Alabama

Cooper Construction Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., recently hired John Friedberg as a new project manager.

Friedberg joined the company after seven years with Ditch Witch of Alabama. He recently graduated from Auburn University with a degree in building science.

He is currently working on the Mercedes Service Parts Central Warehouse in Vance, Ala. The facility is a two-story, 520,000-sq.-ft. parts distribution center.

Arkansas

MAY Construction Co. of Little Rock, Ark., recently promoted Allen Witcher from assistant project manager to project manager, JoAnn White from contracts administrator to senior contracts administrator, and Jennifer Ward from receptionist to contracts administrator.

Headquartered in Little Rock, with a division in northwest Arkansas, MAY's focus is on retail/commercial, industrial/distribution and assisted living/multi-family projects.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently gave five distinguished civil engineers Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) awards for lifetime contributions to the profession. The awards were presented in April at ASCE's Sixth Annual OPAL awards gala at the Sheraton Premier in Tyson's Corner, Va.

One of the recipients was retired Rear Admiral Michael R. Johnson, associate vice chancellor for the University of Arkansas, awarded for lifetime achievement in public works.

Previously, Johnson commanded the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and was chief of civil engineers from 2000-2003.

Mississippi

Bob Gist was recently named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Roy Anderson Corp. of Gulfport, Miss. Gist was previously senior vice president of operations at CENTEX Construction Co. in Dallas.

Gist brings more than 25 years of extensive senior-level expertise in construction to his new position. He has served in numerous leadership capacities on a wide range of projects, including hospitality, government, healthcare and commercial facilities.

Mark B. Wilson has joined the Jackson office of Smith, Turner & Reeves CPAs as a senior manager in the audit and consulting areas. He is re-entering public accounting after serving as a CFO with Yates Construction Cos.

Wilson worked for 10 years with KPMG LLP.

Hunter Arnold has been promoted to vice president of Waggoner Engineering Inc. of Jackson. He previously served as director and a project manager for the water/wastewater division and joined the firm in 1990.

Stan Wright has been promoted to director of transportation. He previously served as project manager and a project engineer in the transportation division.

Tennessee

Susan Carson, an eight-year member of the Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and promoter of education and careers in the construction industry, was recently named president of the NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF).

She is also a member of the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).

NEF is committed to providing and promoting educational opportunities and programs to benefit the construction industry and serves as the educational arm of NAWIC, a national association enhancing the success of women in the construction industry.