Tom Fortier, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, joins HOK’s San Francisco studio as vice president and director of science and technology. In his new role, Fortier will guide the group’s strategic initiatives while leading individual projects. Bringing 30 years of experience to the company, he has lead the design and delivery of several research facility projects.
Seminole State College of Florida President Dr. Ann E. McGee is the recipient of the 2013 James B. Greene Economic Development Award, given by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) in recognition of her contribution to the economic prosperity of Central Florida. McGee has served as Seminole State’s president since 1996. Under her leadership, the college has evolved from a single-campus community college to a four-campus state college.
Brook Louis Meier has joined the Milwaukee office of architecture and experience design firm Kahler Slater as a project leader in the firm’s higher education practice area. In his new role, Meier will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, managing project teams and leading design efforts on a variety of higher education projects across the country.
Rich Driggs is now the national director of construction management and design-build at Heery International. Holding over 22 years of construction real estate experience, Driggs comes to the company from Lend Lease Corporation, where he served as executive vice president and head of Integrated Projects—Americas. He was responsible for business in excess of $1 billion annually and served key clients in various industries, including higher education and the K-12 education sector.
Shannon Meyer has been named a principal at KSQ Architects. Meyer has served as KSQ’s director of interior design since 2010. She provides guidance to interior designs on projects nationwide and also provides leadership in business development efforts. Her recent clients include Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University.
Erica Hauck recently joined HGA Architects and Engineers as business developer in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Hauck will implement business development and marketing strategies in health care, higher education and government/corporate market sectors in southern California. Hauck has more than 15 years of marketing, business development and strategic planning experience for architecture, engineering and construction firms.
Skanska USA Building hired industry veteran Mark Miller, LEED AP, as project director for its growing New Haven, Conn., office. Miller brings more than 21 years of construction expertise to the company, with a history of completing several projects in various industries, including health care and higher education.
Recently named director of project development for the northern region of Heery International, Jeffrey Nicholas will lend extensive knowledge and experience to project delivery and business development activities for the firm. His background includes projects as an owner’s program manager, construction manager, and design-build developer for several higher education institutions.
Kurt Haapala AIA, LEEP AP, has been named principal at Mahlum. With nearly 18 years of experience in architecture, Haapala is a frequent speaker and panel participant on environmental responsibility in the design of higher education and student housing projects. Throughout his career, he worked on multiple projects for post-secondary educational clients.
Steve Nelson has been hired to serve C.W. Driver as its new vice president of estimating in the firm’s Pasadena office. In this position, Nelson will act as a trusted advisor for company clients and will be responsible for providing estimates on the firm’s preconstruction services and proposals. A 30-year industry veteran, Nelson and his extensive experience are crucial for various practice areas including education projects.
