Environmental Science Associates has hired Melissa Denena as a senior principal ecologist. Denena’s focus is on mitigation and conservation banking and turnkey or PRM solutions. She has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental consulting and operating field, most recently with Resource Environmental Solutions. Katie Dudney joins ESA as principal restoration ecologist and deputy director for the Bay Area biological resources and land management team. Dudney’s experience includes work with agencies such as the East Bay Regional Park District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Caltrans. 

C.W. Driver Cos. has promoted Brent Hughes to chief operating officer, a role in which he will expand his responsibilities as vice president of operations to provide oversight on all C.W. Driver projects spanning the Los Angeles area and San Diego. He will manage operational oversight and client satisfaction for projects statewide, including contract negotiations, staffing, scheduling, financial controls, reporting and closeout for all projects. 

Civil and railway designer Sam Salamah joined Hanson Professional Services Inc. in the firm’s Seattle regional office. He will provide geometric design, drainage analysis and design and construction management for railway projects. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in civil engineering and a master’s in engineering management from Saint Martin’s University, where he was a graduate assistant.

Syska Hennessy Group has promoted John Passanante to executive principal. Passanante has worked for Syska for more than two decades and has led the West Coast region, which has more than 115 professionals across five offices. In his new role, he oversees the financial performance and management of multiple practices while spearheading business development and the growth of the firm globally.

Syska also promoted Jose Herrera to senior principal. Herrera, who leads key practice areas for Syska’s San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices, has more than three decades of experience as a mechanical engineer and project manager, with 12 years at Syska. 

Arup has hired Eric Euting as the firm’s new equity, diversity and inclusion director for the Americas region. Based in the San Francisco office, Euting will drive the success of Arup’s EDI commitments across the organization. An experienced EDI and organizational change leader, Euting most recently worked at Deloitte as a leader in its EDI consulting practice. 

XL Construction has promoted Craig Ellis, a 28-year construction industry veteran, to senior vice president and head of the company’s civic and education business groups. He assumes leadership of the education group from Steve Winslow, senior vice president, who has transitioned to a newly created leadership role with the company’s preconstruction group.

Mike Wongkaew has been named HNTB Corp.’s national tunnel practice lead for the West region. Based in  Bellevue, Wash., Wongkaew’s experience includes designing the first single-pass steel-fiber-reinforced precast concrete segmental tunnel lining in the U.S. for the city of Portland’s East Side CSO Tunnel Project.