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KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Sept. 9, 2016) — Burns & McDonnell has promoted seven individuals to the position of principal at its World Headquarters in Kansas City. Representing less than 3.5 percent of the firm’s population, it is known as the toughest promotion to receive at Burns & McDonnell. The promotions recognize employee-owners who demonstrate exceptional performance and technical excellence as well as acknowledgement of future leadership roles contributing to the ongoing success and growth of Burns & McDonnell. The new Kansas City-based principals are:

Tim Burkhalter

As principal and director of national accounts for Burns & McDonnell, Tim Burkhalter oversees marketing and business development, focusing on developing and expanding relationships with new and existing manufacturing, aerospace, higher education, commercial, and retail clients. He sets marketing and sales strategies for the rapidly growing facilities design and construction practice at Burns & McDonnell. Tim joined the firm in mid-2007 and played an instrumental role in developing a new specialty service focusing on campus energy systems for hospitals, universities and other large institutional clients. He served as design-build project manager on a number of these key projects and has since become a vocal advocate for the firm’s unique integrated design-build project delivery model. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Joseph Diab

Joe Diab has been named principal in recognition of his role as a senior project manager on several of Burns & McDonnell’s largest and most complex oil and gas industry projects. He most recently provided project management oversight on the largest project in Burns & McDonnell history, a $1.2 billion expansion of the Phillips 66 export terminal in Freeport, Texas. In his 15 years with Burns & McDonnell, Joe has played an instrumental role in delivering successful engineer-procure-construct (EPC) projects for major oil and gas industry clients. His success has helped Burns & McDonnell build its reputation as one of the leading EPC firms in the nation for a range of heavy industrial and power projects. Joe is a civil engineering graduate from the University of North Carolina, and has a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Kansas. 

Wendy Hageman

As a new principal, senior project manager and architecture department manager, Wendy Hageman has been recognized for her role in helping Burns & McDonnell maintain and strengthen relationships with key federal, state and local government clients. In her nearly 10 years with Burns & McDonnell, Wendy has managed multiple design projects totaling several million dollars for clients ranging from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas City Aviation Department to local municipal and county governments and private sector clients. She currently manages 35 people and assists with leading production and operations management for the Burns & McDonnell Aviation group. She is active in professional and community organizations, having previously served as president of the Design-Build Institute-Mid-America Region and as chair of the advisory board for WIN for KC. Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Iowa State University.

Melissa Lavin

As principal and director of Corporate Marketing, Melissa works with executive leadership in developing and executing policies, strategies and programs that create awareness, enhance Burns & McDonnell’s reputation and support overall sales goals. She leads a 45-person team of marketing and communications professionals who share the mission of continuously advancing Burns & McDonnell’s business and brand. She and her team are building Burns & McDonnell as a national brand for professional engineering, construction, environmental and consulting services. Prior to serving in marketing leadership, Melissa was director of the Burns & McDonnell Foundation, where she oversaw the growth and development of the firm’s corporate outreach and volunteerism program. She joined Burns & McDonnell in 2001, shortly after graduating from Missouri State University with a degree in communications. 

Keegan Odle

With experience on more than 400 electrical substation projects, Keegan Odle has been promoted to principal in recognition of his role in helping many of Burns & McDonnell’s largest utility clients address a range of reliability and security concerns. He has served as a program manager on projects focusing on improvements and physical security upgrades at a number of critical high-voltage power facilities. These critical substations form the backbone of regional and national power grids and Keegan is leading large teams of engineers, construction, security, IT and other professionals who are designing physical assets, systems and procedures that address reliability and security concerns for utilities and regional transmission authorities. Keegan is a professional engineer and joined Burns & McDonnell in 2004 just after graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

Scott Strawn

Scott Strawn has been promoted to principal in recognition of his role in developing and expanding relationships with some of the firm’s largest utility and energy clients. He joined Burns & McDonnell in 2006 and served as a technical advisor on a number of power projects specializing in mechanical engineering. This included a three-year, on-site commitment with a major utility client, helping to manage the installation of several hundred million dollars of equipment. His role was expanded in 2009 when he was promoted to lead business development efforts for a broad range of utility clients. He has been recognized for his ability to develop engineering and technical solutions that meet quickly evolving energy policy and regulatory mandates. His insights have been crucial in helping clients formulate prudent capital investment strategies that meet the demands of today’s power industry. Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Nathan Turner

In his more than 12 years with Burns & McDonnell, Nathan Turner has managed projects and relationships with many of the company’s largest electrical transmission and distribution (T&D) clients and has become an effective advocate of the benefits of regional office coordination among all Burns & McDonnell office locations. His promotion to principal of the firm recognizes both his contributions to Burns & McDonnell’s largest and fastest-growing division and for his ability to cross-sell projects that have been managed by other divisions within the company. He has proven to be a leader in the industry and community as well, serving on an Edison Electric Institute executive committee promoting communications issues affecting investor-owned utilities. He also serves on the zoning board for the City of Olathe, the Olathe Parks & Recreation Board, the Greater KC Regional Planning Committee for First Robotics and was recently accepted to the Kansas City Tomorrow Civic Leadership Development Program. Nathan received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a company made up of more than 5,300 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 percent employee-owned and is proud to be No. 16 on Fortune’s 2016 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For.