Cheri Edelman and David Bowers have been named to key positions within the Public Works Department. Edelman, a licensed professional engineer, is the new city engineer and Public Works deputy director. She will manage the City Engineer Division and be responsible for the planning, funding, design and construction inspection of capital improvement projects. In addition, she will oversee permits and inspections of public off-site improvements, utility installations for private development and right-of-way acquisitions. Edelman had held the position of assistant city engineer for six years. She joined the city of Las Vegas in 1996 and during her first six years, she worked as an engineering project manager in the Development Coordination Section of Public Works.

As assistant city engineer, Bowers, a licensed professional engineer and professional traffic operations engineer, joined the city of Las Vegas as a program manager in 2005. He will directly oversee the staff of 63 employees in the City Engineer Division and manage more than $1.3 billion in infrastructure projects.

Associated Contractors of New Mexico elected Gray Kite (Kiewit New Mexico Co., Albuquerque) as its 2009 Chapter President. Other officers include D’Auna Wood (WW Construction, Albuquerque) as chapter vice president and Alan Stott (James Hamilton Construction, Silver City) as treasurer.

The association’s board members include Rod Billingsley (Billingsley Engineering, Las Vegas, N.M.), Ernie Carlson (Constructors Inc., Carlsbad), Jeff Hayes (Hasse Contracting, Albuquerque), Pat Magill (Armstrong Construction, Roswell), Michael Moehn (Fisher Sand & Gravel, Placitas), David Otoski (Mountain States Constructors, Albuquerque) and Benny Roybal (Cutler Repaving, Espanola).

SMPC Architects has promoted Greg Gerwin, Phil Stevens, Peggy Favour, Tymn Waters, Mathew Miller, Chandni Patwa, Lisa Logan, Mark Jaramillo and Tanija Mock to associates at the Albuquerque-based firm.

Steve L. Rambo, P.E., has joined Spectrum Engineers Inc. Phoenix office as a principal. Rambo is a registered professional engineer with 32 years of mechanical engineering experience. He possesses experience providing mechanical engineering for healthcare, higher education, K-12, Department of Defense and other government entities among others.

Uli Mack has been promoted from sales manager to general manager at Mardian Equipment Co. Inc. Mack received his bachelor of science in Electronics Engineering from DeVry University in Phoenix. Mack has been with Mardian Equipment Co. Inc. since 1998, when he was hired in the Service Department, and is an invaluable part of Mardian Equipment Co., Inc.

Perini Building Company promoted Richard Bartels to director of quality assurance, quality control and post construction. Bartels works with owners, architects, subcontractors and personnel to oversee quality control on projects nationwide. Bartels has worked at Perini for over 30 years. Prior to working in post construction services, Bartels was a project superintendent for 20 years.

Robert Lehman has joined the CSHQA team. Lehman has over 30 years experience in the industry - from architectural, electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, piping (petro-chemical and retail), to teaching AutoCAD usage and customization. His expertise includes entitlements, construction documents, construction administration and client-consultant coordination for various retail projects.

Michael A. Romero has been appointed Phoenix office manager for MACTEC Engineering and Consulting. Romero supervises a staff of 85. Romero has managed a number of significant projects for MACTEC in recent years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in technology education from the School of Engineering, Northern Arizona University.

S. Casey Smith has joined SAK Construction LLC. Smith will serve as area manager for SAK’s Western region, based in Phoenix. SAK serves a variety of city, county and state agencies; industrial sectors; municipalities and water and sewer cooperatives. He previously served as director of construction operations for Torrent Resources Inc. in its operations in Arizona and Southern California. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in science and engineering from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Ralph Korte, who founded The Korte Company in 1958, with little more than a truck and a saw, has announced his retirement from the company. The formal announcement came during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration when Korte took the stage. In his address, Korte noted the company’s humble beginnings and the many people who helped shape the company along the way. During his fifty years at The Korte Company, his values and passion for building have had a resounding influence on not only the company’s employees and clients, but the industry as a whole.

BJG Architecture + Engineering appointed Shaun Yauch as director of regional operations for the company after the recent retirement of Ed DeLorenzo, principal in charge of operations for the Las Vegas office. Prior to accepting the position, Yauch served as project manager for the Las Vegas office of BJG. Yauch is responsible for ensuring production standards, monitoring quality control processes for projects and schematic design through construction administration. Prior to joining BJG as a project manager in 2004, Yauch served as project manager for HCA Architects. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Arizona.

Bob Mulhern has been named managing director of Colliers International Phoenix region and will be responsible for leading the Phoenix and Scottsdale offices. Mulhern is a respected industry veteran with more than 25 years experience and a successful track record managing brokerage, development and property management organizations. He comes to Colliers from Reliance Companies, where he held the position of president for five years. Mulhern’s previous experience includes vice president of development for Ryan Companies, senior managing director of CB Richard Ellis in Phoenix, and vice president and portfolio manager for The Koll Company. Mulhern is a past president and current board member of the Arizona chapter of NAIOP. He earned a Master of Science and master of business administration from Arizona State University.

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