J. Patrick "Pat" McGehee

J. Patrick "Pat" McGehee, a prominent figure in the deep-south construction industry for more than four decades, has retired from Essex Crane Rental Corp. after 47 years in the construction equipment industry, including 11 years of service to Essex.

McGehee, who turned 72 at the end of March, began his career in the construction equipment industry in 1955 when he joined the sales force of Gardner Denver. In 1965, McGehee joined Boehck Engineering, working as a salesman in both New Orleans and Houston, Texas.

In 1971, McGehee became the second employee hired by Manitowoc Coastal States Sales & Service, a newly formed equipment dealership headquartered in Houston. During 12 years with Coastal, McGehee served in sales and managerial capacities at the company's New Orleans office.

In 1984, McGehee went solo, starting his own company that specialized in the sale of used construction and excavating equipment, including Manitowoc liftcranes, draglines, and attachments. His extensive experience and outstanding customer service drew the attention of the world's largest owner of Manitowoc cranes, Essex Crane Rental, and in 1991, McGehee joined Essex as its representative for Louisiana.

For the past 11 years, McGehee has used his expertise to help Essex customers select the best Manitowoc cranes and attachments for each project's specific requirements.

Although McGehee has officially retired, he will continue to assist Essex and its customers as an expert consultant.

B.W. Johnson, manager of Essex's office in Arcola, Texas, said, "Pat McGehee is the consummate equipment representative. He stays aware of what's going on in the industry, has superior product knowledge and takes a personal interest in helping customers. Nobody has done it any better than Pat."

Acquired by Kirtland Capital Partners in May of 2000, Essex Crane Rental Corp. has grown steadily in its 42 year history into the world's largest provider of Manitowoc lattice-boom crawler cranes and attachments.

R. Allen Eskew

New Orleans architect R. Allen Eskew, director of Eskew + Dumez + Ripple was recently presented with one of the most prestigious individual honors bestowed by the industry - membership in the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) College of Fellows.

There are fewer than 2,400 fellows out of more than 70,000 AIA members. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Eskew was nominated by the Louisiana AIA Chapter in recognition of his numerous architectural and urban design achievements, many of which are national in scope, including the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Fort Lauderdale, the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, and the Estuarine Habitats and Coastal Fisheries Center in Lafayette.

Under his leadership, his firm, Eskew + Dumez + Ripple has won two consecutive national Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects, a distinguished achievement for a Louisiana architecture firm.

G. Phillip Shuler III

G. Phillip Shuler III, partner at Chaffe McCall, Phillips, Toler and Sarpy LLP, was recently named chairman of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), National Labor and Employment Law Council.

Shuler, who has practiced law for Chaffe McCall for the past three decades and leads the firm's Labor and Employment Law Section, will assume his new duties as council chairman for one year beginning May 1.

AGC is the national organization of labor and employment lawyers representing employees in the construction industry on labor and employment law issues.

As chair of the association's National Labor and Employment Law Council, Shuler will conduct the organization's annual symposium in Washington, D. C., for labor employment lawyers in matters affecting the construction industry. The council is also responsible for filtering information on issues of importance to the construction industry and takes positions on such issues.

Shuler began his career as a trial attorney with the New Orleans Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board. He is a longtime member of ACG and served as past chairman of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section. He is a speaker and writer on issues involving labor employment law.

Shuler received his law degree from Kansas University.

Founded in 1826, Chaffe McCall currently employs 66 lawyers in its New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Caracas, Venezuela, offices.

John Polansky Jr.

John Polansky Jr. was recently hired as the new director of engineering and security with the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. His responsibilities include oversight of the Port Construction and Development Priority Program and supervision of the design and construction of projects, as well as ensuring environmental compliance of all port facilities.

Originally from South Charleston, W. V., Polansky graduated from West Virginia University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He has more than 24 years of experience in the field of civil engineering, including project management, engineering design, managing maintenance and construction programs, directing traffic related problems throughout the City of Lake Charles and assisting the district engineer in the performance of inspections of highway construction projects.

For the past 13 years, Polansky has been the director of maintenance, engineering and construction for Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District.

"John's years of experience implementing port projects in Louisiana and his familiarity with our state Port Priority Program make him a tremendous asset to our management team," said Roger Richard, port CEO.

"He has a wealth of technical knowledge related to port infrastructure," said Jay Hardman, port managing director. "We're very enthusiastic about his ability to hit the ground running immediately at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge."

Ed Kearney

Ed Kearney recently joined Wirtgen America Inc. as director of engineering, technical services. Kearney will serve as Wirtgen's in-house expert for cold recycling, foamed asphalt mix, hot recycling and asphalt paving procedures and processes.

He is a Notre Dame graduate with a master's degree in materials engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. Kearney worked for the New York State DOT for 15 years, eight years in its Engineering Research and Development Bureau and seven years with the office of chief engineer.

His work experience also includes nine years with The Asphalt Institute as senior district engineer. During the past 13 years, he developed cold-in-place recycling, NovaChip paving, micropaving and slurry seal processes for Gorman Brothers Inc., a major contractor in the Northeast.

"Ed has an extensive material and applications background with all three of our product groups," said Stu Murray, president, Wirtgen America Inc. "Ed will travel on our behalf, speaking to various associations, DOT engineers, highway designers and specifiers." He'll also be involved with jobsite materials management and best paving practices.

Myles McKemie

During its recent 30th Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., the membership of the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association (AEMA) elected Myles McKemie to the office of president for the 2003-2004 term.

McKemie has been involved in the manufacture of pavement application emulsions for more than 30 years. He is a supporter of AEMA and the emulsion manufacturing industry, and previously held the offices of vice president and secretary/treasurer of the association, as well as serving as an elected director.

In addition to serving as program chairman for AEMA's recent annual meeting, McKemie has long been an active speaker on emulsion topics, significantly advancing the interests of the emulsion manufacturing industry while educating literally thousands about the chemistry and technology of pavement emulsions and their applications. He was involved with AEMA's successful production of its Basic Asphalt Emulsion Manual in CD-ROM format.

McKemie is the vice president of marketing for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions in Austin, Texas. He is uniquely familiar with, and knowledgeable about, all types of emulsion manufacturing, as a result of his many years in the business.

Bill Ballou

During its recent 41st Annual Convention held in Phoenix, Ariz., the membership of the International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) elected Bill Ballou of Koch Materials Co., Salina, Kan., to the office of president for the 2003-2004 term. An active supporter of ISSA and the slurry industry for many years, Ballou advanced to the presidency after serving on the board of directors through several positions since 1993.

Ballou has been in the asphalt business for 35 years, with Hy-Way Asphalt Co. in Salina and Koch Industries in Wichita, where he is currently National Pavement Preservation leader. Ballou immediately went in the asphalt business after serving in the Army and attending KSU-Salina.

For the past eight years, he has served as president of the Foundation for Pavement Preservation, a Washington D. C.-based group of academicians, county engineers, FHWA, state transportation engineers, contractors and suppliers to the transportation industry.

Richard Wanner

American Subcontractors Association (ASA) chapter delegates recently elected the association's president for 2003-2004 during ASA's Business Forum & Convention in New Orleans.

ASA Vice President Richard Wanner, executive vice president of Wanner Metal Worx Inc., Delaware, Ohio, was selected to become ASA preseident. He will succeed 2002-2003 President Anne Bigane Wilson, president of Bigane Paving Co., Chicago, Ill.

"I pledge to your that I will work to fulfill ASA's vision of a better business environment in the construction industry," Wanner said. "And all the while I will keep in mind ASA's values of ethical and equitable business practices, professionalism, a safe and healthy work environment, integrity and membership diversity."