HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - Mar 10, 2015) - Burns & McDonnell is expanding its water practice by opening a new division in its Houston office serving all of Texas, as well as Oklahoma and Louisiana. The move creates new jobs for the region with water industry leader Kathy Berek leading the practice. Berek comes to Burns & McDonnell with more than three decades of experience in the industrial and municipal water fields in the State of Texas, with her most recent role leading programs in one of the state's largest water districts.
"Water is a powerful and precious commodity. Every person, business and community is reliant upon it every day. Kathy understands this and brings a unique sense of passion and responsibility to her role," says Leslie Duke, Senior Vice President, Burns & McDonnell Houston. "Kathy is experienced in every aspect of the water industry with a focus on quality, safety and cost effectiveness during every phase of a project. Combining these qualities with Burns & McDonnell's reputation as a leader in design/build and program management delivery strategies will be critical in serving the growing water needs and opportunities in our region."
Houston is home to Burns & McDonnell's largest regional office. With a 27 percent growth in 2014, Burns & McDonnell Houston is not only one of the fastest growing firms in Texas, but a leader in designing and building the infrastructure, transmitting wind power within the state, modernizing oil and gas plants throughout the region, and implementing the Smart Grid and renewable energy initiatives providing sustainable power.
"From power generation to oil refineries, almost every project we lead has a connected water component," says Duke. "Establishing a water division out of our Houston office allows us to provide even more resources and efficiencies to our clients and ultimately make sure quality water is never a concern for residents, businesses and municipalities in our communities."
"The drought in our area has made water supply a critical focus for all of us," says Kathy Berek, Regional Practice Manager, Burns & McDonnell. "I'm excited to build a specialized team in this respected firm, known for bringing innovative ideas and solutions to transform problems into opportunities enabling businesses and communities to thrive."
Berek is a member of the Texas Water Conservation Association, chairs the ethics committee for the Construction Management Association of America, and is a member of the diversity committee with the American Water Works Association. Berek earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas in Arlington.
Burns & McDonnell is listed as number 15 on FORTUNE's 2015 List of Best Companies to Work For and has been on the Houston Chronicle's Top Workplaces for the last four years.
About Burns & McDonnell
Burns & McDonnell is a company made up of more than 5,000 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners. Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned and is proud to be No. 15 on FORTUNE's 2015 List of 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information visit http://burnsmcd.com
Contact Information:
Contact:
Kristi Widmar
Burns & McDonnell
816-448-7379