Who's Doing What
Here's a snapshot of personnel moves, mergers and acquisitions, and awards that were announced in February.
Movers
G.G. Pique Retires; Rooney Steps in at Energy Recovery Inc.
Energy Recovery Inc., a company that focuses on energy recovery devices for desalination, announced that its CEO G.G. Pique was retiring and that Thomas S. Rooney, Jr. was appointed to the position, effective Feb. 16.
Pique served as ERI’s CEO for nine of his 11 years with the company.
“Over the last nine years, we have taken ERI from a garage operation to a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ, while putting together a great team that continues to solidify our position in the desalination industry,” said Pique. “The ERI team is committed to bringing the power savings of our technologies to users inside and outside of desalination. I am delighted that a capable leader like Tom Rooney will lead the team and continue to advance our high-efficiency energy recovery solutions.”
Rooney has nearly 30 years of executive public and private company experience in industries such as renewable energy, smart grid technologies, water purification, waste treatment, engineering, and construction.
Most recently, Rooney was CEO of SPG Solar, one of the largest solar integrators in the United States. He also served as president and CEO at Insituform Technologies, Inc.
Last October, Pique wrote a feature article on water scarcity for Environmental Protection. You can access it here.
Kavanaugh Joins Geosyntec Consultants
Internationally recognized water quality, water treatment, and groundwater remediation expert Michael Kavanaugh, Ph.D., P.E., recently joined Geosyntec Consultants as principal and will be based in the firm’s Oakland, Calif., office.
Kavanaugh's professional practice started in the areas of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, water quality management, and water reuse and drinking water treatment. Currently, he is an instructor for the Princeton Groundwater Course and a consulting professor in the Stanford University Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Environmental Law Institute and as the chair of the National Research Council’s Committee on Future Options for the Nation’s Subsurface Remediation Efforts.
Kavanaugh is a board-certified environmental engineer with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. In 1998, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the very highest honors that can be accorded an engineer in the United States.
Geosyntec, founded in 1983, provides consulting engineering and science services throughout the United States and internationally.
Solomon Associates Promotes Trout to VP of Refining Studies
Solomon Associates has promoted Bill Trout to vice president of refining studies. Trout will lead the company’s definitive benchmarking studies for refiners, including the Worldwide Fuels Refinery Performance Analysis (Fuels Study) and the Worldwide Paraffinic Lube Refinery Performance Analysis (Lube Study), as well as specialty studies and the company’s 3D Analysis offering.
“Bill has been with Solomon Associates for more than 11 years, playing a key role in the refining studies as well as greenhouse gas projects and other strategic initiatives,” said Dale Emanuel, company president. “We’re delighted to have him join our senior leadership team and look forward to his additional contributions to the company’s growth and success in the future.”
Trout has served as manager of refining studies since 2010. These authoritative flagship studies, designed to help refiners identify opportunities for performance improvement, include participants representing approximately 85 percent of the world’s refining capacity.
Since joining Solomon Associates in 1999, Trout has assisted various operating organizations around the world in developing margin, operating expense, and environmental performance improvement programs through his extensive industry experience and expertise in the effective application of benchmarking methodologies and performance gap analysis techniques.
Wastequip Adds Schwietz as Environmental Sales Specialist
Wastequip has named Scott Schwietz environmental sales specialist as part of an expanded sales and marketing effort within its environmental products group.
He will handle quoting and will serve as the key contact for the company’s sales team and customers on technical questions related to environmental products. Schwietz also will play a key role in new product research and development. Previously he worked in the call center, focusing on environmental products.
“Scott has had great success as an inside sales specialist over the past six years. He has shown a passion for environmental products and has been very effective in working with environmental customers,” said Shawn King, vice president of marketing. “I’m excited to have Scott transition to this new role where he will be instrumental in growing Wastequip’s environmental products business.”
Safety-Kleen Names Duffie Chief Compliance Officer
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., has announced the appointment of Virgil "Chip" Duffie as senior vice president, chief compliance officer, responsible for the company's overall Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and corporate compliance programs.
Safety-Kleen is a leading North American used oil recycling and re-refining, parts cleaning, and environmental solutions company, providing a broad set of environmentally responsible products and services to more than 300,000 customer locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
"Chip Duffie has done an excellent job as our interim head of EH&S, and as our lead environmental and regulatory counsel he has always been a very strong advocate for compliance within Safety-Kleen," said Ron Haddock, chair of the company's board of directors. "The appointment of Chip to this new position, reporting directly to the CEO and the board, represents Safety-Kleen's commitment to enhancing and incorporating compliance into all aspects of our business."
Duffie joined Safety-Kleen in 1997 as environmental counsel and has held multiple roles of increasing legal and regulatory compliance responsibility since that time. The company's EH&S, corporate safety, corporate compliance and internal audit functions staff will all report to directly to Duffie.
Duffie has a master's degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School, a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and a bachelor's degree from Clemson University.
CST Industries Announces McLaughlin as New President and CEO
The Board of Directors of CST Industries, Inc. has announced that Declan McLaughlin has been named president and CEO of CST industries, Inc.
McLaughlin joined CST in late 2009 as president of Columbian TecTank. He recently was named to lead the combination of Columbian TecTank and another CST portfolio company Engineered Storage Products into the new company CST Storage, the global leader in complete storage solutions.
Previously, he served as vice president and general manager for SPX Corporation’s Global Package Products, where he focused on building business, increasing profitability, and opening new international markets.
McLaughlin is succeeding Brian Bauerbach, who will be leaving the company to become CEO of a separate venture.
MACTEC Appoints Owens Manager for Kentucky
Brian Owens has been appointed Kentucky Operations manager for MACTEC. Allen Kibler, president of MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., made the announcement.
Owens previously managed MACTEC’s Abingdon, Va., office, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and commercial clients. He supervised multi-million dollar projects involving design/build, geotechnical engineering, construction engineering, and inspection for Virginia Department of Transportation, and the management of coal-combustion residuals for Dominion Power.
Owens joined MACTEC in 2002 and served as a field manager for a multi-million dollar transportation project.
He earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Kentucky Engineering Geotechnical Group.
MACTEC, based in Alpharetta, Ga., is an engineering and design, environmental, and construction firm.
Glenn Wright to Chair ACC's Plastic Division
The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Plastics Division has announced that Glenn Wright, commercial vice president of North America Plastics at The Dow Chemical Company, will serve as chair of the ACC’s Plastics Division’s Operating Committee through December.
"It is an honor to be asked to serve as chairman of ACC’s Plastics Division, especially during these challenging times for the U.S. plastics industry," said Wright. "Our priorities during 2011 will be to focus on growing membership in ACC’s Plastics Division, pursuing opportunities to collaborate and leverage our limited resources with other plastics associations, demonstrating the sustainability of plastic products, and communicating with consumers about the many benefits and innovations plastics bring to our daily lives."
ACC’s Plastics Division represents 14 leading plastics resin manufacturers. It advocates for unlimited opportunities for plastics in key markets by promoting their economic, environmental, and societal benefits, and it connects consumers, policymakers, and the media with the benefits and innovations made possible by plastics.
Wright replaces Joe Breunig, former president, chemicals, plastics and performance products, BASF Corporation. Breunig left BASF last fall and recently was named executive vice president – chemicals for Georgia Gulf.
Aeromix Names Rees New Western Regional Sales Manager
Aeromix, a subsidiary of RWL Group, welcomed Timothy Rees to the role of Western Regional Sales manager.
He will be responsible for the management of sales organizations in 12 states and will focus on building and maintaining relations with clients in the power generation and oil and gas national market segments.
Rees brings more than 30 years of experience in utilities and engineering planning, industrial and engineering consulting, municipal, facilities and utilities plant operations, and business development.
Most recently, Rees was a business development manager for AECOM and has been employed with various companies including Arcadis, Saudi Aramco, GE Water, and Allied Chemical.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Amiad Filtration Acquires Remaining 34% of French Subsidiary
Amiad Filtration Systems, the producer and global supplier of water filters and filtration systems for the industrial, municipal, and irrigation markets, has acquired the remaining 34 percent of the issued share capital of its French subsidiary, Amiad France SARL from its local partners Palinodie SARL, Bruno Jauneaud, and Jean-Yves Gautret. Amiad will issue Palinodie SARL, Jauneaud and Gautret a total of 69,000 new ordinary shares, each worth NIS 0.5, representing 0.31 percent of Amiad’s enlarged issued share capital.
The acquisition follows Amiad's purchase of its Chinese subsidiary and is in line with the company's strategy to acquire 100 percent ownership of its subsidiaries in order to have a local presence and to establish direct sales channels in competitive markets.
"By fully incorporating Amiad France into our company, we are significantly strengthening our presence in one of our most important worldwide markets," said Arik Dayan, CEO. "Additionally, this transaction demonstrates both our commitment to growth, as it will allow us to more easily penetrate new markets in Europe, as well as our commitment to our customers, as it will allow us to more easily provide them with the service and support they need to successfully execute complex installations."
Amiad France's current management team, led by CEO Jauneaud, and Gautret, who will oversee European sales and marketing and business development, will remain in place, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition.
Wheaton Buys Laboratory Sales Limited
Wheaton Industries Inc., located in Millville, N.J., has acquired Laboratory Sales Limited (LSL), a leading manufacturer and marketer of tubular glass products and laboratory consumables based in Rochdale, England.
Founded in 1980, LSL is a privately owned manufacturer and distributor of laboratory products that grew to become one of the U.K.’s premier manufacturers of tubular glass products for the biotechnology and cosmetic markets. Today, LSL also markets plastic laboratory consumables to U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) and education markets.
“This strategic investment further strengthens our position as a market leader of specialty packaging and related instruments for cell-based research, chemical compound, in vitro diagnostics, and specialty pharmaceutical markets,” said Stephen Drozdow, Wheaton president and CEO. “We were particularly attracted to LSL’s position and growth prospects in the U.K. and throughout Europe.” Drozdow noted LSL will operate as a standalone subsidiary of Wheaton Industries Inc.
Wheaton Industries provides products and services for the laboratory research, diagnostic packaging, and specialty pharmaceutical industries.
Veolia Adds Guy's Waste Services to Its Assets
Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. has acquired all the business assets of Guy’s Waste Services, based in Byron, Ga. The acquisition includes all subsidiaries under Guy’s Waste Services including KMA Transfer, LLC and Ace Trash, LLC. All of the operations will now function as Veolia Environmental Services.
The acquisition, which opens up a new market for Veolia, includes a transfer station, commercial hauling operation, and real property in Byron. Assets consist of real estate, transfer and collection vehicles, waste containers, and other equipment. More than 1,200 customers located in the five-county area will be serviced from this location.
All drivers and other employees of Guy’s Waste Services and its subsidiaries have been offered positions as part of the acquisition negotiations. The waste collected will be internalized at the Veolia ES Taylor County Landfill near Macon.
“We view this acquisition as a true investment in the local community,” said Jim Long, company president and CEO. “Our aim is to grow this business so that it will eventually lead to more jobs and partnerships within the Macon community.”
Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
In other division news, Veolia Energy North America has completed the transition of the Trigen brand name to the Veolia Energy name across the United States.
Residents of Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Tulsa will now see the Veolia Energy brand name and logo on energy plants, company vehicles, and the hundreds of personnel that maintain the steam and chilled water distribution networks in the streets, manholes, and facilities of the central business districts.
Veolia Energy entered the U.S. market in 2005, with the acquisition of a district energy network in Cambridge, Mass. In addition to the acquisition of the Trigen Companies in 2007, Veolia Energy entered the Grand Rapids, Mich., market in 2008, and the Mt. Laurel, N.J., and Portland, Ore., markets in 2009. The company also expanded its presence in 2010, with the addition of district cooling in Baltimore, and the Medical Area Total Energy Plant in Boston.
RightAnswer Acquires Thomson Reuters Group
RightAnswer.com, Inc., has acquired the Corporate Solutions group of the Healthcare & Science business of Thomson Reuters effective Jan. 1, 2011. The acquisition strengthens RightAnswer's ability to provide current and accurate chemical, MSDS, reproductive risk, and regulatory compliance information to organizations worldwide.
The Corporate Solutions group comprises the ChemKnowledge® and RegsKnowledge® technology platforms, formerly part of the Micromedex® solution suite, with exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to sell knowledge databases, including TOMES Plus®, REPRORISK®, Fisher Scientific MSDS, Dolphin MSDS, RegsLink® state and federal regulatory compliance information, LOLI®: the Regulated Chemicals List of Lists, and LOLI Global Inventories™.
RightAnswer.com provides Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to meet knowledge and document requirements for the environmental, health and safety market, including regulated product companies, first responders, research laboratories, and educational institutions.
3M Buys Hybrivet Systems
3M acquired Hybrivet Systems Inc., a leading provider of instant-read products to detect lead and other contaminants and toxins. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Hybrivet Systems’ flagship product is LeadCheck® Swabs, which is widely recognized as an effective lead detection product. The LeadCheck brand has been at the forefront of lead detection and awareness since 1991.
The addition of Hybrivet Systems provides 3M immediate access to the potentially large market for testing paints for lead in older houses and commercial buildings to meet new Environmental Protection Agency lead-safe work practices regulations. LeadCheck® was the first EPA recognized instant test kit under the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule that went into effect April 20, 2010.
Hybrivet Systems is based in Natick, Mass., and employs 11 people.
Droplet Measurement Technologies Buys EN-SCI Assets
Droplet Measurement Technologies, a leader in aerosol and cloud-particle measurement instrumentation, has acquired EN-SCI Corporation’s assets and intellectual property. Production and service of EN-SCI ozonesondes have moved from EN-SCI’s former South Boulder location to DMT headquarters in east Boulder, Colo.
“We are delighted with this acquisition,” said Greg Kok, Ph.D., DMT president. “EN-SCI and its founder, Mr. Walter Komhyr, are legendary among ozone researchers. We believe the company is a good fit with DMT, which is held in similarly high regard in the scientific community. The acquisition will certainly diversify DMT’s line of atmospheric measurement instruments.”
EN-SCI’s flagship product is the Electrochemical Concentration Cell (ECC) ozonesonde, which measures atmospheric ozone from the ground to an altitude of over 20 miles. The sonde was developed by Komhyr over 40 years ago and has been used by researchers around the world. Its seminal feature is that it does not rely on external electricity potential, but generates its own electromagnetic power from the chemical make-up of its components.
The EN-SCI acquisition will support DMT’s growth objectives with a highly respected, well-developed product, while also providing opportunities to expand the sonde market with new and emerging applications.
Swisher Hygiene to Acquire Choice Environmental Services
Swisher Hygiene Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Choice Environmental Services, Inc., a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based residential and commercial solid waste services company, by way of a statutory merger involving a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisher Hygiene.
In the transaction, Swisher Hygiene will issue 9.2 million shares of its common stock to the former shareholders of Choice Environmental at the agreed upon value of US$50.1 million. The company will also assume approximately US$41.5 million in debt, and expects to pay down a majority of this debt with proceeds from its previously announced subscription receipts offering.
The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, completion of the subscription receipts offering and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange with respect to the shares to be issued in the merger transaction and the subscription receipts offering. Upon satisfaction of all conditions, it is expected that the acquisition will be completed by March 31.
Choice Environmental has been in business since 2004 and serves more than 150,000 residential and 7,500 commercial customers in the Southern and Central Florida regions through its 320 employees and over 150 collection vehicles by offering a complete range of solid waste and recycling collection, transportation, processing and disposal services. It operates six hauling operations, three transfer and materials recovery facilities, and annually processes more than 150,000 tons of material. The entire senior management team of Choice Environmental is expected to join Swisher Hygiene upon completion of the acquisition.
Awards
ASCE Honors Pulido as New Face of Civil Engineering
The American Society of Civil Engineers announced that Felipe Pulido, P.E., of Fort Worth, Texas, is a New Face of Civil Engineering.
An associate project manager at CH2M Hill, Pulido manages various water projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He also spent seven months managing several projects in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For the past three years, he had led his office team in the annual Cowtown Brushup, a Fort Worth Housing program that helps the elderly and less fortunate members of the community paint their homes. A native of Colombia, Felipe looks forward to taking the skills he has learned to help communities in his home country.
Pulido has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in civil engineering and construction management from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a registered professional engineer in Texas.
The New Faces program, which honors 10 individuals each year, promotes the achievements of young civil engineers by highlighting their contributions to and impact on society.
Mokari Earns Krill Prize for Nanostructure Work
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researcher Taleb Mokari, Ph.D., a member of the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, has been awarded the Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research. Mokari received the prize for his work on developing novel nanostructures for renewable energy applications.
Mokari, a senior lecturer in BGU's chemistry department, focuses on the chemical and physical properties of inorganic nanostructures. His group specializes on synthesizing nanostructures, investigating their fundamental physical and chemical properties and studying their potential applications for renewable energy.
Mokari joined BGU and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscience in 2009. Prior to that, he worked with the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a staff scientist. He was also a Fulbright Scholar and an Ilan Ramon postdoctoral candidate at the University of California, Berkeley.
Initiated in 2005 by the Krill family, six prizes of $10,000 each are awarded annually in life sciences, medicine, agriculture, engineering and exact sciences.
Williams Named Phoenix Area 2010 Outstanding Engineer
Ron Williams, a CH2M Hill wastewater treatment engineer, has been named the 2010 Outstanding Engineer of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Area Engineering Community.
Members of the local engineering community nominate Outstanding Engineering Award candidates based on their contributions to the profession and to public welfare; their professional integrity and ethics; and their statewide professional reputation.
Williams was nominated for the award by Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department where he is serving as the project design manager for the department’s $277-million Construction Manager at Risk upgrade and expansion project of the Ina Road Wastewater Reclamation facility.
Williams is a senior sanitary engineer and project manager who has more than 23 years of experience in municipal wastewater treatment plant evaluations, facility planning, design, plant expansions, and evaluations. Locally, he has completed several design projects that give him a unique understanding of regulatory requirements and implementation and has served as project engineer or project manager for dozens of projects in Arizona.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University, and has called Phoenix home for 22 years.