Blair Lavoie, president of Colorado-based MWH Constructors and chief of global operations, and other executives and employees are set to have new corporate ownership, with the environmental infrastructure builder's announced spinoff on Oct. 26 by design firm Stantec. The Canadian parent announced an agreement to sell the U.S. and U.K. divisions of MWH Constructors, and Slayden Constructors, to private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management L.P.  Stantec has owned those entities since its 2016 acquisition of MWH Global.

The sale, anticipated to close in the fourth quarter, had been rumored for months, with Stantec's announcement last spring of a strategic review of the construction units. It intends to focus on its core consulting and design work.

Lavoie termed the agreement "a positive step in the evolution of our company." It was not immediately clear whether his corporate titles will change.

MWH Constructors also has named Russ Heinsen as its chief information officer. A 30-year executive veteran of Intel Corp., he launched its Project Management Office in 2013, which is responsible for process re-engineering and technology solutions for worldwide facility operations, MWH says.

The National Academy of Construction inducted on Oct. 11 a group of 37 industry professionals for 2018, who have made outstanding contributions to design, engineering and construction. They include company, union and association executives; public officials, academics and other leaders.  Please click here to find out who was inducted. 

Nathan Bell, president of KCI Technologies Inc., was named to the added role of CEO, succeeding Terry Neimeyer, who had been in the position since 1999 and remains chairman of the employee-owned engineering firm based in Sparks, Md. Bell joined the firm in 1988.

John L. Anderson, president emeritus and distinguished professor of chemical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, is set to be elected to a six-year term as president of the National Academy of Engineering in 2019, after becoming the sole candidate nominated. Members will vote next March. He would succeed C. D. "Dan" Mote Jr. on July 1. The Academy is part of the nonprofit advisory group, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Anderson was Illinois Tech president from 2007 to 201. He also is a former engineering dean at Carnegie Mellon University and was provost of Case Western Reserve University.

Five industry advocacy groups—the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP), the National Asphalt Paving Association (NAPA), the Charles Pankow Foundation and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)—will have new lead executives in 2019.

James J. Tymon, AASHTO chief operating officer, will succeed the retiring Bud Wright as executive director on Dec. 31. Tymon previously served as staff director of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee. Joining AEMP as CEO on Jan. 7 is Donté P. Shannon. He was executive director of the Specialty Advertising Association of California.

Named executive director of the Pankow group, which funds building design and construction research, is Anne M. Ellis. Former CEO of consulting firm Ellis Global, she re- places Mark Perniconi, who has left Pankow. Audrey Copeland, NAPA vice president for engineering, research and technology, is elevated to chief operating officer and will become president and CEO in mid-January.

Dave Bauer, ARTBA executive vice president, is promoted to president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed Pete Ruane, who retires Oct. 31 as the longest tenured head of the 116-year-old organization. Chief Operating Officer William D. Toohey Jr. was will be interim president and CEO.