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 Hires Steven Meeks, PE As Vice President Of Pre-Construction & Estimating
Meeks brings 30 years of construction expertise to the position. In his new role, Meeks will lead and guide S. M. Wilson’s Pre-Construction and Estimating efforts. He will provide oversight and assistance to project teams for budget tracking, cost analysis, forecasting, cost negotiations and change orders; ensuring accuracy and completeness. Meeks has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the company successfully negotiates and bids projects.
“Steven will be a wonderful addition to our strong established estimating and pre-construction team,” states Amy Berg, S. M. Wilson & Co. President. His years of leadership and experience will help our team fine tune our processes to better serve our clients. S. M. Wilson is constantly evaluating how we can go Beyond the Build to better serve our employees, clients and partners and Steve will be an integral part of our growth moving forward.”
Meeks is a Registered Professional Engineer in Missouri and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Washington University.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis.
Holland Construction’s Fred Dintelman Retires
Trenton, Ill. Resident, Fred Dintelman retired Nov. 3 from Holland Construction Services (Holland) in Swansea, IL where he has worked since 2005 as a senior project manager..
Dintelman worked 19 years for Poettker Consruction as their first project manager, eventually working his way up to vice president of project management.” In 2005, Holland recruited Dintelman. But his path had crossed with several Holland employees years earlier, including that of Mike Marchal, current president at Holland. Marchal remembers meeting Dintelman for the first time through their high school-aged children who were both involved in theater. I immediately realized I was in the presence of a very likable gentleman. Words I associate with Fred are integrity, a can-do attitude, humility and a true family man.”
Dintelman said he is looking forward to spending a lot more time with his wife and their six grandchildren, and also having the time to enjoy traveling and golf.
Marchal said it will be difficult to adjust to an empty office two doors to the right – the very one Dintelman occupied for 12 years. “The legacy of what Fred leaves behind includes servant leadership and a whole lot of mentoring those around him. Fred’s unwavering work ethic could regularly be seen when putting his head down and working hard, whether it was during the week or weekends, to meet a project deadline. He never hesitated to take time to mentor our people. Even during the final weeks of his career, it was really neat to watch Fred taking younger colleagues under his wing to ensure that their transition in serving clients and projects transpired as smoothly as possible. Fred truly is a friend to all of us. He’s irreplaceable.”
Brinkmann Constructors Promotes Mike Duehren To Project Director
Brinkmann Constructors has promoted Mike Duehren to Project Director. Duehren has more than 17 years of experience in the construction industry and a 14-year tenure with Brinkmann Constructors where he has lead many large multifamily and senior living facilities. As a Project Director, Duehren is responsible for all operational planning activities, and has overall responsibility for quality, schedule, and cost. In addition, he is responsible for multiple planning meetings to outline the goals and objectives of the project and the working relationships of the team members. Duehren received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Missouri, Rolla in 2000 and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
KAI Design & Build Hires Michael Hein as Chief Integration Officer
KAI Design & Build proudly announces the addition of Michael Hein, AIA, PMP, as Chief Integration Officer.
In his new role as the firm’s Chief Integration Officer, Hein will work closely with KAI President Michael Kennedy, Jr. to drive the firm’s strategic initiatives, plus work to incorporate the highest level of efficiency in terms of communication and operating systems within the company.
Hein is a Registered Architect, Business Unit Leader and Program Manager with progressive managerial and leadership skills in operations, design and engineering management, program and project management, construction management, and business development.
“We are really excited to add Michael to our staff. He is highly regarded as a collaborative leader focused on delivering technical facilities to clients requiring multi-disciplined design services, system integration and document coordination,” said Kennedy, Jr. “He will be a true asset to our company and allow me to delegate so we can focus on more corporate initiatives and move the company forward.”
Hein has a Master of Urban Design/Architecture from The City University of New York and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire. He is a Registered Architect in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan and is currently a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
November 10, 2017
S. M. Wilson Hires Kristyn Newbern as business development manager
S. M. Wilson & Co. has hired Kristyn Newbern as Business Development Manager.
Newbern will be the business development lead for S. M. Wilson’s healthcare and higher education market sectors. She will assist in acquiring new clients, maintaining existing relationships and elevating S. M. Wilson within the community.
Newbern holds an M.S. in Engineering Management and a B.S. in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science & Technology.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis.
Ivanov Rejoins Murphy Co. as Service Operations Manager
Aleksandr Ivanov has rejoined Murphy Company as service operations manager. The announcement was made by Chris Carter, vice president, service.
Ivanov holds a bachelor’s degree in management and leadership from Maryville University where he was on the dean’s list, graduating with a 3.8 GPA. He worked in Murphy’s service department from 2014 to March of 2017, providing computer and other technical support, including handling data and developing enhanced procedures for payroll, fleet management, and coordinating with the MIS team to implement new technologies. From 2007 to 2016, he served as an assistant general manager for Gulf Shores Restaurant and Grill.
Fluent in Russian, Ivanov provides translation services to elderly St. Louis residents, as needed. He also served as vice president of Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis from 2005 to 2006.
“We’re delighted to have Alex back with us,” said Carter. “Because of his prior work experience here at Murphy Company, he has in-depth knowledge of our service team personnel and the support systems that back up every service call we make.”
Murphy Company is one of the nation’s top mechanical contracting and engineering firms delivering innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and institutional markets.
NewGround Appoints New Vice President, Business Development
NewGround, a St. Louis-based experiential design-build firm, announced the selection of Cody Kelly as Vice President, Business Development. He will be responsible for working on expanding the business ventures in growth and development in the Chicago and Upper Great Lakes territory.
November 3, 2017
GAWDA Installs Lane as 2017-2018 President
The president of St. Louis, Mo.- based Cee Kay Supply Co. has been installed as president of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA).
Ned Lane will serve as head of GAWDA for the rest of 2017 and through the annual convention in September of 2018, according to GAWDA Executive Director John Ospina. Lane was installed as president during the association’s annual meeting in New York October 1 – 4.
Lane has served on the GAWDA Board of Directors for the past several years and on the association’s executive committee for the past three years. He has been with Cee Kay Supply for 22 years, originally joining the company in 1995 as manager of gases. In 2000, he was named president of the company, a position he has held for the past 17 years.
Owner and chief executive officer of Cee Kay Supply, Tom Dunn, introduced Lane at the annual meeting. Dunn told the assembly that just as Lane has been a great leader for the Cee Kay business, he will be a great leader for GAWDA. Dunn described Lane as “a man of faith, who’s loyal, organized, and intelligent. He has exemplified class and professionalism in everything he has done at Cee Kay the past 22 years.”
Cee Kay Supply opened for business in 1948 as a gas distributor. The company has a 120,000- square-foot main facility in St. Louis and operates seven branches throughout Missouri and Illinois. Its operations include a specialty gas division, repair and service center, technical service center, CO2 division and a re-test division. The company also hosts an extensive training facility.
In his inaugural address to the audience of more than 900 GAWDA distributor and supplier members and their guests, Lane spoke of his plans leading GAWDA in the coming year, noting that his experience in both the distributor and supplier domains of the industry would be helpful in that role. He also said he intends to focus on three elements he believes are essential to successful operations: “people, process and plan.” His efforts as president will have a “back to basics” focus, he added. They will include ensuring that GAWDA staff members have the resources, tools and supportive environment that permits them to provide exemplary service to members; that the organization undertakes a process of continuous improvement; and that time is taken away from the daily grind of business to look at the big picture and plan for the future.
Also named as 2017-2018 officers for three newly open seats as vice presidents are: Evan Bennear, sales manager at Dale Oxygen Co. of Johnstown, Pa.; Melissa Perkins, director of marketing and finance at Electronic Fluorocarbons, of Hatfield, Pa.; and Bill Proctor, president of nexAir LLC, of Memphis, Tenn.
Abydee Butler Moore, executive vice president of Butler Gas Products, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was named as the association’s first vice president. She is slated to assume the organization’s presidency in 2019-2020. Brad Peterson, chairman and chief acquisition officer of Mississippi Welders Supply Co., Inc., of Winona, Minn., is in line to become GAWDA’s president for the 2018-2019 year.
The remaining members of the current Board of Directors are: Kelly Bladow, of Oxarc Inc., of Spokane, Wash.; Jay Brant, Indiana Oxygen Co., of Indianapolis, Ind.; Bob Ewing, of Red Ball Oxygen Co., of Shreveport, La.; Jeff Johnson, of Arc3 Gases, of Dunn, NC; and Jim O’Connor, of Norton Abrasives – St. Gobain, of Johns Creek, Ga.
Mark Raimy, of Welders Supply Corporation – A Raimy Corporation, of Erie, Pa., serves as first past president; and Bill Visintainer, of Atlas Welders Supply of Tuscaloosa, Ala., serves as second past president.
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is dedicated to promoting the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial gases and related welding equipment supplies.
Liberty Utilities Center has won Project of the Year, the highest honor awarded by the Design-Build Institute of America – Mid-America Region.
In addition to being the first publicly owned wastewater treatment plant in Missouri using the Design-Build approach, this new $75 million system diverts flow from aging, undersized neighboring facilities and allows the town of Liberty, Missouri, future growth and independence for decades to come.
Oretta Smith, Executive Director of DBIA – Mid-America Region, said, “We don’t always give this top award. It takes an extraordinary project, design-build process and team application to win. I am pleased to share that not only was the Liberty project most worthy, it won with a unanimous decision by a very selective panel of judges.”
The DBIA annual awards recognize projects and teams that best utilize design-build practices with emphasis on aesthetics, design, quality, functionality, life cycle value, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
In this project, the Goodwin Brothers Construction Co. design-build team implemented proactive, productive approaches to using an otherwise unusable site, paid extra attention to aesthetics, collaborated successfully with a large team, and found ways to consistently exceed the owner’s expectations.
Goodwin Brothers Construction is a three-generation family-owned business, celebrating 70 years of building this year.
Spellman Brady Promotes Jen Sheehan
Spellman Brady & Company is excited to announce the promotion of Jen Sheehan to the position of Project Manager/Senior Designer. In addition to managing multiple interior design and furniture procurement projects simultaneously, she is responsible for developing new business opportunities and maintaining long-lasting relationships with existing clients.
Ms. Sheehan brings 13 years of multi-faceted interior design experience to her new position. Since joining Spellman Brady & Company in 2016, she has successfully planned and completed a wide range of Senior Living projects. She is a certified interior designer by the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ®) with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Maryville University.
Spellman Brady & Company is an award-winning St. Louis–based interior design firm specializing in senior living, healthcare, and higher education environments.
Teresa Bridges Returns to HOK’s St. Louis Practice to Lead Consulting Group
Teresa Bridges has returned to HOK as a workplace specialist for the St. Louis office. Bridges, who brings more than 14 years of experience in workplace strategy and design, previously worked with HOK from 2005-2015.
Most recently Bridges served as the workplace practice lead for CannonDesign, also in St. Louis, supporting projects in workplace strategy and planning throughout the United States.
Bridges rejoins HOK at a time of robust growth for the firm’s St. Louis practice, with the St. Louis Business Journal recently ranking it as both the region’s largest interior design firm and largest architecture studio. She will support the workplace team with projects for Rockwell Collins, Citi and Consumers Credit Union.
Bridges has a Bachelor of Science from Southeast Missouri State University earning a degree in interior design.
HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Through a network of 23 offices worldwide.
Western Specialty Contractors Promotes Kevin Rogers to Branch Manager of its Chicago Facades Branch
Western Specialty Contractors has promoted Kevin Rogers of Deer Park, IL to Branch Manager of its Chicago Facades Branch. Rogers, who started with Western in 2013, previously held the position of Sales/Project Manager at the branch.
Rogers brings 37+ years of exterior building restoration experience and has a successful record of managing many multi-million dollar projects during his career.
“He has been involved in numerous, highly sophisticated masonry, waterproofing and concrete restoration repairs, working closely with owners and engineers on both design-build and specified work,” said Western Region Manager Justin Berndt. “His background provides him with the ability to collaborate effectively with all parties in a construction project, while maintaining strong client relationships and putting forth every effort to go above and beyond client expectations.”
In his new position, Rogers will be responsible for managing sales, daily operations and field personnel at the branch, plus developing facade restoration projects in the Chicago metropolitan area. Services offered by the branch, established in 1982, include masonry and concrete restoration, building cleaning, waterproofing, epoxy and chemical grout injection, expansion joint systems, and coating and sealant restoration on buildings ranging from high-rises to parking structures.
Rogers is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and the Healthcare Engineers Society of Northern Illinois (HESNI). He is a past board member of 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.
October 20, 2017
New Hires at Murphy Company
Ben Moore has joined Murphy Company as an engineer, focusing on projects in the commercial group. The announcement was made by Mike Werdes, manager of engineering. Moore holds both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science, both in physics, from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, graduating cum laude. His undergraduate studies concentrated on engineering while his graduate studies focused on applied physics, advanced mechanics and statistics coupled with programming applications.
Moore has work experience as a tenant finish specialist, estimating HVAC and fire protection systems, project management, sales and engineering. During his undergraduate years, he worked summers and part-time during the school year on acoustical panel installation. He also has CAD experience.
He was an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, a senior patrol leader, and Vigil Honor Member and Chapter Chief for the Order of the Arrow.
Murphy Company is one of the nation’s top mechanical contracting and engineering firms delivering innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and institutional markets. Murphy offers process piping, HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, design-build, piping fabrication, energy solutions and 24-hour service emanating from its five locations in St. Louis, Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Northern Colorado. Murphy is ranked No. 17 on Engineering News-Record’s list of largest mechanical contractors in the United States. Founded in 1907, the firm employs more than 1,000 people nationwide. For more information, visit www.murphynet.com.
Kevin Arehart has joined Murphy Company, a leading mechanical contracting and engineering firm, as an IT support analyst. The announcement was made by Tushar Shelar, chief information officer.
Arehart recently completed his computer studies with Launchcode. Prior to that he was a personal trainer and manager/instructor for Wellbridge Athletic Club.
Murphy Company is one of the nation’s top mechanical contracting and engineering firms delivering innovative solutions to the commercial, industrial and institutional markets.
Mary Rotter Joins G&S Architectural Products as St. Louis Area Sale Representative
St. Louis-based G&S Architectural Products has hired Mary Rotter as a sales representative for the St. Louis area. As the new go-to resource for acoustical and specialty products, Rotter will be building professional and customer relationships, estimating and providing project solutions.
Rotter joins G&S Architectural Products after 10 years as Commercial Sales Director for E.J. Welch Company, Inc., a flooring distributor. Rotter has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri, where she majored in psychology and minored in environmental design.
G&S Architectural Products is a leading provider and installer of architectural products such as acoustical products, visual display boards and operable wall systems that are primarily used for commercial, education and healthcare industries.
New Hires at HOK
Madeline Johnson, has joined HOK in St. Louis. She will support the HOK team as an intern in the Interiors Group. Johnson joins HOK as a sophomore at Maryville University pursuing her degree in Interior Design.
Kody Zedolek, has joined HOK in St. Louis. He will support the HOK team as an architecture intern. Zedolek joins HOK as a junior at Ranken Technical College pursuing a degree in Architectural Technology.
HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm.
Local Construction Company Adds Business Development Coordinator and Project Engineer
IMPACT Strategies, a Fairview Heights-based construction management firm, today announced the recent hiring of Stephanie Sullivan as business development coordinator and Travis Schwartz as project engineer.
In the newly formed business development coordinator position, Sullivan is responsible for all marketing coordination and oversight, as well as providing administrative support to company management. She previously worked for a local creative company as a managing director in charge of client relationships and assisting customers with developing new brand identities and strategies. Sullivan is a resident of Highland, Illinois.
Schwartz, a resident of Prairie du Rocher, graduated from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville in 2016 with a bachelor of science in construction management degree. His past industry experience includes work as an intern and project engineer.
Mark Hinrichs, president of IMPACT Strategies, said, “Stephanie and Travis have taken on fundamental positions within the company that will enable us to better meet the needs of our existing clients while also positioning us for future growth. Their talent, skill and experience will undoubtedly benefit our company.”
KAI Design & Build Hires Three New Employees
Tom Graff of Edwardsville, IL as Construction Inspector. Graff comes to KAI with 19 years of industry experience. He has a Bachelor of Science in GIS/Environmental Planning from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL.
George Robin, PE, of O’Fallon, MO as Senior Electrical Engineer. Robin comes to KAI with 41 years of industry experience, with expertise in the hospital/medical center industries. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, MO and is registered with the State of Missouri as a Professional Engineer. He is also an active member of the Public Works Advisory Committee for the City of O’Fallon, MO.
Scott Schmidt of St. Charles, MO as Electrical Designer/Revit Specialist. Schmidt comes to KAI with 15 years of industry experience. He has an Associate’s Degree from ITT Tech.
KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through client collaboration, the latest technology, proprietary processes and individual expertise.