To submit personnel news announcements, please send information and color photography to Scott Judy, editor, Southeast Construction, scott_judy@mcgraw-hill.com.

Jose Ramon Mas was named president and CEO of MasTec, the telecommunications specialty contractor based in Coral Gables, Fla. Currently vice chairman and executive vice president, Mas will assume his new role at the end of Austin Shanfelter's current contract, which runs through March 31. Shanfelter will remain with the company as a director and as a special consultant to MasTec.

Mas started with MasTec in 1992, and from 1999 until 2001 headed up the communications group. Since 2001, he has served as vice chairman of the board of directors and executive vice president of business development.

The company also named Robert E. Apple as its chief operating officer. Since 2005, he has served as group president for MasTec's energy services operation.

Cousins Properties of Atlanta announced that founder and chairman Thomas G. Cousins has retired, becoming chairman emeritus. Tom Bell, formerly president and CEO, assumed the role of chairman upon Cousins' retirement.

Tim Parker has been named vice president-business development at BE&K Building Group in Greenville, S.C. Also, Bob Powell was promoted to vice president of operations. Parker has been with the company since 1993, and previously served as director of business development. Powell rejoined the company in 2005, after having worked with its predecessor, Suitt Construction Co. He had worked as a project executive prior to this appointment.

TVS, the Atlanta-based architecture firm, recently promoted 14 professionals. Howard Chen and David Brown were promoted to associate principal. Bryan Houserand Bill Martin were named senior associates.

The following were promoted to the position of associate: Kerry McCarty, Mark Holmes, Severine Cahane, Ben Seibel, Douglas Webster, Alan Zoghby, Kavitha Iyer, Binh Truong, Yon Hack Jung and Hilary Ingram.

Eugene Balter has joined HDR's Construction Control Corp. subsidiary in Tampa as the national director for transportation construction services and operations director.

Prior to joining HDR, Balter was a vice president and corporate director of construction services for T.Y. Lin International. He has 29 years of experience in construction management and construction engineering and inspection for roadway, bridge and airfield projects.

In Charlotte, Peter C. D'Adamo has joined HDR as Carolinas water/wastewater business class manager. He will lead HDR's water and wastewater treatment business practice in North and South Carolina.

Michael Chatham, previously partner and director of design at Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects, has been named president of the Maitland, Fla.-based firm. Former president and founding partner Alan C. Helman will retain his role as HHCP's chairman.

Chatham joined the firm in 1989 and became a shareholder/partner in 2000.

Juan M. DeLeón was promoted to director of international development for Ring Power Crane of St. Augustine, Fla. He previously served as international sales regional manager. He will promote the sales of new and used cranes in the territory that includes Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Mark E. Cassel of Rodgers Builders in Charlotte was promoted to general superintendent. He has been with Rodgers since 1993.

Also, H. Allen White joined Rodgers Builders as senior project manager. He has more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry.

Design Workshop hired Eric Anderson, Megan Olsen and Jill Campbell in its Asheville, N.C., office. The firm provides sustainable design and planning services.

Kris Agers has joined Carter & Burgess as Orlando area manager. She has 15 years of experience in the engineering and architectural consulting industry.

Krista Woodard has joined the Orlando office of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. as assistant project manager. She has more than 13 years of commercial construction experience in Central Florida.

Frank Laino has joined Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. in Fort Myers, Fla., as superintendent.

John Keener III and Mariana Caracausa-Espido joined the Tampa office of Baker Barrios Architects as project architects. Keener has six years of architecture experience, and Caracausa-Espido has more than 10 years of professional experience.

Brad Bartell was appointed vice president at MACTEC Development Corp., an operating division of Alpharetta, Ga.-based MACTEC Inc. He will be responsible for the firm's telecom program.

In other company news, Steve Fenton was named office manager of MACTEC's Greensboro, N.C., office.

Kevin Jobes has joined the Tampa office of Duluth, Ga.-based QORE Property Sciences as the construction materials and testing department manager.

Ellis & Associates, an engineering firm based in Jacksonville, Fla., recently hired Jason Johnson as a senior technician; Eric Colitzas as a technician; and Lisa O'Leary for administrative duties. All are based in Jacksonville.

Rick Whalen has joined Community Engineering Services as a civil engineer in the firm's Orlando office. He will be responsible for project management and business development.

Jeffrey A. Fuller, a 25-year veteran of the construction industry, was named estimating manager at Mainstream Construction Group in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Nelson Galeano has joined McMahon Associates, an engineering and planning firm in Fort Myers, Fla., as senior project engineer. He has been involved in transportation engineering since 1992.