Gresham, Smith & Partners, a national architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm, announces the following new owner, senior associates and associates:

In Birmingham, Ala., Eddy Alonso, project architect and planner in the Healthcare Studio, has been named a senior associate. Named associates in Birmingham are Tim Anson, an architect in the firm’s Healthcare Studio; Hal Humphrey, a senior engineer in Water Services; Chuck Kelly, a member of the Land Planning Department; and Randall Naccari, project manager in the Corporate + Urban Design Studio.

In Jackson, Miss., Ranzy Whiticker, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) engineer in the firm’s Transportation market, has been named a senior associate.

In Knoxville, Tenn., Mark Warriner has been named an owner and Jason Brady, project manager in the Transportation market, has been named a senior associate. Anthony Crist has been named an associate.

In Memphis, Tenn., William W. Reid III, the office manager, has been named a senior associate. Greg Dotson, a traffic/ITS engineer, has been named an associate.

In Nashville, Tenn., Ken Baker, Lori Lange, David Stewart and Jody Vance have been named owners. Named senior associates were Mike Abt, industrial department manager in the Environment & Industry division; Jim Alderman, senior environmental graphic designer in the Corporate + Urban Design division; Jim Jeffers, director of construction services in the Transportation division; Jon Perry, civil engineer in the Land Planning & Design division; Jane Skelton, interior designer and team leader for the Healthcare division; and Greg Wieland, senior design principal in the Healthcare division.

Named associates in Nashville were Paul Breeding, project manager, Environment & Industry division; Jason English, engineer in the Environment & Industry division; Trip Glankler, project architect in the Healthcare division; Michelle Harris, strategic planner in the Corporate Services division; Fiona Haulter, a civil engineer in the Land Planning & Design division; Dowell Hoskins Squier, an ITS engineering intern in the Transportation division; Jason Huff, mechanical engineer in the ACE division; Diane Regensburg, a project manager in the Transportation division; Kristi Schnell, engineer in the Environment & Industry division; Tom Taylor, project architect in the Healthcare division; McClain Towery, a civil engineer in the Land Planning and Design division; Ann Trent, architect in the Corporate + Urban Design division; and Kristen Vaughn, interior designer in the Healthcare division.

Alabama

TAG /The Architects Group Inc. of Mobile, Ala., recently announced that interior designer Alice H. Cutright and construction manager Tom Kelly have become LEED accredited professionals and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED rating system.

LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process.

TAG became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council in 2007. TAG is registering several current projects for the LEED certification process, including the Spring Hill Campus Center currently under construction.

Jeff Dungan, principal and president of Birmingham-based Dungan Nequette Architects of Birmingham, Ala., recently earned LEED professional accreditation.

As a LEED AP, Dungan plans to use his newfound knowledge of green building practices and the LEED rating system in future projects where appropriate and to incorporate green materials and concepts into Dungan Nequette’s work.

Based on guidelines developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process.

Louisiana

More than 430 participants, students and exhibitors attended the American Association of Drilling Engineers National Technical Conference and Exhibition held March 31-April 2 in New Orleans.

A full slate of industry information and technical data was presented, as well as student activities being held. The Lafayette AADE Chapter provided funding for all University of Louisiana petroleum engineering students to attend and benefit from the event.

UL graduate student Mahdi Mahmoudi Eshkaftaki placed third in the student poster contest with his project, “A Review of Drill String Design, Failure and Selecting Appropriate Drill String Enhancing Features.”

Additional student presentations were given by LSU graduate students Maria French and Samrat Mahato, “SP#1 Exploratory Gas Well Design;” and from UL graduate student Chunlei Liu, who presented “Heavy Foam for Deepwater Drilling” and Foad Ahmadi Fard, who presented “Experimental Study of Fluid Loss Additives for HTHP Wells Under Dynamic and Static Conditions for Different Flow Regimes.”

The AADE, a nonprofit volunteer organization made up of independent chapters, offers a forum for the exchange of information, specifically on drilling-related topics.

The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. recently announced that Autumn Johnson has been named director of training program development.

Johnson received a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in political science and a law degree from Seattle University School of Law. In her new position, she will be researching and identifying public and private grants and funding opportunities for the Pelican Chapter.

She will be responsible for preparing grant proposals and applications as well as managing the grants the chapter receives. Prior to joining the Pelican Chapter, Autumn managed the Pathways to Construction Employment Initiative at the Louisiana Community & Technical College System.

TOPCOR Cos. LLC of Baton Rouge, La., recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary and recognized employee Patrick Chambers with 20 years of service.

The award was presented by TOPCOR President James Baker.

Dewberry , a nationally recognized consulting firm based in Fairfax, Va., has announced several promotions in its southeast and Gulf Coast offices. The firm, which has more than 40 locations throughout the U.S., has continued to grow over the past year and now has approximately 2,000 employees. More than 100 promotions were recently announced, the largest number of promotions in one year for the firm in its 53-year history.

Christopher J. Gregus, manager of the New Orleans office, has been promoted to senior associate. Gregus has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois.

The Louisiana Associated General Contractors held its annual Past Presidents and Lifetime Honorary Members Dinner Party on April 17 at the Baton Rouge Country Club.

Fifty were in attendance at the event. The LAGC Past President’s Council, which is comprised of the seven most recent Louisiana AGC presidents, recommended to the board four individuals who are to be given lifetime honorary membership.

The first honoree of the night was W. P.. “Bill” Wray Jr., of Wray & Pierce LLP. Wray has been LAGC’s Legal Counsel for more than 45 years. Patrick Gootee of Gootee Construction Inc. of New Orleans was also inducted as an honorary member.

Gootee was the 1996 Louisiana AGC President, an AGC of America lifetime director and serves as chairman of the Contractors’ Educational Trust Fund. Ronny Graham of Lincoln Builders Inc. in Monroe, La., was also inducted into this special group. Graham was the 1997 Louisiana AGC president, an AGC of America lifetime director and board member of the Contractors’ Educational Trust Fund.

Vic Weston was surprised during the event with his induction as a lifetime honorary member. Weston is an AGC of America lifetime director and former AGCA treasurer, current LAGC treasurer, 1992 LAGC past president, LAGC public relations and summer conference chair, CETF treasurer, vice chairman of the State Licensing Board for Contractors, among other numerous titles.

Weston has devoted his business life to the betterment of the construction industry through his AGC activities and was especially >> deserving of this honor.

The title of lifetime honorary membership is reserved for individuals who perform distinguished service to AGC, the industry, state or nation, and require a unanimous vote by the chapter’s board of directors.

Mississippi

Dale and Associates Architects P.A. of Jackson, Miss., recently announced that Leigh Jaunsen has received her certification for LEED design for new construction. Leigh received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Georgia Tech.

Tennessee

Linkous Construction Co. Inc. of Memphis recently announced that Rusty Linkous, Terry McClure, Kevin Scott, Brandon Speakman, Mac Caradine, Mike Isom, Steve Sere, Jeff Porter and Paul Tyler have successfully completed their LEED testing and are LEED accredited professionals.

Robert (Bob) B. Higgins Jr. has been named CEO/president of engineering, architecture and planning firm Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon Inc. in Nashville.

Higgins, who has been associated with BWSC for more than 12 years, was previously vice president/Water Services manager.

Under Higgins’ leadership, BWSC’s Water Services operation has moved into new markets and doubled the volume of project contracts. Working with the firm’s multiple offices, he has particularly focused on strategic planning, team development and technology development and utilization to meet the expressed needs of the firm’s municipal, government, commercial and private clients.

He is a past recipient of the Dan Barge Award of Merit, the highest honor awarded by BWSC in recognition of an employee’s contributions to the firm. Higgins is a member of the BWSC Board of Directors.

Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon is an engineering, architecture, planning, landscape architecture and surveying firm with offices located in Tennessee, Alabama and Ohio. Celebrating over 50 years of service, BWSC is among the top 225 engineering and design firms in the U.S. with nearly 375 employees.

Five ESa employees in Nashville have recently earned the LEED professional Accreditation credential, bringing ESa’s total number of LEED APs to 21.

The newly credentialed LEED APs include Senior Designer/Principal David W. Minnigan, Molly Alspaugh, interior design division; Betsy Bledsoe, interior design division; Ruby Foglesong, interior design division; and Leslie McClenny, interior design division.

LEED APs have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED rating system. The professional accreditation program was launched in 2001 and is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute.

ESa, a 48-year-old design firm, provides architecture, interior architecture, master planning and space planning services to healthcare, education, hospitality, senior living and corporate office clients across the country.