Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK).

The New York office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) announced the appointment of Christopher R. Laul as principal and director of business development.

With over a decade of extensive experience in marketing and business development in the A/E/C Industry, Laul has created successful marketing and business development strategies nationally and internationally. He has spearheaded numerous corporate branding initiatives, dramatically increasing visibility and market share.

Laul will collaborate closely with the firm's New York Executive Committee in strategic planning for the future of HOK's practice in the northeast region.

He is an active member in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), The Architectural League of New York, The Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), The New York Building Congress (NYBC), and the Municipal Arts Society of New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fordham University.

Kent M. Swig, president of Swig Equities, LLC announced that Eugene Flotteron has been hired as vice president of project development for Swig Equities, LLC.

In his new capacity, Flotteron, will work directly with Philip M. Jones, AIA, senior vice president and director of project development, to coordinate and oversee the planning, architectural and interior design, and engineering for the firm's two residential redevelopment projects, among them Sheffield 57, a 58-story, 845 unit residential rental property that is currently being converted into a luxury condominium.

Before joining Swig Equities, Flotteron served as project manager at Cetra/Ruddy Incorporated. Prior to that, he worked with Dorf Associates, an architectural design firm in New York that specializes in restaurant design.

Flotteron received his Bachelors Degree in architecture at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he graduated with the highest honors. He resides in Staten Island, New York.