NEWS
NEW HIRES
Kris Dahl
CNH Construction
Kris Dahl will succeed Terry Dolan in leading CNH’s Construction’s North America Commercial business as Dolan prepares for his planned retirement at the end of 2026. Dahl brings 25 years of global experience spanning commercial leadership, operations, technology and product development in the heavy equipment industry. He joins CNH and the CASE Construction Equipment and New Holland Construction brands from Caterpillar, where his career included leadership roles in the U.S. and Asia and extensive work with customers, dealers and teams across global construction and mining markets. Dahl brings a combination of commercial, operational and technical experience to CNH, with a career that has included leadership assignments across multiple markets and geographies. His background gives him a broad perspective on both the machines contractors depend on and the evolving needs of the businesses that operate them. Visit cnh.com.
Jon Carroll
Poettker Construction
Poettker Construction Company has appointed Jon Carroll to executive vice president and chief innovation officer. Carroll will lead Poettker’s initiatives to identify and implement new technologies, systems and processes that support future business. Working alongside leaders across the organization, he will help align innovation initiatives, increase operational efficiency and equip teams with the tools and resources needed to support client success. His leadership will help Poettker build on existing strengths while improving the way teams plan, communicate and deliver work. Carroll joined Poettker 18 years ago as a project engineer and has since held a series of leadership roles supporting project delivery, operations and client relationships, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief operations officer. Visit poettkerconstruction.com.
Kevin D. Watkins
CMAA
The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) announced the appointment of Kevin D. Watkins, SPHR, CAE, as CMAA’s next president and CEO, effective Nov. 16. Watkins is an association executive with experience leading large, complex membership organizations. He currently serves as chief operating officer of the American Institute of Architects, where he oversees a $45 million-plus portfolio serving more than 101,000 members and 200-plus chapters. His leadership has contributed to record membership growth, a 90% renewal rate, and stronger alignment between national priorities and chapter investment. As president and CEO, Watkins will lead CMAA’s work to complete and implement its new strategic plan, strengthen chapters as the center of member engagement, expand recognition of credentials, and elevate CMAA’s voice. Visit cmaanet.org.
James A. Bilella
Urban Engineers
Urban Engineers Inc. (Urban) announced that James A. Bilella II, PE, the firm’s president and CEO, has been elected to the firm’s board of directors. Bilella, who has been with Urban for more than 30 years, joins the board as Urban celebrates its 65th anniversary and continues to build on its longstanding commitment to clients, employees and the communities it serves. From his start as a construction inspector on the New Jersey Turnpike, Bilella moved into traffic, intelligent transportation systems and streetscape design, including significant services to the city of Philadelphia. Most recently, he served as vice president and market leader for rail and transit, leading complex infrastructure and facilities projects across light rail, heavy rail, subway and other public transportation systems. Urban is a multidisciplinary planning, design, environmental and construction support services consulting firm with more than 375 employees across 13 regional offices in the U.S. Visit urbanengineers.com.
Partnerships
HD Construction Equipment Signs Compact Equipment Partnership With Manitou Group
HD Construction Equipment recently signed an agreement on mutual sales partnership for compact construction equipment with global equipment manufacturer Manitou Group, which will help expand its compact equipment portfolio. Under this agreement, HD Construction Equipment will source compact equipment product lines from Manitou Group and sell them on a global scale. In return, Manitou Group will integrate HD Construction Equipment’s compact solutions into its own lineup, expanding the product offerings for both the Manitou and Gehl brands. Through this partnership, HD Construction Equipment plans to accelerate its market expansion by enhancing its compact construction equipment lineup. The company aims to scale up compact equipment production and improve product quality and cost competitiveness. Visit na.hd-hyundaice .com and manitou-group.com/en.
Trackunit & DEWALT Partner to Bring Tool Location Intelligence to Jobsites
Trackunit and DEWALT have entered a strategic partnership to deliver tool location intelligence across construction jobsites. DEWALT Tool Connect technology will integrate with the Trackunit Network, a Bluetooth network in construction. Contractors will now be able to locate DEWALT tools through equipment already connected on-site. Through the collaboration, tool location data surfaces through Trackunit, giving site managers a single consolidated view across their operations. The partnership launches with an initial phase focused on tool location across contractor operations worldwide. Both companies are building toward deeper data capability as the DEWALT Tool Connect platform expands. Visit trackunit.com and dewalt.com.
