Lawrence G. Griffis, PE, of Houston-based Walter P. Moore & Associates was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Election to the academy is among the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer.
Academy membership honors those who have made "important contributions to engineering theory and practice."

Griffis was specifically recognized for his "contributions to the structural design and wind engineering of composite buildings and open, covered and retractable-roof sports arenas."

Celebrating his 31st anniversary with Walter P. Moore, Griffis is president of the firm's Structures Division. He is a senior principal of the firm and based in the company's Austin office.

Philip H. Shoemaker, PE, recently joined the Austin office of Houston-based Gilbane Building Co. as special projects manager.

Shoemaker has over 38 years of experience in the design and construction industries and has been involved in multiple civil engineering projects, including serving as associate director for program management for the University of Texas System.

Shoemaker is a U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., graduate and is a retired U.S. Army colonel. He earned a master's degree in construction management from Oklahoma State University and is a registered professional engineer.

Tom Minzak recently rejoined Irving-based Hoss Equipment Co. as senior sales representative and equipment appraiser.

Minzak has 25 years of experience in the sales and appraisal of heavy construction equipment with such firms as Riggs Tractor Co., Hoss, HC Machinery and Rust Tractor.

A member of the Equipment Appraisers Association of North America, Minzak's experience includes success throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Larry Wells recently joined Arlington-based general contractor Buford-Thompson Co. as chief estimator and has already helped the firm obtain contracts for $35 million in new construction projects.

A native of Tacoma, Wash., Wells has more than 30 years experience in all phases of commercial estimating and contract negotiation.

Jesse E. Coleman, PE, recently joined Fort Worth-based Spec-Technical as a part of the company's new engineering division. Coleman is now serving as vice president of geotechnical engineering services.

He is a civil engineering graduate of Lamar State College of Technology and also earned a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

A registered professional engineer in Texas, Coleman has over 35 years of engineering experience, including directing quality control plans, geotechnical and construction materials projects and environmental services.

He is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Foundation Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Brandon Murphy recently joined Austin-based DPR Construction Inc. as a project manager.

Murphy has 10 years of experience in Texas and Colorado with a focus on healthcare, build-to-suit office buildings and mid- and high-rise residential projects. Prior to joining DPR, he was a project manager for Dallas-based Centex Construction Co. and The Weitz Group, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Murphy is a building construction and contracting graduate of Purdue University.

William G. Stein and John W. Nelson have been named associates of Austin-based environmental engineering services firm LBG-Guyton Associates.

Stein has nearly 20 years of professional hydrogeologic experience and holds a bachelor's degree in geology and master's degree in hydrogeology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He will be headquartered in the firm's Austin office.

Nelson, who will be located in the company's Houston office, has an undergraduate degree in geology from Murray State University and a master's degree in geology from Mississippi State University.

Both are members of the American Water Resources Association and the Texas Ground Water Association.

Jon Vidaurri and Nathan Harrison recently received promotions at the Fort Worth-based general contracting firm of Steele & Freeman.

Vidaurri was promoted to director of business development and is now responsible for the firm's marketing program, new business efforts and client relations. He joined the company in 1999 as a project manager and has experience in all facets of the construction management industry.

Harrison was promoted to project manager. He has worked for Steele & Freeman for 10 years, most recently as an assistant project manager. He will specialize in managing educational construction projects for the company.