Alabama

Stone Construction Equipment Inc. recently appointed Bob Webb of Gulf Shores, Ala., as district manager. Webb's responsibilities will include serving the needs of equipment dealers and rental houses in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Stone Construction Equipment designs, manufactures and markets construction equipment, including concrete and mortar mixers, ride-on asphalt and dirt rollers, trench compactors and block saws.

Arkansas

James M. Yeary II, an architect in the Little Rock office of Yeary Lindsey Architects, has been elected vice president of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for 2005.

Other officers include Jeff Steiling of the Cahoon firm in Jonesboro, Ark., president; Galen Hunter of MAHG Architecture of Fort Smith, Ark., treasurer; and Thad Kelly III of Cromwell Architects Engineers of Fayetteville, Ark., secretary.

Mississippi

The American Society of Civil Engineers has named Hibbett Neel, president of Neel-Schaffer Inc. of Jackson, Miss., as the Zone II recipient of the 2004 Diversity Champion Award.

Neel-Schaffer is an engineering, architectural and planning firm with offices located throughout the southeastern United States.

This distinction is given annually on a civil engineer in each of four U. S. zones based on his or her contributions toward increasing diversification in the professional engineering community. The ASCE Committee on Diversity and Women in Civil Engineering evaluates applicants.

"I am honored to have received this award," Neel said. "Benefits of a diverse workforce are tangible and reward all."

Neel established a scholarship for disadvantaged minority civil engineering students at both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi. Later, the program was expanded to include both Jackson State University and Tennessee State University.

Nathaniel J. Cummins has joined the staff of May & Co. LLP, an accounting firm in Vicksburg Miss.

Cummins received a master's degree in taxation from Mississippi State University. He was a staff accountant for Harper, Rains, Knight and Company prior to joining May & Co.

Wendy Barnes has joined Guild Hardy Architects' Biloxi, Miss., office as an on-staff engineer. Barnes, an Ocean Springs native, has more than 10 years of experience in the civil engineering field, including the Mississippi Department of Health Division of Water Supply as a regional engineer.

Barnes graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University.

Cristi Wolfe has joined Guild Hardy's Gulfport, Miss., office as one of the firm's two full-time interior designers. A native of Vicksburg, Wolfe has more than six years of experience in the interior design field. She received a bachelor's degree in interior design in 1998 from the University of Mississippi and in 2003 she received a master's degree in interior architecture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Tennessee

ETI Corp. of Germantown, Tenn., an engineering, land planning and landscape architecture design firm, recently announced that the following have been named principals and officers: Stacy Morris, Dan Graddy, Mike Swindel and Vince Thillen.

Lytle C. Troutt, previously vice president and manager of South Central operations at AMEC's Earth & Environmental office in Nashville, Tenn., has been promoted to senior vice president of the firm's Southeast region.

He has been with the firm for 14 years.

Quality Assurance professional Darrell Srdoc joins Safety and Ecology Corporation of Knoxville, Tenn., as corporate QA manager. He has specialized in integrated management systems with areas of expertise in quality management systems, environmental management systems, integrated safety management systems, nuclear safety management, nuclear quality assurance, conduct of operations, root cause analysis, process mapping and gap analyses.

As QA Manager, he will plan, direct and manage quality assurance activities concerned with the development, application, and maintenance of quality standards for all SEC processes.

Srdoc will establish and maintain contacts with operations, procurement, construction, project management and controls, other corporate divisions, quality assurance management representatives and regulatory agencies as required. He will perform analysis of customer and regulatory requirements; serve as the primary QA resource within SEC for all issues pertaining to quality.

One of Srdoc's goals is to support the company's desire to improve the business infrastructure while elevating SEC's QA program to a new level.

"I am extremely impressed with senior management's knowledge of QA requirements and their candid respect for QA," Srdoc said. "It is my perception that with SEC's continued rapid growth, it is encouraging to see the proactive measures being taken by the senior management team."

Regional

Wayne Allen received Putzmeister America's Regional Sales Manager (RSM) of the Year award in January.

Allen has worked in the construction industry for 25 years, including 12 years with Putzmeister, and provides concrete pump and conveyor sales coverage to the company's south central region: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

The annual Putzmeister RSM award is awarded to individuals with significant professional and personal qualities important in serving customers with the highest level of sales support.

Deere & Company recently announced that Samuel R. Allen would become president, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, succeeding Pierre E. Leroy.

Deere & Company said Leroy elected to retire after 29 years of service, including 20 years as an officer of the company. For the past nine years, Leroy has served as President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division.

"Pierre Leroy has been known for pioneering new concepts to drive business performance," said Robert W. Lane, chairman and chief executive officer. "Pierre led the construction and forestry division to record earnings and SVA (shareholder value added) in our 2004 fiscal year."

Earlier this year, Leroy was selected as one of the "Seventy-five Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise magazine. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Fortune Brands.

Sloan Valve Company recently honored Ren Owen, vice president of business development, with an award signifying his 40 years of service to the company.

Sloan President and CEO Chuck Allen, who presented the 40-year service award to Owen, expressed his appreciation for Owen's contributions and dedication to Sloan Valve Company.

"I have had the privilege of working alongside Ren for many years and am pleased to acknowledge his tireless service and efforts to make Sloan Valve Company the superior plumbing service and solution provider that it is today," said Allen.

Sloan Valve Company of Franklin Park, Ill., is a manufacturer of water-conserving plumbing systems and has been in operation since 1906.