Robert “Bob” Gomes has been named president and CEO of Stantec Inc., the Edmonton, Alberta-based engineering firm. In those roles, he succeeds Tony Franceschini as of May 15. Gomes, a 20-year firm veteran, has been senior vice president of its industrial project management group since 2005. Franceschini has led Stantec since 1998 and will remain a member of the board.

Bruce D. Nipp has joined Infrastructure Group Texas, a civil engineer in Frisco, Texas, as president. He was director of transportation for engineer-contractor URS Corp., San Francisco.

Industry management consultant ZweigWhite, Natick, Mass., has promoted Ian Rusk to president and CEO. The 11-year company veteran was executive vice president and director of its advisory services and management events divisions.

Welbro Building, Maitland, Fla., has elevated Bruce E. Holmes to president and chief operating officer. He has been with the firm for 21 years.

HERRENKNECHT	WEEKS

The Moles, a New York City-based national group of heavy construction professionals, has named two veteran industry executives to receive its 2008 outstanding achievement awards. Martin Herrenknecht, founder, chairman and CEO of Herrenknecht AG, the Lahr, Germany, firm that is one of the world’s largest tunneling equipment makers, is the group’s nonmember winner. Richard S. Weeks, president of Weeks Marine Inc., Cranford, N.J., the country’s largest marine contractor and one of its largest in dredging, who also represents the fourth generation of family leadership, is its member awardee. Both will be honored at a Jan. 28 dinner in New York City.

Hunter Construction, a Deerfield Beach, Fla., contractor, has named Shane Tedder vice president and chief estimator, and David Rosenof vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining the firm, Tedder was senior estimator at Suffolk Construction, Boston, and Rosenof was vice president-construction for Weitzer Communities, a Davie, Fla., developer.

Thomas K. Fridstein, has joined Perkins Eastman as managing principal for the Chicago office. He had been principal of RMJM Hillier and group head of special projects. Fridstein will now work both in Chicago and at the firm’s New York City headquarters.

Terry McDonald has joined project management consultant Cumming Group Inc., San Juan Capistrano, Calif., as vice president of marketing. He was director of marketing for PinnacleOne, a construction-management firm in Tempe, Ariz.

Mit Jha has joined Portland, Ore., arcDavid Evans and Associateshitect as senior vice president for strategy and business development. Prior to joining the firm, he was vice president for strategy and project development for transportation at Earth Tech Inc., Long Beach, Calif.

Dargan Construction Co. has promoted Harold G. “Harry” Cushman III to executive vice president and chief operating officer. He joined the Myrtle Beach, S.C., contractor in 1982 and most recently was vice president of construction.

Sidney R. Florey has been elevated to vice president of business development for Hubbard Construction Co., Orlando, Fla., a subsidiary of The Hubbard Group. Florey, previously division manager in Orlando, will relocate to company headquarters in Winter Park, Fla.

Obituary

HOFFAR

Julian F. “Jules” Hoffar, 61, senior partner and a founder of construction law firm Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald LLP, McLean, Va., died on Oct. 12 in Alexandria, Va., from complications of bladder cancer. Hoffar specialized in litigating and mediating construction and maritime claims and disputes in the U.S. and overseas. A visiting lecturer in government contracts at the William and Mary law school, Williamsburg, Va., he was also a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and earned many other awards. Hoffar also was a member of the American Arbitration Association’s national large complex case panel. “Jules was truly a shining star of our college because of his personality and understanding of construction law and issues,” says H. Martin Fielder, partner in Atlanta law firm Shapiro Fussell Wedge & Martin LLP.