Merrick’s Huelskamp transitions to CEO

DENVER — Merrick & Company’s Board of Directors elected David G. Huelskamp as chief executive officer (CEO) of the firm, effective April 1, 2013. Huelskamp has served as the firm’s president for the past year and will continue those responsibilities as he assumes additional role of CEO. He will become Merrick’s fourth CEO in the firm’s 58 year history.

Ralph W. Christie, Jr., P.E., has served as CEO and Board Chair for the past 16 years at Merrick. With this transition, he will continue in the role of Board Chair with Huelskamp serving as president and CEO. As chairman of the board, Christie will focus on board leadership, government/industry affairs, strategic growth and leadership development.

Huelskamp has been with Merrick since 1996 when he joined the firm as vice president, Business Development. He served as a business unit manager from 1999 to 2003 and became a senior vice president in 2004. His continued primary focus has been on corporate and business development for Merrick’s multiple market sectors, energy, life sciences, nuclear, national security facilities, and sustainable infrastructure. As CEO, he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of corporate and business development and operations. Huelskamp has served on Merrick’s Board of Directors since 2000.

Huelskamp’s professional involvement includes 12 years in various leadership roles with the Society of American Military Engineers, eight years as an advisory board member of the Colorado Association of Black Professional Engineers and Scientists, and participation in organizations including Denver South Economic Development Partnership, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Denver Metro Chamber, Aurora Economic Development Council, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, and the US Air Force Academy Association of Graduates.

Huelskamp is a civil engineering graduate of the US Air Force Academy and holds an MBA from Arizona State University. Christie said, “The Board of Directors ‘strongly supports the selection of Mr. Huelskamp as our new CEO. He will provide excellent leadership to the company as the firm continues to grow towards our Vision 2020’.”