RWDI Group of Companies has appointed Michael J. Soligo as president and chief executive officer. Formerly RWDI’s vice president-general manager, Wind and Microclimate Group, Soligo joined the firm in 1988 and became a principal in 1994. For several years he served as vice president of marketing, where he was responsible for leading the firm’s business development efforts. Soligo is a microclimate specialist and has considerable experience in managing and conducting pedestrian-level wind, wind pressure, wind loading, snow, and environmental studies. He has extensive international experience related to sports facilities, hotels, casinos, resorts, and the development of unique pedestrian/spectator comfort criteria. Soligo has a bachelor of applied science (civil engineering) degree and a master of applied science (engineering faculty, management sciences) degree from the University of Waterloo. He is a registered professional engineer in the Province of Ontario as well as a registered consulting engineer.

Degenkolb Engineers is pleased to announce that Stacy Bartoletti has been promoted to president and COO. A seasoned strategist with a proven record for strengthening customer relationships, project management, and streamlining operations, Bartoletti is responsible for overseeing the firm’s operations and business development efforts. He will also continue his role as one of the technical leaders in the firm, providing expert guidance and mentoring to engineers. Bartoletti is the former group director for Degenkolb’s Portland and Seattle offices. He is highly active in organizations and community programs, including the American Council of Engineering Companies, Structural Engineers Association of Washington, Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW), Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), American Society of Civil Engineers, and Washington State Society of Healthcare Engineers. He is a registered structural engineer in the states of Washington, California, and Oregon and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and his master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on structures from the University of Texas at Austin.

T. Albert Chen, P.E., S.E., has joined Thornton Tomasetti, Inc., as vice president, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction of commercial buildings, parking structures, hospitals, hotels, and industrial facilities to the international engineering and design firm. He will be based in Los Angeles. Chen has been responsible for the design of more than 20 million square feet of construction and seismic retrofit projects. He has also done extensive design and analysis work for medical and wastewater treatment facilities throughout Southern California. He has given numerous presentations on seismic retrofits and rehabilitation, and is a member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, the California Preservation Foundation, the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California, the USC Architectural Guild, and the Design-Build Institute of America. Chen is a licensed civil and structural engineer in California and Nevada, as well as a licensed professional engineer in Washington. Chen holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Chung Yuan University in Taiwan.

Shelley Metz Baumann Hawk, Inc.—a full-service structural engineering firm that provides quality structural engineering services for architects, contractors, and building owners—has announced the addition of Jim Laffey to its growing practice. Laffey has joined the team as a project engineer. Laffey received a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering with an emphasis on structural design from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has more than 14 years of experience in providing consulting structural engineering services. He is currently working on a student housing project at the University of Louisville.

Cary Kopczynski & Company, (CKC), a Bellevue, Wash.-based structural engineering firm, has announced that Jae-Wook Park has been promoted to the position of project manager and Michelle Boone has been promoted to the position of marketing/administrative assistant. CKC also announces the addition of Pam Beltz as administrative assistant. Jae-Wook Park is currently working on Escala, a 30-story condominium tower; and Enso, a 12-story office building and a 19-story office/condominium tower. Both projects are located in Seattle.

Allen G. Minks, P.E., has joined Geopier Foundation Company, Inc. (GFC), as chief engineer-development in the St. Louis office. Minks holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geotechnical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and has more than 24 years experience in the engineering field. His most recent position was as chief engineer with SCI Engineering in St. Charles, Mo. He is actively involved with ASCE and currently serves as the St. Louis Section ASCE president.

Peter G. Vigue, Cianbro’s president and chief executive officer, has been appointed chairman of the Board of Directors for The Cianbro Companies; as well president and chief operating officer of Cianbro Corporation, one of the East Coast’s largest civil and heavy industrial construction companies. Vigue joined Cianbro in 1990 as a laborer during college. Over the years, he worked through the construction ranks, managed Cianbro’s fabrication and coatings facilities, and most recently served as senior vice president of operations for Cianbro Corporation. Vigue earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and an MBA degree from the University of Maine.

The following Haynes Whaley Associates employees recently earned the distinction of senior associate:
* Jennifer L. Buchanan, P.E., project manager in the Houston office, is currently working with Kirksey on the structural design for the new Tetra Technologies Office Building and Parking Garage.
* Fred Dally, P.E., project manager in the Houston office, is currently leading the structural design on the new $175 million Methodist Hospital Research Institute with WHR Architects, and the Memorial City Westin Hotel and Condominiums with developer MetroNational and Morris Architects.
* Sonja R. Jordan currently serves as office manager in the Houston office and human resources manager firm-wide.
* Amy M. Moen, CPSM, marketing manager in the Houston office, recently served as president for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Houston Chapter.

Promoted to associate are the following:
* Gregory J. Casey, P.E., project manager in the Austin, Texas, office, is currently working on the $25 million Ladera Bend mixed-use development with STG Architects; Four Hands Warehouse Development with RKP Architects; and the Suncoast Resources Office Building and Tank Farm with Pritchard/Keller Architects.
* Brian Cornell, P.E., project manager in the Reston, Va., office, is currently working on the 90 K Street office project in the Washington D.C., NoMa redevelopment corridor, in conjunction with SmithGroup. In addition, Brian is working on the Franklin Center office building in Columbia, Md., with Morgan Gick McBeath & Associates, P.C.
* Renee P. Meador, marketing coordinator in the Reston, Va., office, recently served as a Board Member for Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Northern Virginia and currently serves as a member of CREW’s Program Committee.
* Larisa D. Ramich, P.E., project manager in the Reston, Va., office, is currently leading the structural design on two mixed-use developments, Washington Gateway in Washington, D.C., with Gensler and SK&I architects; and Spectrum in Falls Church, Va., with Cooper Carry. She is also working on the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with Law-Kingdon.
* Jimmie Snyder, Jr., project engineer in the Houston office, is currently working on The Belle Meade luxury apartments and The Venue with Graco Partners and Wallace Garcia Wilson Architects.