The latest People in the News highlighting new hires, promotions, honors & recognition of the men and women in the St. Louis building community.
Midas Hospitality Hires Jim Cavallo and Promotes Michael Heater as Regional Operations Leaders.
In this position, both Cavallo and Heater will oversee approximately 12 to 15 hotels, creating and cultivating an environment that complements Midas Hospitality’s vision. This includes a hands-on leadership approach with respect to top-line revenue, guest service, profitability, and associate satisfaction. They will guide each hotel’s general manager in all aspects of hotel operations, as well as support their training and growth in order to achieve success. Cavallo and Heater will ensure brand compliance and set department goals in regard to achieving top rankings for service with all brands.
Cavallo has more than 27 years of hotel experience in multi-property management. Prior to joining Midas Hospitality, he held numerous positions including area vice president and regional general manager for companies located throughout the country. Heater, who has more than 25 years of hospitality experience, joined Midas Hospitality in 2013 as a Hotel General Manager in Greenville, S.C. The success of this hotel and his ability to develop his staff has resulted in his career advancement. Prior to Midas, he worked in numerous manager capacities at several South Carolina hotels.
“We are extremely fortunate to have both Jim and Michael in these leadership positions,” said Rob Willard, President and Principal. “They both possess the background we need to oversee our new and existing properties.”
Founded in 2006, Midas Hospitality has developed, opened and currently manages numerous properties including 40 hotels in 14 states. The company serves global brands including Hilton, IHG, Marriott, and Starwood. Midas Hospitality’s headquarters are located at 1804 Borman Circle Dr. in Maryland Heights, Mo. For more information, call (314) 692-0100 or visit http://www.midashospitality.com
Mehaffy is promoted at Tarlton Corp.
Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm, promoted Becky Mehaffy to workforce manager. In her role, Mehaffy will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of Tarlton’s field workforce. This includes the staffing of projects, working with superintendents and project managers on project startup and execution needs, developing future field leaders, and extending Tarlton’s community outreach in the area of workforce development.
Mehaffy brings to the position more than a dozen years of experience at Tarlton, most recently serving as a contractor management representative at the firm’s projects for Monsanto Co. She began her career at Tarlton as a laborer apprentice on the Facilities One segment of the Cross County MetroLink Expansion project. She proudly serves as a third-generation laborer in the local construction industry, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and brother, who are carpenters.
In business since 1946, Tarlton Corp. is a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that completes projects for wide-ranging clients in the commercial, life sciences, health care, institutional, power and industrial markets.
Staff Additions at HOK
Chad Morris, has joined HOK in St. Louis. He will support the HOK team as a project manager supporting HOK’s justice practice. Morris joins HOK from AAIC Incorporated in Collinsville, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Lindsey Merz, has joined HOK in St. Louis. She will continue to support the HOK team as an interior design professional working in all aspects of the project process. Merz joins HOK’s St. Louis office after having served at HOK’s Los Angeles and Houston offices. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Maryville University in St. Louis.
Steven Schneider, has joined HOK in St. Louis. He will support the HOK team as a design professional working a variety of projects currently in design. Schneider joins HOK from Zimmerman Architectural Studios in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He earned his Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Thomas Freeborn, has joined HOK in St. Louis. He will support the HOK team as an intern in the Planning Group. Freeborn joins HOK from his previous internship with Clearwater Cove in Lampe, Missouri. He is a junior at Purdue University pursuing his degree in Landscape Architecture.
HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Through a network of 23 offices worldwide, HOK provides design excellence and innovation to create places that enrich people’s lives and help clients succeed. DesignIntelligence consistently ranks HOK as a leader in sustainable, high-performance design and technology innovation.
KWK Architects Adds Cindy Hausler, CPSM As Director Of Marketing
KWK Architects announces the addition of Cindy Hausler, CPSM as director of marketing. In this position, Cindy is responsible for leading marketing strategy, business development, public relations, and overall marketing activities for the firm.
A graduate of Webster University, Hausler holds a Master of Arts degree in Media Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Management (Emphasis in Marketing). She earned her Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) certification through the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) in 2008. A long-time member of SMPS, Hausler is a past president and board member of the St. Louis Chapter.
KWK principal and co-founder Paul Wuennenberg said, “We are extremely happy to have Cindy as part of our team. She is highly organized, a talented writer, and has a great eye for graphics. As our director of marketing, Cindy oversees the global brand of our company from execution of proposals to the larger picture of future markets, client engagement, and public relations. In addition to Cindy’s talent and expertise she is a wonderful person and a great asset to our overall company culture.”
Cindy Hausler also owns and operates Market Elevations, a marketing consultancy specializing in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.
Founded in 2013 by five architects who had worked together for more than 15 years, KWK Architects specializes in design for higher education and student life.
September 1, 2017
S. M. Wilson Promotes Brad Homes, John Dohle & Kerry Lorts To Project Managers
S. M. Wilson & Co. has promoted Brad Homes, John Dohle and Kerry Lorts to Project Managers. As Project Managers, they will be responsible for handling all administrative functions for a project, including scheduling, holding progress meetings, generating meeting minutes, tracking costs and maintaining logs for all project information.
Homes joined S. M. Wilson in 2012 and has worked on a variety of retail and commercial construction projects including several Cabela’s and Target stores. He is currently managing a new senior living facility in Charleston, South Carolina. Homes holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technology from Southeast Missouri State and is OSHA 30 Certified.
Dohle has been with S. M. Wilson for more than five and a half years. As a Project Engineer and Assistant Project Manager, he has been an intricate member of the Von Maur construction team building stores in Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Dohle will be managing construction of the newest Von Maur in Minnesota. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is OSHA 30 Certified. Dohle is also a graduate of the Construction Leadership Institute at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.
Lorts joined S. M. Wilson in 2011 and has been involved in multiple projects including the Patient Care addition at Blessing Hospital and, most recently, the BJC Campus Renewal Project. He will be managing the new Dot Foods expansion. Lorts as a B.S. in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He is OSHA 30 and ASHE certified.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis. S. M. Wilson is one of the largest general construction and construction management firms in the St. Louis area.
Patrick Duffy Joins Greco Aluminum Railings
Greco Aluminum Railings (Greco), a leading manufacturer of high-quality engineered railing and safety systems for multi-family and commercial structures in the United States and Canada, is pleased to announce Patrick Duffy as their newest architectural representative.
With 23 years in the architectural industry and owner of Advanced Building Products, Duffy has consulted on some of the most technologically advanced high-rise buildings in the Chicago and Milwaukee regions. He earned his degree in civil Construction Management from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Bringing his experience with all facets of the building facade, Duffy will cover the Illinois and Wisconsin markets for Greco.
Duffy is looking forward to expanding Greco’s reach throughout the Midwest. “Greco is already well known in Chicago, and its track record of high quality products will continue to be attractive to both architects and contractors in the Midwest,” he says. “We can be a single source supplier for the facade of the building, starting with the balconies, and adding glass, panels and other materials. That means more convenience and reduced costs.”
Greco is part of CSW Industrials, a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and domain expertise across three segments: Industrial Products; Coatings, Sealants & Adhesives; and Specialty Chemicals.
Midas Hospitality Hires Director of Engineering
Steve Bunetto joins hotel management group in newly created position
Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, recently hired Steve Bunetto as Director of Engineering.
Bunetto’s responsibilities include supporting the maintenance efforts for all of Midas Hospitality’s hotels. He will focus on developing all-inclusive operational support systems, as well as implementing cost-saving programs and compliance processes. Bunetto will handle company-wide initiatives, communication and training with each hotel’s on-site maintenance personnel and general managers to ensure an excellent guest experience with respect to the company’s product.
Bunetto has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Midas Hospitality, he served as a regional facilities manager for 10 years and Director of Maintenance at numerous other hotels.
“Steve brings a vast amount of experience to our company in terms of management and planning capabilities,” said Rob Willard, President and Principal. “He is an industry leader who will take this newly created position at Midas Hospitality and will protect our asset investments while delivering market-leading guest experience through execution of his initiatives and systems.”
Founded in 2006, Midas Hospitality has developed, opened and currently manages numerous properties including 40 hotels in 14 states.
Western Specialty Contractors Appoints Chester Scott to Branch Manager of its Atlanta, GA Branch
Western Specialty Contractors announces the appointment of Chester Scott as Branch Manager of its Atlanta, GA branch office. Chester was previously the Branch Manager of Western’s Orlando, FL branch, which has been filled by Nick McAlpin.
Chester started with Western in 1984 and has held the positions of field laborer, foreman, sales/project manager and department manager at Western’s Chicago, IL branch, in addition to Branch Manager of the Orlando, FL branch. He is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI).
In his new position, Chester will be responsible for running the Atlanta branch office, which will include marketing, sales, estimating, oversight of operations and administrative functions, safety of all branch employees, and productivity of office staff and field crews. Additionally, he will be responsible for ensuring the branch’s profitability by forecasting and managing the budget, identifying market trends, ensuring quality control and building/maintaining customer relationships.
Established in 1930, Western’s Atlanta area office provides such commercial specialty services as building cleaning, concrete and masonry restoration, waterproofing, epoxy and chemical grout injection, expansion joint systems, exterior wall coatings and plaza and parking deck restoration.
Family-owned and operated for over 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing and specialty roofing.
S. M. Wilson Hires Eva Chapin As Assistant Project Manager, Richard Young At Project Superintendent And Lindsey Roellig At Project Assistant/Job Accountant
S. M. Wilson & Co. has hired Eva Chapin as Assistant Project Manager, Richard Young as a Project Superintendent and Lindsey Roellig as Project Assistant/Job Accountant.
Chapin will be responsible for all administrative functions during construction of a project, including scheduling, holding progress meetings, generating meeting minutes, tracking costs, and maintaining logs for all project information including transmittals, submittals, and RFIs. She holds a B.S. from Northern Illinois University – DeKab and has 11 years of industry experience. She is ASHE Certified and has U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Quality Management Certification.
Young will be responsible for the day-to-day site management of a project including scheduling, quality and safety. This is his second employment stint with S. M. Wilson. He has 25 years of construction experience and is OSHA 30 certified.
Roellig is S. M. Wilson’s new Project Assistant/Job Accountant. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies and has 10 years of industry experience.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis.
Mark Lucas Joins G&S Architectural Products as Project Assistant
St. Louis-based G&S Architectural Products has hired Mark Lucas as their newest project assistant. His new duties at G&S Architectural Products include sending customers order acknowledgements, creating shop drawings, issuing purchase orders, and releasing orders to the shop.
Mark has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and his work experience prior to coming to G&S Architectural Products includes project management for a pipeline construction company and structural design for curtain wall, fall protection, and cable tray systems.
“I’m excited to try something new,” said Mark on his new position at G&S Architectural Products. “I’ve worked in different areas of the building industry and look forward to learning more about the design potential and functionality of acoustical panels.”
G&S Architectural Products is a leading provider and installer of architectural products primarily used for commercial, education and healthcare industries. As a full-service specialty contractor, we offer a variety of interior building products such as acoustical products, visual display boards and operable wall systems.
August 28, 2017
Ryan Brockmann Joins McGrath & Associates as Project Engineer
McGrath & Associates has hired Ryan Brockmann of Marthasville, MO, as project engineer. Brockman has 12 years of experience in real estate development, remodeling and restoration. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Missouri State University.
McGrath & Associates is a 100 percent employee-owned general contractor and construction management firm specializing in commercial, health care, industrial, institutional and pharmaceutical construction projects since 1983.
Benoy Announces Appointment of Barry Spencer Hughes as Design Director
With over 25 years’ experience in design, Barry has a strong design-led portfolio having worked on significant large-scale, mixed-use projects spanning markets and typologies.
“I am excited to have joined the Benoy team, and look forward to building on the firms national and international reputation for providing excellence and innovation in our built environment,” says Barry Spencer Hughes, Design Director, Benoy.
“The appointment of Barry fits brilliantly with our business objectives for America. Barry brings energy, passion, creativity and drives us forward as a cutting-edge design team. His previous experience includes award winning mixed-use, retail and transport projects. Barry also brings a great reputation in designing tall buildings – an area of increased interest for Benoy. These are exciting times within the industry, and alongside Barry, we have appointed eight new directors in the last 18 months, adding to our width and depth of skills to provide new, creative and often commercial problem-solving design thinking,” says Tom Cartledge, CEO, Benoy.
Primarily based at the London campus, Barry will shape Benoy’s global design message, while expanding the business in America. “Benoy’s experience and reputation in mixed-use and transportation led projects will be a great entré into the US market. We have a proven track record of creating great places all over the world, and I look forward to helping continue that tradition back home,” comments Hughes a US citizen who has been working out of London for the past 15 years.
“We are delighted to have Barry in Benoy. He will quickly be an integral part of the team, principally leading our design message globally and in the US. His inspiring design solutions, ideas and approach align well with the next phase of Benoy’s brand development,” says Penny Illston, Head of Global Talent, Benoy.
Continuing Education Allows for Employee Growth at IMPACT Strategies
Senior project Manager Mike Voss of Glen Carbon, Ill. completed the AGC of Missouri Leadership Academy. Voss was chosen by an AGC selection committee to complete the course, which focused on building awareness and proficiency in business and developing skills that will translate into strong project team leadership.
IMPACT Strategies became a licensed general contractor in the State of Alabama when project manager Scott Manning, a resident of Troy, Ill., recently completed the required testing. The test was comprised of the Alabama Business and Law exam and the National Commercial Building Contractor Examination (NASCLA).
Project engineer and Fairview Heights resident Kyle Stigler finished three courses as part of the AGC of America Project Manager Development Program sponsored by the Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) in conjunction with the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program. This five-course program covers the essentials of project management, providing a solid foundation for long-term career development.
Project engineer intern Jordan Grant of Edwardsville spent time in the IMPACT office and in the field this summer, gaining experience in all phases of a project from start to finish. “There isn’t a classroom that could have provided me with the knowledge and experience I’ve gained this summer here at IMPACT,” said Jordan. Jordan is currently in his junior year at SIU-Edwardsville, majoring in Construction Management.
IMPACT Strategies, Inc. specializes in Retail, Commercial, Medical, Senior Housing and Education construction and offers comprehensive construction services including design-build, general contracting, construction management and pre-construction management.
Eric Mersmann Named Director of Interiors for HOK’s Growing St. Louis Practice
Eric Mersmann, formerly of Perkins+Will in Chicago, has joined HOK as the Director of Interiors in the St. Louis practice. Eric began his over 25 year career in St. Louis and is excited to return bringing with him his experience from his diverse portfolio and knowledge from the variety of positions he’s held.
Mersmann joins the St. Louis practice at a time of robust growth as the St. Louis studio was recently ranked as the region’s largest interior design firm and largest architecture studio by the St. Louis Business Journal. Eric will continue to propel the interiors team to even more success through his leadership and mentorship on projects such as the Microsoft Technology Center in Cortex, Clayton on the Park and BJC HealthCare Washington University Medical Campus Renewal project.
Recent additions to the Trivers team
Trivers recently announced the following additions to the Trivers team:
• Melisa Betts, Assoc. AIA, Architectural Designer
• Rylie Davis, Washington University Architectural Fellow/Architectural Designer
• Jonas Gassmann, Architectural Designer
• Maggie Hayden, LEED® Green Associate, Architectural Designer
• John Pitman, AIA, Project Architect
They also want to thank intern Tianyi ‘Meo’ Zhang for spending the summer with them.
Western Specialty Contractors Promotes Nick McAlpin to Branch Manager of its Orlando, FL Branch
Western Specialty Contractors announces the promotion of Nick McAlpin of Enterprise, FL as Branch Manager of its Orlando, FL branch office.
McAlpin replaces former Orlando Branch Manager Chester Scott, who has been relocated as Branch Manager of Western’s Atlanta, GA branch.
Established in 1987, Western’s Orlando area office provides such commercial specialty services as concrete and masonry restoration, waterproofing, epoxy and chemical grout injection, expansion joint systems, exterior wall coatings, historical restoration, plaza and parking deck restoration and urethane grout injections.
McAlpin will be responsible for running the branch office, which will include marketing, sales, estimating, oversight of operations and administrative functions, safety of all branch employees, and productivity of office staff and field crews. Additionally, McAlpin will be responsible for ensuring the branch’s profitability by forecasting and managing the budget, identifying market trends, ensuring quality control and building/maintaining customer relationships.
McAlpin has been with Western Specialty Contractors for 14 years, having previously held the positions of laborer, mechanic, foreman and superintendent. He is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI).
Family-owned and operated for over 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing and specialty roofing.