Arkansas

Chris Monroe has joined Bell-Corley Construction of Little Rock, Ark., as the director of business development.

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) recently elected J. R. Jones with Rheem Manufacturing of Fort Smith, Ark., as a vice president and director at large.

Jones was elected at ARI's annual meeting held Nov. 12-14 in Palm Springs, Calif. The ARI is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment.

Also at the meeting, Carl Bergt of Rheem Manufacturing received a 2006 Richard C. Schulze Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the industry.

Bergt received the award for the many hours he has dedicated to working with ARI staff and members in the redesign and implementation of the new ARI Directory of Certified Product Performance.

As principal engineer at Rheem Manufacturing, Bergt has lent his expertise as chairman of ARI's Unitary Small Compliance Committee.

In this role, he was instrumental in working with ARI members to ensure a smooth transition to the new 13 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) federal minimum standard that became effective January 2006.

Clay Gordon has been promoted to director of business development for the Central Arkansas Division of Nabholz Construction Corp.

Also, Daniel Quintero of Nabholz Construction was recently selected to represent the contractors and builders section on the Central Arkansas Steering Committee for the U.S. Green Building Council.

Quintero has been a project coordinator for Nabholz since 1999 and is responsible for onsite coordination and management.

The USGBC is comprised of leaders from every section of the construction industry, working to promote buildings that are environmentally conscious and safe places to live and work.

The USGBC strives to encourage creating buildings and communities in an environmentally responsible way that improves the quality of life.

Kinco Constructors LLC of Little Rock, Ark., recently announced the appointment of William Fletcher as vice president - head of operations.

In 1992, Fletcher graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in building construction. He brings more than 15 years of construction experience to the firm.

He was formerly with Nabholz Construction, where he served in an executive position in operations. Fletcher will be responsible for leading all operations and production for construction projects, contract procurement and other professional services provided by Kinco.

Founded in 1973, Kinco Constructors, LLC specializes in commercial, industrial, and healthcare construction and construction management.

Louisiana

DonahueFavret Contractors Inc. of Mandeville, La., has hired Andrew Tate as assistant project manager. Tate recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in construction management from LSU.

DonahueFavret Contractors was founded in 1979. Today, it is one of the largest general contractors on the Northshore with a staff of more than 60 professionals.

Lisa Gainey-Roache, vice president of sales and marketing for Gainey's Concrete Products Inc. of Holden, La., has been elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the National Precast Concrete Association.

As an NPCA board member, Gainey-Roache will represent the interests of more than 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers of precast concrete products across the United States, Canada and eight other countries.

Gainey-Roache also serves as chairman of the board for Gainey's Concrete Products and is active in the Louisiana Rural Water Association, American Public Works Association, the Executive Committee (TEC), the Water Environment Federation, the Maurepas Society and the Tangipahoa Home Builders Association.

Phoenix Associates Land Syndicate of Madisonville, La., recently announced that W. C. "Doc" Starling, a licensed contractor, has joined Phoenix as a director in the construction division and the brokering division; and Clifton C. James, a licensed architect and contractor, is now working in the architectural and planning section of the construction division.

Starling is an experienced construction industry owner and operator that started his own construction company, Starling Construction Co., in 1976. The name was later changed to Starling Enterprises Inc.

Starling retired as president and CEO of Starling Enterprises in 1986 and has continued to remain active in the industry as a consultant to the company and to other organizations over the years.

James is an architect and planner with an extensive background in project management, quality and aesthetic control, architectural design, urban and rural planning and real estate development. Prior to coming to Phoenix, James was vice president of United Tech Consulting Inc. He was also president and CEO of The Urban Design Research Center Inc. (URDC) in Louisiana and Georgia.

James has a degree in design from Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts, a bachelor's degree in architecture from Louisiana State University and a master's degree in architecture from Harvard University.

David Dumas was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Brown Builders of Bossier City. He has served as vice president of operations for the past three years. His career spans 29 years in the construction industry and includes multi-family complexes and retail industrial and educational facilities.

John L. "Jack" Donahue Jr., president and CEO, DonahueFavret Contractors Inc. of Mandeville, La., recently received the Spirit of Emanuel Award, along with Maura Donahue, vice president of business development.

The awards, given by Pastor Charles J. Southall III of First Emanuel Baptist Church of New Orleans, were in recognition of the effort provided by the Donahues and DonahueFavret Contractors in renovating First Emanuel Baptist Church following Hurricane Katrina.

This is only the 10th time in more than 100 years that the Spirit of Emanuel Award has been given.

In February 2006, Donahue led a crew of more than 2,000 volunteers in an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The renovation of First Emanuel Baptist Church was completed in 100 hours at no cost and enabled the church to resume its ministry throughout the New Orleans community.

Tennessee

The Lewis Group Architects of Knoxville, Tenn., recently welcomed Ewa Myszkowska as an intern architect. She has two years of experience and will assist in architectural design, production and digital imagery.

She has a bachelor's degree in architecture from Cracow University of Technology and participated in the exchange program at the University of Tennessee School of Architecture in 2003. Myszkowska is originally from Poland and has lived in Knoxville since 2005.

In other news, Robyn McAdoo, RA, LEED AP, CSI, CDT has achieved the designation of LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional). With LEED AP's on staff, The Lewis Group Architects will continue to help reduce environmental impacts and energy consumption.

Betty A. Capps, service and sales agent for BB+T Insurance Services of Nashville, has been included in the 2006 edition of Metropolitan Who's Who Registry.

As a service and sales agent for BB+T Insurance Services, Capps specializes in workers compensation, liability, auto and bonds. Capps has also been a member of the National Association of Women in Construction for more than 20 years.