After a remarkable 43-year career at Ross & Baruzzini, Vice President and Director of Utilities Infrastructure, Jim Heisserer has retired. Jim started with the firm on June 7, 1976 and is highly respected by many in the industry.
‘Jim has been an amazing part of our history over these past 43 years,’ said Bill Overturf, president. ‘He is beloved by so many of our clients as well as all of us that have had the great honor to work closely with him. He will be greatly missed.’
Jim has served as the principal, project manager and lead electrical design engineer for many of the medium and low voltage power distribution projects at Lambert St. Louis International Airport and the City of St. Louis as well as Missouri and Illinois American Water. Major projects at Lambert Airport have included the Lambert Experience, Concourse D, the East Terminal, and the Lindbergh Tunnel. Jim also served as a part-time instructor at Ranken Technical College and on their Advisory Board. Jim has imparted his institutional knowledge on many Ross & Baruzzini employees and his willingness to go above and beyond sets him apart as a true leader. On June 6, 2016, he was even presented with an official proclamation from the City of St. Louis naming it “Jim Heisserer Day”.
With Jim’s retirement came organizational changes for Ross & Baruzzini.
Karl Miller became the Director of Utilities Infrastructure. Karl has diverse design and leadership experience, having previously served as the Director of Project Management and Director of Healthcare. Karl, who has been with Ross & Baruzzini since 2011, has been designing and managing complex projects for his entire career and has worked across many market sectors including utility and commercial, industrial, healthcare and higher education.
‘I’m excited to take the reins from Jim Heisserer. The Utilities group provides design of electrical power systems for water, waste water, aviation, higher education and industrial clients. We also perform arc flash studies across these and other markets,’ said Miller. ‘Taking this position allows me to get back to my roots of power system design and protective relaying. I spent a number of years providing design services for the industrial market so my vision is to expand our depth of services to those clients.’
Warren Kohm and Alan Ely, both now reporting to Karl, have also taken on new leadership roles within the Utilities market.
Warren has been promoted to Director of Operations, focusing on optimizing the Utilities Infrastructure group and offering continued technical leadership. Warren has led much of the electrical engineering services for major clients. He has been with Ross & Baruzzini for 15 years.
Alan will serve as the Director of Power System Studies. He will oversee all short circuit, coordination and arc flash studies produced in the Utilities Infrastructure market. Alan has been with Ross & Baruzzini three years and under his direction, the number of studies completed continues to grow.
Mike Swanson will be stepping into Karl Miller’s position to lead the Healthcare group. Mike has been the Director of Operations for the past two years and is well-established with many clients in the market. Mike has been with Ross & Baruzzini for seven years and has overseen the management and design of more than 60 healthcare projects.
‘Healthcare can be very personal. We all know someone who has received care at a hospital, medical office buildings or cancer center. Being part of the design team for healthcare facilities gives us the unique opportunity to help shape the built environment in a manner that allows the patient’s experience to be as pleasant and comfortable as possible and enables caregivers to provide world-class treatment,’ said Swanson. ‘I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead our talented group of engineers and design professionals in a cornerstone market for our organization and look forward to coming alongside our clients and partners to design building systems that exceed their expectations and allow them to serve those we care about most.’
Find out more about our Utilities Infrastructure and Healthcare experience.
