The latest People in the News highlighting new hires, promotions, honors & recognition of the men and women in the St. Louis building community.
S. M. Wilson Promotes Lisa Green to Assistant Controller
S. M. Wilson & Co. has promoted Lisa Green to Assistant Controller. She will be responsible for company payroll, daily bank reconciliations, tax filings and implementing new company software for accounting and human resources purposes. Green joined S. M. Wilson in 2007 as Payroll Manager.
“Every time we need someone to step up and fill a role or learn something new, Lisa is right there ready to help however she can, ready for any challenge,” said Mike Mangiore, Controller at S. M. Wilson.
Green holds an Associates Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Rock Valley College and has 26 years of experience processing payroll, 15 years of that acting as Payroll Manager.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis.
Spellman Brady Hires Samantha Golden
Spellman Brady and Company is pleased to announce that Samantha Golden has joined the firm as a Designer. In this role, she will utilize her talents in developing comprehensive interior design solutions for the senior living market sector.
Ms. Golden is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design and minor in Architectural Design. She brings five years of interior design experience from the hospitality industry, which is valuable in the changing environments she designs.
Spellman Brady & Company is an award-winning St. Louis–based interior design firm specializing in senior living, healthcare, and higher education environments
Midas Hospitality Hires New Regional Operations Leader
Deb Benhoff brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to the position
Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, recently hired Deb Benhoff as Regional Operations Leader.
In this position, Benhoff will oversee multiple hotels and ensure each one is in accordance with the parent company’s vision. She will be responsible for providing a hands-on leadership approach with respect to top-line revenue, guest service, profitability, and associate satisfaction. Benhoff will be involved with each hotel’s operations, which includes ensuring brand compliance and setting department goals to achieve first-rate service.
Benhoff has more than 25 years of hospitality experience. Prior to joining Midas Hospitality, she worked as a regional manager at a multi-property management company located in Wisconsin. She also has worked as a general manager, as well as a rooms division director, for various national hotel and management organizations.
“Deb’s extensive experience makes her a tremendous asset for our growing company,” said Rob Willard, President and Principal. “She will play an integral role on our managerial team, and we look forward to her input and her supervision pertaining to our properties.”
Founded in 2006, Midas Hospitality has developed, opened and currently manages numerous properties including 40 hotels in 14 states.
Tony Correnti Earns FMP Designation
Tony Correnti, a facilities specialist with Spire (formerly The Laclede Group), has attained credentials as a Facility Management Professional (FMP).
Correnti took an extensive course and passed assessments in four focus areas to achieve the FMP designation. Professionals who earn the designation demonstrate a proven comprehension of the foundations of facility management and knowledge in the core facility management topics deemed critical by employers.
Correnti is entering his 10th year in facilities management. He worked for Patriot Coal before joining St. Louis-based Spire in May 2015. As a member of Spire’s facilities team, Correnti creates and maintains functional and sustainable spaces for the utility.
He joined IFMA (International Facility Management Association) St. Louis in January 2017.
IFMA St. Louis offers its members a learning and networking environment among its diverse membership, and supplies its members with the tools to achieve their professional goals. Started in 1985, IFMA St. Louis has more than 250 members representing small and Fortune 500 companies throughout the region.
Leah Behlmann Promoted To Director Of Membership Services At Site Improvement Association
The SITE Improvement Association has promoted Leah Behlmann to Director of Membership Services. In her new role she is responsible for managing all member recruitment activities, meetings, communications, conferences and social events, as well as SITE’s social media channels, website and the weekly EZ Bid program of new project listings for members. Leah has been with SITE for the past five years, starting as an Administrative Assistant and most recently as Coordinator of Member Activities. She holds Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Southeast Missouri State University.
“Leah has been an integral part of SITE’s continued growth over the past five years, and we are pleased to make her part of our leadership team,” said Terry Briggs, Executive Director of SITE Improvement Association.
SITE is an independent construction contractor group representing more than 180 contractors and businesses primarily in the concrete, earthmoving, landscaping, asphalt paving, highway/bridge, sewer/utility and specialty construction segments.
October 6, 2017
Chris Laughman, Attains Credentials as Facility Management Professional
Chris Laughman, past president of the St. Louis Chapter of IFMA (International Facility Management Association), has attained credentials as a Facility Management Professional (FMP).
Laughman took an extensive course and passed assessments in four focus areas to achieve the FMP designation. Professionals who earn the designation demonstrate a proven comprehension of the foundations of facility management and knowledge in the core facility management topics deemed critical by employers.
This designation adds to Laughman’s considerable experience and expertise in facility management and operations, including sustainability practices. He also holds several other designations: CFM (Certified Facility Manager), SFP (Sustainability Facility Professional) and LEED AP O+M (LEED AP Operations + Maintenance).
Laughman has more than a decade of experience in facility management. He most recently served as assistant vice president and director of facilities for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He led all real estate functions for the Eighth District of the Federal Reserve Bank with locations in St. Louis, Little Rock, Louisville, Memphis and Washington, D.C. He has been a member of IFMA St. Louis since 2010. He served as the chapter’s president from July 1, 2015 to June 3
IFMA St. Louis offers its members a learning and networking environment among its diverse membership, and supplies its members with the tools to achieve their professional goals.
Danze & Gerber Welcome Mike Walleck as Director of Sales
Danze and Gerber, both leaders in the decorative plumbing fixtures category, have announced the addition of Mike Walleck as their director of sales for the Western Region.
Mike brings more than 20 years of experience to the Danze and Gerber teams. He was most recently sales director at Ward Manufacturing, where he honed his management skills overseeing a sales team that included manufacturer representatives in more than 10 states.
Prior to joining Ward, Mike spent time at well-known plumbing, HVAC and building products companies, including TOTO USA, American Standard and Mohawk Industries, among others.
In his role with Danze and Gerber, Mike will manage and implement the companies’ sales strategies in the Western Region in conjunction with a team of regional managers and manufacturer representative agencies. He will work across several vertical customer channels, including residential builders, plumbers, hospitality, multi-family and more.
Cyndi Walker Retiring from G&S Architectural Products After 32 Years
G&S Architectural Products, a St. Louis-based specialty contractor providing and installing architectural products including acoustical panels, visual display boards and operable wall systems for commercial, education and healthcare industries, is saying farewell to colleague and good friend Cyndi Walker after 32 years of employment.
Walker began her career on August 29, 1985 at G&S Architectural Products, then known as Golterman & Sabo, as an Estimator. After just five days on the job, Walker was promoted to Senior Estimator. Within two years, she became a Sales Representative.
Walker and Herb Golterman worked together under the leadership of the company’s namesakes Edward Golterman and Steve Sabo, Sr. Herb Golterman would meet with local architects to get copies of plan drawings that he would then bring back to the office where he and Walker would look through them to do product take-offs. For years, Walker and Golterman worked side-by-side together for every sale.
“After joining our Sales team, Cyndi suggested that our company should work closely with both architects and general contractors — changing the company’s focus from only being architects,” says Herb Golterman, President of G&S Architectural Products. “Her idea is a large part of why our company has grown and been so successful.”
Since she started in1985, company sales have grown from less than $1 million annually to where they are today at more than $23 million. Walker is well-known among her peers, customers and local area architects and will be greatly missed in her retirement. Walker’s last day is October 27th.
G&S Architectural Products, a premier provider and installer of specialty building products, began operations in 1946 under the name of Herbert Golterman Company.
Ross & Baruzzini Names Former Amtrak Executive Megan Huff
Ross & Baruzzini, Inc., an international consulting and design firm, has appointed Megan Huff vice president and managing principal of its Macro division, one of the leading rail, transit and public safety radio systems engineering consulting firms in the U.S. Huff will oversee the development of high-end consultancy, planning and engineering services in rail, transit and other mission-critical industries.
With 20 years of experience in the transportation sector, Huff has compiled a record of success in the end-to-end delivery of complex, high priority projects on tight schedules within mission critical service organizations. She specializes in enabling business process change through technology and brings a consistent history of delivering value to the bottom line through process improvements and technology modernization. Most recently, Huff was deputy chief and senior director of operations technology for Amtrak where she led and directed technology related to strategic planning, project development and implementation for business lines and support organizations in operations, representing 80% of Amtrak’s 20,000 employees.
Huff earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and is a certified portfolio management professional through the Project Management Institute.
Macro, a division of Ross & Baruzzini, was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Chalfont, Pa. The firm was acquired by Ross & Baruzzini in 2013 and specializes in the planning, design and engineering of state-of-the-art command and control, communications and information systems. Macro has approximately 20 people on staff.
Founded in St. Louis in 1953, Ross & Baruzzini (http://www.rossbar.com) is a premier international consulting and design firm continually ranked among the top companies in the U.S. It provides advanced design solutions in the transportation, healthcare, government, higher education and mission-critical markets.
September 29, 2017
Spellman Brady Promotes Beth Arokoyo
Spellman Brady & Company is excited to announce the promotion of Beth Arokoyo to Senior Designer. She is now responsible for managing every phase of interior design projects. She works on all aspects of interiors, including selection of finishes and furniture while bringing a strong passion for research and evidence-based design to senior living communities.
Ms. Arokoyo has 13 years of hands-on interior design experience. Since joining Spellman Brady & Company in 2011, she has honed her skills in space planning, design elements and finishes in over 50 projects. She is a certified interior designer by the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ®) with a Bachelor of Science, Human Environmental Sciences Interior Design from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Spellman Brady & Company is a St. Louis–based interior design firm specializing in Senior Living, Healthcare and Higher Education environments
Stephanie Moore joins Knoebel Construction as Project Coordinator
Stephanie Moore of the Central West End in St. Louis, MO, has joined Knoebel Construction as a project coordinator responsible for supporting the firm’s retail, shopping center, restaurant, healthcare and grocery project construction teams. She also works on client relations and new client promotions. Moore has four years of experience in the construction industry. She is a graduate of the St. Louis Community College – Forest Park.
Knoebel Construction, Inc. is a national general contractor specializing in retail center, restaurant, grocery and retail store construction.
Jeff Verkamp Joins HOK’s St. Louis
Jeff Verkamp, has joined HOK in St. Louis. He will continue to support the HOK team as a project architect working a variety of projects currently in design. Verkamp joins HOK’s St. Louis office after having served at HOK’s Kansas City office with considerable work on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium project in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas University.
HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm.