Power Engineering Construction Elevates Four to Ownership Team
Northern California-based Power Engineering Construction, which has been involved in marine and heavy civil construction for nearly four decades, announced in late January that it has added four new members to its ownership group.
They are Jeff Van Meter, Marc Service, Brian Shalk and Scott Williams.
Van Meter, who has been with Power Engineering for 15 years, spent a decade working in the field, progressing from intern to project manager. His interest and skill in estimating and value engineering emerged and he transitioned into the estimating department five years ago.
Today, he’s the company’s director of estimating, leading preconstruction, scheduling and estimating for Power’s complex marine and heavy-civil construction projects. He also has played a role in the company’s expansion throughout Southern California.
Service has been with Power Engineering for 15 years, starting as an intern in 2009. He was later hired on as a project engineer and was promoted to project manager in 2014.
He has led two of Power’s highly complex design-build projects: a ferry terminal for the Water Emergency Transportation Authority in Alameda, Calif. and a heavy-civil infrastructure project for Silicon Valley Clean Water, where he mastered jack-and-bore micro-tunneling and bypass tie-ins at an active water treatment plant.
Service is expected to continue to lead projects.
Shalk brings 15 years of industry experience to his role, beginning his career in tunnel and heavy construction then joining Power 10 years ago, rising from a project engineer to project manager.
Shalk, who led the steel floats and gangways design-build scope for Power’s largest project, the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal expansion, is behind Power’s expansion of commercial diving services, introducing cutting-edge methods and technology to serve ocean outfall and subsea cable clients.
Williams has 16 years of construction experience, including eight years at Power. He began his career at a global construction and engineering firm as a project engineer, later advancing to project manager with a focus on marine-related projects.
In 2017, he joined Power as a project manager. One of his earliest achievements was leading a seismic upgrade on one of Power’s refinery clients’ wharves—navigating live fuel lines and tanker deliveries without disrupting operations.
He is currently spearheading Power’s expansion into Southern California.
Port of Oakland Commission Chooses 1st Female Executive Director
Port of Oakland Chief Operating Officer Kristi McKenney has been named the port’s next executive director, making her the first woman to serve in the leadership role in the port’s 98-year history, it was announced Feb. 14.
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 13 to sign McKenney to a three-year contract, succeeding Danny Wan, who is expected to retire on Feb. 28.
McKenney, who began her career at the Northern California seaport as an environmental planner, has stepped into various roles at the port, including assistant aviation director, interim executive director and COO, a position she has held since February 2020.
McKenney earned her Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics from San Jose State University.
She was key in overseeing port operations in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as COO, she helped to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funding for the port, the seaport said in an announcement.
“As a port veteran, Kristi McKenney will bring solid leadership and management skills to the position,” Wan said. “She will also bring continuity and stability to port operations, which are essential to helping us build for the next generation.”
In the announcement, McKenney stated she was grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead during a transformative time at the port.
“I look forward to implementing the port’s five-year strategic plan that will help grow local employment and contracting opportunities and strengthen our economic base,” she said.
San Diego Maritime Museum Names New President/CEO
Christina Connett Brophy, a seasoned executive in museum management, has been appointed the new president and CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, officials announced Jan. 29.
Connett Brophy is expected to lead the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to “collecting, preserving and presenting the rich maritime heritage connections with the Pacific world.” The museum boasts a substantial collection of National Historic Landmark Vessels, including sailing ships, steam-powered ships and a submarine.
Connett Brophy’s experience in museum leadership spans more than a decade, including as senior vice president of the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut and Chief Curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, according to the announcement.
“Dr. Connett Brophy’s leadership and collaborative approach will enhance the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s partnerships with educational institutes, community organizations and businesses all while keeping the organization at the forefront of adventure and preservation,” Maritime Museum of San Diego Board Chair Kenneth Stipanov said.
Connett Brophy said she’s looking forward to an exciting future on the West Coast.
“San Diego is inextricably linked to the sea, and the Maritime Museum is the gateway to public engagement and personal connection,” Brophy said in a statement.
New Oxnard Harbor District Board President Sworn In
Longtime port and community advocate Jess J. Ramirez has been sworn in as the new president of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Directors, the five-member body governing the Port of Hueneme.
Ramirez, who previously served as the board’s vice president, took the leadership reins from Commissioner Celina L. Zacarias in mid-January.
“I am very proud to serve the people of the Oxnard Harbor District for one last term,” Ramirez said in a prepared statement. “During this term, I look forward to continuing to build community.”
Ramirez has more than five decades of experience as a member and leader in International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local No. 46.
As a member of the harbor district board, he has championed sustainability at the port and pushed for business growth and strategic development that yield economic and social benefits.
“It is this attentiveness that has enabled the Port of Hueneme to create opportunities that not only spur economic development but also build social capital and investment in the community,” Ramirez said.
Mandel Promoted to Government Affairs Director at Port of LA
The Port of Los Angeles has promoted Artie Mandel to the role of Director of Government Affairs, a position that oversees the port’s collaborative efforts with governmental entities at the local, regional, state and federal levels.
His duties involve advocacy, legislative coordination, grant funding identification and coalition building, among other responsibilities.
Mandel previously served as the POLA’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. In his new position, he continues to report to Avin Sharma, the port’s Senior Director of Workforce and Government Affairs.
“Artie has a long track record of bringing stakeholders together to tackle challenging policy issues, and facilitate smart and strategic solutions,” Sharma said. “His extensive background and understanding of government processes across all levels of government, along with his strong work ethic, are a tremendous asset to our port.”
Prior to joining the Port of LA, Mandel was Chief of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, where he oversaw federal, state and local government affairs and advocacy.
In that role, he worked with city departments and the City Council to develop and execute the city’s legislative program. During his tenure there, he was credited with helping secure more than $1 billion in state homelessness assistance and housing grants for the City of Los Angeles.
Previous to that, he spent 10 years on Capitol Hill as senior policy advisor for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and legislative director for Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), where he focused on tax, international trade and affordable housing policy.
Originally from New Jersey, Mandel earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland.