Tom Howard

Tom Howard was appointed Louisiana Division area manager for Bo-Mac Contractors Ltd. and brings 15 years of experience to the organization. Howard has a bachelor's degree in construction management from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Bo-Mac Contractors Ltd. recently expanded its Gulf Coast operation with the opening of a full-service facility to include an office, shop and yard in Gonzales.

Todd Peterson has joined the Louisiana Division as project manager/estimator.

Vice President Jordan Reese said Bo-Mac Contractors has been an integral part of the pile driving, auger cast, foundation construction industry for the last three decades. The expansion allows the company to better serve its owners, contractors, industrial and engineering customers in the southeast region.

Kole Ambeau

Kole Ambeau was recently appointed business development coordinator by Industrial Specialty Contractors at its Houston Divsion.

Ambeau, previously with the Shaw Group of Baton Rouge, has a bachelor's degree in construction engineering technology from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.

He has construction, estimating and project controls experience, which includes civil, structural, piping, electrical and instrumentation. He plays an active role in industry organizations such as Associated Builders and Contractors' Pelican Chapter, LAMP and with community organizations such as economic development committees and little league sports.

As ISC's business development coordinator Ambeau will develop and maintain client relations, and research and develop project leads. He will govern ISC's company image in media placements, news releases, commercials, ad campaigns, Web site and brochures.

"Kole's interpersonal skills, integrity and enthusiasm are valuable assets and we expect him to be an outstanding addition to ISC's business development team," said Thad Rispone of ISC.

ISC, with offices in Baton Rouge, Houston and Beaumont, specializes in industrial instrumentation, electrical and heat tracing engineering, construction and maintained work for the chemical processing, petrochemical, communications, power, pulp & paper and refining industries.

AIA - Baton Rouge Chapter

AIA - Baton Rouge Chapter The American Institute of Architects - Baton Rouge recently elected its 2004 Board of Directors.

Members elected as officers include President Gary Dunn, GD Architecture; Vice President/President Elect Whitney LeJeune, Post Architects; Treasurer Chris Sapp, Sapp & Sapp Architects; and Secretary Nathaniel Clark, Grace & Hebert Architects.

Directors include David Cronrath, Louisiana State University; Jim Howell, Louisiana State University; Jack Ford, Ford Dickenson AAC; and Richard Brown, Bani & Carville Architects.

Delegates representing Baton Rouge on the AIA Louisiana State Board include Robert Boudreaux, Richard Weimer Architect AIA-LLC; Lionel Bailey, Lionel F. Bailey Architect; and Jerry Hebert, Grace & Hebert Architects APAC.

The associate's representative is Katherine Ragland.

Fred W. Heldenfels IV

Fred W. Heldenfels IV was recently named chairman of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI). PCI is the national association representing the producers, suppliers and users of precast, prestressed concrete for the construction of commercial, industrial, residential and public/institutional buildings, bridges and transportation facilities and other specialized structures.

President and CEO of Heldenfels Enterprises Inc., Heldenfels is a 1979 graduate of Texas A&M University and a fifth generation Texan. With manufacturing plants in Corpus Christi and San Marcos, Texas, Heldenfels Enterprises continues the tradition of Heldenfels Brothers Inc., a family-owned construction and materials business formed in 1909 by Heldenfels' great-grandfather.

The firm specializes in the manufacture and installation of precast/prestressed concrete structures for the highway, marine/industrial and commercial markets.

Heldenfels has led other industry, community and education organizations, having served in recent years as president of the Texas A&M Twelfth Man Foundation and the Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association. He is also past chairman of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Precast Concrete Manufacturers Association of Texas.

He has been an active member of the AGC of Texas, having served as an area chairman and on several committees.

Port of Greater Baton Rouge

The Commission of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge recently elected officers for 2004. Officers elected include Charles L. Thibaut, Donaldsonville, president; Larry Woods, West Baton Rouge, vice president; Chucky Tillis, East Baton Rouge, secretary; Larry Johnson, Port Allen, treasurer.

The new officers were seated at the beginning of the port's fiscal year in January, and will serve a one-year term.

Thibaut has served as a port commissioner representing Ascension Parish since 2000. He is an appointee of the Farm Bureau and serves as chairman of the National Legislative Committee for the American Sugarcane League. He is also the general manager of Lemann & Thibaut Inc., which operates Crescent Luxury RV Resort.

During his presidency, Thibaut plans to facilitate infrastructure improvements at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge to enhance port security.

Alfonso E. Lenhardt

Baton Rouge-based The Shaw Group Inc., an engineer-construction firm, has hired Alfonso E. Lenhardt as senior vice president, government relations of its subsidiary Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Inc.

He will be responsible for business development activities with federal, state and local agencies.

Prior to joining Shaw E & I, Lenhardt held a broad range of positions within the U.S. government and military, serving most recently as the sergeant at arms for the United States Senate where he managed a staff of over 2,300 employees and an annual operating budget of $200 million

Rivers Claytor, Sam Mahdavi, Denis Tremblay

Rivers Claytor with John W. Hancock Jr. Inc. of Salem, Va., was recently named president of the Steel Joist Institute, the industry association of steel joist manufacturers in Myrtle Beach, S. C.

Claytor has more than 32 years of experience in the steel joist industry and currently serves as executive vice president of John W. Hancock. He has served on the Steel Joist Institute's engineering practices, consensus specifications, research and executive committees.

Sam Mahdavi with Quincy Joist Co. of Quincy, Fla., will serve as first vice president, and Denis Tremblay with Delta Joists Inc. of Ste. Marie de Beauce of Quebec, Canada, will serve as second vice president.

Besides setting standard for the steel joist industry, the Steel Joist Institute works closely with major building code bodies throughout the country, helping to develop code regulations regarding steel joists and joist girders.

John W. (Bill) Kirk III

John W. (Bill) Kirk III, president and chief executive officer of Associated Asphalt Inc., was recently named as 2004 chairman of the Asphalt Institute Board of Directors at the institute's annual meeting in La Jolla, Calif..

Paul Kolbeck of Colas, S.A., was named vice chairman.

"I look forward to serving as chairman," Kirk said. "My goals are to continue the work of our past chairman, strengthening our partner relationships and enhancing the value of the institute for our members. I also hope to help the institute with the many challenges facing the industry and renew our commitment to building a brighter future."

Kirk has been involved with the institute for more than six years through Associated Asphalt and has served on a number of AI committees. Most recently, Kirk has served as the chairman of the Membership Committee. He views membership as the "lifeblood" of an association and through his chairmanship he hopes to enhance the institute's value to all members and the industry as a whole.

Kirk is a native of Roanoke, Va., and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College.

International Association of Geosynthetic Installers

The International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI), a group of geosynthetic installers dedicated to raising the professionalism of the industry, recently announced its board of directors for 2004-2005.

The following individuals were elected to serve on the board: Carl Apicella, American Environmental Group LTD; Brian McKeown, Clean Air and Water Services; "Demo" Dave McLaury, DEMTECH Services Inc.; Dennis O'Brien, MPC Containment Systems Inc.; John K. "Robbie" Robinson, Engineered Textile Products; Anne Steacy, Poly-Flex Construction; William Steinke, Steel Dragon Enterprise Co. Ltd.; and Lee Taylor, Taylor Geosynthetics.

Robinson will serve as president, O'Brien will serve as first vice president, Taylor will serve as second vice president and Steacy will serve as treasurer.

Robert Haddox, PLS Construction Services Inc. will continue to serve on the board as immediate past president.

"It has been a pleasure to work for the IAGI organization," Haddox said. "IAGI has accomplished many things and the new Board of Directors is planning serveral new initiatives. Look for more good things from this group."

IAGI strives to provide a fourm for geosynthetic installers to advance installation and construction techniques, as well as to strengthen the knowledge, image and community within the industry.

The Erosion Control Technology Council

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC), an organization committeed to the advancement of rolled erosion control materials, recently elected its officers for 2004-2005.

Tim Lancaster, North American Green Inc., was elected chairman; Deron Austin, SI Geosolutions, was elected vice chairman; and Mark Myrowich, ErosionControlBlanket.com, was elected treasurer.

Tony Johnson, American Excelsior Co., and Kevin Spittle, Profile Products LLC, were named at-large board members.

Laurie Honnigford continues to serve as ECTC executive director.

ECTC is a non-profit group committed to advancing the use of rolled erosion control materials by providing education and leadership in the industry.