Due to break ground in 2022, The Center for Black Excellence and Culture is a landmark community-wide effort to bring together a collective Black brilliance to affirm, inspire and advance the Black community. We are proud to be a part of this meaningful opportunity for our community!
Construction of the new Verona Area High School is now complete and ready for students, faculty, and the community to experience this exceptional facility. Project success was never just about bricks and mortar. Rather, it was about the expertise, mentoring, and knowledge that many contributed throughout construction. We’re excited to welcome hundreds of students to the brand-new campus, where they’ll find innovation and extraordinary craftsmanship that will provide them with an incredible learning environment. In 2018, then Verona Area High School senior, Isaac Sanderson, joined the Findorff crew as a Youth Apprentice. He worked closely with union carpenters learning the skills of the trade while attending school himself. Isaac, now a full-time Findorff carpenter apprentice, shared, “The experience was amazing. I can’t wait for my siblings and the other students to benefit from all the hard work that went into this school. ”For Isaac, the building became an institution of learning well before completion. Working alongside the team, he experienced the elements of project management, the benefits of prefabrication, and the art of fine carpentry. Isaac and the Findorff team are proud to have constructed a facility that will serve the community for generations to come.
– Renee Boyce, Vice President – Human Resources
I feel fortunate to be recognized as a Vice President at Findorff. While my promotion marks a milestone in Findorff’s history, to me the promotion symbolizes an important shift in culture at a company I care deeply for and am proud to serve. As a Human Resources professional and female in the construction industry, I recognize the significance. I do not take the responsibility lightly, and am grateful for the opportunity to continue to move Findorff forward.
I have been humbled by recent messages of congratulations sent by colleagues and peers. I pride myself on my strong work ethic, which was instilled in me at an early age. Reflecting on my tenure at Findorff, I think the key to success in any role is to find your passion and build a career out of it. It has been exciting to see the growth and change during my career at Findorff. I am humbled by the honor of serving as Vice President and hope to continue to inspire and grow the talent of my colleagues and Findorff employees for years to come.
Findorff’s talented individuals are the foundation of the Company’s success. We are excited to announce several recent promotions to the level of Vice President.
John Feller: John was recently promoted to Vice President – Preconstruction. For the last decade, John has been involved with large, facility-wide projects including Madison College, Marquette University, and various college campus high-rise facilities. John brings more than 29 years of professional experience in project management to his new role. He is also a LEED® Accredited Professional and a member of Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin, Rotary, National “W” Club, and Trustee for the Ironworkers Union. During his free time, John and his wife enjoy being active with their family by biking, swimming, golfing, and skiing.
Renee Boyce: Renee served as the Director of Human Resources prior to her promotion to Vice President – Human Resources. Joining Findorff in 2004, Renee has been instrumental in Findorff’s Strategic Planning efforts, focusing on the growth and development of our employees. Renee is passionate about instituting Findorff’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, specifically focused on hiring practices. An avid supporter of the community, Renee is an active member of TEMPO and serves on the Board of Directors of Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Renee is the first woman in Findorff’s 130-year history to be promoted to Vice President. This promotion acknowledges Renee’s incredible efforts during her fifteen-year career at Findorff and the immeasurable role that she will continue to play in the future of Findorff.
Sam Lawrence: Previously a Director of Preconstruction, Sam has been promoted to Vice President – Preconstruction. Having worked in the construction industry for over 30 years, there are many “stories” to Sam’s career. These projects include some of the largest in the area such as American Family Children’s Hospital, The Spark, Exact Sciences, UW Health at the American Center, Epic, along with many others. Sam provides leadership as he guides his team of 21 to issues related to budget development, value engineering, and constructability. Sam is an invaluable resource and brings a diverse range of experience from various projects throughout his tenure at Findorff. Fun fact, Sam recently completed construction on a tiny house with his family.
Jim Martin: With over 20 years of experience working in construction management, Jim has been involved with a variety of projects throughout his career. Recently, he was promoted to Vice President – Project Management. Jim’s dedication to his team is evident through his continued support of career advancement opportunities for project managers at Findorff. He is proud to have served on the Ronald McDonald House Madison Board since 2014. In 2018, he received the Red Shoe Award. (The Red Shoe recipient is a member of the community whose actions have positively impacted Ronald McDonald House Charities®).
Federal official tours Janesville SHINE Medical Technologies’ facility. The building, which would home to up to eight neutron generators that could produce Moly-99, an isotope with lifesaving medical purposes, is scheduled to be completed in the coming months.
The 37,000-pound magnet for the Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Terra 7 Tesla (7T) MRI scanner arrives at Carle after years of planning. Preparing for its arrival influences the future of healthcare in our community.
Findorff’s Great Work in Mayville Makes the News! In April 2017, the Mayville School District successfully passed a $24.5 million facilities referendum. Since then, Findorff and Bray transformed the District’s buildings to provide unique learning opportunities to empower, innovate and transform their learners.
Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition from year to year for quality craftsmanship. Most recently The Daily Reporter recognized four buildings we proudly constructed.
- Lakefront Brewery – Kegnado: Located in a building originally constructed in 1908, Findorff provided construction services ranging from minor concrete repairs to dramatic art installations. This project featured an LED art installation that included 71 stainless steel kegs installed on an exterior wall. This installation design and remodel created a fun and exciting atmosphere for Lakefront Brewery patrons that is instantly recognizable.
- Summit Credit Union – Headquarters: This six-story building features 153,000 square feet of office space and 37,000 square feet of underground parking. The facility includes open offices, fitness areas with outdoor walking paths and a sports court, in-house cafeteria and celebration room, auditorium, and a full-scale branch with drive-through tellers. The building recently received Silver LEED® Certification as well. The overall look and feel demonstrates the financial cooperative’s dedication to sustainability and feature expansive wellness spaces for Summit employees along with a full-service credit union branch.
- Evans Scholars House: The Evans Scholars Foundation House is a 28,500 square-foot building located on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus. The five-story building is a 75-bed, dormitory-style house that provides housing for students working as golf caddies while pursuing a degree of their choice. This facility’s design is comparable to the historic traditions of Langdon Street and the surrounding Greek Row.
- Sentry Insurance: The seven-story, 270,000-square-foot building features a “parallel bar” structural form that is a direct response to the company’s new brand and logo, which promise “two equal parts of a conversation.” The building spaces range from a spacious six-story atrium to flexible office areas for a dynamic work environment to a variety of indoor and outdoor breakout spaces including a terrace with gardens. Sentry’s new office building was designed to reflect the company’s progressive attitude toward the nature of the work and the character of the workplace.
This past weekend, Findorff had the opportunity to help Milwaukee’s Clark Square Neighborhood with cleanup and repair efforts in partnership with Revitalize Milwaukee’s Block Build MKE 2020 initiative. We’re honored to make an impact in our local community!
Community involvement is more important today than ever. At Findorff, we focus every day on helping elevate our Company as an inclusive employer and community partner. Earlier this year we were proud to participate in a career-building opportunity for youth in Milwaukee by partnering with Bradley Tech High School, i.c.stars Milwaukee, Wangard Partners, Inc., Building2Learn, Milwaukee Public Schools, and Falk Group Public Relations. Bringing community together helps us build a better tomorrow.
Findorff is honored to participate in many opportunities where students receive hands-on construction experience. In January, Bradley Tech High School juniors and seniors interested in construction trades toured the Eagleknit building in Milwaukee. These students are part of a new educational program that allows them to gain on-the-job training as the building is renovated. This historic renovation will be transformed into an innovation hub serving the Walker’s Point neighborhood in Milwaukee and will be dedicated to helping the area’s underserved population access STEM-related industries.
Findorff is proud to partner with organizations dedicated to education and training opportunities for young adults in our community.