CHASKA, Minn. — Longtime Engineered Systems columnist, Rebecca Ellis, LEED AP BD+C, CCP, BCxP, CxA, president, Questions & Solutions Engineering (QSE), announced she will be stepping away from the position effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Ellis has penned the magazine’s Commissioning column since 1998, tracking the commissioning sector’s evolution over the last two-plus decades through topics including the essential attributes of building commissioning, coordinating controls, training, post-construction design, and much more.

Ellis made the decision to step away, stating it was time for her to start slowing down professionally.

“It has been an amazing journey tracking and documenting commissioning’s evolution from a niche service offering to a process familiar to almost everyone in the design and construction industry,” said Ellis. “Its application to existing buildings has grown in parallel, greatly expanding commissioning’s influence on building system performance and sustainable operation.

“Thank you to Engineered Systems and all of its readers for providing this unparalleled platform to help spread the word about the commissioning process, benefits, and best practices.”

In January 2023, Miles Ryan, CCP, CEM, commissioning engineer, QSE, will begin writing the Commissioning column. He works both new construction and existing building commissioning projects over the range of facility types, from health care to high-rise condominiums. As an Air Force Reservist, he serves as a mechanical systems instructor at the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he teaches courses in HVAC control systems as well as HVAC design and analysis.

The staff at Engineered Systems is excited to welcome Ryan to the team and wishes Ellis all the best as she embarks upon the next chapter of her career.

NEW YORK — AKF Group promoted 12 individuals — Jeanette Baiardi, ESQ; Michael Brumberg, RCDD; Alex Cabrera; Rory Creegan, P.E.; Carrie Cremin, P.E., LEED AP BD+C; Jennifer Ganesharatnam; Victor Guzman; Mark Harrison, P.E.; Brian Hotovy, CPA; Karen Lacroix; Christina Mahady, P.E., LEED AP; and Paul Shapiro, P.E., LEED AP — to the role of principal in acknowledgement of their dedication, embodiment of the company’s core values, and significant contributions to the firm.

The role of principal grants more responsibility and the authority to act on behalf of the firm to individuals who already function at a top leadership level.

This group was selected to elevate individuals who contribute a great deal to the firm through business operations, business development, or project management and whose efforts have continued to push AKF forward.

FRICKENHAUSEN, Germany — On Oct. 10, Danfoss announced the intent to acquire compressor manufacturer BOCK GmbH, headquartered in Frickenhausen, Germany.

Developing compressors for the natural refrigerant CO2 since 1993, BOCK is a global provider of environmentally friendly, economical compressors.

With the acquisition, Danfoss adds the one of the world's largest portfolios of semi-hermetic compressors for natural refrigerants, such as CO2 (R744), hydrocarbons, and other low-GWP refrigerants, to its portfolio of oil-free centrifugal compressors, inverter-scroll, reciprocating, and screw compressors and condensing units.

According to the International Institute of Refrigeration, refrigeration technology and air conditioning take up about 15% of the electricity consumption worldwide, making the quest for energy-efficient solutions ever more relevant. Intelligent solutions, combining high energy efficiency and low-GWP refrigerants, both natural and synthetic, are the road to sustainable refrigeration and air conditioning.

By acquiring BOCK GmbH, Danfoss takes a proactive approach to further the development and use of low-GWP refrigerants to help abate global warming and to ensure the competitiveness of the industry.

HONOLULU — Multidiscipline consulting engineering firm Coffman Engineers Inc. announced that structural engineering firm Shigemura, Lau, Sakanashi, Higuchi, and Associates Inc. (SLSH) has executed a letter of intent to join Coffman.

The companies plan to finalize the asset purchase agreement by Nov. 1. Once the agreement is finalized, Coffman will welcome SLSH's four owners and all six staff members to the company before the end of the year. The decision to join Coffman is part of SLSH's ownership transition plan to provide continued support to their staff and established clients while the ownership plans for retirement.

SLSH owners Lau; Craig Sakanashi, P.E.; Wayne Higuchi, P.E.; and Beverly Ishii-Nakayama, P.E., will join Coffman as principal advisors. The addition of SLSH expands Coffman's Honolulu structural group from three to 13. SLSH has provided consulting structural engineering services to private and public clients throughout the Pacific Region for more than 52 years. SLSH's experience augments Coffman's structural engineering capabilities and complements the company's other engineering disciplines.

SACRAMENTO — SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, has opened its latest office in Sacramento. This location adds to the firm’s strong presence in northern California, deepening its connections in the growing metropolitan area and central valley region. Located in the Ice Blocks, a three-block mixed-use project in midtown Sacramento, the office specializes in architecture, interiors, landscape architecture, and MEP engineering for the civic, health, higher education, life science, mixed-use, and workplace markets.

Arun Kaiwar joined SmithGroup as a principal to lead the local team and day-to-day operations of the office. “I look forward to building upon SmithGroup’s legacy in the area and further cultivating relationships, opportunities and work in Sacramento and beyond,” said Kaiwar, an experienced architect and design manager who has led several prominent projects throughout California.

NEW YORK — The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) announced Christopher Cantrell will join the society in the newly created position of senior managing director of standards and engineering services, effective Oct. 17. In this new role, Cantrell will oversee all aspects of ASME’s standards development, conformity assessment, and standards research operations. Cantrell joins ASME from the state of Nebraska, where he held the position of chief boiler inspector for 15 years and as both the state fire marshal and chief boiler inspector for the past four years.

“Chris brings to ASME deep experience as a state chief, as chair of the board of trustees of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors; as an inspector for Hartford Steam Boiler, our largest authorized inspection agency; and as an ASME committee volunteer,” said Jeff Patterson, COO, ASME. “Just as important, while in state government, Chris led in the introduction of digital platforms that have enabled his teams to work more efficiently. His familiarity with our volunteers and staff, our standards development and conformity assessment processes, and the systems that support them, plus his accomplishments in organizational transformation, make him the ideal executive to lead our standards and engineering services team into the future.”