Eleven civil engineers with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Civil Engineers during the academy’s induction ceremony held April 18.

The academy honors civil engineers for their contributions to the profession, leadership and involvement with Missouri S&T. The academy also serves as an advisory group to the Missouri S&T civil, architectural and environmental engineering department.

New members are listed below:

• David Ahlvers of Jefferson City, Mo., state construction and materials engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), earned bachelor of science degrees in civil engineering and engineering management from Missouri S&T in 1984. He served as a construction inspector and as district engineer of MoDot’s Northwest District. In 2003, Ahlvers moved to his current position, where he is responsible for geotechnical section, physical and chemical testing laboratories, pavement design, research, materials testing and oversight of the state construction program. He chairs the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Roadways and Structures Committee and serves as Missouri’s representative to the Research Advisory Council. He was an officer in the St. Joseph Rotary Club and served on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce.
• Gary Amsinger of Defiance, Mo., corporate vice president of safety for McCarthy Building Companies Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1980. He joined McCarthy as a project engineer and worked in the field managing construction projects in both commercial and heavy civil areas. He was a project manager, project director and divisional director of engineering prior to his current position. Amsinger led an effort to require that all personnel use fall protection when exposed to falls greater than 6 feet, which is now an industry standard. He holds a U.S. patent for developing a crane safety device. Amsinger chaired and held executive leadership positions in the Safety and Health committees for the national and St. Louis chapters of the Associated General Contractors (AGC); served on the Executive Committee of the National Construction Safety Executives organization; and served on the editorial board of Superintendent Magazine. He is on the S&T Career Opportunities and Employer Relations Advisory Board and led McCarthy’s recruiting efforts at S&T for more than 25 years. He led McCarthy’s United Way of Greater St. Louis Campaign for more than a decade.
• Dan Booher of Springfield, Mo., retired senior vice president of design and construction for Kohl’s Department Stores, earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in civil engineering from S&T in 1980 and 1981, respectively. His extensive career in the retail construction business began with Walmart Stores Inc., where as vice president for construction international in Mexico City he was involved in the creation of the Walmart Supercenter. Booher joined Einstein Bros. Bagels when it was a start-up and helped grow the company to 600 stores. At Toys “R” Us, he supported domestic and Asian operations, and as vice president of design and construction for Office Depot, he and his team developed stores in the U.S., Asia and Europe. In 2002, he joined Kohl’s, where he was responsible for site development, engineering and architectural design, and interior design as well as construction operations. He now does limited consulting work through his company, Blue Ocean Advisers.
• John Branham of Stella, Mo., president of Branco Enterprises Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1970. He founded Branco Enterprises Inc. in 1976. The construction company was recognized by MoDOT as its top achiever in the small volume category for 2011 and received an Excellence in Paving Award. Branco was recognized by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as a top 200 environmental contractor and by Concrete Construction Magazine as a top-100 concrete contractor. Branham has been an American Arbitration Association arbitrator since 1986. He served as chapter president of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) and as chair of the AGC of Missouri. He is now vice president of AGC of Kansas City. He served as president of the Neosho Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Neosho Planning and Zoning Commission and the Neosho Rotary Club.
• Michael L. Davis of Lebanon, Mo., president and CEO of Barton Engineering Co. Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1975. A registered engineer in Illinois and Missouri, he worked for Benton & Associates, a consulting engineering firm in Illinois, for eight years prior to joining Barton Engineering Co. Inc. in Lebanon. Barton provides consulting engineering services to the private sector and to municipalities, corporations and governmental entities. Davis served on his local school board for 12 years and the Missouri State School Board for four years. He is president of the Lebanon Education Foundation and was named Volunteer of the Year by the Laclede Literary Council. He is a board member and past president of the Lebanon Rotary Club, and was named Rotarian of the Year. In 1991, he was appointed to the Selective Service Board by President George H.W. Bush, retiring in 2011. A Chamber Ambassador, he received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce in 2002. He is active in the Ozark Chapter of MSPE and was named its Young Engineer of the Year in 1986. In 1997, he received the S&T Alumni Service Award.
• Richard Henry of Lafayette, Calif., president of the Northern Pacific Division of McCarthy Building Companies Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1983. He was assigned to McCarthy’s first project in California and worked in the field as a project engineer, project manager and vice president before his promotion in 2002 to his current position. He is responsible for projects that produced more than $550 million in revenue last year, including the 1-million-square-foot Kaiser Replacement Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and the new $857 million Stanford Hospital. Henry is an expert in public school design and construction processes and worked closely with the California State Architect as an appointed Advisory Board member to improve procedures and delivery guidelines for public projects throughout the state. He is a member of McCarthy’s board of directors and serves on the boards of the Construction Employees Association, the Bay Area Council, and the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization.
• Dr. Robert “Bob” Holmes Jr. of Rolla, Mo., national flood hazard coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in civil engineering from S&T in 1987 and 1989, respectively. He earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 2003. He previously served as chief of hydrologic data collection and director of the USGS Illinois Water Science Center. Holmes now works for the USGS Headquarters in Reston, Va., but is based in Rolla, where he coordinates operational response to major flood events nationwide including developing operational plans with other agencies. He also serves as senior advisor to the USGS director and associate directors for flood science issues. Holmes is an adjunct professor in S&T’s civil, architectural and environmental engineering department, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in water resource engineering topics. He is a diplomat in the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and past president of the Mid-Missouri Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He has received awards from the USGS, the Department of Interior and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Terry Leeds of Kansas City, Mo., director of the water services department for the city of Kansas City, Mo., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1984. After spending 10 years as a design engineer for Black and Veatch, he joined the city of Kansas City where he’s held positions as a design engineer, section head, division head, project manager and assistant director. In his current position, he is responsible for drinking water supply treatment and distribution, stormwater management and wastewater collection and treatment. His department includes 960 employees and a budget of approximately $262 million. Leeds is active in the Water Environment Federation and ASCE and is a board member of the Wet Weather Partnership and Association of Missouri Cleanwater Agencies. He received the Golden Manhole Award from the Missouri Water Environment Association. He is active in many civic organizations and is an ordained deacon.
• Fred Palmerton of Springfield, Mo., vice president of Palmerton and Parrish Inc., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 1960. After several years working with Reitz and Jens Inc. in St. Louis, Palmerton joined Anderson Engineering Inc. in Springfield. In 1989, he co-founded Palmerton and Parrish Inc., a consulting engineering and materials testing firm with 45 employees and offices and laboratories in Springfield, Branson and Joplin. He has been active in MSPE, serving in all officer positions and as president in 1998. He has served on many National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) committees and was the national chair of its professional engineers in private practice (PEPP) division in 2008. He is a member of ASCE, the American Concrete Institute and ASTM International. His honors and awards include NSPE Fellow, NSPE/PEPP Outstanding Service Award and MSPE Hall of Fame.
• Tom Sieckhaus of Fenton, Mo., senior vice president and partner of Clayco Construction Corp., earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1988 and an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1996. After six years with Turner Construction, he joined Clayco in 1994 as a project manager. He is currently responsible for all commercial projects for the national design build and construction firm, which employs nearly 1,000 people and has annual revenues of nearly $850 million. In 2005, Sieckhaus received the “40 under 40” award from the St. Louis Business Journal. He is on the board of directors of the Matthews Dickey Boys Club and served on the Carpenters Labor Committee of the AGC and on the St. Paul’s Church Building Committee.
• Curtis Skouby of St. Louis, director of public utilities for the city of St. Louis, earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from S&T in 1985 and a master of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1999. He began his career with the city of St. Louis as a civil engineer and was appointed to his current position in 2008. Skouby is responsible for the utilities and the water and communications division, operating with a staff of approximately 400 employees. He is a member of the American Water Works Association, served as chair of the Missouri section and received the 6 Guardian Award from AWWA in 2007. He serves on the Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission and is a plan reviewer for the Partnership of Safe Drinking Water. An Eagle Scout, he is a leader and volunteer with both the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA.