People in the News – Jan/Feb 2006

A/E/C

SchenkelShultz Architecture announced the promotion of Joseph S. Toth, AIA, to principal of K-12 educational project development for Florida. Notable Florida projects of Toth’s include Palm Springs Community Middle School, Atlantic High School in Palm Beach County and Martin County Middle School AA in Martin County.

Toth	Davenport	French	Wiederholt	Swenson

DLR Group announced the addition of Griff Davenport, AIA, as managing principal. Jim French, AIA, and Dennis Wiederholt have been named senior principals. Davenport has served as office director in Minneapolis and has been principal in charge for much of the firm’s work in the K-12 education and higher education markets. French specializes in K-12 educational facility design. Wiederholt is the group’s chief financial officer and works in the Omaha office.

Craig Randock, AIA, brings more than 20 years of experience with higher education, research laboratories and master planning to RNL Design. Based in the company’s Phoenix office, Randock is responsible for leading the office’s programming, planning and design efforts. Randock comes to RNL from the Phoenix office of SmithGroup where he was the design principal. Randock was involved in the University of Arizona College of Medicine expansion at the historic Phoenix Union High School campus and the renovation of the 411 North Central building for the new Arizona State University downtown campus.

Candee A. Swenson, retired superintendent of Longwood Central School District, one of the largest districts on Long Island, has been appointed educational planner with The Thomas Group. Swenson will focus on providing educational planning services to New York State school districts. Swenson’s career in education spans 32 years, including experience in school capital construction projects. While at Longwood CSD, she completed two major bond issues totaling $138 million that included renovations, additions and technology.

TR,i Architects hired Craig N. Veile as senior designer. Veile has more than 25 years’ experience in architectural and design services and will focus on the firm’s educational projects.

Sparks Education, an architectural, engineering and interior design firm, announced three new employees. Laura Dangott, a graduate of Northeastern State University with a bachelor’s in business administration, joins as an administrative assistant and will be coordinating the work for the firm’s education team. Jon Rissler joins the firm as a CAD technician for the engineering department, where he will create drawings for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Ryan Strode, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, joins the firm as a project coordinator. He will be working with schools to create environments that enhance learning.

Richard G. “Rick” Petricek, AIA, has been named studio director for the Rolling Meadows, Ill., office of Gilfillan Callahan Architects. Petricek brings more than 25 years of experience on the design of K-12, higher education and public community facilities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. His recent projects include Lake Park High School District 108, Lombard Elementary School District 44 and Triton College.

Petricek	Pryor Jr.	Hyde	Shekoski

DeJong, an education facility planning firm, hired Scott Leopold and Robb Watson as geographic information systems technician and project coordinator, respectively. The firm has developed more than 400 master plans for school districts.

Fred H. Pryor Jr., president and managing principal of HuntonBrady Architects, died. He was one of five partners of the 58-year-old Orlando firm.

Jerrold M. Dinkels, P.E., joined STV Inc. as vice president and eastern region manager of projects for its buildings and facilities division. In this role, he will be responsible for project/program management and delivery of all phases of architectural/engineering services in the region. STV’s education commissions include the design of two new dormitories for the State University of New York in New Paltz and the new Thomas Jefferson Hall library for the West Point Military Academy in New York.

Paul Kurklen joins Macro Consultants Inc., a project management and consulting firm specializing in real estate development, tenant improvement, and furniture, fixtures and equipment, as senior project manager. Kurklen is currently involved in projects at Long Island University’s Athletic Recreation and Wellness Center and the Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction hired Mike Misner, a former superintendent, principal and teacher, as educational community liaison. Misner is a member of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, the Arizona School Board Association and the National Association of Turf Builders. A&P provides construction management, design/build, and general contracting services to clients in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Texas.

ASSOCIATIONS

The American Institute of Architects and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture jointly announced that architect and professor William G. McMinn, FAIA, has been named the 2006 recipient of the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education. The Topaz Medallion honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to architecture education for at least 10 years, whose teaching has influenced a broad range of students, and who has helped shape the minds of those who will shape our environment. The award will be presented at the ACSA annual meeting in late March in Salt Lake City and in early June at the 2006 AIA National Convention in Los Angeles.

MANUFACTURERS

KI hired Yancy Thompson as district manager for the greater New York City and Northern New Jersey territory. His primary responsibilities include successfully executing the district’s annual business and marketing plans. Thompson has 20 years of experience in the contract furniture industry, all within the greater New York City area, with firms such as Steelcase, Knoll and Herman Miller. KI manufactures innovative furniture and wall systems for educational, health care, business, commercial and government markets.

Hoffend, creator of the Vortek theater rigging system, announced the addition of Michael L. Hyde as western regional sales manager. In his new position, Hyde will supervise sales and installation of Vortek systems throughout the western states including Colorado, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas. Hyde previously spent more than 26 years with Stagecraft, where he was responsible for rigging installations for more than 100 college and high school projects.

SierraPine Ltd., a manufacturer of composite panels, announced that Wade Gregory will replace Bill Black as president. The company’s panel products are EPP- and SCS-certified for recycled and recovered fiber content. Wade is past chairman of the Composite Panel Association and a current board member of the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers.

Primex Wireless Inc., manufacturer of wireless synchronized communication and control systems, appointed Paul Shekoski chief executive officer of the Primex Family of Companies, its parent conglomerate, which includes five technology, industrial and retail business units. Shekoski has two decades of global high technology experience.