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Otak Inc. Names Team Leaders

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Otak Inc., a design, architecture, planning, and engineering firm based in Portland, OR, announced the appointment of five team leaders to advance the firm’s stated vision of creating livable communities and sustainable cities in collaboration with its clients.

The firm said the leadership team is focused on providing enhanced support and resources across all projects and regional offices, including the firm’s growing Abu Dhabi office established in 2006.  More than 100 Otak employees are currently based in Abu Dhabi, engaged in various projects such as hotels, residential and mixed-use communities, urban planning, and transportation in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The new team leaders and teams are:
• Don Hanson, Lake Oswego, OR, Urban Design: Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture;

• Nico Vanderhorst, Kirkland, WA, and Mike Peebles, Lake Oswego, OR, Transportation Infrastructure Services;

• Russ Gaston, Kirkland, WA, Water & Natural Resources; and

• Fares Kekhia, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Otak International

“These changes reflect our continued emphasis on innovation and helping our clients achieve their goals of building livable communities and a sustainable future,” said Otak President and CEO Nawzad Othman. “The creativity and skill of our leadership team and our professionals will be fully engaged in supporting our clients in the U.S. and abroad.”
 
Otak is an urban design, architecture, planning, and engineering firm specializing in transportation infrastructure, water/natural resources, and landscape architecture. The scope of the firm’s work includes city and regional planning; mixed-use, commercial and industrial developments; civic, institutional and recreational projects; transit and transportation; residential projects; and public works.