JACKSON, MS — Neel-Schaffer, Inc., announces that Derek Cheatham, PE, has been promoted to Senior Vice President with the firm.

Cheatham joined Neel-Schaffer in 2011 and serves as the Operations Manager for the firm’s North Texas offices in Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Manager, Project Engineer and Project Manager, with an emphasis on the design of water, sewer, streets and drainage facilities for public works projects.

His experience includes many types of water improvement projects, such as large transmission lines, distribution lines, elevated tanks, ground storage tanks and tank refurbishing projects. Cheatham’s local water experience includes projects for the cities of Arlington, Burleson, Fort Worth, Garland, Rowlett and Southlake.

Cheatham holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. The firm also announced two other Senior Vice Presidents and six new Vice Presidents this week.

“Congratulations to each of these individuals for what they have accomplished and mean to Neel- Schaffer,” said Hibbett Neel, PE, CEO and President of Neel-Schaffer. “They reflect the values of our company and all do a tremendous job of serving their clients as well as the communities where they live and work.

“We look forward to watching them continue to grow and help others in the company develop as well.”