A couple of key positions at Benton Harbor-based Wightman have been filled from within through appointments announced this week by the consulting & engineering firm anchored on Pipestone Road.
The employee-owned consulting firm offering architecture, civil engineering, and surveying services, has announced that Ashley Sonnevil has been promoted to Human Resources Director, and Kevin Marks, P.E. has been promoted to Engineering Director, at the company.
Sonnevil joined the Wightman team in 2019 and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Human Resources from Ferris State University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources from Central Michigan University. She holds numerous leadership and training certifications in Family Medical Leave Act, Competency Assessment for the Real World, Reasonable Suspicion Training and others.
Sonnevil says, “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the HR Director for Wightman. Leading the Human Resources Department, I am excited to partner with our business leaders on driving our organizational strategy, culture, and community collaboration to ensure Wightman continues as a top company to work for in the Great Lakes region.”
With eight years’ experience in the HR field, Sonnevil is proficient in HRIS technologies, data analysis, policy and procedure design, and compliance. Sonnevil says she is focused on attracting top talent to Wightman by creating an environment that offers excellent benefits, hybrid work options, opportunity for advancement, support for personal growth, and fun.
Marks is a professional engineer licensed in both Michigan and Indiana, with over 25 years of experience, and has been with Wightman since 2016. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University in 1996. Marks is a graduate of the Leadership Accelerator program and member of Michigan Water Environment Association (MWEA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA).
For his part, Marks says, “I am blessed to be entrusted with leading the engineering department at Wightman. Our engineering team is excited to continue serving our clients in transportation, municipal, site development, and construction. The emphasis on infrastructure and development in the state and the nation is providing lots of opportunity, and we look to help our partners develop unique solutions to their needs. It is an exciting time to be an engineer.”
Prior to his appointment as Engineering Director, Kevin served as client representative and Market Sector Leader with the firm. He has been instrumental in the assessment, improvement plan creation, and report preparation for 28 community Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater (SAW) grant programs throughout Southwest Michigan. He was also the project manager for the relocation of the Dunham Lift Station in St. Joseph. He will continue to serve as a client representative in his new role.
Wightman president Matt Davis says, “Both Ashley and Kevin are examples of Wightman’s goal to attract talented professionals who are passionate about learning and taking on more accountabilities for our business and clients. Kevin brings a strategic mindset to managing the engineering team to meet our clients’ needs as well as developing leaders to continue our 75-year legacy. Ashley’s motivation comes from helping others succeed which will suit her well in our strategy to attract and retain the talent we need to serve our clients and communities in the Great Lakes Region.”
Wightman is a full-service consulting firm with a dynamic team of more than 130 professionals working to analyze, advise, design, and deliver successful projects in partnership with governments, businesses, and institutions in the communities they serve. Services offered include Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Surveying. Additional specialty services offered include Environmental, Planning, GIS, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Reality Capture. The firm is headquartered in Benton Harbor, with additional Michigan offices in Allegan, Kalamazoo, and Royal Oak.
