He's one of seven new top office hires for the company as it prepares to move into the retail, industrial and residential markets in other US locations and handle financing and acquisitions rather than just building and property management.

"We were primarily recognized in the area as office developers, with little activity in other property areas," Piette tells GlobeSt.com. "We simply wanted to diversify into other areas, and be able to provide everything a client needs for real estate services."

He says the hires include:

* Cliff Aiken as vice president of office and industrial development. He was formerly executive vice president of Pizzuti Cos. of Columbus, OH.

* Matt Duncan as retail/development director. He held that job formerly at Visconsi Cos. in Cleveland.

* B.J. Eglinton as manager of investment services. He was formerly an asset manager and analyst at Seligman and Associates in Southfield.

* Tim Meagher is now residential development director. He was formerly general manager of Active Homes Inc.

* Steve Szymanski is the new chief financial officer of the company. He formerly held that title and was chief executive officer at Spectrum HR in Madison Heights.

* Dean Kiriluk is director of acquisitions. He is the son of chairman Alan Kiriluk and brother to the company's chief executive officer, Matthew Kiriluk.

"These hires will all bring their specific areas of expertise to boost the company," says Piette, who had been the president of Workplace Integrators of Bingham Farms.

The firm is not expanding into offering brokerage services, Piette notes. However, the company's brokerage arm, Kirco Carolina Interests in Charlotte, NC is expanding into South Carolina, Piette adds.

Kirco Construction built $43 million worth of space in 2001, and managed about 6 million sf for building owners.