Robert P. "Bud" Black, PE, PLS, has joined Carter & Burgess, Inc., as construction services manager in the firm's Phoenix Transportation Programs Unit.

In this role, Black will manage day-to-day activities, supervise inspection staff, and continue the firm's ongoing construction administration projects for such Phoenix-area clients as the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Town of Gilbert, and the City of Goodyear. In addition, he will actively market new clients for Carter & Burgess' growing Transportation Programs team.

Black earned a master of business administration degree and a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He is both a registered professional engineer and a professional land surveyor.

ADOT has named Bill Higgins as state engineer. Higgins has been serving as acting state engineer for the past year, overseeing the over $1 billion annual statewide highway construction program. Higgins served as ADOT's deputy state engineer for operations from 1998 to 2002, and was ADOT's Tucson district engineer prior to that.
Bill had begun his career with ADOT almost 30 years ago, and now heads the department which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of more than 6,500 miles of highways across the state.

Steve Haith was recently transferred to the Las Vegas office of Oakview Construction, Inc. Haith brings more than 23 years of experience in the construction industry to his new position, with 13 of those years as an Oakview employee, having most recently been a member of the Omaha Corporate office staff. Haith will serve as project superintendent, with his first Las Vegas project being the recently announced Square at Spring Mountain, a continuation of the Center at Spring Mountain project.

Perini has named Tucker Macon as a senior electrical estimator and John Carrera as an electrical estimator. Macon brings more than 20 years experience in electrical services to his new responsibilities of bid and budget analysis, value engineering and coordinating electrical services on all preconstruction and construction projects.
Macon holds a Certificate of Completion as a Master Estimator from California State Polytechnical University, and is undergoing LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. Carrera will be responsible for estimating electrical construction work. Carrera has worked on a number of Perini projects, including The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Las Ventanas and the Palmilla Resort.

American Fire Equipment was awarded the Women's Business Enterprise Council West's WBE of the Year award for a Class 2 supplier at the association's inaugural awards dinner. The category included suppliers with annual sales between $1 million and $10 million. American Fire Equipment was nominated for the award by SRP and APS for the company's outstanding service, history in the community and civic contributions, growth and competitiveness.

JMA Architecture Studios, a leading architectural firm in Southern Nevada, recently appointed Larry Staples, business development manager for the healthcare studio division. Staples has been the lead architect in the design of numerous hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the United States for over 10 years and brings an extensive knowledge to lead the development of the Healthcare Studio. Staples' new position will enable JMA to meet the demands of growth by their varied healthcare clients and will help fill the medical facility needs of Southern Nevada's expanding population.

James A. Morris, P.E. has joined ABF Consulting Engineers as vice president of the Arizona electrical division. James will be responsible for the overall leadership of electrical engineering for the Arizona Division. He is a registered electrical engineer in Arizona, California and Oregon and is affiliated with IEEE and IAEI.

James earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical & electronic engineering from Arizona State University.

Heitmann & Associates Inc., an established building enclosure consulting firm to many in the A/E/C community since 1966, is pleased to announce our western expansion by opening an office in Phoenix, Arizona. Larry Vondrasek has joined the firm as manager - western region. The combination of our expansion and the addition of Larry enhances our commitment and dedication to our projects and clients in that region, and ads further value to our organization.

Mr. Vondrasek brings with him nearly 30 years of experience in the building enclosure industry. Most recently, Larry was with Masonry Arts, Inc.