CMX has hired a new director of business development, a vice president of business development and promoted 15 to principal.

Phoenix-based engineering firm CMX has announced the hiring of Katherine Gordon-Wheat as director of business development and Chris Nations as CMX sports engineers' vice president of business development.

Gordon-Wheat will oversee CMX's efforts in the areas of strategic marketing, public and private sector business development, and client relationships. She has extensive experience with public sector clients including ADOT, Maricopa County, Pima County and several cities in the valley. A native of Phoenix, she has spent her entire career providing professional consulting services in the Arizona market. She serves as a member of the Pinal County Transportation & Government Relations Committee and the Arizona Council of Engineering Companies' Roads & Streets Conference Planning Committee.

In a newly-created position, Nations will direct CMX's sports sales and marketing efforts. He has more than 12 years of sports facility design and project management experience including serving in athletic administration at University of Maryland, Arizona State University, Santa Clara University and Indiana State University. Most recently, he served as director of design and construction for International Coliseums Company, overseeing all aspects of design, construction and procurement for over $400 million in projects. He is a graduate of Indiana University and earned his master's degree from Indiana State.

As part of CMX's merger with national engineering company Schoor DePalma, the Phoenix-based engineering firm has also promoted 15 staffers to the position of principal and include: Matt Beaman, Chris Bird, Hector Calderon, Shelby Duplessis, Garry Jaggers, Kevin Kammerzell, Sherri Koshiol, Curtis Krausman, Kirk Pangus, Jim Perryman, Vic Pilar, George Swarstad, Eric Teel, Ted Tindall and Gary Wagner.

Louis Widemire has been promoted to human resource director for Perini Building Company and is responsible for the human resource department. Widemire will oversee recruitment efforts, including interviewing and hiring new personnel. Other job duties include overseeing employee transfers, promotions, terminations and grievances. To retain Perini's competitiveness in the work force, Widemire will conduct labor market wage surveys and review compensation packages. Recommendations for change will be made to senior management as needed. Widemire has 15 years of experience working as a human resource professional. Before joining Perini, he worked for KBR LOGCAP III investigating and reporting resolutions for ER issues throughout the C-Sites in the Iraq Theatre. He has worked for a number of major contractors, including Turner Industries Group and AMEC Kamtech Inc.

The Korte Company recently promoted Bill Baer to senior vice president of preconstruction services. Baer joined The Korte Company in 1985 after acquiring a bachelor degree in construction management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has worked in the preconstruction department and moved up to chief estimator and was then promoted to vice president of preconstruction in 1999. His main responsibility in his new position is bidding and procuring projects throughout the U.S.

V3 Companies of Arizona has promoted Nicole Riemersma, P.E., CFM to project manager in the water resources division. In this role, she will be responsible for the delivery of projects with practical solutions in stormwater management and floodplain analysis. Riemersma began her career six years ago in the Illinois Water Resources Division of V3 and relocated to Arizona in 2006. Riemersma joined V3 after obtaining her bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a licensed professional engineer in Arizona and Illinois, is a certified floodplain manager, and is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

V3 has also promoted Michael Den Bleyker, P.E. to commercial services leader in land development services. Den Bleyker has over ten years of experience in land development with a focus on the design and management of commercial and retail developments. Den Bleyker began his career in V3's Illinois office before joining the Arizona team in 2005. Den Bleyker earned his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a registered professional engineer in both Arizona and Illinois.

Larry Allen, AIA, has been promoted to principal at RNL. Allen has been with RNL for six years. Allen has been instrumental in the Phoenix office's growth, which has seen a 245% increase in revenue since 2002. The Phoenix office's revenues totaled more than $2,500,000 in 2006, and are projected to reach $3,000,000 in 2007. The Phoenix office opened in 1998 and has grown from seven employees in 2002 to 22 employees today.

Recent additional promotions in the Phoenix office include Ken Anderson, AIA, LEED AP, who was promoted to senior associate, and Chris Ledwith, AIA, LEED AP, who was promoted to associate.

Barton Malow Company has hired Jeff Deitschel as project director. Deitschel brings more than 21 years of construction experience to Barton Malow. His market experience includes healthcare, special events, commercial and technology. Past project experience includes the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center and Parking Garage, City of Surprise Spring Training Facility and Recreation Campus and St. Joseph's Hospital Barrow Neurological Institute Patient Care Tower. As project director, Deitschel will oversee projects from pre-construction through close-out. He holds a bachelor of science degree in construction management from Purdue University.

Barton Malow Company has also hired Maisha Christian as marketing coordinator. Christian brings more than seven years of construction, engineering and architectural experience to Barton Malow. As marketing coordinator, Christian will be responsible for managing the qualification, proposal and presentation processes. She will also maintain marketing databases, prepare marketing materials and coordinate western region marketing efforts. She holds an associate of business degree in marketing from Mesa Community College.

Ryan Washburn has been hired as a project manager for the northern Nevada office of Clark & Sullivan. In his new role, Washburn is responsible for performing job set-up, tracking job costs, writing subcontracts, client relations, and maintaining positive relationships with architects and subcontractors.

Washburn earned a bachelor of science in construction science and management from Kansas State University and a bachelor of business administration from Fort Hays State University.

W.E. O'Neil Construction Co. of Arizona recently hired William Torres and Luis Nieves as project superintendents. Torres is a 12 year veteran of the construction industry and will join W.E. O'Neil's Bass Pro Outdoor World Store Mesa project team. Nieves joins the firm with a 19 year construction background and will join the Stetson Canal Mixed-Use project team.

Johnson Carlier Inc. has promoted Rick Weiss to vice president operations. For the past 21 years, Weiss has served as construction manager for Johnson Carlier and brings extensive renovation and ground-up construction expertise to his new position. With a degree in construction from Arizona State University, Weiss will be responsible for the overall management of the operations department, helping to ensure the success of all Johnson Carlier public and private sector projects. Weiss is a past recipient of "Project Manager of the Year", an award presented by the ASA -Greater Phoenix Chapter, for innovation, performance and ethics in the construction industry.

Superior Industries has appointed Bill Criss as its new territory manager for conveyor component products in the Southwest region. Criss has 15 years of experience in the material handling industry as a territory manager for Good Year Tire and Rubber and in distribution sales of industrial rubber products. Headquartered near Reno, Criss will be working with components distributors in the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. His expertise will be particularly valuable as the demand for quality conveyor components in the region continues to grow.

Kristen Howard joins the Phoenix office of Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey as marketing coordinator. Howard brings nearly ten years of marketing experience, mostly in the architecture, engineering and construction and related industries. Howard holds a bachelors degree in business administration with a focus in marketing. Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey have also recently relocated their Phoenix and corporate office to 4343 East Camelback Road. The new location near the Camelback Corridor accommodates recent staff growth.

ROEL Construction hired Frank Bruce as project manager. Bruce has over 12 year of experience in the construction industry and recently worked for JD Construction Inc. He attended California State University, Fresno for construction courses.

Nelson Mascareñas was also hired by ROEL as assistant project manager. Mascareñas recently worked for American Asphalt & Grading Co. and has been in the construction industry for two years.

ROEL also hired Russell Capaldi as superintendent. Capaldi recently worked for Bentar Development and has over 28 years experience in the construction industry.

Kim Clausen was hired by ROEL as project coordinator. Clausen has been in the construction industry for five years and recently worked for YWS Architects. Kim graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor's degree in business management.

Opus West Corporation has hired Philip Hamilton as senior director of real estate, where he will oversee the development and leasing of office projects in greater Phoenix and evaluate future development opportunity in the marketplace. Hamilton previously served as a senior development manager for Shea Properties. Hamilton also has served as senior vice president of operations for The Plaza Companies and as managing director of Trammell Crow Company's New Mexico and West Texas operations. Hamilton received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas in Austin, a master's degree in finance and real estate from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a master's degree in international finance from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Alexandra Vailas has taken the position of director of communications for AIA Arizona, located in Phoenix. A recent graduate of Arizona State's College of Interdisciplinary Studies with emphases in business and communication, most of her previous positions have involved communication for the fine arts due to her passion and devotion to music in her spare time.
In her new position, Vailas will work to communicate the vitality of architecture to Arizona communities. Vailas will also promote AIA Arizona's role in being a support system and resource within the architectural community.

To submit personnel news announcements, please send information and color photographs to: Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com