's underground equipment range includes machines for concrete spraying, concrete transportation, explosives charging, lifting and installation units, and units for scaling and managing underground logistics.

Heikki Ulvila, Regional Director of Normet Americas, Inc, and Tom Melbye, Managing Director of Normet International Ltd, and COO of the Normet Group, welcome Mike to the team and commend him to a customer-base that knows him and that he knows well.

Normet Back

July 2009
Janine Beni Witko, PE, is engaged by Halcrow as the Northeast water and power manager, North America. Witko joins the team as part of a strategic initiative to grow further our water and power business in the Northeast United States.

With 25 years of experience in business management, client development and technical skills with a focus on the water sector, Wiltko's areas of expertise include project delivery, water supply planning, water and wastewater facility planning and design, and construction oversight.

"Janine has worked on many impressive projects in the water and power market sector, including, the Hudson River Long term Water Supply (desalination) conceptual design and the United Water New York Lake Deforest AquaDAF design-build upgrade. We are very happy to have her join the Halcrow team," says Russ MacDonald, Director for Water and Power, North America.

Most recently, Janine worked for Black & Veatch where she led the regional engineering operations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as project director/client services manager on high-profile multi-million dollar water infrastructure projects.

She is an active member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and is a program committee member of the New Jersey and New York Water Environment Associations (NJWEA and NYWEA). Witko will be based in Halcrow's New York City office.

 

Halcrow Corporate Structure

June 2009
Halcrow welcomes Russ MacDonald and Bob Brownstein to key management positions.

Russ MacDonald joins Halcrow's water and power business group as regional director for North America. Based in Tampa, MacDonald will be responsible for attracting new business and leading the North American water and power team. He will also join the region's management team and will contribute towards Halcrow's strategic goal to make North America one of its largest regional businesses.

MacDonald is an internationally recognized industry veteran with more than 25 years' experience in the water and power industry. He has particular expertise in executing design-build and program management schemes for the water, power and transportation sectors. Russ has worked on engineering, procurement and construction projects in North America, the UK, the Middle East, Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand. Before joining Halcrow he served as vice president of the water business group at CH2M HILL. MacDonald, a founding director of the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships, will spend his first few months with Halcrow working on projects in the Middle East .

Richard Harpin, current director, water and power services, in North America, will take up a global role that addresses environmental engineering solutions for water scarcity issues.

Bob Brownstein joins Halcrow's consulting business group as vice president and regional director for the Economics and Business Solutions (EBS) group in North America. Based in New York, Brownstein will be responsible for enhancing and expanding EBS as well as supporting the transport planning market sector.

Brownstein is an internationally recognized expert with more than 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. He has particular expertise in procurement, project development, materials management, information technology, operations, and maintenance. He is a frequent speaker at transportation conferences throughout the world and has played a vital role in the industry's progress in these areas. Before joining Halcrow, he managed these service areas for other major consulting and technology firms, including, AECOM Consult. Brownstein was also the general manager of Spear Technologies, a provider of maintenance and materials management software to the transit industry.

Prior to joining the private sector, Brownstein was a senior official with the New Jersey Transit Corporation, where he served as the senior director of procurement, for the bus operation and then later as the senior director of materials for both the bus and rail operation.

In 2004, Brownstein was the recipient of the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member for 2004 award.

Halcrow

Alan Boden

May 2009
Delcan Corporation has promoted Alan Boden to Principal.

Boden is an alumnus of Nottingham University in the UK and has 30 years experience in civil engineer, and more specifically in tunnelling. The multi-disciplinary engineering firm, headquartered in Toronto Canada, promotes staff to its Principal and Vice Presidential Programs to reward team members for strong leadership and technical skills and contributions made to corporate growth and success. Boden is a construction manager at Delcan and is currently responsible for the design and construction of Toronto's Spadina Subway Extension. He is a Chartered Engineer and is associated with The Institution of Civil Engineers, The Institute of Explosives Engineers, and The British Tunneling Society.

Roger Toms, Senior Vice President for Delcan's Program & Project Management Division commented "Alan Boden is a civil engineer with extensive experience in the management of construction for major transit and transportation projects. After several years serving international projects, most recently in the Far East, Alan joined Delcan last year as a senior construction manager. Since joining, Alan has taken on further responsibilities in design management and mentoring of a group of project managers. We congratulate Alan on his appointment to Principal."

Delcan Corporation

May 2009
Parsons Brinckerhoff welcomes back David A. McAlister and Paul F. Morris who rejoin the firm to senior global management positions.

McAlister is named Executive Vice President and Global Director, Strategic Planning and Development with overall responsibility for the strategic planning and marketing functions throughout the organization.

McAlister David

Morris is appointed Executive Vice President and Global Director, Strategic Consulting and Sustainability, responsible for bringing new focus and direction to the breadth of consulting capabilities that exist throughout PB worldwide. He will also expand the firm's efforts at project, corporate and public levels to exhibit best practices in reducing effects of global warming and climate change.

“Over his 25-year tenure at PB, Dave McAlister played a key role on many of the firm's signature projects, including the WMATA transit system in Washington, D.C.; the MARTA system in Atlanta and the West Coast Mainline Rehabilitation Program in the UK,” noted Keith Hawksworth, PB's President and CEO. “His diverse managerial experience in the U.S. and abroad and familiarity with PB's operations worldwide makes him the ideal candidate to spearhead the firm's global initiatives for growth.”

“Paul Morris will provide the thought leadership and technical innovation that PB's clients require to meet a host of environmental and sustainable development challenges,” continued Hawksworth. “His task is to broaden the company's application of best practices in transportation, energy, water and building infrastructure – all key areas of client as well as community concern.”

Morris Paul

McAlister has more than 30 years of transportation industry experience, including 25 years at PB, from 1981 to 2006. His senior-level positions at the firm included Director of Operations for the Americas and Managing Director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He returns to PB after serving for three years as a Senior Vice President and Transportation Group Global Director of Operations at CH2M Hill.

McAlister received a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Bucknell University and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Morris is rejoining PB after serving two years as a Vice President of Cherokee Investment Partners, a $2 billion private equity fund that partners with communities across North America, Western Europe and Asia to return environmentally impaired real estate to clean, safe and productive use. Previously, he led the PlaceMaking group at PB, the firm's community planning practice. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as managing partner of the McKeever/Morris, Inc firm that was acquired by PB in 1999. Morris received a BLA from the University of Oregon and a graduate certificate in planning and development from Harvard University.

PB - Parsons Brinckerhoff

April 2009:
Steve Walker, current Major Projects Director of Thames Water is leaving the company after 19 years of service.

Walker jointed Thames Water in 1990 and has since held a number of senior roles across the business including Investment Director and Engineering Director. In that capacity, Walker has overseen some of the greatest milestones in the existence of the giant water company that supplies drinking water to 8.5 million customers and manages wastewater services to more than 13.6 million customers across the UK capital, the Greater London area, and the Thames Valley region of the UK - an area of more than 13,000km².

Steve Walker, a Thames Water senior

As Major Projects Director since January 2007, he has been responsible for project development and key investment issues for the company's £2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel Project, a project based on more than 32km of deep level tunnelling that runs beneath the course of the river, and for which the first major contract is currently in the bidding process for scheduled award by the end of 2009.

During his early career with Thames Water, Walker was responsible for the construction and delivery of the £250 million London Water Ring Main Project, an engineering masterpiece of more than 80km of average 2.5m diameter water supply tunnels excavated at an average depth of 40m beneath the inner suburbs of London to improve operations and supply to millions. The project was instrumental in introducing leading edge TBM tunnelling to London with particular successes for EPB technology as built into three LOVAT TBMs bought by Thames Water and used by the engaged contractors to master the demanding challenges of the project. The project was inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in November 1994 and maintains its exemplary record of being completed two years ahead of programme and under budget.

Following the Ring Main success, and as Engineering Director for the company, Walker managed its UK investment programme of £400m to £500m annually as well as major international investment projects in China, Thailand, Turkey and the Americas. Through expansion of its business internationally, Thames Water provides water and wastewater services to some 70 million customers in 46 countries across the world, with operations in the USA, Germany, Poland, Croatia and China among many others. The company also owns water companies Ondagua and Pridesa, a specialist desalination company, in Spain.

During the last five years, Walker project managed integration of Thames Water into RWE, the multi-utility German water management conglomerate that bought the privatized public authority in 2001, and was subsequently one of the Senior Directors supporting the sale of Thames Water to Kemble Water Ltd, a group of private capital investors led by Macquarie Bank. As Investment Director from 2000 to 2006, Walker was responsible for the development, management and review of major investment projects and programmes to a value of £1billion annually.

Prior to joining Thames Water in 1990 Walker worked in the UK coal mining industry in production management and on major capital investment projects. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a PhD in Mining Electrical Engineering, and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management.

Walker leaves his office in the Thames Water headquarters in Reading, England early next month (April 2009). His replacement is yet to be officially confirmed. As well as semi-retirement and among other ambitions, he is leaving to further his role as an Associate Fellow at the Said Business School at Oxford University. He submitted his resignation a year ago and had the leaving date confirmed in December 2008.

Walker is well known in the UK tunnelling and water management industries and by many in the international arena who will wish him well in his new interests and endeavours.

References

Thames Tideway -TunnelTalk,Mar 2009
Tribute to the company's founder Richard Lovat (download pdf)

Thames Water
Oxford University, Saïd Business School

February 2009:
Michael Freitas joins Telvent Transportation North America group as manager of the Atlantic Region.

Based out of Telvent's North American headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, the Atlantic Region represents about 35% of the company's business in the United States.

Freitas, a civil engineer with more than 30 years experience in highway transportation, has an extensive background in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). He spent the majority of his career with the US Department of Transportation holding positions in the areas of highway safety and operations and becoming involved in the Department's ITS program since its inception.

After retiring from the Department, Freitas joined Ygomi LLC as Vice President of external affairs where he oversaw company interactions with government agencies both in the United States and Europe.

"We are looking forward to having Michael join our team," said José Maria Flores, Telvent's Transportation Division Executive Vice President. "His extensive experience in ITS is a strategic asset as we strengthen our position in key markets."

Telvent is a global company listed on the US NASDAQ stock exchange and specializes in high-value-added products, services and integrated solutions in the energy, transportation, environmental and public administration industries.

Telvent

February 2009:
Rob Holden CBE, current Chief Executive of London & Continental Railways, is confirmed as the new Chief Executive of the £16 billion ($US24 billion) Crossrail project in London.

Rob Holden CBE

Holden comes to Crossrail after supervising delivery of the £5.7 billion Channel Tunnel Rail Link High Speed 1 Section 2 project that opened to services in November 2008. The Section 2 alignment comprises 39km of new double track railway from Kent, under the Thames in twin bored tunnels, across marshes north of the river on viaduct and through 19km of twin tube bored tunnels under the suburbs of North London into the new international Eurostar train terminal at St Pancras Station.

Crossrail Executive Chairman Doug Oakervee said of the appointment: "Rob brings exceptional experience in delivering major projects. I am delighted that Rob will be at the helm as Crossrail moves into the critical construction and delivery phase of the project."

When Holden joins in April, Oakervee will move across to take up the new post of Non-Executive Chairman and will remain in post until Terry Morgan CBE takes over as Crossrail Chairman later in the year.

Holden said: "I am very excited to be joining the project. When it opens in 2017 Crossrail will provide an additional 10% to London's rail-based public transport capacity."

Holden joined London & Continental Railways (LCR) in October 1996 as finance director, later becoming chief operating officer. He was also Chairman of Eurostar (UK) Limited and a director of the Eurostar Group.

Holden became Chief Executive in January 1999, following the restructuring of the LCR business and the High Speed 1 project in 1998/99.

Crossrail has announced further appointments to the project's senior executive team:

Valerie Todd has joined Crossrail from Transport for London as Talent and Resources Director; Lesley Calladine joins as Health & Safety Director on 23 February; and David Allen joins from Laing O'Rourke as Finance Director on 2 March.

Oakervee said of the appointments: "They bring a wealth of talent and experience and will complement and strengthen the Crossrail executive as the project moves towards construction of the railway."

Meanwhile, Crossrail is preparing to award its £400 million Project Delivery Partner and £100 million Programme Partner contracts. The Programme Partner will manage the overall scheme while the project Delivery Partner will manage the tunnelled sections beneath London.

Two partnerships are bidding for both contracts: Legacy 3 and a bid by three of the four members of Rail Link Engineering (RLE) which was responsible for delivering High Speed 1 - Bechtel, Halcrow and Systra.

The third bidder for Programme Partner is Transcend - a joint venture between Aecom (parent of Faber Maunsell), CH2M Hill, and Nichols Group.

The two additional groups bidding for the Project Delivery Partner contract are Laing O'Rourke with Atkins; and Capita Symonds with Bovis Lend Lease and cost consultant Northcroft.

Both contracts are to be awarded by the spring.

Shortlist for Programme Partner: Overall scheme management - £100 million Bechtel with Halcrow and Systra Legacy 3 comprising Parsons Brinckerhoff, Balfour Beatty Management and Davis Langdon Transcend, a joint venture of Aecom, CH2M Hill and Nichols Group

Project Delivery Partner shortlist: London tunnelled section management - £400 million Legacy 3 - Parsons Brinckerhoff, Balfour Beatty Management and Davis Langdon Bechtel with Halcrow and Systra Laing O'Rourke with Atkins Capita Symonds with Bovis Lend Lease and cost consultant Northcroft

Crossrail
London & Continental Railways
Channel Tunnel Rail Link (High Speed 1)
Crossrail moves into detailed design - TunnelTalk, Dec 2008

September 22, 2008:
Alan Man is named Vice President and Director of Client Services for North Asia Pacific Black & Veatch's water business in Hong Kong SAR.

Man has 28 years of experience in a wide range of waterworks installations, including pipelines, rehabilitation of water mains, water transfer tunnels, service reservoirs, pumping stations and water treatment works. He was Black & Veatch's Project Director of the Tai Po Waterworks and Aqueducts Project, which was the 2006 Global Grand Prize winner for the Design Category at the International Water Association's Project Innovation Awards.

Prior to joining Black & Veatch in 1993, Man worked extensively in Hong Kong and Australia water industries. He worked for the Water Supplies Department in Hong Kong SAR completed a two-year role with the Power & Water Authority of the Northern Territory, Australia. Man is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and received his BSc in Civil Engineering and his MSc in Urban Planning from the University of Hong Kong.

"Alan has played a key role in cementing our position as one of the lead engineering companies in Hong Kong," said Ralph Eberts, Senior Managing Director of Black & Veatch's Asia-Pacific water business. Black & Veatch has been working in Hong Kong for more than 70 years and provided project support for a number of global and regional projects including the award-winning Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment plant near Brisbane, Australia.
www.bv.com

August 2008:
Michael Keienburg has taken a position with Normet and will work from Baar Switzerland. Keienburg was previously with Sika Mining and Tunnelling.
His new e-mail address is michael.keienburg@normet.fi.

Back

August 2008:
The following senior professionals have joined international engineering and design corporation, Parsons, on major international tunnelling projects:

David Yankovich

David Yankovich, P.E., Principal Project Manager, is responsible for managing the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant_Tunnel and Ocean Outfall project for the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. Yankovich has 28 years of civil and structural engineering experience and holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Union College in New York and a master's degree in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

Andreas Tauschinger

Andreas Tauschinger, Construction Director for the Dubai Metro in the United Arab Emirates, has more than 25 years of tunneling and project management experience. Representative projects include Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel, England's Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Germany's Nürnburg-Ingolstadt High Speed Rail Link, and Greece's Olympic Metro Athens. He holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Manchester in England.

Chris Dixon

Chris Dixon, Construction Manager for the Rail & Transit Division, is responsible for construction management activities surrounding Phase 1 of the Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. Dixon has more than 30 years experience in engineering and management of heavy and underground construction projects in a variety of general contractor, construction manager, consultant, and public agency roles, with special emphasis on major transit tunnel projects. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona.

Leland DuPont

Leland DuPont, Principal Project Controls Manager, is responsible for estimating on a wide variety of tunnel projects, including the Downtown Wastewater Tunnel in Austin, Texas; the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant_Tunnel and Ocean Outfall in Los Angeles, California; and the Bay Tunnel in San Francisco, California. His 38 years of experience includes heavy civil engineering and all phases of project management with an emphasis on tunnel construction.

Sangyoon Min

Sangyoon Min, Tunnel Engineer, comes to Parsons from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he developed the design approach and decision-making tools for Korea's High Speed Rail Line and participated in tunneling research and development for large infrastructure projects. Dr. Min holds a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering and a Ph.D. in construction management and geotechnical engineering, both from MIT, and a bachelor's degree in mining and minerals engineering from Inha University in Korea.

"We're pleased to bring these experienced individuals on board," stated Martin Fabrick, Director of Global Business Solutions. "Their broad knowledge, technical ability, and project management experience will deepen our ability to deliver complex tunneling projects"
www.parsons.com