Retired Turner Chief Executive Wins Dallas Mayoral Race

Also, construction, consulting and engineering firms name new management across the state.

Thomas C. Leppert, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Turner Corp., won a June 16 election to become mayor of Dallas. Leppert, 53, defeated Ed Oakley, a city councilman who owns a small construction contracting business.
This is Leppert's first elected political office.

Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC) named Charles Aldrete, P.E. as a senior project manager in the Transportation Division. Aldrete has 25 years of experience in the design and management of freeways, urban streets and multilane rural highways in Texas.

HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum) has appointed Earl Kincaid, AIA, CSI, as vice president the Dallas office of global design and services firm. In this position, he will be responsible for Quality Assurance / Quality Control on all project work in the Dallas office and implementation of all QA/QC policies. He will also oversee the office's Construction Administration services.

Skanska USA Building Inc. announced the appointment of Brian Freeman as manager of the Central Texas operations for Skanska. Freeman will be based in San Antonio. His responsibilities as the new manager include managing construction projects and securing new opportunities in the area.

Interface Consulting International Inc., announced that Jason A. Robin has joined the firm as project consultant. With a growing demand in the industrial marketplace, Robin will enhance the firm's ability to service clients. He will be responsible for quantifying and analyzing construction claims dealing with cost overruns, schedule delays and other project management issues for owners, contractors and their attorneys. Robin received a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas.

Lea+Elliott Inc. has elected Jack Norton as the firm's president and CEO. Norton succeeds Philip Castellana who has accepted a new role as the firm's principal responsible for the Dulles rail corridor expansion project for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Norton received a bachelor’s of science in mechanical engineering from South Dakota State University and a master's in business administration from Grand Valley State University.

JE Dunn South Central has announced that Joe Kummer has joined as assistant vice president. His new responsibilities at JE Dunn South Central include managing the construction of the new Kinesiology building at the University of Texas Southmost College in Brownsville and the GSA/US Land Port of Entry border station in McAllen. Kummer holds a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Kansas University. 

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. announced that Marshall T. Cheek, EIT, spoke at the 2007 TexITE Summer Meeting in Amarillo earlier this year. Cheek's presentation titled, "Intersection Queue Length Estimation with VIVDS," focused on an improved technique for detecting vehicles and estimating queue length during the red phase of a signal cycle using Video Imaging Vehicle Detection Systems. LAN also announced the appointment of David Morris as manager of operations for its Transportation Business Group. In addition, Morris will assist LAN's vice president of transportation, Thomas Turk, in corporate planning, manpower coordination and business development activities. Morris joins LAN following a distinguished career in the Federal Highway Administration.

SpawMaxwell has promoted Don Fernbach to principal. Fernbach has more than 21 years of experience in the construction industry. Fernbach has been with SpawMaxwell for seven years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University in industrial technology. The firm also has promoted Jim Ritsema to principal. Ritsema has more than 35 years of experience in all areas of construction management, estimating and marketing. Ritsema holds a degree from Ferris State University in construction technology and architectural drafting. SpawMaxwell also promoted Patrick Stanley to principal. Stanley has more than 26 years of experience in building management and construction. He has been with SpawMaxwell for eight years.

Teal Construction Co. has named Douglas Henning general superintendent. Henning has been with Teal, a Houston-based general contractor, for nine years and has 30 years experience in the construction industry. Patrick Garrett has been named as a project manager. He has served in various aspects of the construction industry for more than 36 years.