MWH Global promotes six to senior VP; nine to VP

Broomfield, Colo. — MWH Global announced the promotion of six employees to senior vice president and nine to vice president. The promotions were confirmed by the MWH board of directors at the March board meeting.

“The outstanding aptitudes and diversity of our leadership team positions MWH Global for long-term organi-zational and financial strength,” said Alan Krause, chairman and chief executive officer of MWH Global. “The talent of these individuals allows us to continue providing our clients with the performance, cost-efficiencies and value our clients expect. We thank them for their commitment to MWH and to our purpose of Building a Better World.”

The six promoted to senior vice president include:

Paul DeKeyser, senior vice president and director of global business development – DeKeyser has a 35-year track record of creating value for clients. In his leadership role at MWH, he focuses on growing client relationships and fostering new opportunities, within the New York City metro area. He holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Michigan Technological University, and is a registered engineer in the state of Michigan. DeKeyser is based in Fairfax, Va.

Paul Demit, senior vice president and director of Americas program management – Demit is responsible for developing client relationships and ensuring delivery of MWH services to global water, resources and infrastructure projects and programs. He worked previously for Parsons Brinckerhoff, serving as managing director of PB Water. He has more than 23 years of water sector experience, leading teams to deliver program management, design build and other projects. Demit holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and completed graduate studies in environmental management and water resources from Tufts University in Boston. He is based in Atlanta, Ga.

Ben Emerson, senior vice president and engineering design manager – Emerson is a 28-year veteran with MWH, with experience in design, operation and construction management of water and wastewater projects. His leadership and vision have advanced the company’s growth strategy in the areas of client service, project delivery, and integrated global workforce. Previously, Emerson led the MWH municipal and state operations business, overseeing the U.S. water business across 40 offices. He is engineering design manager for the Thames Water ‘eight2O’ Alliance. Emerson holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada. He is based in, London, U.K.

Norm Gadzinski, senior vice president and director of government and infrastructure project delivery center – Gadzinski has over 30 years of industry experience. From 1986 to 2010, he served as a project engineer and project manager in Cleveland. Elevated to office manager, he played a major role in the MWH success throughout Ohio. In 2011, Gadzinski left MWH to join Parsons as director of design/build for the company’s water and infrastructure business. Gadzinski returned to MWH in late 2014 to serve as director of the government and infrastructure delivery center, the delivery center is the division of MWH Global that collaborates with clients in developing technical solutions to achieve their objectives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from the Cleveland State University and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Julie Labonte, senior vice president and program consultant manager for the San Diego Pure Water Program – Labonte has more than 26 years of experience in utility engineering. She joined MWH in 2014 as director of Americas program management and now serves as program consultant manager for the San Diego Pure Water Program. She was recognized by the California chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers as the U.S. Government Civil Engineer of the Year (2013) and as Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Public Sector (2011). Labonte holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from U.S. International University in San Diego and master’s degrees in civil engineering from San Diego State University and in environmental engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She is based in San Diego, Calif.

Don Spiegel, senior vice president and director of project delivery – Spiegel has more than 35 years of industry experience in the planning, design and construction management of water treatment plant and water supply projects. He has served in key leadership roles on more than 20 water treatment plants, where he gained expertise in all key plant operations. Spiegel is well respected throughout the industry for his skills across all the engineering disciplines including geotechnical, civil, process, mechanical, structural, and electrical/instrumentation and control. He holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of North Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Syracuse University. He is based in Sacramento, Calif.

The nine promoted to vice president include:

John Abrera, vice president and director of integrated water solutions – Abrera returns to MWH from CH2M (formerly CH2M Hill) where he served as director of emerging technology. From 1985 to 1996, he worked for MWH as a senior engineer. In his current role, Abrera is responsible for evaluating and deploying new technologies to utilities and local government, sectors in which he has had more than 30 years of experience.  Abrera has held other key technical roles and has worked on a number of projects piloting new technologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Southern California, and is based in Atlanta, Ga.

Loren Labovitch, vice president and director of emerging market growth, Hawksley Consulting – Labovitch has more than 20 years of global project and policy experience. In his current role, he designs and implements resource-focused development programs, community engagement initiatives and sustainability strategies, with emphasis on public-private partnerships that address global development and sustainable growth issues. Labovitch worked earlier for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. foreign aid agency, where he held key leadership posts. He currently serves on the Harvard Zofnass Sustainable Infrastructure Program Advisory Board. Labovitch earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree with honors in international business from the University of Colorado, Denver. He is based in Washington, D.C.

Pete Perciavalle, vice president and director of intelligent platforms – Perciavalle leads the MWH Americas and Asia Pacific government and infrastructure efforts in the use of technology to support asset optimization. He returns to MWH, having served with CH2M (2005-2014) as senior vice president, innovations and technology area manager for the Los Angeles region. In that role, Perciavalle led the strategic consulting platform, developing innovative technology while serving as area manager responsible for contracts and implementing company growth strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and technology from the Pennsylvania State University. Perciavalle is based in Irvine, Calif.

Chris Pile, vice president and deputy joint venture manager – Pile has over 20 years of operations experience focusing on projects in the Asia Pacific region. He is a key member of Contrado, the joint venture partnership between MWH and WorleyParsons. Pile led the startup of the Christchurch Earthquake Reinstatement Program in Christchurch, New Zealand. He subsequently served as its program manager, leading a 200-member team of employees in the restoration effort. Pile holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Canterbury. He is based in Calgary, Canada.

Kelli Shuter Cessna, vice president and major campaign manager – Cessna specializes in hydrogeology and most recently served as staff scientist and project manager for remedial investigation and feasibility study projects. Cessna has also served as the business process optimization and directed the MWH external knowledge management practice, serving concurrently as senior innovation specialist. She also supported several successful process initiatives that re-invigorated MWH client service and sales programs. Cessna earned a master’s degree in environmental science and engineering ecology at the Colorado School of Mines. She is based in Broomfield, Colo.

Jennifer Van Vleet, vice president and Americas communications manager – Van Vleet has 16 years of marketing, communications and business development experience in the engineering and consulting business.  In her current role, she leads efforts to promote MWH within the region. Prior to joining MWH, she was vice president of corporate marketing at Coffman Engineers. Recognized by the Denver Business Journal as one of Denver’s Top 40 under 40 professionals, Van Vleet has been a member of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) since 1999, and is a member of the World Denver Young Professionals Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Gonzaga University and a master’s degree in international business management from Whitworth University. She is based in Broomfield, Colo.

Thomas DeMayo, vice president of energy construction operations – DeMayo has more than 40 years of experience in project and construction management with management expertise in the water and wastewater, power generation and pollution control industries. DeMayo returned to MWH after working with IMA Life Tonawanda, where he served as executive vice president and general manager, responsible for engineering, production and project execution activities. He manages MWH Constructors’ U.K. and U.S. energy operations. DeMayo earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College. He is temporarily based in the U.K.

Michael Haarmann, vice president and business development manager – Haarmann has more than 21 years of construction industry experience with a focus on construction management-at-risk delivery method and the preconstruction phase of construction. He served as senior project manager for the successful $232 million Tres Rios Water Reclamation Facility project. Presently, Haarmann leads the Clark County and Denver Water preconstruction phases. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal administration from the University of Missouri. He is based in Broomfield, Colo.

Todd Larson, vice president and director of global engineering and quality operations – Larson has 28 years of experience in the design and construction of global water and waste water projects. He rejoined MWH Constructors in 2015, after working with Black & Veatch as director of commercial and risk management for the Americas, and business development in the western U.S. and Canada. Larson works with the global engineering group to develop design-build project pursuits in the U.S., and is focused on leveraging design project delivery expertise in the U.K. Larson received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is based in Tempe, Ariz.