To submit items for "Names in the News," please send materials to Scott Judy, editor, Southeast Construction, 4901 Vineland Road, Suite 310, Orlando, FL 32811; FAX (407) 226-2207; or email scott_judy@mcgraw-hill.com.

Donald J. Vrana has joined PBS&J as the firm's new chief financial officer. Since 2002, Vrana has served as chief accounting officer, controller and treasurer of SITEL Corp., a provider of outsourced customer support services.

Also, Jane L. Niesen has joined the Tampa office of PBS&J as the firm's new director of interior design. She has more than 25 years of design experience.

Jack Darnall of Brasfield & Gorrie, Birmingham, Ala., was recently elected national chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors in 2006. Also, Bob Moore of Brasfield & Gorrie's Birmingham office was elected Region 4 vice chairman.

Tina Meskel has been appointed chief operating officer of Ellis & Associates, an engineering firm based in Jacksonville, Fla. Meskel, a professional engineer, will be responsible for overseeing all of the company's operations including human resources, process enhancement and information technology.

Meskel has more than 15 years of professional engineering experience. She has been with Ellis & Associates since 1997. Meskel holds a masters degree in engineering from Clemson University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburg.

The company also appointed Balint Kovacs as senior technician in its Daytona Beach office, and named Brian Hurst as a driller helper, Christopher Stephens as a technician and Carrie Staton as dispatcher at the firm's Jacksonville headquarters.

Alfred Hoffman Jr., formerly chairman, resigned from the board of WCI Communities of Bonita Springs, as a result of his becoming the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Portugal. At the same time, WCI's board elected Don E. Ackerman as chairman, a role he previously filled from 1995 through 2005.

Hugh Weaver was appointed associate vice president at HNTB in Atlanta, where he serves as aviation department director. He has 19 years experience in aviation-related activities.

HNTB also announced that Douglas E. Layton has joined the firm's office in Jacksonville, Fla., as Florida municipal services leader. Layton has more than 30 years of engineering experience, including 20 years of providing consulting engineering services for local governments throughout Florida. He recently served as the roadway program manager with the city of Jacksonville.

Also, Ivette Wheelock has joined HNTB's Miami office as an assistant transportation planner in the Miami office. Wheelock has six years of experience as a project coordinator and project engineer.

Christopher J. Nemethy was promoted to project manager at HuntonBrady Architects in Orlando. Nemethy has over 18 years of architectural experience and is involved in the firm's education and commercial practices.

Frank Gorry was appointed Southeast district manager for Earth Tech. In his new role, Gorry, a senior vice president, will be responsible for management of 10 offices. He has been with Earth Tech for eight years.

Scott R. Lodde has been named a managing partner of GM Hospitality of Naples, Fla., part of the Gates McVey companies. In this capacity, he manages the newly formed hospitality division at Gates McVey. Lodde was previously president of Accord Real Estate, a real estate development, financing and asset management company.

Gates McVey also named Todd Sherwood as director of sales and marketing for the hospitality division.

Paul G. Carlson and Kevin Spicer have joined the Florida Division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. of Orlando as superintendents. Carlson has 35 years of Florida construction experience. Spicer has a bachelor's degree in construction technology from Murray State University.

Lance Simons has been promoted to the new position of director of corporate safety and quality at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Haskell. A 23-year veteran of the company, he previously served as manager of safety.

Mitchell Halbert has joined D & A Building Services in Altamonte Springs, Fla., as waterproofing division general manager for the facility maintenance company. Halbert has 18 years experience in the commercial sector of the industry.

Sarra Idehen has been appointed director of corporate services at PSA Constructors in Orlando, a program and construction management consulting firm. Idehen will be responsible for directing human resources, employee health and safety, purchasing, accounts payable and accounts receivable, contracts management and administration of the company's headquarters and branch offices.

Orville Parrish has been named senior project manager for the commercial division of Palmer Electric Co. in Winter Park, Fla. Parrish has more than 20 years of experience in the electrical contracting industry.

Damon A. Ventura has been appointed controller at Emerson International, a real estate development and services firm in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Ventura has more than 11 years of experience as a corporate controller and financial executive.

Jones Edmunds & Associates has hired Joseph O'Neill, Richard Siemering and Matthew Terella for its Tampa office. O'Neill will lead the firm's solid waste group. Siemering was named project manager, and Terella will lead the GIS group.

Peter Donnantuoni has joined real-estate developer Kolter in West Palm Beach as chief operating officer. Donnantuoni joined Kolter following 13 years with Taylor Woodrow.

Andrea Roush and Emily Proto have been named interior designers at Baker Barrios Architects in Orlando.

Additionally, Steve Fulwider and Roxana Hernandez have joined the firm as project architects. Also joining the firm as graduate architects were Hernando Castano, Keith Dixon and Felix Pollo.

In addition, Bill Gau was named construction administrator.

Carlos Ramos has joined PanaSteel Building Solutions of Stuart, Fla., as controller. PBSI is the parent company for PanaSteel LLC, PanaTransport, PanaSteel Field Installation Services and Overnight Structures.

Ramos has more than 10 years of experience in the financial and consumer credit financial services industry. He was formerly the senior manager for the CreditSoft Division of International Computer Consulting Organization in Coral Springs, Fla.

Rob Boyer has been promoted to executive project director at CCS Mechanical, Ocala, Fla. Boyer started with the company in 1995 as an estimator and most recently served as project director.

Phil Hobson was named vice president - customer service and process innovation for RSC Equipment Rental. Hobson will manage and lead the development of new innovations in operating processes and technology.

VOA Associates, an architecture firm located in Orlando, recently hired Holly B. Stenger, Alec L. Sithong and Cuong Q. Ngo as designers, and named Iris E. Zayas, corporate accountant.

Also, Vine I. Haslam and Sarah Moore were promoted to the position of associate.