McCarthy Building Co.s Names Highland as President, California Region

McCarthy Building Companies Inc., a California-based, non-residential building contractor, has named Randy Highland as president, California region. Highland moved into this new role in January 2012, following a six-month transition period with Carter Chappell, the company’s former president, California region. Chappell retired in December 2011, after 30 years at McCarthy, and will continue to serve on the McCarthy board of directors in a corporate oversight role.

Based in the firm’s Newport Beach, Calif., office, Highland is responsible for the financial performance and overall operations of McCarthy’s Southern California and Northern Pacific divisions. These duties include participation in McCarthy Building Co.s’ executive committee and board as well as overseeing the marketing, estimating, scheduling, safety, administrative and financial functions throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

McCarthy says Highland has played a significant role in the company’s success during the last 23 years. He returns to his roots in McCarthy’s Newport Beach office, subsequent to serving as McCarthy’s Nevada/Utah division president from 2004 to 2011. While Highland was president in Nevada, the firm was named among the “Best Places to Work,” “Contractor of the Year,” and “Safest Contractor.”

Despite a challenging economy, the division grew from $50 million to $200 million, and Highland was instrumental in positioning the division as a top community based builder with expertise in a variety of markets. Before his promotion to president of McCarthy’s Nevada/Utah division, Highland gained expertise in a variety of leadership positions for McCarthy’s California operations, including preconstruction director, director of parking structures, total quality management director, project director and executive VP, operations.