Robert J. Close has been named vice...

Robert J. Close has been named vice president of operations for Tait & Associates of Orange, an engineering consultation firm. He succeeds Thomas R. Turner, who has been appointed to the new post of vice president of engineering administration. Close’s previous positions were chief engineer with the Cook County, Ill., Highway Department; director of operations for Novak, Dempsey & Associates, and assistant vice president with the Irvine office of HDR Engineering. Turner, a 23-year Tait veteran, will be responsible for reviewing project proposals, expanding automated invoicing and implementing a new job estimating system.