The latest People in the News highlighting new hires, promotions, honors & recognition of the men and women in the St. Louis building community.
Ross & Baruzzini Names Karen Clark Director of Business Development in Kansas City
International technology consulting and engineering firm Ross & Baruzzini has added Karen Clark as business development director for the firm’s Kansas City office.
“Karen joins us at a time of unprecedented growth. Her experience, not only in business development but in the government sector, will be invaluable,” said John Desch, chief commercial officer of the Kansas City office which since opening in 2017 has grown from a staff of two to 12 designers and professional engineers with 144 years of combined experience.
Clark brings more than 20 years of operations, analysis and business development experience to the Kansas City team where she will be responsible for developing strategies to grow business in the higher education and research, healthcare, government and utilities markets.
Before joining Ross & Baruzzini, Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York with a degree in management and systems engineering. As a commissioned officer, she served for 12 years in various transportation and military intelligence positions. After her time in uniform, she supported the Army for eight years as a contracted military analyst at Fort Leavenworth.
She holds a master’s degree in adult education and a graduate certificate in conflict resolution from Kansas State University.
Clark joins Ross & Baruzzini as it adds to its roster of clients in the Kansas City area including the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, MRIGlobal and Kansas Army National Guard.
The firm currently has more than 400 employees and executes projects in more than 30 countries. It operates from headquarters in St. Louis with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Miami, New Haven, New York, Seattle and Mexico City.
Keselman Joins TriStar Companies as Senior Analyst
Roman Keselman has joined the TriStar Companies as a senior analyst. Making the announcement was Michael Towerman, TriStar president.
In his new position, Keselman will analyze markets across the U.S. and participate in the acquisition and development of institutional grade industrial and multifamily properties.
Prior to joining TriStar, Keselman was an asset manager at Twain Financial Partners, a private equity tax syndicator, where he managed millions of dollars in Historic, Low Income Housing and New Market Tax Credits across the U.S.
He has also worked as a senior financial analyst for Intalere, a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare, and in the corporate property and real estate divisions of the St. Louis City Assessor’s office.
Keselman holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University.
Electrical Connection’s Jim Curran Elected Secretary of Missouri Partnership Board
Missouri Partnership’s Board of Directors recently elected Jim Curran as its Secretary. Curran is the Executive Vice President of the Electrical Connection. Curran develops business opportunities for IBEW/NECA statewide by working with organizations advancing Missouri’s economic development, energy, and technology needs. Curran’s one-year term as Secretary of Missouri Partnership’s Board of Directors is effective January 1, 2020.
“We are honored to have Jim as our new Secretary,” said Subash Alias, Missouri Partnership CEO. “Jim’s deep knowledge and understanding of economic development is invaluable as we work with companies that are considering expanding into the state.”
Missouri Partnership is a public-private economic development organization focused on attracting new jobs and investment to the state and promoting Missouri’s business strengths. Since 2007, Missouri Partnership has worked with partners statewide to attract companies that have created 22,000+ new jobs, $1.1 billion+ in new annual payroll, and $2.7 billion+ in new capital investment. Some recent successful projects that led to major investment in Missouri include Amazon, Casey’s General Store, Empire Comfort Systems, Faurecia, Lincoln Rackhouse, Niagara Bottling, Nucor Steel, QRS Products, Square, and USDA.
Missouri Partnership works in partnership with the Hawthorn Foundation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the State of Missouri, and economic development groups across Missouri. Led by an independent Board of Directors and working in collaboration with partners from across the state, Missouri Partnership’s team markets Missouri globally as a strategic business location. Missouri Partnership provides direct support to companies interested in investing in the state and connects them with the best locations and solutions for their business goals.
Western Specialty Contractors Receives ICRI Concrete Repair Project Award for Historic Lancaster Hotel Façade Restoration in Houston
Specialty Contractors – Houston, Texas Branch was honored on Nov. 12 with an Award of Merit from the International Concrete Repair Institute for its work to restore the historic Lancaster Hotel in Downtown Houston.
The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) conducts an awards program each year to honor and recognize outstanding projects in the concrete and masonry repair industries. Entries are received from around the United States, and the winning projects are honored each year at the annual ICRI Awards Banquet at their annual fall convention.
Built in 1926, the twelve-story, luxury boutique Lancaster Hotel was beginning to show signs of deterioration on its brick and stucco façade and its cast stone units, primarily at the top level of the building on the south and west elevations. The building also exhibited cracks at the spiral columns and mortar joints, as well as surface spalling of the cast stone trim and spandrel panels. Ornamental cast stone spiral columns and brackets were also missing, and the steel lintels and shelf angles were corroded.
Western partnered with Houston-based Walker Restoration Consultants to develop a restoration program to address the façade distress and waterproofing issues to meet Texas Historical Commission requirements.
Western Specialty Contractors – Houston, Texas Branch Manager Patrick Sheeran said he is proud of the restoration team’s efforts and ability to overcome obstacles that arose on the challenging project.
“It was a design-build restoration project at a historical hotel and building in the heart of downtown. We were only allowed to make noise during certain hours of the day and almost every scope of work created noise. Being a historical building, we had to follow strict historical guidelines set forth by the plans and specifications for the project,” said Sheeran.
M Property Services Director of Construction Management Dr. Ramona Tumblin-Rucker Receives Prestigious MOKAN Award
Work to improve lives, provide jobs within NorthSide Regeneration development her priority
Dr. Ramona Tumblin-Rucker, PEng, MBA, MPM, CHC, D. Mgt., Director of Construction Management at M Property Services (MPS), has been awarded the prestigious “Private Sector Executive of the Year” award by the MOKAN Construction Contractors Assistance Center. Dr. Tumblin-Rucker received her award at the organization’s 45th Annual MOKAN Awards dinner on Nov. 22 in St. Louis.
Since 1974, MOKAN has been at the forefront of efforts to provide opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses on construction projects in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. MOKAN’s goal is to increase the number of qualified MBE and WBE contractors and workers, as well as increase the amount of public and private dollars spent with them.
“I am blessed and I take great pride that an industry trailblazer like MOKAN would find M Property Services and our work worthy of such an important award. Like MOKAN efforts to bring innovation to the industry of construction, we at MPS are bringing innovation to urban development and uplifting economic opportunity by creating jobs and improving the landscape of North St. Louis,” said Dr. Tumblin-Rucker.
Hired by M Property Services in April 2019, Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has been focused on oversite and construction management for projects within MPS Chairman and CEO Paul McKee, Jr.’s NorthSide Regeneration development, a 1,500-acre mixed-use revitalization of underserved North St. Louis located less than a mile from Downtown St. Louis, The Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium.
Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO; MBA in Management from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK; Master of Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management in St. Louis, MO and Doctor of Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, MO.
She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, St. Louis Construction Forum, St. Louis Construction Consumers Council, Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
November 22, 2019
Haberberger Welcomes Bob Labeaume as Lead Estimator
St. Louis-based mechanical contracting firm Haberberger, Inc., is pleased to announce that Bob LaBeaume, of Bridgeton, has joined its growing team as Lead Estimator. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing the development of estimates and proposals for the company’s industrial and commercial customers.
LaBeaume brings with him nearly 40 years of estimating, piping fabrication, quality control and project management experience in the food and beverage, industrial, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. His background includes serving as a senior project estimator, vice president of estimating, pre-construction manager and senior project manager/estimator for three other mechanical contracting firms in the St. Louis area.
For more information, visit www.haberbergerinc.com.
Haberberger, Inc. is a 71-year-old mechanical contracting company that offers complete HVAC installation, customized maintenance programs, process piping and piping fabrication, plumbing and refrigeration and energy management services to a variety of industrial and commercial customers. For more information, call 314-631-3324 or visit www.haberbergerinc.com.
Alfredo Jacobo Joins Midwest BankCentre as Senior Vice President-Audit Director
Alfredo Jacobo has joined Midwest BankCentre as senior vice president-audit director. He was formerly supervisor of advisory services for Brown Smith Wallace LLP.
Jacobo leads the bank’s internal audit function to ensure audits effectively evaluate financial and operational controls and meet regulatory and legal compliance standards. He oversees the preparation of annual risk-based audit plans and provides recommendations to management and the audit committee to improve controls, efficiencies and operational effectiveness. Jacobo has worked in the banking industry for six years.
Jacobo represented Mexico in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. “Alfredo brings the same dedication, work ethic and discipline to his leadership of our audit function as he did to competing on a world scale in his Olympic sport of swimming,” said Midwest BankCentre Chief Operating Officer Marsha Benney.
Jacobo has a bachelor’s degree of science in economics from Texas A&M University and a master’s of science degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a member of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. He also belongs to the Institute of Internal Auditors and is newsletter chair for its St. Louis Chapter. He serves on the Rockwood Early Childhood PTO book fair committee, coaches youth sports and serves as trustee for a local home owners association.
Midwest BankCentre, a mainstay of St. Louis community banking since 1906, employs a staff of about 280 working at 17 bank locations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties.
Jim Loft Joins Gershman Commercial Real Estate as Executive Vice President
Gershman Commercial Real Estate, the largest locally owned commercial real estate firm in the St. Louis metropolitan area, announced that Jim Loft, SIOR, CCIM, has joined Gershman as executive vice president. In his new role, Loft will focus on office properties in the St. Louis market, representing both owners and users of office property.
Loft brings with him nearly 20 years of extensive experience in commercial real estate strategy, transaction and brokerage services. He has been involved in hundreds of transactions representing both owners and users of commercial real estate with an aggregate value in excess of $300 million. Loft has represented small business owners, as well as major corporations, both locally and nationally.
“We are very excited to have Jim join our brokerage team,” said Chris Fox, president and CEO of Gershman Commercial Real Estate. “The expansion of our team will help us manage our significant growth more effectively and ensure that we deliver the best possible service to our clients.”
Prior to joining Gershman, Loft was a senior vice president at Colliers International. Throughout his brokerage career, Jim has been involved in numerous notable transactions in the St. Louis office market.
Established in 1948, Gershman Commercial Real Estate is the largest locally owned commercial real estate firm in the St. Louis, Missouri, metro area. It provides unparalleled service and support during all stages of a commercial real estate transaction.
PARIC Selects Ty Perry Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion
Industry Leader Returns to St. Louis to Steer Inclusion for Premier Contractor
PARIC Corporation has named Ty Perry as vice president of diversity and inclusion. In this role, Perry will lead policies and programs focused on PARIC’s commitment to supplier and workforce diversity.
Throughout the last two decades, PARIC has focused on building with a supply chain and workforce that reflects the communities in which it works, according to PARIC President Keith Wolkoff.
“People want to do business with organizations that resonate with their values and communities,” says Wolkoff. “More importantly, companies that continue to improve their commitments to diversity and inclusion will be better for it in almost every way. We are thrilled with the sophistication and passion Ty Perry will be bringing to our work in this area.”
Perry has 23 years of experience in supplier and workforce diversity programs, both in Colorado and St. Louis. He co-founded and led the Conference of Minority Transportation (COMTO) Officials, St. Louis Chapter. He is also a past board member of the Missouri Regional Certification Committee, which established and oversaw the Federal Transit Administration’s mandated national Unified Certification Program.
Perry managed the Denver Regional Transit District’s supplier/workforce compliance monitoring and reporting program. For the last nine years, he operated his own professional service company, where he grew Colorado’s supplier/workforce and capacity, matching small and minority-owned firms with prime contractors on large infrastructure projects.
Perry says “Joining PARIC is an uncommon opportunity. I’m positioned to blend my experience in the entrepreneurial and governmental sectors with the needs and opportunities of the private sector. I’ll be combining my passion for a diverse, equitable and inclusive St. Louis workforce with my experience and will be seeking substantive change that will benefit everyone.”
PARIC is a nationally recognized construction firm ranking among the top half of ENR’s list of Top 400 national contractors and among the largest on ENR’s list of Midwest Top Contractors. PARIC builds a customer’s vision into a reality. Providing a complete range of construction services with specialized solutions, PARIC changes customers’ perception of what is possible. The company focuses on “Building Excellence to Move our Community Forward.”
Ken Jackson Earns FMP Designation
Ken Jackson, assistant facilities manager with True Mfg., O’Fallon, MO, has attained credentials as a Facility Management ProfessionaL (FMP).
Jackson 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.
Jackson has more than seven years of experience in facilities and project management at True Mfg. He started his career as an electronic technician for the United States Marines and then spent more than two decades as a technician responsible for maintaining and installing equipment, as well as overseeing systems and facilities.
Jackson has been an active member in IFMA (International Facility Management Association) St. Louis since Feb. 2018. He is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and serves as co-chair of the Missouri Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (MOFAME) group in St. Louis.
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. For more information, visit www.ifma.org.
November 15, 2019
Luthy Joins Louer Facility Planning
Brittany Luthy has joined Louer Facility Planning as an Interior Designer to work with its commercial clients on workplace design.
Brittany recently graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Interior Design Specialty. At SIUC, she was the president of the student chapter of IIDA (International Interior Design Association), and was chosen to represent her class in the “Next” student design competition which is a national event. She also represented her class as at the IIDA Student Design Charette at Neocon, the premier commercial furniture exhibition and conference held each year in Chicago.
“I am pleased that Brittany has chosen to join our team of design professionals,” said Jane Louer, the Collinsville-based firm’s founder and president. “She brings a fresh new perspective, and a lot of enthusiasm to our team.”
Louer Facility Planning has been in business for 23 years, offering the latest trends and innovations in smart workspace furniture for clients across the St. Louis metro region. Louer Facility Planning’s clients include those in the corporate, financial, healthcare, government and educational sectors.
Kevin Davis Joins Remiger Design as Business Developer
Kevin Davis will assist in Remiger Design’s business development. The firm provides sustainable and functional architectural and design services for clients throughout the United States.
A St. Louis native, Davis has a diverse background in commercial real estate. He worked for U.S. Bank Corp. for seven years in a number of positions. He served as an asset manager in U.S. Bank’s Community Development Corp., overseeing more than $400 million in equity investments. Additionally, he provided project management for construction loans that were part of the bank’s tax credits.
His industry experience includes retail, higher education, residential, multifamily, industrial, healthcare, utilities and infrastructure. He also worked in his family’s construction business for several years.
“We are fortunate to land someone with Kevin’s background to enable Remiger to sustain its growth,” said Vern Remiger, founder and president of the firm. In particular, his expertise will help us further penetrate the higher education and healthcare fields.”
A graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in finance, Davis lives in Chesterfield, MO, with his wife and four-year-old daughter.
Bill Wannstedt Elected President of Home Builders Association (HBA) of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri
Bill Wannstedt, vice president and division manager of Consort Homes, has been elected the 86th president of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri. The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry.
KAI Hires Radhika Dharanipalan as Senior Project Manager
KAI announces the hiring of Senior Project Manager Radhika Dharanipalan, RA, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP BD+C, of Milton, Georgia at its Atlanta office.
As Senior Project Manager, Dharanipalan will be responsible for managing budgets, deliverables and schedules for multiple architecture and engineering projects of various sizes and across different sectors. She will interface with clients, prepare proposals and pricing, in addition to preparing prime- and sub-contracts in coordination with upper management and managing multi-office execution of projects.
“I pursued a position with KAI because it is a design-build firm, and I believe my work experience in the past makes it possible for me to be equally engaged with both design and construction,” said Dharanipalan. “My goals are to manage and successfully deliver a wide range of projects of different sizes across various sectors. Maintaining existing client relations and helping KAI extend their client network is an important part of my current role.”
Prior to KAI, Dharanipalan worked as Project Manager in Facility Design and Construction Services at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia; as a Project Coordinator at Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc. in Atlanta; and as a Junior Architect at Shilpa Architects in India. She has 15 years of industry experience.
Dharanipalan has a Bachelor of Architecture from Anna University in Chennai, India and a Master of Architecture and a Master of Science in Construction Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
She is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Dharanipalan is a group fitness gym enthusiast and believes in adopting a healthy lifestyle. She is married and has two daughters. In her spare time, she serves on the Architecture Review Committee in Waterside Neighborhood and volunteers at Meals by Grace food pantry.
About KAI Enterprises
KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm providing delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience, in-house multi-discipline professionals, and expertise in both design and construction delivery. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com.