Flynn Elementary School in Eau Claire recently became the first school in Wisconsin to earn the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Existing Buildings certification. The LEED-EB rating system allows building owners and operators to measure operations, improvements, and maintenance with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts.

To earn LEED certification, Flynn staff implemented environment-friendly and energy-conscious policies, including a green cleaning policy and a maintenance schedule for each piece of building equipment.

The Eau Claire Area School District retained Ayres Associates to design the energy-efficient, 54,000-square-foot, two-section elementary school, which was completed in 2002. The school district was interested in incorporating sustainable features into the school’s design, and Ayres Associates responded with features including high ceilings and extensive natural lighting for visual appeal and improved energy efficiency. By using daylight in instructional areas, the need for artificial lighting was minimized, and the size and expense of the air conditioning equipment was reduced. The orientation of the building allowed the design to take maximum advantage of usable natural light (north and south exposures) while minimizing east and west sun exposures that are harder to control.

Fred Halfen, CP, has been selected to lead Ayres Associates’ energy corridors initiative. Mr. Halfen has been involved in the company’s expansion into the energy transmission field from the start. He led efforts to secure the company’s first major energy transmission project, which involved surveying, mapping, and photogrammetry services for a proposed 1,000-mile corridor in Kansas and Colorado.

Mr. Halfen joined Ayres Associates in 1977. He was promoted to production manager in 1982 and became vice president of the photogrammetry division in 1987. In 1999 he was named vice president of the Madison office, a role he will maintain in addition to his new assignment. He will also continue to provide technical support of the photogrammetry division.

A certified photogrammetrist, Mr. Halfen earned his bachelor of science degree in geography and cartography from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1974. He received a President’s Award from ACEC’s Wisconsin chapter in 2006. He served as a board member for the Wisconsin Land Information Program and technical working group member for the Wisconsin Land Council from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Halfen is a member of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, the Geographic Information Technology Association, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, and the Wisconsin Land Information Association, where he served as president in 2006.

Kirk Contrucci, CP, has been promoted to vice president of photogrammetry operations.
Mr. Contrucci joined Ayres Associates in 1985 as a stereo plotter operator. He became production manager in 1988 and has served as manager of photogrammetric services since 1991.

Mr. Contrucci earned his bachelor of science degree in cartography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984. He is a certified photogrammetrist and a member of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors, the Geographic Information and Technology Association, and the Wisconsin Land Information Association.

Ayres Associates provides photogrammetry services for clients across the country, including digital and conventional aerial imagery, airborne GPS and inertial measurement unit data collection, photogrammetric mapping, digital orthoimagery, analytical aerotriangulation, LiDAR, remote sensing, GIS consulting and development, and GPS and conventional survey.

Richard Schoenthaler, CPA, has accepted the position of chief financial officer for Ayres Associates. Mr. Schoenthaler will be responsible for providing financial strategic leadership for the company and will oversee all financial activities.

Mr. Schoenthaler, a River Falls resident, brings extensive experience and credentials to the position. He holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s in business taxation, both from the University of Minnesota. He has earned Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and Leadership Black Belt Certification and is a certified public accountant.

For the past five years Mr. Schoenthaler served as vice president and chief financial officer for MINNCOR Industries, St. Paul, where he directed control of all aspects of the finance and information technology department. His other professional experience includes leadership positions with RSM McGladrey & Pullen, Minneapolis, and Ecolab, Inc., St. Paul.