Kathy M. Fetters, manager of business development for the Kajima Construction Services, was recently named the winner of the National Association of Women in Construction Atlanta Chapter's Construction Visionary Award. The award celebrates the achievements of those who see a role for women in the construction industry and promote, expand and encourage women to become a part of the industry.
Award nominees were required to have achieved a position of significance and authority and to have actively encouraged, empowered and promoted inclusion in ways that benefit women in construction. Ms. Fetters was nominated by co-workers, for her interest in developing opportunities and growth for women within the company and community. The Atlanta Chapter of NAWIC will submit Ms. Fetters for the national Crystal Vision Award in 2005. Other nominees included various prominent men and women within the construction industry.

Since 1989, Ms. Fetters has provided marketing and business development services for engineering and architecture firms in the Metroplex. After spending two years as the manager of business development for the southwest region of Kajima Construction Services, she was recently promoted in the same role for the Central Region, a 25-state area including the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest regions of the country. Ms. Fetters' role at Kajima includes the management of national accounts, direction of marketing programs and analysis of regional economic development.

Ken Mireles has been hired by San Antonio-based Alamo Architects to lead strategic new business development initiatives and to manage the firm's marketing and public affairs activities. Mireles' background in the public arena includes serving in both terms of the Clinton Administration and three years as chief of staff to Bexar County Judge Nelson W. Wolff.

Prior to joining Alamo Architects, Mireles worked as chief of staff for Judge Wolff, helping to promote sound economic development and greater city-county cooperation. Mireles has also worked for the Department of Labor, the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior during the Clinton Administration. In addition, Mireles served as Director of Hispanic Outreach for the 1996 Clinton/Gore Presidential Campaign and subsequently served on the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Mireles has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Influential Hispanics in America by Hispanic Business Magazine and also won a Fellowship from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He presently serves on the boards of the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center and the San Antonio-Bexar County TRIAD Council, and is a member of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, Mireles also holds a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of Harvard University's Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Michael Behrens of Austin was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Incentive & Productivity Commission. The commission administers and promotes programs offering state employees incentives, rewards and recognition for ideas that enhance efficiency and productivity.

Behrens is executive director for the Texas Department of Transportation. He serves on the executive committee of the Transportation Research Board and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Offices and is president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Offices. Behrens received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.