BENTON HARBOR – Wightman, an architecture, civil engineering and surveying firm, announced the appointment of four new associates to its ownership program.
During the board of directors meeting, held March 26, four staff members were announced as new shareholders in the firm. The newly appointed associates are Mike Lewallen, Maria Benz-Weeden, Derek Miller and Fred Peters. Each of them brings experience and expertise to their respective roles.
Lewallen has over 20 years of survey experience in the industry and joined the Wightman team in 2022. He is responsible for client development, processing survey data, drafting, scheduling field crews and solving surveying challenges, the provided release states.
Benz-Weeden, P.E., began her career at Wightman in 2020 as an engineering intern. Since then, she has become a licensed professional engineer with a background in bridges and culvert inspection and design, roadway construction and site management.
Derek Miller, P.E., joined the Wightman engineering team in 2019, bringing with him five years of field experience. He received his P.E. license in 2022 and is focused on ideas and answers for municipal clients and in site design.
Peters, P.S., began his career at Wightman in 2019 as a survey field technician through an internship. He returned in 2020 and 2021 before joining the team full-time in 2023. He achieved his professional Michigan surveyor license in 2025 and is responsible for developing client relationships, scheduling field crews and providing accurate deliverables to clients.
Wightman also recognized the advancement of four team members, Samuel Leatch, Dan Yerks, Ryan Miller and Mike Freeman, as they step into the senior associate level.