|
Arizona Construction Leader Sundt Passes at 75
H. Wilson Sundt, former chairman and CEO of Sundt Construction Inc., passed away May 12th after a long battle with cancer. Born in Wenonah, N.J. in 1932, Wilson graduated from Tucson High School and received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Arizona in 1954, where he was first in his class. He then served as an officer in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.
 |
| H. Wilson Sundt |
He first worked for M.M. Sundt Construction Co., the company his grandfather founded in 1890, during summer school breaks starting in 1948. He returned to work for the company in 1957 when his military service ended, and stayed for the rest of his career until he retired in 1999.
Under Wilson’s leadership, the company grew to be one of the 100 largest general contractors in the U.S., now known as Sundt Construction Inc.
Wilson was well known for his community leadership. He was a member of the Tucson Conquistadors and served on several boards, including Tucson Electric Power, University of Arizona Foundation and Tucson Airport Authority, which he also served as chairman.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce recognized his business leadership in 1989 with its first Free Enterprise Award. The University of Arizona twice recognized him, once in 1982 as a Distinguished Citizen, and in 1989 with a Medallion awarded to "outstanding graduates contributing to business, public, cultural and educational fields in their community and nation." In 2000, he was the recipient of the "Founders Award," presented by the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
On May 1st, Wilson and his brother Robert were honored with the 2008 Arizona Construction Industry Pioneer Award from the Construction Financial Management Association.
Wilson is survived by his wife Dottie, brother Robert, children Tom, Jerry and Perri Touche and six grandchildren.
Granite Construction has hired Shawn St. Jacques as an engineer for Granite’s Nevada operations. In his new role, St. Jacques will analyze preliminary design, calculate and draft detailed project drawings and research solutions to technical problems. St. Jacques graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering.
The Korte Company has hired Bryan Bixman as project engineer to its Las Vegas project management staff. Bixman has over 15 years of construction experience in various capacities. He will be assigned to several projects at the Molasky Corporate Center.
Korte Company also re-assigned two key staff members, Ned Chavez and Nathan Sievers. Chavez will move from the preconstruction department to assume the responsibilities of project manager. Sievers will leave project management and become manager of the special services department. Both moves are in response to the continued growth and success of the Las Vegas’ operations.
Perini Building Company has promoted Marla Matthews to estimating manager.
Matthews is responsible for overseeing and organizing preconstruction deliverables, including proposals and project estimates on multiple projects in the Phoenix market. In addition, Matthews serves as Perini’s client representative on projects she is managing. Matthews has 21 years of preconstruction experience, including seven years as a senior estimator with Perini.
Perini has also promoted Aurelio Mayorga to director of information management. As director of information management, Mayorga is responsible for the management of company documents and records along with researching, recommending and assisting in implementing business information software systems. He also serves as the company’s specialist in project closeout.
Mayorga has over 14 years of construction management experience and has a bachelor of science in construction management from the University of Nevada.
Brian Rowland has been named president of the Rowland Companies. Previously, Rowland had been managing principal, western region for the company, managing a regional staff of 40. Under his direction, annual revenues increased from $15 million to $45 million. He also had served as chief financial officer and vice president of finance.
Rowland was vice president and project manager of a semi-custom homebuilder in 1998. Before starting the firm, he had been controller for W.P. Rowland Constructors Corp. and, previously, worked in the audit division of KMPG.
He holds a master of business administration from Arizona State University and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Arizona.
Mark Adams has been hired as principal and interior architecture studio leader for the Phoenix office of SmithGroup. Adams will assume leadership of the firm’s interior design practice in Arizona and the Southwest.
Prior to SmithGroup, Adams was principal and director of operations for the Phoenix office of OWP/P. Adams received his bachelor of interior design from the Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago after attending Iowa State University. He is a professional member of the International Interior Design Association and active in the International Facilities Management Association.
Austin Commercial has named Christopher Petroff as its new marketing manager for the southwest division. Petroff, a Phoenix native, will be managing and increasing Austin Commercial’s marketing and business development efforts for the southwest division. Prior to joining Austin Commercial, he worked in the valley’s home building market where he worked with and led various sales and business development teams. Petroff has a bachelor of science in business administration from Northern Arizona University.
KKE Architects Inc. has expanded to serve Arizona’s anticipated growth. The firm has opened offices in both Phoenix and Tucson. In Tucson, KKE has acquired Gresham & Beach Architects Inc., now KKE Gresham & Beach. Managing principal Richard Beach will lead overall operations and design efforts.
In Phoenix, KKE has hired Ken Lufkin, George Sheller and Nader Kavakeb. Lufkin will serve as managing principal for the office. Sheller will be principal, responsible for new business development and account growth. Kavakeb will be director of design.
Lufkin and Kavakeb join KKE from Phoenix-based Jacobs Carter Burgess. Prior to becoming unit manager of the JCB Phoenix office’s building programs unit, Lufkin played a leadership role at Langdon Wilson Architecture for 12 years.
Sheller brings more than three decades of experience in commercial, industrial, office and planning projects in the Phoenix area and across the Southwest. For the past 12 years, he owned and operated Sheller Architecture Inc. Sheller previously held leadership positions with Cornoyer-Hedrick Inc., Sheller-Yantzer Architectural Group Inc. and Dick, Fritsche, Yantzer and Sheller.
Senior project manager, Jeff Rind joins Johnson Carlier with 34 years of project management experience in commercial, industrial and residential construction. A graduate of New Mexico Junior College, Rind previously provided construction services to firms in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.
George Kordie has also joined Johnson Carlier as project manager. Relocating from Michigan with a bachelor of science in construction engineering from Lawrence Institute of Technology, Kordie brings 33 years of experience in all phases of construction.
Also joining the Johnson Carlier team of professionals is Christopher Sears, project superintendent. Sears has been involved in construction for the past 12 years in Arizona and Southern California, with extensive experience in commercial and residential construction.
Tempe architecture firm, DAVIS (formerly DFD CornoyerHedrick), has appointed Allison Van Dyke director of marketing to unite all marketing efforts and create a solid marketing program. Arizona native and DAVIS "Ambassador" for 18 months, Van Dyke has a 12-year history as marketing and branding consultant to clients such as Disney Channel, Jenny Craig International, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Duracell. The recent rebranding to DAVIS was completed in-house under Van Dyke’s direction.
Kevin Korczyk, creative director, is the "Creative Mastermind" and keeper of the DAVIS brand. Scot Bennett, principal and director of client fulfillment provides client care and seeks out new project opportunities.
Ryan Companies US Inc. has opened a satellite office in Flagstaff in order to accommodate growing demand for its design-build services in Northern Arizona. Ryan Companies has already developed several projects in the area, including the NAU College of Business Administration building and the recently completed NAU Conference Center. Ryan Companies’ Flagstaff office will oversee a variety of new projects. The new office is located at 405 North Beaver St., Suite 10, 3rd Floor, in the Beaver Street Professional Building.
To submit personnel news announcements, please send information and color photographs to: Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com. |
print this page
e-mail this page
