Kirk G. Johnson

Kirk G. Johnson of GROUP Contractors LLC, Baton Rouge, has been named vice president of operations.

He will be responsible for all operations of GROUP Industries LLC and its subsidiaries, GROUP Contractors, Arrighi Simoneaux LLC and Venture GROUP LLC.

His responsibilities will include project management, estimating, client relations, accounting, purchasing, construction and services. Johnson was previously manager of the industrial division for GROUP Contractors.

The 1990 LSU graduate has more than 13 years in the construction industry and has been with GROUP for two years.

GROUP Industries performs heavy civil, drilled shafts, mechanical process piping, industrial building, design/build projects, and structural steel.

Linda Biernacki

Linda Biernacki, president of Fire Tech Systems Inc. of Shreveport, was recently appointed to the Technical Committee on Record Protection of the National Fire Protection Association.

She will be representing the American Fire Sprinkler Association as NFPA codes are developed through the Standards Development Process.

Mark Munley, Phil LaDuke

Two recent promotions at Firestone Building Products Co. complete the company's new sales and marketing team and position Firestone for future growth in the commercial roofing industry.

Firestone recently named Mark Munley as division manager of corporate marketing. Munely will direct new initiatives, including expanding beyond commercial roofing to global programs within the geomembrane market and emerging roof concepts.

He will continue to oversee Firestone's Building Products University, a program that educates building owners, specifiers, architects and consultants about commercial roofing applications.

Phil LaDuke was appointed national account manager, a position previously held by Munley. In his new role, LaDuke will manage six strategic account representatives to leverage Firestone's industry leadership and expertise within the building owner market.

Firestone first announced a series of organizational improvements in early 2004, in an effort to streamline planning, promotion, communication and sales activities across all regions and markets.

"The leadership and industry experience Mark and Phil bring to their new roles will be a valuable asset to Firestone's new combined sales and marketing team," said Mike Gorey, president of Firestone Building Products.

Munley joined Firestone in 1999 and most recently guided Firestone's strategic account program as national account manager. Before working at Firestone, he managed sales and marketing initiatives for an environmental remediation and emergency response company.

He also served as national sales manager for Conrail from 1984 to 1991.

LaDuke previous served as Firestone's consultant services manager. Prior to joining Firestone in 1999, LaDuke spent five years as a roofing consultant in the Detroit area, working as manager of roofing services for Testing Engineers & Consultants and president of Dundee-Delta Corp.

Perry S. Green

Steel Joist Institute recently announced the addition of Perry S. Green, Ph.D., as technical director to the organization.

As technical director, Green will be responsible for coordinating the institute's engineering, research and educational committees. He will also provide engineering assistance to design professionals and give presentations at technical seminars.

Green is an American Institute of Steel Construction grant recipient and has conducted research on extended shear tab connections. He is an active member of the Society for Industrial Archeology and currently serves an elected three-year term on their Board of Directors.

Green is also a member and involved in the Structural Stability Research Council, the American Iron and Steel Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Green holds a doctorate in civil engineering from Lehigh University.

Besides setting standards 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.

The institute also invests thousands of dollars in ongoing research related to steel joists and joist girders and offers a complete library of publications and other training and research aids. The Steel Joist Institute is a not-for-profit organization.