Layton's Interior Construction has announced promotions for two of its employees in a management realignment. Andrew Geier and David Blaser have been named executive vice presidents for the company. Both have significant experience with Layton Interior Construction since its organization in 2004, doing business as Layton Interior Specialists of Arizona. Geier was formerly general manager and holds a degree from Kansas State University. Blaser joined Layton Interior in 2005 as project manager, bringing with him a construction management degree from Brigham Young University. The team of Geier and Blaser will oversee the acquisition of projects, pre-construction work and construction management of the jobs.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano appointed Brett Jones to a four-year term on the SCF Arizona Board of Directors. Jones is currently the vice president of the Arizona Contractors Association, an organization he joined in 1999, after earning a bachelor's degree in industrial supervision from Indiana State University. Jones is a member of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, is involved with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce's Immigration Policy Committee and has served on the SCF Arizona Association Advisory Committee.

David Vernellis, PE, has been named director of operations for the Phoenix office of SmithGroup. A structural engineer with SmithGroup's Detroit office since 2000, Vernellis received a bachelor of science in civil and environmental engineering in 1997 and a master of science in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

GLHN Architects & Engineers Inc. has appointed Keith Hudson, AIA as the firm's director of architecture. Hudson brings more than 25 years of experience in planning, architecture and urban design to the firm. As a director of design and senior design architect, he has led major projects such as planning for multi-billion dollar transportation infrastructure and new minor league ball parks. Hudson drafted planning and design standards for new facilities for the U.S. Space Command and Cape Canaveral and also served as a member of the planning team for Boston's Central Artery Project.

GLHN has also appointed Ted Moeller, P.E., as vice president, and his concurrent election to the company's board of directors. Moeller joined GLHN in 1995. Since 1999, he has managed the firm's electrical engineering department. Moeller coordinated GLHN's multidisciplinary efforts for the Rio Nuevo Utility Master Plan. He served as project electrical engineer for the Patrick K. Hardesty Midtown Multi-Service Center.

RBF Consulting has hired Scott M. Larson, P.E., as vice president. He will head up the water resource engineering department in the Tucson office. Larson has over 30 years of engineering and design experience in Arizona, with a focus on water resources planning and engineering. He is a licensed engineer in the states of Arizona, California, and Florida, and is a registered land surveyor in Arizona.

AREÁD recently promoted Jack Fields to chief operating officer. Fields joined the company over two years ago as its executive vice president of corporate development. Fields brings over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, business development and operations in a variety of industries. He holds a Masters degree in public finance from Arizona State University and a bachelor of science in public administration from the University of Southern California.

AREÁD also promoted Nozar Afkhami to president. Afkhami joined the company in July 2002 as its executive vice president and chief financial officer. Afkhami has over 20 years experience in various management roles for leading national and international firms. He speaks several languages and holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management.

Tim Lines, a vice president in Stantec's Phoenix office, was recently named regional leader for the company's mountain region. Lines will be responsible for operations management and financial performance, as well as providing strategic leadership to ensure the delivery of high quality services to clients. A registered engineer in Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, Lines has more than 20 years of experience in design and project management for public and private sector projects. He holds a Master of Science degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Arizona State University. Lines has been with Stantec for more than 20 years, and also functions as the regional leader for Stantec's desert region.

The Korte Company has promoted Nathan Sievers to project manager. Since joining The Korte Company in 2004, Sievers has been a project engineer working hand-in-hand with the construction team. Nathan has gained much experience working for clients including The American Nevada Company, The City of Las Vegas, Walgreen's Corporation, Biomedical Systems and West County Christian Church. Nathan received his Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from Bradley University.

Crisci Builders has hired Melissa Welsh to the position of estimator. In her new position, Welsh is responsible for estimating and producing budgets, including hard and soft-cost bids, working with vendors and subcontractors during bidding and assisting project managers.
Welsh brings more than nine years of construction experience to her new position. Prior to joining the company, she served as an estimator for the Las Vegas office of a general contracting firm specializing in multi-family and resort properties. Previously, Welsh was an estimator for another general contractor, where she handled pre-construction estimating for projects valued at more than $243 million.
Currently, Welsh is working toward her associate's degree in construction management at the Community College of Southern Nevada. She received her real estate certification from Key Realty School in 2005 and has trained with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in scaffolding standards and trenching and excavation standards.

Linthicum has promoted Gilbert Cohn to project manager, and hired Aaron Genova and Dale Fisher as project manager and project superintendent, respectively. Cohn, previously project superintendent for Linthicum, is an 11-year veteran of the construction industry. As project manager, his primary responsibilities will be managing contract administration, procurement and subcontract negotiations and cost monitoring of projects. Genova has extensive experience in building estate homes and Fisher has 25 years of experience in the general contracting industry including hospitality, residential, education and banking projects.

To submit personnel news announcements, please send information and color photographs to: Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com