ORLANDO, Florida — Burns & McDonnell has hired Richard Pruss and Justin Sobol to expand the 100% employee-owned firm's teams that support the aerospace, defense, space, manufacturing, commercial, water and wastewater industries.

Pruss, PE, will serve as a regional global facilities manager, concentrating on the firm’s aerospace, defense and space business throughout the Southeast. Sobol will lead the regional Water Group, focusing on water, wastewater and stormwater projects. Pruss and Sobol have a combined 30 years of experience in architecture, engineering, design and construction.

“For decades, we have earned a reputation of executing projects that make life better for residents in local communities,” says Rich Mahaley, vice president and general manager of Burns & McDonnell in Florida. “The aerospace and water industries are emerging business lines for us here in Florida, as well as the commercial, manufacturing and wastewater sectors. All of these industries are facing transformative change that we want to help shape in the design-build space.”

Committed to leading that change, Pruss has more than 15 years of experience in structural engineering and design-build project delivery. He specializes in aerospace, government and manufacturing facility projects and brings with him high-level capabilities in strategic planning and project management.

Pruss has spent his entire career in the aerospace, defense, space and commercial launch sectors, working with commercial space manufacturers and operators as well as federal clients that include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. intelligence agencies and more. He has led several complex, large-scale projects across North America, including developing numerous design and study assessments for NASA launch complexes and support facilities. He recently served as an executive committee board member and treasurer for the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and sits on the board of the National Space Club, Florida Chapter.

“We anticipate an influx of design-build projects here in Florida, including aerospace, defense and space work,” Pruss says. “To support that growth, we plan to hire 10-20 engineers, architects and construction professionals throughout the next year. The team we’re assembling will excel at delivering innovative solutions that demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the complexities of aerospace, defense and space projects and the infrastructure needed to support these types of facilities.”

Equally dedicated to growing the firm’s business in Florida, Sobol has more than 15 years of experience in project development and project management. He has managed and supported more than $4 billion in collaborative delivery projects in the water, wastewater and power industries. He is an active member of the Design-Build Institute of America and serves on both national and Florida region water/wastewater committees and on multiple subcommittees. Additionally, he is an active member and trainer with the Water Design-Build Council and certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

"I’m excited about growing a team of professionals that will create infrastructure that looks ahead to the future,” Sobol says. “From designing and building municipal and industrial water, wastewater and stormwater projects to developing sustainable environments through green infrastructure systems, we’re proud to support and enhance the communities we call home.”

Burns & McDonnell has offices in Orlando, Miami and Melbourne and is consistently ranked as a top Florida workplace. The firm’s local employee-owners support federal and military facilities, as well as electrical transmission and distribution, manufacturing, transportation, water, wastewater, environmental and other critical infrastructure projects. The company’s cutting-edge professionals also provide business, technology and security consulting services and have been designing and building projects that have fueled the area’s growth for years.

The firm is ranked as the nation’s No. 6 design-build firm and No. 9 design firm, according to Engineering-News Record. The company also is ranked as the No 2. contractor in the aerospace industry, the No. 9 and No. 13 design firms in wastewater treatment and water treatment, respectively, and the No. 12 design firm in the Southeast.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 60 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn how we are designed to build.