Bob Howell named President, CEO of SSOE Group

SSOE’s Board of Directors announced that it has selected Bob Howell to be the next President and CEO of SSOE Group—a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm. Effective December 3, 2014, Bob Howell will assume the reins from current CEO, Tony Damon, who announced his plans to retire late last year.

"This exciting milestone marks neither the beginning nor end of this important transition for the company. Succession planning for this critical position has been in the forefront of SSOE’s organizational structure and decision making for many years, and now that Bob has been named, this important process will continue. We are confident that Bob’s proven leadership, and the vision he has articulated for the company, will continue the exceptional history of success we have enjoyed under Tony’s tenure.” commented Dave Sipes, SSOE’s Chairman of the Board.

Bob Howell has been with SSOE for more than 30 years, and has served on the management team throughout the growth SSOE has enjoyed in recent years. Bob has been very influential in SSOE’s international growth. He transitions from his current role of Executive Vice President (EVP) / Chief Operations Officer (COO), as well as previous positions as Chairman of the Board, Strategic Business Unit and Division manager.

Addressing employees, outgoing CEO, Tony Damon remarked, “I will forever appreciate the trust and confidence you have placed in me during my 13 years as CEO, and for the 37 years you have allowed me to work side by side with you in building this firm. While it is inevitable that some things will change under Bob’s leadership, I am confident his experience, perspective, and leadership will continue SSOE’s legacy and trajectory of growth."

In October, at the start of SSOE’s planning year, Bob will lead the company’s business planning process to prepare for his official assumption of CEO duties in December. During the months leading up to the official transition, Bob and Tony will work together to introduce his vision to SSOE’s employees, clients, and trusted partners. “This vision, which was laid out for the Board’s review as part of the selection process, sets a lofty course for the company’s future. However, it is very much in line with our unwavering mission to make our clients successful by saving them time, trouble, and money,” explained Damon.

In response to the announcement, CEO-elect, Bob Howell stated “It is a very humbling and tremendous honor to lead this great company and its employees into the next chapter of our history. Tony’s leadership style and success have set a high standard. I look forward to guiding our continuing journey toward the ultimate goal of being a world class, global project delivery firm."

To assure a smooth transition, Tony has accepted an offer to remain in an advisory position to the Board throughout the upcoming year.

On January 15, 2023, Phase 1 of the Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2, in Bengaluru, India, began domestic operations. The 2.75 million-sf building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), is projected to process 25 million passengers annually, while providing its travelers with a healthier environment, thanks to extensive indoor-outdoor landscaping that offers serenity to what is normally a frenzied experience.

Resiliency | Apr 18, 2023

AI-simulated hurricanes could aid in designing more resilient buildings

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised a new method of digitally simulating hurricanes in an effort to create more resilient buildings. A recent study asserts that the simulations can accurately represent the trajectory and wind speeds of a collection of actual storms.

USGBC and IWBI unveil streamlined certification pathway for LEED and WELL. Photo by Scott Webb

Green | Apr 18, 2023

USGBC and IWBI unveil streamlined certification pathway for LEED and WELL green building programs

The U.S. Green Building Council, Green Business Certification Inc., and the International WELL Building Institute released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The new protocol simplifies documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned one certification and are looking to add the other.

K-12 Schools | Apr 18, 2023

ASHRAE offers indoor air quality guide for schools

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released a guide for educators, administrators, and school districts on indoor air quality. The guide can be used as a tool to discuss options to improve indoor air quality based on existing HVAC equipment, regional objectives, and available funding.

Data Centers | Apr 14, 2023

JLL's data center outlook: Cloud computing, AI driving exponential growth for data center industry

According to JLL’s new Global Data Center Outlook, the mass adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is driving exponential growth for the data center industry, with hyperscale and edge computing leading investor demand.