MWH Strengthens Position in Southern California Municipal Water & Wastewater Industry with Key Hires

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Addition of vice presidents provides increased expertise on a variety of water and wastewater issues for municipalities and companies operating in Southern California region, further strengthening the MWH position as a leader in the area.

Broomfield, CO (PRWEB) September 02, 2014

MWH Global, the global wet infrastructure sector leader and provider of strategic consulting, environmental engineering and construction services, today announced the expansion of the firm’s Southern California practice. The addition of vice presidents Joe Lauria and John Hanula provides increased expertise on a variety of water and wastewater issues for municipalities and companies operating in the region, further strengthening the MWH position as a leader in the area.

Joe Lauria has joined the firm as Vice President, and Area Manager - Municipal Water/Wastewater, for the Orange County Market, based in the Irvine, California office. Lauria brings more than 30 years of experience in the municipal water and wastewater business. The majority of those years were spent with Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. (MPI) in locations throughout the U.S. The last thirteen years have been focused in California. In his new role, Lauria will be responsible for directing, planning and coordinating the MWH business development and growth strategy in Orange County and other portions of the Southern Los Angeles Basin area.

A Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Lauria served as MPIs Technical Director of Engineering Services for ten years and developed their national Capital Project Delivery guidance document, establishing procedures to implement alternative project delivery methods, as well as traditional methods, for water and wastewater projects. After the acquisition of MPI by ARCADIS, Lauria became the National Design-Build Leader. He has been responsible for more than $1.5 billion in capital projects from New York to California, and most recently served as the Project Director of the contractor’s engineer for the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Facility, the largest seawater desalination facility in the western hemisphere. The work, now 60 percent constructed, has a total design, construction and financing budget in excess of $900 million.

“Joe’s recognition as a successful business leader, practice builder and principal in charge of major engineering projects across the country will greatly strengthen the MWH prominent California consultancy and bring significant value to our clients,” said Dr. Steven Weber, Southwest Regional Manager for MWH in the Americas. “In addition to two decades of work for the Orange County Sanitation District and other major agencies, his vision and leadership on the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Project is indicative of the type of thinking needed to address complex problems in the arid west amidst record drought. He’s the latest addition to the team that MWH is building to provide creative, value-added solutions and solidify our industry leadership.”

Lauria holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil/environmental engineering from Manhattan College in New York City. He is a registered Professional Engineer in three states, a past member of the Executive Board of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), current member of the Executive Board of the Water Design-Build Council (WDBC) and current member of the Civil & Environmental Engineering Committee at the University of California, Irvine.

John Hanula, Senior Vice President, will lead the MWH Los Angeles operation and be based in the firm’s Pasadena office. Hanula is educated as an architect and civil engineer, and brings a 28-year track record of delivering value-added solutions for clients.

Hanula has rejoined MWH after a 9-year period at CH2MHILL. In his previous tenure with MWH, Hanula was vice president, holding leadership positions including director of strategic programs and international business development. As part of his role as director of global business development, Hanula is tasked with managing and coordinating the MWH business development and growth strategy in the Los Angeles market.

“John’s recognized stature as a big-city and major infrastructure visionary will enhance MWH offerings to its clients,” said Marshall Davert, president for the government and infrastructure business segment in the Americas and in Asia Pacific for MWH. “He has the rare ability to frame and shape the most complex infrastructure-related needs into opportunities. John is the most recent addition to the team we are building at MWH to offer creative solutions to our clients throughout all geographies. He will provide an outstanding synergy and I am delighted to be reunited with him.”

Hanula holds a Master of Science in civil engineering as well as a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Tennessee. He is a registered architect in 12 states across the U.S., and is a board member of the WateReuse Foundation and the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE). He was recently appointed to the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board at the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering.

About MWH Global
MWH Global is the premier solutions provider focused on water and natural resources for built infrastructure and the environment. Offering a full range of innovative, award-winning services from initial planning through construction and asset management, we partner with our clients in multiple industries. Our nearly 8,000 employees in 35 countries spanning six continents are dedicated to fulfilling our purpose of Building a Better World, which reflects our commitment to sustainable development. MWH is a private, employee-owned firm with a rich legacy beginning in 1820. For more information, visit our website at http://www.mwhglobal.com or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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