Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, work has continued to move ahead for many construction companies, and executives are looking for a speedy recovery. To that end, firms have appointed these individuals to help them reach their strategic goals through the rest of this year and beyond.
Clune Construction Co.
Andy Holub, vice president of preconstruction and special services, Chicago
Clune Construction announced this month that it has promoted Andy Holub to vice president of preconstruction and special services in its Chicago office. Holub also oversees Clune's self-perform group. Holub has 23 years of experience in the construction industry and worked for Turner Construction as a project manager and preconstruction manager before joining Clune. He has a bachelor's degree in architectural studies from the University of Illinois.
MIke Themanson, vice president, safety
Clune also announced that it has promoted Mike Themanson to vice president of safety in its Chicago office. Themanson is responsible for safety on Clune projects nationwide. Themanson, who joined Clune in 2015, has been a safety professional for more than 20 years. Themanson has also worked for Jacobs Engineering, Power Construction, Plote Construction Inc. and Acres Group.
Gilbane Building Co.
Matt Sarver, vice president and Washington, D.C. business unit leader
Gilbane announced last month that it appointed Matt Sarver vice president and leader of its Washington, D.C., business unit. Sarver has held various positions at Gilbane for almost 16 years. Under his leadership the company's Richmond office doubled its revenue and grew its client base.
Sarver has been transitioning to his new role since the beginning of the year, and will be responsible for client satisfaction, safety and project performance, as well as for employee recruitment and retention. Some of the projects under Sarver's oversight are Metro's D.C. headquarters and the modernization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, a joint venture with Smoot Construction.
Skanska USA
Don Kowalchuk, senior vice president of operations, Seattle building division
Skanska USA promoted Don Kowalchuk from vice president of operations of the company's building division in Seattle to senior vice president of the same division. Kowalchuk has been with Skanska since 1991 and served as vice president for eight years. As senior VP, Kowalchuk, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, will focus on training, recruiting, development and advocating for the company's field leadership.
Lacey Ahlf, vice president of operations, Seattle building division
Skanska promoted former project executive Lacey Ahlf to vice president of operations of the firm's Seattle building division to replace Kowalchuk. Ahlf's previous construction industry experience before joining Skanska in 2011 includes stints at Bechtel and Turner Construction. The Journal reported that Ahlf will focus on "office staffing and personnel advocacy, work culture and commercial management."
Ronda Bailey, vice president of business development, Philadelphia region
In June, Ronda Bailey joined Skanska as vice president of business development for its Philadelphia metro region operations. Before Skanska, Bailey was president of R. Bailey Consulting, a marketing and sales consulting firm that she founded in 2001.
As part of her duties at Skanska, Bailey will lead the company's efforts at finding regional opportunities for healthcare, higher education and life sciences projects. The company said that Bailey, who previously worked with DLR Group and Gilbane Building Cos., contributed to its Philadelphia-based business during the last two years.
Jacobsen Construction Co.
Gary Ellis, president
Jacobsen Construction announced last month that its board of directors had chosen Gary Ellis as its new president. Ellis replaces former president Douglas Welling, who will continue to serve as CEO.
Ellis has been with Jacobsen for 19 years and has served in various roles, including CFO and executive vice president of business development and sales. The company said that during Ellis' tenure as CFO he helped drive "profitable growth" and helped the company thrive during both healthy and difficult economic times. Jacobsen also said that Ellis was able to build the kind of relationships necessary to necessary to execute on the company's business strategies.
Messer Construction Co.
Matt Schnelle, vice president, Dayton, Ohio, region leader
Messer Construction announced early last month that it had promoted Matt Schnelle, former operations leader, to vice president and region leader in the company's Dayton, Ohio, office. Schnelle started working for Messer in 1998 while he was still in college and became a full-time project manager upon graduating in 2002.
With Messer, Schnelle has worked on a wide-ranging portfolio, including projects at Dayton International Airport. Schnelle was also the account lead for $200 million worth of work for Miami University, based in Oxford, Ohio.
Moss Construction
Scott Moss, CEO
Moss Construction has appointed one of its founders, Scott Moss, to the position of CEO. Moss has worked for the company in some capacity since he was 17 years old, aside from a six-year stint as project manager at Centex Construction. Prior to being named CEO, Moss served as vice president, senior vice president and president.
Mike Mazza, president of California, Hawaii, mid-Florida and Texas regions
Moss has also appointed long-time employee Mike Mazza to the position of president of several of the company's regional operations: California, Hawaii, mid-Florida and Texas. Mazza will also be responsible for Moss' National Justice Operations. Of Mazza's 20 years in the construction industry, he has spent 15 with Moss.
Skender
Justin Brown, CEO, Skender Construction
At the beginning of June, Justin Brown was named CEO of Skender Construction. Brown, who will continue in his role as president, has been with Skender since 2005. Prior to joining the company, he worked at Pepper Construction Co. and Clune Construction Co., both in Chicago.
Mark Skender, CEO, Skender Manufacturing
Mark Skender stepped out of his role as CEO of Skender Construction and into the position of CEO of Skender Manufacturing. Skender will focus on leading the manufacturing team, drawing additional investments and securing more modular projects. Skender joined the firm in 1989.
Boris Hornjak, vice president of commercial construction, Skender Construction
Boris Hornjak joined Skender this month as vice president of commercial construction. Hornjak's 34 years of experience in the industry includes positions at Batten Shaw Construction in Nashville, Skanska, Turner Construction and Morse Diesel International, where he gained expertise in the construction of large projects.
Brown said that Hornjak will help the company build its ground-up office, industrial, hospitality and mixed-use project pipelines and will also assist in mentoring others at the firm.