On June 26, 2026, JGM announced the addition of three accomplished industry leaders to its executive team. The appointments of Brian M. Jones PMP as vice president of business development; Amy DePaoli as director of marketing; and Garrick Weaver SPHR SHRM-SCP as director of talent acquisition and workforce development reflect the company’s commitment to building the infrastructure needed to become a nationally recognized force in industrial construction.

Jones joins JGM with more than 20 years of experience driving revenue expansion and market positioning across the industrial engineering, procurement and construction sectors. A strategic growth leader with a hands-on technical foundation, he brings a rare combination of full-cycle capture planning, competitive intelligence and deep client relationship management having served key markets in pulp and paper, refining, chemicals, metals and power.

DePaoli brings more than two decades of marketing leadership experience spanning logistics, food and beverage, retail and consumer brands. She has a demonstrated history of building marketing functions from the ground up, driving measurable growth, and establishing compelling brand identities for companies navigating rapid expansion.

A Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Weaver is a trusted HR leader with extensive experience building scalable hiring pipelines, designing workforce development programs and cultivating high-performance cultures across complex, multisite organizations including manufacturing, utilities and professional services.

Sebastien Roussotte Announced as New Achilles CEO

On June 30, 2026, Achilles announced the appointment of Sebastien Roussotte as chief executive officer, effective immediately. He succeeds interim CEO Craig Rodgerson, who will return to his role as chairman of the Achilles board.

S&B Receives Gold Safety Excellence Award From Industry Business Roundtable 

On July 07, 2026, S&B received a Gold Safety Excellence Award in the General Contractor Extra Large category from the Industry Business Roundtable for its work on the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant2X Expansion Project. The team was recognized at an industry event in May.  The award recognizes S&B’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety performance while delivering complex projects in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Presented as part of the 2025–2026 Safety Excellence Awards program, the recognition highlights organizations that demonstrate exceptional safety leadership, continuous improvement and a strong culture of workplace safety.

Wesco Announces Alex Piwoschuk as U.S. Central Leader for Construction

On July 9, 2026, Wesco International announced that Alex Piwoschuk has joined the company as vice president of sales for U.S. Construction in the Central region. This role will be instrumental in developing the strategic direction to deliver industry-leading construction services and expertise to help manage customers’ most complex and demanding projects.

New Edge Contractors Expands Leadership Team to Support Continued Growth

On July 10, 2026, New Edge Contractors expanded its leadership team to strengthen the organizational capacity behind continued growth across its two disciplines: construction management and resource management. The transition formalizes the executive responsibilities of co-founders Mike Clay and John Wiegand. Clay has assumed the role of chief executive officer, providing enterprise leadership, long-term strategic direction and accountability for the company’s organizational growth. Wiegand has assumed the role of chief development officer, leading development strategy, client relationships, market expansion and new business opportunities.

Skanska USA Building Establishes Digital Transformation and Solutions Team to Expand the Use of AI Across the Business

On July 14, 2026, Skanska announced the formation of its digital transformation and solutions team, a move to scale AI and technology to continue enhancing project delivery. The group unites Skanska’s data solutions, emerging tech and AI capabilities to turn project knowledge into practical tools that support project teams and broader business priorities. Durham-based executive Will Senner has been appointed senior vice president, digital transformation and solutions to lead the team.

Swinerton Announces Leadership Promotions to Support Growth in Southern California Education and Healthcare Markets

On July 14, 2026, Swinerton Builders has promoted David Cramp and Brian Holley to vice president and division manager roles, strengthening the company’s leadership in two of Southern California’s most active construction sectors: education and healthcare. Cramp has been named vice president, division manager, K-14 Education–Southern California; Holley has been promoted to vice president, division manager, Healthcare–Southern California.

Branch Announces Key Executive Appointments to Strengthen Enterprise Growth

On July 14, 2026, Branch has announced key executive leadership appointments to strengthen long-term growth, business development, pursuit strategy and operational excellence. 

Brian Quinlan has been appointed executive vice president, strategic growth. In this new role, Quinlan will focus on where Branch should grow and help Branch create a roadmap the ensures our future.

Mike Colbert has been appointed executive vice president, enterprise pursuits. This role will serve as the accountable executive for all major pursuits. Colbert will oversee enterprise pursuit governance, estimating practices, pricing strategy, pipeline governance, win/loss analytics, and aligns preconstruction and operations. 

Brian Evans will take the lead of Branch Civil as executive vice president. Evans’ career in the heavy/highway construction industry spans over two decades. He has directly managed both state and federal highway projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with experience in both roadway and bridge construction.

Manhattan Construction Company Announces North Texas Leadership Appointments to Support Diverse, Complex Project Portfolio

On July 16, 2026, Manhattan Construction Company announced a series of leadership appointments and role confirmations in its Dallas-area regional office, strengthening the team responsible for delivering a growing portfolio of complex construction projects across North Texas. The leadership team’s new appointments include Travis Porter as Dallas regional leader, Jason Dunnam as operations manager, Anthony Wright as general superintendent and Kevin Gass as project director. 

Porter was promoted to Manhattan Construction Company’s Dallas regional leader, recognizing his proven ability to lead people, projects and operations across one of the company’s most active and complex markets. Porter has more than 15 years of experience delivering high-profile construction work in North Texas. He has steadily taken on broader leadership responsibility since joining Manhattan in 2010, starting as an intern on the George W. Bush Presidential Center project on the Southern Methodist University campus. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in construction science.

Dunnam joined Manhattan as operations manager for the Dallas regional office. Dunnam brings more than 25 years of commercial construction experience and previously served as vice president of construction at EMJ Corporation, where he led operational strategy for large, multidisciplinary teams.

Wright was promoted to general superintendent and brings more than 25 years of experience managing field operations for large, technically complex projects. His background includes professional sports facilities, commercial developments and mixed-use projects.

Gass was promoted to project director and will provide strategic oversight and leadership for project teams across the Dallas region. Gass holds a degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and has more than 35 years of industry experience, representing more than $5.4 billion in completed construction work.

Sims Crane & Equipment Names Mike Kuffermann as Chief Operating Officer

On July 21, 2026, Sims Crane announced the appointment of Florida native Mike Kuffermann as chief operating officer. Kuffermann brings more than 17 years of experience with Sims Crane and represents a second-generation family legacy within the organization. He began his career as an apprentice and has advanced through service operations, dispatch, outside sales and executive leadership, most recently serving as chief sales officer. The appointment reflects both his proven track record of performance and the company’s continued focus on operational excellence.

ABC Supply Interiors Opens Location in Tupelo, Mississippi

On July 22, 2026, ABC Supply Interiors, formerly L&W Supply Corporation, opened a new location at 3406 West Main Street in Tupelo, marking its second location in Mississippi. The location is managed by Andy Witt, who was promoted to branch manager in March 2026. Witt brings more than 21 years of industry experience, including 10 years with ABC Supply Interiors.

Skanska U.S. Building Operations Selects Brian Urban as Executive Vice President-General Manager for California

On July 27, 2026, Skanska announced the appointment of Brian Urban as executive vice president and general manager for its Skanska USA Building operations in California, effective immediately. In this role, Urban will oversee project operations in the state, with a focus on strengthening customer and partner relationships, growing the business and continuing to build Skanska’s reputation across the region. Urban joins a well-established local leadership team with deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area market. The team’s relationships with clients, partners, subcontractors and community stakeholders, built over many years, remain fully in place. Urban will work closely with local leadership to continue the office’s momentum and build on the trust Skanska has established across the region.

SEE ALSO: NEW NAMES AND FACES: JUNE 2026

The post New Names and Faces: July 2026        first appeared on Construction Executive.

Lucas, who has held roles ranging from construction administrator and project manager to director of construction solutions, now works with contractors on improving preconstruction, estimating and project management workflows, and Lawrence, who is currently serving as a construction account executive, previously worked as a project engineer with general contractors in the Pacific Northwest and began her career managing painting crews.

Each woman established their careers in the construction industry before advancing into their newfound roles in the construction technology sector in late 2025. Were they expecting to level up when they did? Was this next step even on their radar? Were they content with their careers up to this point? Will they continue to advance beyond these new roles?

Construction Executive sat down with the women to learn more about their journeys—and how those journeys can affect progress for the future of the construction workforce as well as for construction technology.

“We are starting to see more representation of women in all facets of the construction industry,” says Lawrence. She attributes the slow—albeit steady—pace of the gender-shift in construction to “women thinking there’s not a place here for them. But there certainly is.”

How have you worked your way up to your current role?

Danielle Lucas: I actually started out on the operations side and then became a construction administrator. I’ve worked with both an HVAC specialty subcontractor and a general contractor in Florida where I used to live. So, I got a really good ground-level view of what happens on a project and I fell in love with the technology there while also learning the daily reality of RFIs and change orders and contracts. After that, I moved into project management and then finally over to construction technology itself. Before I joined IMAGINiT, I was a director of construction solutions. Today, I’m a construction engagement engineer and I specialize in preconstruction. I get to work closely with firms to improve how they’re approaching their estimating, takeoff, collaboration and construction administration.

Sarah Lawrence: It all started with a desire to gain work experience applicable to any career. I started as a residential exterior house painting intern. I was then recruited by a commercial painting subcontractor, which hired me as a project engineer. I never intended to have a career in construction; I never formally went to school for construction management. I’ve learned everything on the job and through my mentors—from interpreting contract documents to managing projects. Working for the commercial painting company was a great opportunity and I got great experience that set me up for a successful career in commercial construction.

From there I switched to the general contractor side, so I worked with a smaller firm doing 16-week tenant improvements. Then I accepted a role with Balfour Beatty, starting in their preconstruction department and supporting a couple of large projects from there. My role with IMAGINiT has exposed me to how technology is transforming our industry and I’m passionate about driving tech adoption across construction. 

Did you study technology or did you organically work your way up in the tech sphere of construction?

Lucas: I did not go to college and I didn’t study technology—I simply fell in love with it. If you want to learn, there are so many people who will help you do that.

Lawrence: Most of what I’ve learned and have been exposed to has been on the job. Technology-wise, I’ve encountered various tools to support my role. Working in construction and being an end-user has given me the unique perspective to understand how I can support my clients at IMAGINiT. It’s exposed me to the thought process that goes behind every decision when selecting and adopting new technology.

I’ve struggled through antiquated processes and contractors not fully trusting technology. I’m passionate about breaking stigmas and helping contractors streamline their operations by embracing technology. I felt like there was an opportunity to help enable teams to use their tools to their fullest potential.

AI is transforming the way that we work, there’s even more urgency around evaluating new tech tools and making sure that we’re adopting and embracing them. One of the things that contractors are good at is being adaptable to change. We’re starting to see more contractors leading the charge on tech adoption and driving innovation.

Contractors ‘being adaptable to change’ is a rather striking statement, because the opposite of that has been the trope in construction. It’s usually, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it.’ Are there any examples that stand out in your mind that make you say that?

Lawrence: I was listening to a podcast; the guest surveyed about 400 contractors, of which 60% said they were adopting AI. It was reassuring to hear that a majority of firms are trying to use it. It’s powerful to see contractors developing their own AI software specific to their needs. There are contractors leading the charge of the digital-era, wanting to be innovative and creative with technology.

Would you say that technology is attracting women to the industry?

Lucas: These new roles that are emerging, like ours, are more focused on strategy: process improvement, workflows, systems, many focus areas where women naturally excel. So, we’re getting a lot more meaningful innovation that’s happening because we can become leaders on that path. And that path is not following a field-first trajectory—a trajectory which traditionally doesn’t attract women. We’re seeing a lot more people come into the tech sector directly.

Lawrence: Both the construction and the technology industry are male-saturated. Tech is revealing more opportunities for people of different backgrounds to collaborate and contribute to the thought that goes behind workflows and operations. 

What efforts is IMAGINiT taking to draw more women to this industry and these types of roles? What—or who—drew you to this company and this role?

Lucas: What drew me to IMAGINiT Technologies is the level of expertise of the team overall and the software development they were doing. They were my biggest competitor! Folks like Sarah and I get to work together on opportunities and get into those rooms with other women. However, my former position was as a director at a company in New York City and the owner of that company was a male—someone doesn’t have to be a female to be a great mentor. People who give you that opportunity—even if it’s a stretch—and they believe in you, that is really what matters. And coming to the table, being confident in what you know from your industry experience will get you so far. It doesn’t really matter what your gender is, if you know what you’re talking about.

Lawrence: Part of what drew me to IMAGINiT was the women in leadership, both our director of construction and one of our construction team managers. I appreciate having those influences and women represented in leadership positions. Throughout my career, I’ve had both male and female mentors, all of whom supported me as I navigated my career in male-dominated industries. It’s important we embrace everyone’s contributions, the value we all contribute from our different experiences and backgrounds. Overall, both the construction and the tech industry promote and embrace diversity of thought.

Would you consider yourselves mentors today?

Lucas: Oh, for sure. Especially on my team and even in what I was doing before IMAGINiT, we’re sharing knowledge. We’re bringing people into that bubble of the construction world. I have colleagues on my team who are stronger in other areas of the industry than I am and vice versa. So, we’ll get together and share our strengths—there’s no shame in that. We stay curious about not just the technology, but how things are built. We don’t shrink ourselves and we know that because we’re in this seat and we’re in this room, we did earn it.

Lawrence: Absolutely, I’m always open and willing to support others in the industry. I make an effort to extend the same support I received to others—pay-it-forward—ensuring that folks entering the industry feel welcome and I provide guidance when needed. Ultimately, I want to highlight the importance of promoting psychological safety across your teams. One of my favorite construction-specific courses was through Arcade Construction Academy. They introduced 10 core precepts that I believe should be upheld by every team. To name a few: Stupid questions are a requirement for entry; It is the responsibility of leadership to create a safe space to fail; and, All mistakes should be discussed and dissected, never hidden. In construction and technology, things are constantly changing and you’ll never be an expert, not 100%. There is always something to learn and every project is different. It’s incredibly important to create an environment where teams can collaborate, exchange knowledge freely and admit mistakes.

SEE ALSO: MORE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE BUILDING A TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED C-SUITE

The post Turning a Construction Career Into a Technology Career first appeared on Construction Executive.

Cofounder of the Boston-based contech company, Cyvl, Pelaez is helping over 100 U.S. cities rethink how they build and rebuild their roads.

“Through vehicle-mounted sensing and analytics already embedded in day-to-day operations, Cyvl is effectively powering the reconstruction of roads up and down the country—determining what gets fixed, when and why,” says a representative of the company.

Having just been named in Cemex Ventures’ Top 50 Contech Startups for 2026—which recognizes companies that are already influencing how construction and infrastructure decisions are made on the ground—Cyvl sat down with Construction Executive to discuss their evolutionary work further.

Maybe even stay tuned for a sneak peek inside one of their AI-powered cars.

What was the impetus for starting this product/company?

DANIEL PALAEZ: It’s a fun story. It started with the problem and we found the technology to solve that problem. One of my first ever jobs was working on the road crew for a public works department in Southbury, Connecticut. And I was seeing firsthand how hard it was to manage infrastructure. The town was reacting to issues every single day, whether that be residents hitting a pothole or trees falling down or missing signage no one noticed until it caused an accident. This was a smaller city that was relying on outdated data that lived on paper in a three-ring binder.

I was only about 18 or 19 at the time, but I figured there had to be a better way. So, I started talking to lots of other communities and realized they were relying on similar techniques. When I entered college in 2020 for engineering is when I started to learn about these sensors used for self-driving vehicles, and that was the “a-ha” moment of seeing the massive problem firsthand, recognizing that pretty much every community across the U.S. is battling with outdated infrastructure and information. Then it was about figuring out how technology from self-driving cars could be applied to automatically map out infrastructure, and how to use AI to perform condition assessments, recommend treatments, budgets, etc. That is really where we saw the magic of applying that tech to this problem. Ever since then it’s been a very fun journey helping hundreds of governments implement this into their day-to-day workflows.

What was the process of getting this off the ground?

About halfway through college, I thought this would be a fun application of the tech. It was never a class project. I just started conceptualizing it in my mind and I recruited one of my best friends and roommates—we’ve actually known each other since we were seven years old—who is way smarter than I am to help me build it out.

We didn’t know anything about starting a company; we just thought we were solving a cool problem. We began looking for funding to make prototypes and entering innovation contests across the country. After winning a few of them, everyone kept telling us, ‘Hey, this is a really big problem that our country and the world needs to solve,’ which motivated us to take it more seriously. So, shortly after graduating, we decided to become cofounders and brought on a third friend of ours from college to help us with the AI side of things. We raised $100,000 from our first ever investors, which felt like a lot of money at the time—we were all just 22 years old. We made that last more than a year until we got our first customers. And it’s been a wild ride since then.

When did this product officially hit the streets?

At the beginning of 2022, we started our first projects with municipalities and a few civil engineering firms in Massachusetts. Those were crazy days where the product barely worked, but we were determined to make it better and to keep getting feedback from the cities and towns we were working with, which was invaluable to us at time.

Do these sensors/vehicles operate as a service (i.e. SaaS)?

It’s an annual investment the cities make in our technology. What that gives them is access to the sensors, which they can put on their vehicle so they don’t need to buy them, and access to our software program, which is what’s taking all the data from the sensors, automatically processing it, doing the condition reports and then creating plans and budgets so the city can get to work with more speed and accuracy.

Was it hard to get cities to agree to bring this tech on board?

Yeah, it was incredibly hard. Imagine a 22-year-old placing cold calls into every single town or city in the state telling them, ‘Hey, I have a better way to manage your very expensive roads and sidewalks.’ There was a lot of skepticism—especially when they asked how many customers we had and we had to say zero. We got a lot of nos, but, slowly but surely, we started building a reputation. It’s still challenging these days, but I think that’s what’s really been special.

Cities do see immediate value when they start working with our technology. Now there’s less perceived risk when we can present them with data from working with some of the biggest cities in the nation. It was never easy, but, as with any business, you just have to keep pushing through.

What is the smallest/biggest city you’ve worked with?

We’ve worked all over Massachusetts, Iowa, Wisconsin in some pretty small communities, about 5,000 people or under. Our first big customer was the city of Atlanta. We partnered with them about a year and a half ago, and we were just selected by the city of Nashville to do a full five-year infrastructure plan. We have a few other big cities that we cannot formally announce yet, and we’re even beginning talks with some state DOTs.

How do you hope to see your company evolve?

I’d say our number one goal and our mission as a company is to enable government agencies to build infrastructure 90% faster and 50% cheaper than they’re doing today. And if we can encourage a digital-first standard, I’m sure there will be more companies like us popping up, and I’m sure some of the major civil engineering firms are going to start to embrace these technologies, too. If we can make that the de facto standard for the U.S. by 2030, that will be a huge accomplishment for us. We’re really trying to change an entire industry here, and we’re not going to do that alone. So, bringing more people along with that shared digital-first mentality and the new operating model for infrastructure is incredibly important.

How do you hope that your story might inspire the future of construction business owners and innovators?

I’ve been so fortunate just to be surrounded by mentors and advisors and friends that have been cheering for us, supporting us, rooting for us unconditionally, because the construction industry is definitely not the quickest to adopt technology and rightfully so—there are major risks on the line when you’re talking about critical infrastructure. I think for good reason people are conservative about trying new things.

My advice is simply ‘don’t give up.’ It’s very easy to be told no 99 times and to return to whatever you were doing in life before. But, I guarantee you, that if you just keep your mind to it, you don’t give up, you persist, whatever you’re working on, whether it’s a business in this industry or not, you’ll be successful. Then surround yourself with like-minded folks, because you need that positivity. You have to be a default optimist.

SEE ALSO: NEW WALL-SCALING ROBOTS ARE SAVING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TIME, PRODUCT AND PERSONNEL

The post Contech Company Cyvl Uses Vehicle-Mounted AI Sensors to Collect Fresh Data for Some of America’s Biggest Cities first appeared on Construction Executive.

On June 2, PCL Construction Enterprises Inc. announced the promotion of Rick Goldman to regional vice president, extending his proven leadership overseeing operations for Florida to include Minneapolis and PCL’s in-house theming contractor. With nearly three decades of experience and a career built entirely within PCL, Goldman’s expanded role reflects the company’s confidence in his leadership and its commitment to driving strategic growth across these key markets.

SUFFOLK HIRES SHELBY JOUBERT, DEEPENING ITS BAY AREA OPERATIONS EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT TO CLIENT PARTNERSHIPS

On June 9, Suffolk hired Shelby Joubert as vice president of operations. The strategic addition underscores the company’s continued investments in experienced leadership as it expands its Bay Area presence and strengthens its ability to support clients on complex projects. Joubert will be based out of the San Francisco office and work closely with project teams and client partners, drawing on her significant preconstruction and operations background to enhance planning, collaboration, cost certainty and schedule predictability across the full project lifecycle.

NVENT NAMES CHIEF STRATEGY AND CHIEF REVENUE OFFICERS TO DRIVE NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH

On June 10, nVent Electric plc announced the appointment of Nitin Jain as executive vice president and chief strategy officer, and Joe Stark as executive vice president and chief revenue officer. Both leaders will report to chair and CEO Beth Wozniak.

Jain will lead nVent’s global strategy and business development, with responsibility for shaping the company’s strategy and accelerating growth through acquisitions. Stark will head nVent’s global sales organization, driving revenue growth and advancing the company’s One nVent sales approach. 

HOFFMAN ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS ANNOUNCES PROMOTION OF ROBERT G. DELAGRANGE TO DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

On June 10, Hoffman Architects announced senior business development manager for the Connecticut office, Robert Delagrange, will oversee business growth and client relationships firmwide, across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and beyond. A resident of Oxford, Connecticut, Delagrange earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UConn and an MBA from the University of New Haven. His leadership in industry organizations and volunteer work advocating for local landmarks have made him well known in south-central New England design and construction communities, and he will now expand that reach to greater New York and Washington DC.

HOAR CONSTRUCTION OPENS SAN ANGELO OFFICE

On June 10, Hoar Construction announced the opening of its new West Texas office. Hoar’s West Texas office currently houses 15 employees, many of whom have deep roots and grew up in the surrounding area. In addition to Project Manager Garrett Wheat, Superintendent Cody Mallory and Field Operations Coordinator Mindy Martin will oversee field operations and administration for the West Texas Office.

GILBANE BUILDING NAMES CHELSEA BEACOM AS WASHINGTON, D.C. BUSINESS LEADER

On June 15, Gilbane Building announced the promotion of Chelsea Beacom to business leader for its Washington, D.C. metro region operations. Beacom assumes the role following a succession planning process designed to support the Mid-Atlantic division’s continued growth across the region, strengthening Gilbane’s service to clients.

OWEN-AMES-KIMBALL WELCOMES 2026 SUMMER INTERN CLASS

On June 15, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company was pleased to welcome six college students to its 2026 Summer Internship Program.

This year’s internship class includes:

• Jackson Allaire–Florida Gulf Coast University
• William Ramos–Florida Gulf Coast University
• Jose Santos–Florida International University
• Blake Ware–Florida Gulf Coast University
• Bruno Smith–Louisiana State University
• Ian Miller–Florida Gulf Coast University, returning intern

Throughout the summer, interns will be assigned to active construction projects across Southwest Florida, working alongside experienced project managers, superintendents, engineers and field teams to gain firsthand experience in commercial construction management.

SUFFOLK HIRES HEALTHCARE LEADER MELISSA KIEFER TO ADVANCE GROWING HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES PORTFOLIO

On June 16, Suffolk hired Melissa Kiefer as vice president of strategy, strengthening the company’s healthcare and life sciences efforts across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The strategic addition comes as healthcare systems continue to modernize facilities, expand access to care and navigate increasingly complex capital programs requiring deep expertise in clinical environments, operational continuity and regulatory requirements.

CLAYCO APPOINTS AI LEADER ZACK KASS TO BOARD OF ADVISORS

On June 16, Clayco announced the appointment of former OpenAI executive Zack Kass to its board of advisors. As Clayco continues to invest in innovation, data-driven decision-making and next-generation technologies across the built environment, Kass will provide strategic guidance on artificial intelligence, digital transformation and the future of work.

WESCO ANNOUNCES PROMOTION OF JARED HOOVER TO VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS

On June 18, Wesco International announced that Jared Hoover has been appointed as vice president of construction solutions. This move aligns with Wesco’s foundational strategy to extend the organization’s industry-leading scale and help customers navigate ongoing challenges associated with complex capital projects.

WESCO ANNOUNCES BRIAN SOLOWAY AS GULF REGION LEADER FOR INDUSTRIAL, CONSTRUCTION, OEM AND EPC SEGMENTS

On June 23, Wesco International announced that Brian Soloway has joined the company as vice president of sales for the Gulf region across the industrial, construction, OEM and engineering, procurement and construction segments. This role is critical to accelerating growth in one of Wesco’s most strategically important markets.

JEFF ALLEN APPOINTED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAS WEST AT BURNS & MCDONNELL

On June 24, Burns & McDonnell promoted Jeff Allen to senior vice president for the Americas West. In this role, he will lead the firm’s California, Mountain and Southwest regions, overseeing operations across engineering, construction, consulting and environmental services for clients in the energy, infrastructure and buildings markets. Allen will also continue to lead the firm’s self-perform construction operations nationwide.

SEE ALSO: NEW NAMES AND FACES: MAY 2026

The post New Names and Faces: June 2026 first appeared on Construction Executive.

Joining them this year is the inaugural recipient of ABC’s Health and Safety Professional of the Year award—a safety leader whose commitment to protecting people and strengthening jobsite culture is helping shape a safer, stronger industry for all.

These outstanding professionals are the 2026 recipients of ABC’s Construction Workforce Awards, presented at ABC Convention 2026 in March. Each year, the CWAs recognize individuals who are making a lasting impact on the future of construction through leadership, education, mentorship, safety and an unwavering commitment to the merit shop philosophy.

The 2026 honorees are:

• Health and Safety Professional of the Year: Introduced in 2026 and sponsored by Milwaukee Tool, this inaugural award recognizes an industry leader who champions safety excellence, advances health and safety culture and demonstrates an exceptional commitment to protecting the construction workforce. The first-ever honoree is Jenny Ferdinand-Stong.
• Young Professional of the Year: Sponsored by Procore, this award recognizes a construction professional under 40 who demonstrates exceptional leadership, career achievement and vision for the future of the commercial and industrial construction industry. This year’s recipient is Nyoki Mokeba.
• Craft Instructor of the Year: Sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education and Research and Tradesmen International, this award honors an instructor who inspires the next generation through innovation, communication skills and a passion for lifelong learning in the trades. This year’s recipient is Tatton Kilmer.
• Craft Professional of the Year: Sponsored by NCCER and Tradesmen International, this award recognizes a craft professional who excels in the field while demonstrating leadership, dedication to safety, passion for the trades and commitment to workforce development. This year’s recipient is Jason White.

If these professionals are any indication of where the industry is headed, the future of construction is in very capable hands.

Read these award winner’s full profiles:

Jenny Ferdinand-Stong, 2026 Health and Safety Professional of the Year

Nyoki Mokeba, 2026 Young Professional of the Year

Tatton Kilmer, 2026 Craft Instructor of the Year

Jason White, 2026 Craft Professional of the Year

SEE ALSO: META, ABC FORM PARTNERSHIP TO LAUNCH ACADEMY TO TRAIN AND CREATE JOBS FOR CONSTRUCTION CRAFT PROFESSIONALS

The post Excellence in Action: ABC’s 2026 Construction Workforce Awards first appeared on Construction Executive.

You do so many things beyond your actual job description—including authoring a workbook to introduce children and teens to construction and other careers. What sparked this passion outside of your regular job description?

I love my job at B&G, and that includes helping people. Whenever anybody at the office asks me to help somebody or I get a phone call or somebody reaches out, I’m there. I wanted to take that generosity and use it to make a difference across Alabama. I’m involved in helping high school students find their career paths because I feel like I can talk to them—if someone doesn’t know something and they want to learn, that’s a good way to find out. By putting that in a book, I felt like I could impact more students.

Why is this book—and other resources like it—important for the future of the construction industry?

The students don’t know what they don’t know and they don’t always know those careers are out there, and throughout the book, the students do career research themselves. My first intention with this book is to get it distributed across the state of Alabama. You could go to rural Alabama and it might help kids realize that they can go work for a place like Brasfield & Gorrie as a carpenter or a laborer or work their way up to superintendent, all with no college education.

What did the process of publishing look like for you?

Once I finally got it written, I used my skills as a project manager and did some of my own research, but I relied heavily on one of my coworkers and really good friends who works in the marketing department here at B&G. She comes from the journalism world—she did that before she came here. She was a major asset.

Do you have plans to create something else or do you have other things already in the works?

In a perfect world, this book would be available across the whole country, but I do have something in the works for next year.

As a former student-athlete at the University of Alabama, do you have a favorite Alabama tradition?

I ran track at Alabama on a scholarship, so I’m a huge Alabama sports fan. My husband—who I met at Alabama—and I have season tickets to the football games. We try to make it to every single one. My personal tradition is I always have to wear my Alabama jersey on game day whether I’m at the game or not.

SEE ALSO: BRASFIELD & GORRIE TACKLES TOUGH SPECS FOR NASA TEST STANDS

The post Brasfield & Gorrie’s Virnetta Woodbury first appeared on Construction Executive.

As ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year, Mokeba is proudly bearing the fruits of his labor—and his 12.5-year career at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Performance Contractors stands as a testament to how merit builds legacy.

“I don’t have an education in construction management,” says Mokeba. “You would think someone like me would be behind the eight ball, but I have proven that I will work hard and learn. Advancement in the merit shop isn’t based on who you know, how long you have been there or what your name is.”

LINING UP THE SHOT

For Mokeba, cultivating his career and leadership path in Baton Rouge—the city that raised him—was not always the plan. After earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University, he chose to pursue a career in construction from the ground up.

“I just tried to find my way into an interview and let them know, ‘If you teach it to me, I will learn it and I will be as successful as possible,’” he said.

That goal-setting mindset at Performance Contractors set Mokeba on the path to where he is today. “Goals need to be realistic but also challenging. They need to be attainable and achievable, and they need to not only benefit me, they need to benefit other people as well,” he says.

Mokeba began working primarily in the field before transitioning into a corporate role. During that time, Josh Rounds, vice president of project services and controls at Performance Contractors and a past ABC Pelican Chapter president, along with Lance Glaser, director of strategic procurement, equipment and logistics, encouraged Mokeba to get involved with ABC.

“Growing up in Baton Rouge, you see a lot of different ABC members that are based there. You see the life that they live—they’re very stable and always growing,” Mokeba says. “I am grateful to work for Performance Contractors, a company that not only supports my professional growth but also encourages me to pursue my personal passions. Their support has given me the platform to make a meaningful difference.”

FAMILY MATTERS

Mokeba’s endeavors to refine his career and leadership have been shaped by positive role models and guiding principles. His father, a political science professor at Louisiana State University for the past 36 years, instilled the philosophy of servant leadership.

“I think it’s simple—putting others before yourself and being kind,” Mokeba says.

Trademarked as his best attribute, Mokeba has been adamant in his maintaining selflessness, kindness, faith and service throughout his career. One of his guiding mottos reflecting that mindset? “Be the person that you want your daughter to marry,” he says. “I want my daughter to see me working through hard things—to see that everything you want in life comes from sacrifice and hard work.”

While his servant-leader qualities have been a useful tool in navigating challenges in the industry, Mokeba’s ethos of service extends beyond his career. Over the past five years, Mokeba has raised more than $30,000 for cancer research, supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. He also serves on the board of Fork Cancer.

EARN IT

Mokeba’s vision for the future of the industry reflects a meaningful balance between embracing the inevitability of technological advancements while preserving the integrity of older generations of craft professionals. “We need to combine both to ensure we’re not losing what got us here, while also becoming more efficient with our practices,” he says.

Supporting the next generation of construction professionals has become a natural extension of his work. For the past four years, Mokeba has volunteered with LSU construction management students preparing for ABC’s annual Construction Management Competition. This year, the LSU construction management students won first place and were named Student Chapter of the year. “I have taken the lead over the last few years—arranging speakers and industry experts, speaking in classes to recruit students and sharing how beneficial this experience can be for their future,” he says.

It comes as no surprise that Mokeba’s character and merit have already been recognized by ABC. In 2024, he received the Committee Member of the Year Award from the ABC Pelican Chapter for his work with its Young Professionals Committee. “Given the Pelican Chapter’s respected reputation in Baton Rouge and across the nation, being selected for the award was both humbling and motivating,” Mokeba says.

Naturally, Mokeba’s commitment to growth extends beyond the jobsite. He serves on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s 2026 Emerging Leaders Council and is currently pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate at LSU in contract writing and construction project management.

Winning ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year is a milestone—but not the destination. “These achievements remind me that success is not just about personal milestones, but also about giving back and creating opportunities for others,” he said.

At the top of his priorities? Fostering a culture of safety and inspiring the next generation of craft professionals. “The industry is growing right now,” he says. “And we need more people. We need more talented and smart people.”

The post Merit Milestone: ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year Nyoki Mokeba first appeared on Construction Executive.

While White has made it a habit of looking forward, some major news gives him reason to reminisce exactly 20 years after that NCC title. He’s now added another title to his resume: ABC’s 2026 Craft Professional of the Year. “It was unbelievable,” says White upon getting the news. “I was taken aback.”

White grew up on a dairy farm in Fairfield Center, Maine, so he was no stranger to good, old-fashioned hard work. “I had some mechanical ability,” he says, “but no real trade.” So, at eighteen years old, fresh out of high school, White joined Cianbro, without a trade and without a plan. “I didn’t really know what was going to happen,” he says, but he was looking forward to whatever did.

In 1998, White began in Cianbro’s fabrication and coating facility in Pittsfield, Maine, and after a couple of years, the opportunity to work on an oil rig—without ever leaving the state—arose. “To people on the Gulf Coast,” says White, “this is probably not that big of a deal, but that was not something that was part of the Maine skyline.”

Cianbro transported two offshore drilling platforms up the coast of New England and was in need of instrumentation fitters to service them. When someone suggested White give it a go, he halted just for a moment: “I didn’t know anything about instrumentation fitting,” he says. But not knowing has never stopped him before. After some initial development, White says, “It worked out well. I really took to the freedom and the aesthetics of running multiple tubing lines. That’s also where I was introduced to the Wheels of Learning,” an ABC-turned-NCCER craft-training curriculum.

PIPE DREAMS

White put his work ethic to work and began taking monthly classes through NCCER’s instrumentation apprenticeship. Then in 2006, he was offered the opportunity to compete in ABC’s National Craft Championships.

After his win, White continued working his way up, becoming a journeyman and supervising crews, when yet another opportunity arose through Cianbro Institute to be in NCCER’s piping apprenticeship program, after which he was certified as a Performance Verified Pipefitter in 2015. “I was constantly working,” says White.

Today, he is constantly leading, as he serves on the NCC committee for the fifth time as the project manager for the instrumentation competition. As he looks forward to observing the future of the workforce compete in the renowned skills test, he cannot help but remember how it felt when he was on the NCC competition floor.

His words of advice from his own experience as a competitor: “Even just being here, don’t take that lightly. You have a sponsor or a chapter or a company that has invested a lot in you. Somebody believes in you—that’s why you’re here. Keep pushing forward and just do the best you can.”

As White serves as mentor and leader for younger construction workers, he has had mentors and leaders of his own—without whom he would not be where he is or who he is today.

INSPIRATION OVER PERSPIRATION

Who inspires the ABC 2026 Craft Professional of the Year? “Professionally,” he says, “I’ve had many people that I’ve looked up to.” He honorably mentions Mike Raven—retired instrumentation supervisor and instructor for Cianbro; Jon Sacks, retired training instructor and manager for Cianbro; and Ed LaPage, former project manager and superintendent for Cianbro, who passed away in 2020, who not only helped White climb the career ladder, but helped him grow up, both as a craft professional and as a person.

Not only has White grown up throughout his time at Cianbro, but he’s also built a family, with “a beautiful wife, Tammy,” and a 16-year-old daughter, Izabella, whom he says are his greatest cheerleaders—and also his biggest critics. “They keep me grounded.”

Tammy and Izabella enjoy traveling with White to support his work on the NCC committee. They also enjoy engaging in a little friendly competition of their own. Despite long winters in Maine, White and his daughter have found some thrilling ways to bond. “My daughter—I can’t believe she’s 16 already—and I enjoy skiing during the winter,” he says. “She’s excellent.” They frequent Sugarloaf, Saddleback and Sunday River. “We ski pretty much all of Maine.” During the summertime, the skis get traded in for the tires: “We love four-wheelers and other motor sports,” says White. “It’s so fun.”

White’s family have traveled with him to ABC Convention for the last five years—every year he’s served on the NCC Committee. “Time flies by,” he says, but the White family tries to make the most of it. “They tag along and get to see how we’re setting up the competition area. They tour the local facilities and definitely hit all the malls, that’s for sure.”

GET CULTURED

Over his 27-year career with Cianbro, White has learned a lot about a lot, but especially safety culture. “At Cianbro,” he says, “safety is obviously the number one goal. They really instill in us that they want us to go home in as good if not better shape than when we showed up. It’s not just a rule or a policy—it’s a culture.”

Over the last several years, construction has made remarkable strides in furthering safety culture industrywide. In 2025 alone, ABC’s STEP Health and Safety program amassed a record-breaking 5,052 participating companies, with 2026 expected to near 6,000.

The shift in construction safety culture mirrors White’s own personal motto he has honed over his nearly three decades in this industry: Adapt. Modify. Overcome.

“When challenges present themselves,” he says, “you have to keep moving forward and do the best you can. Then you’ll get through it.” In construction, crews encounter challenges all the time. White says despite that, “You have to keep the crews together and keep marching towards the goal.”

The post Keep Looking Forward: ABC’s 2026 Craft Professional of the Year Jason White first appeared on Construction Executive.

On the other end was the news that she had been selected as ABC’s very first Health and Safety Professional of the Year—a new recognition and the latest addition to ABC’s construction workforce awards honoring the people shaping the future of the industry.

“I was very, very stunned,” says Ferdinand-Stong. “Humbled. It didn’t really set in until I arrived here this week.”

For Ferdinand-Stong, though, the award represents more than personal recognition. It represents an opportunity to reshape the perception of safety in construction.

“TikTok has this whole subculture of being unsafe is cool with the construction industry,” she says. “And I want to change that. I want safety to be cool.”

That mission has defined Ferdinand-Strong’s career for nearly 30 years.

BUILT BY EXPERIENCE

Ferdinand-Strong’s path into construction safety was anything but traditional.

Raised by her father alongside three sisters, she says she grew up learning to navigate the world with both toughness and adaptability.

“I was the eldest of four daughters,” she says. “He raised us like boys. So I do have a very strong personality, but also the feminine side. I know how to speak to people. You have to know your audience.”

That ability to connect with people would become one of the defining traits of her leadership style.

Her career began in the mid-1990s at an injection molding facility in Kansas, where she first noticed unsafe practices involving hazardous materials and heavy machinery. Rather than accepting those conditions as normal, Ferdinand-Stong started asking questions.

“We kind of created our own safety committee before work,” she says. “There were a lot of unsafe things that I was doing that I didn’t realize were unsafe, just because I was shown that.”

That curiosity—and refusal to look the other way—eventually led her into construction. After working in banking and finance, she joined a construction and electrical contractor in Indianapolis as a laborer before moving into facilities management and safety leadership.

Over the years, Ferdinand-Stong built a career around transforming safety culture. As safety director for a drywall contractor operating across seven states, she helped lead the company to four consecutive years with no lost time incidents and two of those four years with zero recordables.

Then, in 2021, she joined Gaylor Electric, where she currently serves as corporate safety manager.

MORE THAN A RULEBOOK

Ask Ferdinand-Stong what “health and safety” means to her, and she quickly explains that it is far bigger than policies or compliance.

“It’s so much more than just the book,” she says. “It’s about the person. It’s about the project. It involves production. It involves quality.”

She describes safety, quality and production as construction’s “holy trinity”—three priorities that must work together rather than compete with one another.

That philosophy is reflected in the way Ferdinand-Stong approaches her work at Gaylor Electric. As one of three corporate safety managers, she oversees companywide safety programs, develops field leaders, integrates safety into project planning and maintains an active boots-on-the-ground presence across jobsites.

“A lot of times, safety is brought in after the fact,” she says. “But safety needs to be built into the planning of the project.”

That means spending as much time listening as correcting.

“I can walk around and say, ‘Hey, put your gloves on,’ and walk past you,” she says. “But if I don’t circle around and ask why, maybe you’re having difficulty finding a tie-off point. Maybe your glasses hurt your nose. You have to understand the bigger picture.”

It is a people-first philosophy that has made Ferdinand-Stong a familiar and trusted presence in the field.

“One of my biggest accomplishments is when people remember me on the jobsite,” she says. “Or when someone who used to fight wearing safety glasses finally says, ‘Hey Jenny, look—I finally got my prescription safety glasses.’ Those little things are the biggest accomplishments.”

EVERYONE IS A SAFETY LEADER

Perhaps the message Ferdinand-Stong emphasizes most is empowerment.

“The number one priority is making sure everyone knows they are a safety leader,” she says. “It does not matter your title or your experience. If it’s your first day, you are a safety leader.”

She teaches every employee—from apprentices to superintendents—that they not only have stop-work authority, but also the responsibility to protect the people around them.

“You have accountability for your own safety,” she says. “But you also have a responsibility to your brothers and sisters in the field.”

For Ferdinand-Stong, safety culture is built through coaching and mentorship, not fear or punishment.

“It’s not about being a safety cop,” she says. “We have to coach these people and give them the tools so they can become safer workers and get their jobs done.”

That mindset extends beyond physical safety into mental health and total human health—a core value at Gaylor Electric. Ferdinand-Stong regularly checks in on employees’ mental and emotional wellbeing, recognizing that personal stressors can directly impact jobsite safety.

“A jobsite is a small town,” she says. “People know what’s going on in each other’s lives. You have to understand the whole person.”

Her approach combines empathy with accountability, helping employees feel supported while also reinforcing shared responsibility.

CHANGING THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION

Ferdinand-Stong is deeply passionate about expanding opportunities within construction—especially for women.

“There are so many possibilities for women in construction,” she says. “Whether you want to be on your tools, an engineer, an architect, a safety professional—there are so many paths.”

She points to the industry’s workforce gap and the need to introduce students to construction careers earlier.

“We don’t just need to hit high schools,” she says. “We need to hit middle schools.”

Ferdinand-Stong also sees technology playing an increasingly important role in construction safety. She is currently collaborating with university professors on innovations that integrate safety directly into BIM models, allowing teams to identify high-risk hazards before work even begins.

“Technology can help us ask, ‘How are we going to install this safely?’ before we ever get into the field,” she says.

Still, even with advances in equipment and predictive tools, Ferdinand-Stong believes the future of safety ultimately comes down to people mentoring people.

“There is an age gap in this industry,” she says. “We need to make sure mentorship is there. It’s not just about enrolling people—it’s about following through.”

That commitment to mentorship, leadership and culture-building is exactly why Ferdinand-Stong was selected as the inaugural recipient of ABC’s newest workforce honor.

“The only way to obtain the elusive ‘zero’ we all talk about is for everyone to truly commit to to a zero-recordable culture.Safety, quality and production all work together,” she says. “And if we can get everyone to see themselves as safety leaders, it changes everything.”

The post Safety Is Personal: ABC’s 2026 Health and Safety Professional of the Year Jenny Ferdinand-Stong first appeared on Construction Executive.

On April 27, Coastal Construction Group announced a strategic leadership transition:

After 58 years at the helm, Thomas P. Murphy Jr., founder, chairman and CEO, is formally passing the baton to the next generation, appointing his sons, Tom C. Murphy and Sean Murphy, as co-chief executive officers. Murphy will remain actively involved as chairman of the executive board. The brothers have served as co-presidents for the past 11 years, helping guide the firm’s continued growth and expansion.

BALFOUR BEATTY PROMOTES DAVE CAMPBELL TO VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA

On April 30, Balfour Beatty announced the promotion of Dave Campbell to vice president of operations in Florida. Campbell brings nearly three decades of experience with Balfour Beatty, having progressed through roles in the field, project management and senior leadership. His career has been anchored in Jacksonville, where he built trusted relationships with clients across markets such as transportation, higher education and multiple public sectors.

In his expanded role, Campbell oversees the company’s Jacksonville and Northern Florida operations and leads all project deliveries in this market largely shaped by aviation and aerospace expansion. At the same time, he supports the rapid adoption of emerging mobility infrastructure programs across the Southeast, helping prepare teams and communities for connected, next‑generation transportation systems that demand new approaches to planning, collaboration and risk management.  

BREEDEN CONSTRUCTION ANNOUNCES STEPHANIE LUCE NAMED A GLOBEST. WOMAN OF INFLUENCE

On May 4, Breeden Construction proudly announced that Stephanie Luce, controller and training manager, has been named a 2026 Woman of Influence by GlobeSt., a leading commercial real estate publication serving developers, owners, investors and industry professionals nationwide. The annual Women of Influence awards recognize exceptional female leaders who are shaping the future of commercial real estate through innovation, strategic leadership and meaningful organizational impact. Honorees are selected from a highly competitive national pool and represent the best-in-class professionals advancing the industry across development, construction, finance, and operations. Luce was recognized for her leadership and significant contributions to strengthening Breeden Construction’s financial and project management operations. In her role as controller, she has played a critical part in enhancing financial transparency, improving internal controls and driving operational efficiencies that support the company’s continued growth. Her collaborative approach and strategic insight have helped position Breeden Construction for long-term success while maintaining a strong foundation of accountability and fiscal stewardship.

PELLA CORPORATION ANNOUNCES EMILY VIDETTO AS NEXT PRESIDENT AND CEO

On May 6, Pella Corporation proudly announced Emily Videtto as its next president and chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2026. Videtto will assume the CEO duties currently held by Tim Yaggi upon his planned retirement. Her appointment reflects a deliberate and well-planned succession process led by the company’s Board of Directors.

CATAMOUNT CONSTRUCTORS PROMOTES JAY GARRELL TO PROJECT EXECUTIVE

On May 7, Catamount Constructors Inc., a 100% employee-owned general contractor, announced the promotion of Jay Garrell to project executive, recognizing his leadership, strong client performance and impact on the company’s continued growth in Tampa and across its national industrial platform.

Garrell brings 15 years of construction experience across healthcare, Class-A office buildings and large-scale industrial projects. In addition, he has been a key contributor to Catamount’s work with major industrial clients, where his leadership has supported repeat business and strengthened long-term partnerships. He is known for consistently leading complex projects, aligning teams and delivering results that keep projects on track and clients confident.

BURR & FORMAN EXPANDS WASHINGTON, D.C. FOOTPRINT

On May 11, Burr & Forman LLP announced it has established a permanent office in Washington, D.C. The move builds on the momentum of the firm’s debut in the market last year and underscores its continued investment in serving clients in government contracts and construction.

The office launched in June 2025 with Government Contracts and Construction Partners Dirk Haire, Jessica Haire and Sean Milani-nia, and has since grown to eight attorneys. Recent additions include partners Michelle West and Kelsey Hayes, who joined in July and October, respectively. The team has relocated to permanent space on the ninth floor at 99 M Street SE in the Navy Yard neighborhood, after operating from a temporary office within the building.

DYNATEN CORPORATION ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF CEO SCOTT BRADY

On May 12, DynaTen Corporation announced that chief executive officer Scott Brady will retire effective Friday, July 3, following a career spanning more than 40 years in the mechanical contracting industry. Brady acquired DynaTen in 2004 and led the company through sustained growth and operational change, including its acquisition by Comfort Systems USA in 2014. He was named CEO in 2019 and continued to guide the company’s evolution within Comfort Systems USA, with a tenure marked by transformation, innovation and steady leadership. As part of a planned transition, President Kyle Hogue will assume leadership of the company.

CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES APPOINTS KATIE DOMENICO AS VICE PRESIDENT

On May 12, Construction Specialties proudly announced the appointment of Katherine Domenico as vice president of sales for North America. Throughout her career, which spans more than two decades, Domenico has established a proven track record of sales leadership. Her expertise is grounded in the building products industry, where she has built and led high-performing sales and marketing teams, expanded customer segments, secured enterprise contracts and strengthened strategic partnerships. Most recently, she served as vice president of commercial restoration at Carlisle Companies.

WELLS ANNOUNCES ROB ORVIS AS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

On May 12, Wells announced the appointment of Rob Orvis as chief technology officer, reinforcing the company’s continued investment in technology leadership, operational excellence and sustainable growth across the built community.

In this role, Orvis will lead Wells’ core technology organization, guiding enterprise systems, cybersecurity and digital strategy to support daily operations and future expansion. His focus is on organizing and optimizing technology platforms to deliver meaningful value for team members while enabling Wells’ long-term growth journey.

BIG-D CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE NAMED PRESIDENT OF NAIOP UTAH CHAPTER

On May 14, NAIOP Utah, the state’s premier professional association of commercial real estate developers, owners and investors, named Braden Moore, vice president and project executive at Big-D Construction, as president of the Utah Chapter, effective June 2026.

In his role as chapter president, Moore will lead the NAIOP Utah Board of Directors and work to advance the association’s mission of promoting responsible commercial real estate development across the state. Under his leadership, the chapter will place a strong emphasis on legislative advocacy, championing policies that support a healthy commercial real estate environment in Utah, as well as deepening the chapter’s commitment to community impact and meaningful engagement across the industry.

BLANK ROME EXPANDS CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY CAPABILITIES WITH PARTNER JUSTIN N. LEONELLI IN PITTSBURGH

On May 14, Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Justin N. Leonelli has joined the firm as a partner in the business litigation group and the energy industry team in the Pittsburgh office. A highly regarded construction, infrastructure and energy practitioner, Leonelli advises clients across the full lifecycle of complex construction and energy projects, bringing continuity from contract negotiation through execution and, when necessary, dispute resolution. Leonelli joins Blank Rome from K&L Gates.

SKANSKA USA BUILDING NAMES LEW GUERRETTE AS REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR WEST REGION, DON KOWALCHUK AS NEW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR WASHINGTON OPERATIONS

On May 18, Skanska named Lew Guerrette as the new regional executive officer overseeing the operations in Skanska USA Building’s West Region, which includes Washington, Oregon and California. Guerrette succeeds REO Jim Link—who has held the role since 2018 and will retire after a 41-year career in the construction industry. Guerrette previously served as the executive vice president and general manager for the company’s Washington operations.

As REO, Guerrette will be responsible for overseeing the region’s general managers, leading business strategy, succession planning, national connectivity and working with local leaders to advance the business across the greater region.

Don Kowalchuk will succeed Guerrette, moving into the role of executive vice president and general manager of the company’s Washington operating unit, with its office in Seattle. Kowalchuk has spent his entire 35-year career in construction with Skanska, joining in 1991 as a member of the operations team. Kowalchuk previously served as the senior vice president of operations.

ARTHUR CHAPMAN ATTORNEY JON ZENTNER TO JOIN HOLMES MURPHY CONSTRUCTION

On May 19, Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala P.A. and Holmes Murphy proudly and jointly announced that Jon Zentner will be joining the Holmes Murphy team effective June 1, 2026.

During his 25-year tenure at Arthur Chapman, Zentner has been a respected leader in the firm’s Construction Practice Group, known for his practical counsel, strong client relationships and deep industry knowledge. His transition reflects the longstanding professional relationship between Arthur Chapman and Holmes Murphy and creates new opportunities for collaboration in serving the construction industry.

SEE ALSO: NEW NAMES AND FACES: APRIL 2026

The post New Names and Faces: May 2026 first appeared on Construction Executive.