Industry Notes

The Consulting Engineer’s Group is proud to announce that on July 1, the employees of Precast, Inc officially became part of our company. Precast was established in 1084 with offices in Jackson, WY, Burleson, TX and Albuquerque, NM. Barb and Vic Burri, former owners of Precase, are now CEG-West Vice Presidents and will continue to manage operations in the Jackson office.

The L&R Group of Companies announced its hire of Gary Gower as its new Chief Financial Officer. Gary brings over 20 years of financial experience in the parking industry to L&R. In his new role, Gary will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of L&R’s five divisions: Five Star Parking; WallyPark; Joe’s Auto Parks; System Parking and Network Parking. At L&R, Gary will oversee all of the accounting, auditing, payroll, financing, and reporting functions. Prior to joining L&R, Gary was Director of Fleet Services (Treasury) for ABM Industries and Vice President & Assistant Secretary for Ampco System Parking. Gary also has served as Ampco’s Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President/Regional Manager of the Southern California region. .

CALE PARKING SYSTEMS USA, is proud to introduce Jeff Nethery who will manage the company’s Help Desk. Jeff has been a pioneer in the parking industry, installing one of the first solar pay stations in downtown Denver, using license plate data for parking behavior modeling and developing data collection methods for geo-coding public parking entry points. Jeff will be bringing his knowledge and skill set to CALE to further develop its “One Stop Shopping” call center that our current and future customers will have access to, via a toll free number, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Derek J Soltes, AIA, LEED AP, has joined Walker Parking consultants in its Houston office as a Project Manager. He also will provide architectural and sustainability consulting on all projects from the Houston office.

Hoffmann Architects has been awarded a contract by the Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC) to evaluate the structural integrity of eight municipal off-street parking structures throughout the metropolitan area. Garages to be assessed are the Marriott, Market Center, Arena, Redwood Street, Caroline Street, Little Italy, St. Paul Street and Fayette Street parking facilities, built between 1985 and 2003.

Christy Hirsch has joined T2 Systems as Vice President of Sales: As part of T2’s new Customer Relationship Management Team, Hirsch oversees all sales activities, including new business development and account management. Also, T2 Systems’ President and CEO, Michael Simmons, was named a Midwest finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. This award honors entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) has reorganized its publications division. Staff members involved in the changes are Emily Lorenz, PCI Journal editor-in chief, who has been promoted to managing director of PCI’s Editorial & Publishing Department; Paul Grigonis, formerly PCI graphic designer, promoted to manager of art direction and production; Keith Ulrich, formerly PCI manuscript editor, promoted to managing editor of non-periodicals; Michelle Burgess, formerly associate editor for the PCI Journal, named managing editor of the magazine; Carrie Wyrick, hired as technical editor, responsible for reviewing manuals published by PCI and the PCI Journal’s peer-reviewed, technical and feature articles to ensure technical accuracy and editorial clarity; and Rory Cleveland, hired as publications copy editor for PCI’s print and electronic material.

Bud Gray has joined Sekuworksas Vice President of Security Programs, Commercial Development.

The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program, a business intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science CIM degree, is seeking donations for its fourth annual auction, to be held Feb. 5, 2009, at the World of Concrete. Those interested in making a donation should contact Wally Johnson at (713) 499-6229 or wjohnson@us-concrete.com.

Frederic J Kreiter has joined Standard Parking as Vice President of Transportation Services. He will be responsible for the growth and development of the ground transportation and shuttle bus services rendered throughout the company. Kreiter will report to Jack Ricchiuto, Executive Vice President of its Airports and Transportation Division. Also, Tracy Lendi, the company's Director of Training and Development, was named one of the Top 10 Young Trainers in the May 2008 issue of Training magazine.

Dr Andes de Paula joined TagMaster AB in August as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He will have global responsibility and be part of the corporation’s Management Team. He comes from an advisor position at Post & Telestyrelsen in Sweden. De Paula previously was CEO at Edge Mobility Holding AB, and has seven years of Sales and Marketing experience at Netcom Consultants and Ericsson.

Secura Keyhas promoted Pam Elkins to Marketing Communications Manager. She had been Communications Coordinator for the company’s marketing department for more than 11 years. Her new position acknowledges her instrumental role in creating Secura Key’s new marketing and advertising programs, in addition to managing trade shows, print media, product documentation, packaging and the website.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) announces the availability of five new publications to educate and inform industry professionals on the newest concrete-related information and technology. They can be ordered by calling (248) 848-3800 or online at www.concrete.org. As always, ACI members receive a special discount (up to 40 percent) on all publications.

Denver-based Parking Consultants was selected to do functional designs for the New Mexico State Capitol parking structure in Santa Fe, and for two garages at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. In addition, the firm is completing designs for the Montana State Fund garage in Helena.

DCS Europe ID Solutions GmbH has announced its plan to adopt fully the name Multicard and to change its legal name to Multicard GmbH. The company officially launched its new identity at a reception for employees and customers from Germany and Switzerland.

Desman recently opened an office in Denver to further meet the needs of its growing client base in the West Coast region; C Melissa Horne is Business Development Manager at this new office. Its eighth U.S. office, the new location also further enhances the firm’s parking and transportation planning, design, construction administration, and restoration of transportation and parking facilities.

Charles Churches Sr, PE, recently joined the management team of Carl Walker Construction (CWC), experts in parking garage construction. As its Director of Marketing and Business Development, he is responsible for sales and marketing of parking structure construction and renovation. He will also be responsible for design review and coordination. Also, CWC has been awarded a $13.6 million contract to build a five-story, 1,000-car parking garage at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, PA. The 327,000 square-foot garage, a design/build assignment for CWC, will incorporate a pre-stressed, precast concrete frame and cast-in-place deck surfaces.

Bruce Biedenbach has joined Skidata Inc as Project Manager as part of its Midwestern Regional Team. He has more than 26 years of experience in sales, service and operations management within two leading parking companies.

EZ-Assure has announced that the Santa Barbara Regional Chamber of Commerce and the University of California, Los Angeles are now Access-Assure customers. Company President Euan Slidders said, “We are pleased to add these organizations to the quickly growing number of customers who are using Park-Assure and its combination of the power of the web and state-of-the-art electronic locks to manage and protect their parking revenues.”

Parkeon has hired Dan Kupferman as its newest US Business Development Manager. A “parking pro” for 16 years, he will be responsible for managing key accounts in the Northeast and Midwest.

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), which manages the SunPass system used on 460 miles of Florida’s toll highways, selected TransCore’s eGo Plus radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker tag to upgrade its current technology, which has been in use since the late 1990s. The paper-thin, battery-less tags -- sold as the SunPass “Mini” -- were made available this summer at regular SunPass outlets. The multimillion-dollar order was for 1.5 million eGo Plus tags.

Walter P Moore has opened a new office -- its 12th -- in San Francisco; Leading the expansion as Managing Director is William A Andrews, PE, SE. He is a proven leader in providing structural engineering services for complex new buildings, as well as seismic evaluation and upgrades of existing facilities. Also joining the new office is Rafael Sabelli, P.E., S.E., who has extensive experience in advanced applications of seismic design.

Central Parking System has appointed Johann R “Chip” Manning Jr to serve as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Tube Inc.

Carl Walker Inc has teamed with Olsson Associates to provide a comprehensive downtown parking study for Lincoln, NE. The large study encompasses several areas surrounding the downtown core, including the historic Haymarket District, the convention center, the state capitol / government and those shared with the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. The study also will provide an assessment of a smaller neighborhood area known as the Havelock Business District.

Rich and Associateshas been selected to design a new 400-space parking structure for Allegiance Health (formerly Foote Hospital) in Jackson, MI. The completed structure will include a number of innovative features designed to enhance the quality of care, including a roof-top helipad and three ground-level parking bays for ambulances.

Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc (TimHaahs) was recently honored with an Award of Merit at the International Parking Institute’s (IPI) annual conference in Dallas, TX. The Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children received this design award recognizing excellence in parking structure design in a nationwide competition.The organization has also been honored to receive one of NJ Future’s Smart Growth Awards for the Rahway Town Center Master Plan project in Rahway, NJ for the category of Town Center Revitalization Plan.

The Harman Group, Inc has been selected to lead the design team for the Mosteller Parking Facility replacement project in the Borough of West Chester, PA. The Harman Group will perform a study to determine the number of parking spaces and then Full Design and Construction Administration Services for the new multi-level parking facility to replace the existing structure.

Carl Walker, Inc is pleased to announce that Heather Gummersheimer, PE has joined the company’s Denver office as a Project Engineer. Ms. Gummersheimer is a registered Professional Engineer with over five years experience in structural design. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Civil Engineering.

MobileNOW! President Krista Altok Tassa announced that former New York City Parking Commissioner Lawrence Berman has been appointed special advisor to MobileNOW!, a distributor of one of the most advanced digital permit applications in the world, primarily used for cell phone, permit and RFID parking, as well as other mobile payment options. “We are excited to have someone with Larry’s extensive experience to help guide MobileNOW! as it expands its operations in the U.S.”

Complus Data Innovations, Inc (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is proud to announce the completion of a newly developed interface with Digital Payment Technologies (DPT) payment stations. Utilizing DPT Web Services capabilities and the CDI-designed handheld application, IPI conference attendees were able to view real-time pay station information on the CDI handheld ticket writer.

Says Qin “Michael” Ye, General Manager of Shanghai-based Magnetic Control Systems: “With the continuous success for Magnetic barriers, we are expanding our leading market position in China with a further order of 250 high-performance MIB 20 barriers to be installed on China’s highways, to assist in regulating traffic on toll roads.” Chinese authorities’ planning foresees for 2009 a further extension of the system with this proven barrier model, Ye said.

Genetec has opened a sales office in Spain as part of its European growth strategy. Due to increasing demand in the Iberian market, the company selected one of Madrid’s most popular business centers as the hub for its new regional office

Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) has named Rob Bayless as its new Northwest Regional Sales Manager. He will be responsible for developing new sales and providing on-going service to the DMP-authorized dealers in his region.

Universal Boot Inc and Information Engineering Group have announced a non-exclusive business partnership to provide municipalities, universities and private concerns with a complete Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) and back-office billing system supported when required by booting equipment to immobilize scofflaw violators.

Michael J Nichols has been named Vice President, Parking Development of Next Parking. He will be working from the McLean, VA, office of Next Realty. Nichols brings more than 17 years of operational and sales experience in the parking industry. “He is a seasoned professional whose experience will serve us and our clients well,” said Andrew Hochberg, Next Realty’s Managing Principal.

High Concrete Group has dedicated a new maintenance building for its precast concrete headquarters facilities in Denver, PA. The 16,200-square-foot building is designed to meet the standards of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating program of the U.S. Green Building Council at the silver level. Also, an electronic communication piece developed by the company has been recognized with a Grand Award in the APEX 20th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence. “Designing Precast Parking Garages,” a continuing education program registered with the American Institute of Architects, received the award in the electronic and video publications division.

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) recently announced staff changes and promotions within its Marketing Department. John Cross, P.E., vice president responsible for structural steel industry marketing activities, will now oversee both marketing and finance functions for AISC. Tabitha Stine, P.E., formerly regional engineer for the Great Plains Region, has been promoted to Director of Technical Marketing. Keith Grubb, P.E., S.E., is now a regional engineer for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Nina Kristeva joins AISC as regional engineer for the West Coast.

TCP Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting products, has hired Charles Gallagher as Vice President of Operations and Jeffrey Bristol as Director of Retail Sales and promoted Peter Weller to General Manager.

The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA), a nonprofit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of site-cast Tilt-Up as the preferred construction method, has added Craig Keast as a Membership Services Director. He will be responsible for assisting the TCA membership growth initiatives, as well as a variety of services to aid existing members.