People in the News

Sterling Correctional Facility Facility Parole Officer (FPO), Leslie Keisel received the Tom Clements Memorial Award May 4 during National Corrections Officer and Employee Appreciation Week. The award embodies the vision of recovery and reintegration in which Clements strongly believed, and is presented to a Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) staff member who demonstrates leadership, integrity, teamwork and effective communication skills with offenders.

Corrections building industry veteran Ross Cooper recently joined Kitchell CEM as operations manager in the company’s San Jose, Calif., office, bringing more than 40 years of experience in overseeing all phases of multimillion-dollar construction projects. Kitchell has a deep portfolio of work in justice and juvenile facilities, primarily from its decades-long engagement with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

Sam Cline, warden of the Kansas Department of Corrections Hutchinson Correctional Facility, will become warden of the Lansing Correctional Facility effective June 18. Lansing Correctional Facility is the largest prison in Kansas. Cline has served in his current role since 2007, prior to which he was warden of the state’s Ellsworth Correctional Facility for four years.

Dean Williams was confirmed as the new commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections earlier this month. Williams recently co-authored an administrative review of the department, and will now lead its more than 2,000 employees. He brings more than 30 years of justice experience to his new position, having worked for 12 years as a juvenile justice officer and five years with the state’s Department of Law.

AECOM, with offices in Chicago, announced Rebecca Nolan as executive vice president and head of its buildings and places design practice in the Americas. Nolan brings 35 years of experience in strategic planning, architectural design and leadership. In her role, she will lead an AECOM team of more than 2,000 architects, planners, building engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and other consultants.
 

Vincent Wasilewski has been named the new chief deputy to lead the custody operations branch of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Wasilewski will also lead the department through the construction of the new Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria, and will help integrate its operations with existing jail facilities.

Chicago-based Klein and Hoffman, a leading architectural restoration and structural engineering firm, is pleased to announce that Kyle Stanish, Ph.D, S.E., P.E. has joined the company as a senior associate. His expertise includes both structural and materials assessment, with his doctorate in concrete materials.

Scott Frakes, the director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, announced Thursday that Brad Hansen will serve as the new warden for the high-security Tecumseh State Correctional Facility. Hansen replaces Brian Gage, who had led the facility since April 2013.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed James Dzurenda to serve as the new head of the Nevada Department of Corrections, replacing former Director Greg Cox. Dzurenda brings nearly three decades of correctional experience to his new position. He previously served in Connecticut as the state’s corrections commissioner, leaving that position to serve as the first deputy commissioner for the New York City’s Department of Correction.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has named Kelly Harrington head of the Sheriff’s Department’s Custody Operations. Harrington brings a wealth of experience in promoting and sustaining improvements in the corrections field. He was appointed director of the Division of Adult Institutions in CDCR in June 2015, having served as acting director since December 2014.