McFarland Johnson Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Thomas Kendrick, Chief Executive Officer of Engineering (CEO) for the employee-owned company, effective February 1, 2025.
“After an extensive and rigorous national search, the Board is pleased to announce Thomas Kendrick as our new CEO. With his exceptional skills and vast experience, Tom is poised to lead our engineering operations and drive the growth and innovation of our technical practices to new heights,” noted Chad Nixon, President and Chairman of the Board of McFarland Johnson.
On his appointment, Thomas Kendrick commented, “I am humbled by this opportunity, and I look forward to collaborating with our talented team of professionals to continue bringing our award-winning technical services and innovative suite of proprietary technology solutions to our clients and communities.”
Kendrick is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience in consulting engineering. He joined McFarland Johnson in 2007 and most recently served as Division Director of Transportation where he led a multi-disciplinary team of professionals in the development of infrastructure projects for both public and private clients. He is active in several professional associations, including the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). For the past five years, Kendrick has served on the Board of Directors for McFarland Johnson.
James M. Festa, who had previously announced his intention to retire from the company, having served as CEO since January 2020, and held several leadership roles since 2008, retired on January 31, 2025.
“The Board would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jim Festa for his strong leadership and contributions to McFarland Johnson over the past two decades. His leadership and commitment have been instrumental in shaping the company into what it is today,” said Nixon. Festa will continue to serve as an external member of the McFarland Johnson Board of Directors.
Additionally, McFarland Johnson announced the following changes to its leadership team:
- Erik Atkins has been named Director of Transportation
- Chris Kopec has been named Director of Facilities
- Ruthanne Bulman has been named Vice President and Director of Human Resources
- Jason Shevrin has been named Vice President and Director of Technology
Erik Atkins, PE, has been promoted to the position of Director of Transportation. With over 29 years of experience in transportation design and management, Atkins joined McFarland Johnson in January 2023 as the Regional Director of Highway Services. In his new role, he will lead McFarland Johnson’s diverse and expanding Transportation Division. His responsibilities include maintaining positive client relations, driving business development, and overseeing staff development and quality assurance.
Chris Kopec has been promoted to Division Director of Facilities. A veteran of McFarland Johnson for 14 years, Kopec has held key leadership positions, including serving as the Regional Director of Facilities for the past five years and as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) trustee. He has helped to transform and grow the Facilities team during his tenure. With the recent Civil-Facilities Division restructuring, Steve Boisvert will continue as the Division Director of Civil while taking on an expanded role in the company’s Energy Practice, while Chris will lead the Facilities Division, including Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural Services.
Ruthanne Bulman has been promoted to Vice President and Director of Human Resources at McFarland Johnson. A long-time employee of the firm with 17 years of service, Bulman is the first female officer in McFarland Johnson’s history. She Chairs the ESOP Trustees and serves as Co-Chair of the ACEC-NY HR Committee. Having been appointed as Director of Human Resources in 2020, Bulman has played a significant role in transforming the firm into a model of employee ownership and engagement, earning industry recognition for these efforts.
Jason Shevrin has been promoted to Vice President and Director of Technology. With over 23 years of experience in the consulting engineering industry, specializing in technology, infrastructure design, and engineering, Shevrin joined McFarland Johnson in 2022 as the Director of the InfraSolutions Division. In his new role as Vice President and Director of Technology, he will have increased responsibilities in shaping the strategic direction of the firm’s technology and operational initiatives.
"As our client base expands, our team is also growing. The strength of our employee-owned organization lies in the tenure and expertise of our staff. These changes demonstrate our commitment to the long-term growth of both our business and our employees," added Nixon.
