March/April 2017

PEople

West Virginia’s new Governor Jim Justice has appointed Woody Thrasher, P.E., secretary of commerce. Thrasher is president of the Thrasher Group, an architecture and engineering firm he started with his father in 1983 that today employs more than 300 people  in West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. He is also the managing partner of the White Oaks business park in Bridgeport, West Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University.

Retired Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, P.E., has joined HDR as the strategic program manager for North Dakota and the surrounding region, based in the firm’s Bismarck office. His responsibilities include planning, directing, and monitoring all aspects of multidiscipline programs, and overseeing technically complex projects. Prior to joining HDR, Sprynczynatyk held key leadership positions in North Dakota, including state engineer and secretary of the State Water Commission, director of the Department of Transportation, and most recently, the North Dakota director of Emergency Services and National Guard adjutant general.

Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Clark Nexsen recently named Chris Stone, P.E., F.NSPE, the architecture and engineering firm’s CEO. In his new position, he is responsible for publicly representing the firm and exploring growth opportunities and strategic alliances. Prior to becoming CEO, Stone served as the firm’s president for 15 years. A past president of NSPE, he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Military Institute and his master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Virginia.


Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently appointed Aaron Zdinak, P.E., to the State Building Code Technical Review Board. Board members serve at the pleasure of the governor, so there is no set term length or limit. Zdinak is a geotechnical leader at HDR Engineering. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and his master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.

Jim Kelly, P.E., manager of crane engineering with Newport News Shipbuilding, was recently appointed by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to the state Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. He will serve through June 30, 2018. Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in marine engineering systems at the US Merchant Marine Academy and his master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Nic Cullen, P.E., and Thomas Eskro, P.E., recently earned their professional engineer licenses. Both are civil engineers with Fargo, North Dakota-based Houston Engineering. Cullen started with the firm in 2011 and works out of its Bismarck office. Eskro works out of the firm’s Fargo headquarters.

Please send press releases and announcements about the promotions and other career-related achievements of NSPE members to PE Magazine, PEople Editor, 1420 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2794 or [email protected].