The new, state-of-the-art, Dr. E. J. and Margaret O’Brien Hall at Marquette University is now officially open for the university’s business students. Teaming up with BNIM, Workshop Architects and GRAEF, Findorff is proud to have completed another successful project for our partner, Marquette University. This highly collaborative and innovative 100,000 square-foot facility was completed in less than two years.
Learn more about this exciting milestone here.
Whether in the field or in the office, Findorff employees have been hard at work setting the bar for the construction industry. We’ve had an impressive quarter of promotions. Please give a big round of applause to the following individuals who have been recognized for their above-and-beyond work!
Eduardo Marquez, Oscar Vargas Bruno, Jake Sides, and Reed Krugman (Yard Operations) have been promoted to Supervisor. Jeff Kremel has been promoted to Senior Superintendent.
In office leadership positions, Matt Breunig and Luke Hutchins have joined Findorff’s Board of Directors. Deana Turner and Luke Hutchins have been promoted to Vice President. Christin Mlsna is now Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Chad Eschler is Vice President of Business Development, and Bob Hougard is Vice President of Science & Technology. Michelle Kraemer is Director of People Strategy, Brad Olson is Director of Project Management, and Laura Velotta is Director of MEP and Specialty Services. Mike Stern is now Project Executive, Erika Freeman is Education Market Manager, Katie Gorder is Project Support Manager, Luke Schulte is Creative Services Lead, and Rob McMurrich is Lead Scheduler.
Congratulations, everyone!
Congratulations to Findorff’s President & CEO, Jim Yehle, who was recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most influential business leaders as part of the BizTimes Media Wisconsin 275 2022 publication.
As a part of a year-long research initiative, this publication recognizes and highlights 275 of the state’s most influential business leaders.
Learn more about this outstanding & well-deserved recognition here.
Findorff’s esteemed field employees, who make our clients’ visions a reality, have recently seen many well-deserved promotions! Please join us in congratulating each of these hard-working individuals.
Dave Ritter, Jamie Zudonyi, Andrew Wiedenfeld, Jeremy White, Tim Masters, Tony Smith, Corey Loeffelholz, Josh Ellickson, Shannon O’Rourke, TJ Marks, and Adam Cisewski have been promoted to Supervisor positions. Chad Baker has been promoted to Special Projects Group Supervisor.
Promotions to Superintendent include Chris Zorzin, Brian Rindy, Kevin Dempsey, Dave Pahl, Jeff Alexander, and Terry Lucey.
Chad Vivian, Todd Brakob, Tom Hepler, and Jeff Kremel have all been promoted to Senior Superintendent.
Findorff demonstrated true character and client commitment throughout the reimagination of the ProHealth Mukwonago Hospital completed earlier this year. By creatively orchestrating nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of work throughout this occupied facility during the last three years, we helped ensure that caregivers could offer patients continuous treatment in the existing facility, even with enhanced pandemic protocols.
Building & Beyond is the promise behind every project we take on, especially healthcare facilities where the vulnerable find care. Findorff completely transformed the former ProHealth Mukwonago facility, all while important procedures like cancer treatment continued to operate, requiring extreme accuracy, attention, and accommodations. We are incredibly proud of this project, and the ability to have played a role in caring for the community that ProHealth Care serves.
Findorff is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Matt Breunig to Vice President of Operations.
In his new role, Matt’s areas of focus now include enterprise risk management and business operations for our Milwaukee office. Matt joined Findorff in 2006 as a Project Manager, starting his project portfolio with the construction of University Square in downtown Madison. In 2016, he was promoted to Director of Project Management and has been an instrumental part of Findorff’s education team, spearheading K-12 education efforts such as referendum planning and day-to-day oversight of all project management activities.
Findorff Chief Operating Officer, Brian Hornung has worked alongside Matt during the past decade. Brian said the following about Matt: “We are very excited to announce Matt’s promotion to Vice President of Operations. Matt’s strong commitment to Findorff’s perpetuation and excellence in leadership continues to move Findorff in growth and innovation. We are grateful for his expertise and commitment to leading the next generation of industry professionals.”
During his tenure, Matt has overseen and supported the construction of over $1 billion in education projects. He has been involved with Leadership AGC, Leadership Greater Madison, and was a recipient of In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017. Matt currently serves as the American Red Cross – Southwest WI Chapter Board Chair.Congratulations Matt on your well-deserved promotion!
Findorff team members play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. Join us in congratulating our team members who were recently promoted!
Steve Bunge: As Project Executive, Steve has over 32 years of industry experience. He has been involved with many projects at Carle Foundation Hospital, including the radiology expansion and the roof garden. Traveling four days per week, Steve spends quality time with his family when he’s not working.
Matt Claggett: With over 19 years of industry experience, Matt now serves as Senior Project Manager. He recently worked on projects including Harvest Intermediate School, Bell Laboratories, Inc. Corporate Office Building, and Sentry Insurance Corporate Office Building. Outside of work, Matt is involved with CycleNation Events, charity bike rides for the Boys & Girls Club, as well as the Wildcat Youth Hockey Association as a board member and hockey coach.
Grady Couch: With over 30 years of industry experience, Grady now serves as a Project Executive. He’s currently working on projects including Hub Blacksburg, 191 College, and The Dewberry Hotel.
Tina Crichton: Tina was the first Project Cost Accountant hired at Findorff and she brings 16 years of accounting industry experience to her new position as Senior Project Cost Accountant. For 11 years, Tina has participated in over 50 audits of over 700 million dollars at Findorff. She is also the PCA for high-profile, skyline-changing jobs in Milwaukee including The Couture and The Trade Milwaukee. Outside of work, she’s Sunshine Chair for the Elm Grove Junior Guild, a volunteer and room mom for her children’s school and church, and a Hunger Task Force volunteer.
Matt Femal: Matt, recently promoted to Senior Project Manager, has 11 years of industry experience. Two of his recent projects include the D.C. Everest Area School District administration building and the Bone & Joint – ASC and Pain Clinic. Outside of work, he’s a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, a hockey coach for the Everest Youth Hockey Association, and a committee member for the Joint Apprenticeship Committee – Carpenters Union.
Tom Ganser: Tom brings 14 years of industry experience to his new role as Senior Project Manager. Tom is currently working on projects for clients including Catalent and Madison Metropolitan School District. He’s on the Property Committee for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, a member of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, and a member of the Groundswell Conservancy.
Victoria Georgeson: Victoria has been in the data and analytics industry for 7 years. Currently, she’s leading the effort to stand up Findorff’s data warehouse, Snowflake. This will help Findorff get faster business insights, and better data quality, and allow for the continued growth of data-driven decision-making. She has also been establishing key performance indicators to help our departments understand how they’re performing. Outside of Findorff, she volunteers at her husband’s chiropractic clinic and recently held a cookout to raise money for the new Children’s Museum in Sun Prairie.
Ben Hager: Ben brings 17 years of industry experience to his new position as Project Executive. Recently, he has worked on projects including the Westin Milwaukee Hotel, Summit Credit Union Headquarters, Hub Tampa, and the Marriott Milwaukee Hotel. He is also a member of the State Ironworking Advisory Committee and a member of the Wisconsin AGC.
Chris Helt: Chris has been in the industry for 12 years. His recent projects include the SHINE Medical Technologies LLC office and Therapeutics Buildings, ōLiv Madison, and The Dean – Champaign. When he’s not in the office or on a job site, he spends his time at the Waunakee Volunteer Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter.
Menno Huiser: Menno has been a part of the Findorff family for 10 years and has been in the construction industry for 15 years. Menno has recently worked with Hooper Corporation to create their corporate office in DeForest. He has also worked with Exact Sciences to renovate the Rayovac Building on their Nexus Discovery Campus. Menno is involved with AGC Wisconsin as a Leadership AGC Alumni, as well as Stoughton Area Youth Soccer Association as a board member.
Erik Ivers: Starting as a Findorff Co-op in 2012 and joining the company full time in 2013, Erik is now a Senior Project Manager. He recently worked on Hub Park Avenue – Tucson, AZ as well as the new Verona Area High School, and he’s currently working on ōLiv at Seattle.
Michelle Kraemer: Having worked in human resources for 13 years, Michelle has been promoted to People Solutions Manager. She’s helped rebrand Findorff’s HR department into the People Strategy department. She also has a passion for helping map out the careers of field employees who want to move into project management. She’s currently involved with the Recovery Foundation, Special Spaces, and St. Mary’s Care Center.
Adam Lawrence: Adam has worked in the IT industry for over 15 years. He’s currently co-leading the migration of Findorff’s phone and conferencing systems over to Microsoft Teams. This will make video conferencing and phone calls blend in with the Microsoft software we’re currently using, making processes more streamlined for employees. Outside of work, he has been involved with Meals on Wheels for the past nine years.
Greg Manzetti: Greg has over two decades of industry experience, which make him a great Project Executive. His recent projects included the Central Wisconsin Airport‘s terminal remodel and boarding bridge replacements, the new amenities building and parking ramp at TruStage Foundation, and the facility assessment of Westfield Schools. He also volunteers for Meals on Wheels and is a member of Leadership Greater Madison 2022.
Camilla McKay: Camilla brings 8 years of industry experience to her new position as Employee Experience Manager. She recently helped rebrand Findorff’s HR department into the People Strategy department and organized the 2022 Summer Company Picnic to celebrate Findorff employees coming together as a whole company since the pandemic. She’s currently involved in the Board of Directors for GiGi’s Playhouse Madison as Vice President, Tri4Schools as a volunteer, and Meals on Wheels as a volunteer.
Eric Mergen: Eric brings 10 years of industry experience to his new role as Senior Project Manager. He has recently been involved in projects for the Hub at Champaign, Sentry Insurance, and Bell Laboratories, Inc. Eric is involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as a committee member, as well as the St. Thomas Aquinas Church as a member.
Brad Olson: For over 20 years, Brad has worked his way up the ladder in this industry to be the Project Executive he is today. Recently, he worked on Exact Sciences‘ Nexus Lab and Warehouse expansions, as well as Associated Bank‘s Mineral Point Road branch. Brad is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, a member of Downtown Madison, Inc., and a Board Member for Friends of MSCR.
Matt Premo: As Project Executive, Matt brings 20 years of experience to his new position. A few of his most recent projects include Hub at Cincinnati, his work on the Middleton High School Referendum, and the Sun Prairie School Referendum. He’s currently the Vice-Chair of the Madison Children’s Museum Board of Directors, a volunteer for United Way and Meals on Wheels, as well as a member of the American Hard Hats with Heart’s Executive Leadership Team Committee.
Pierre Rideau: Beginning his career in construction in 2009, Findorff has promoted Pierre to Senior Project Manager. Recently, Pierre has worked on projects including the SHINE Medical Isotope Production Facility, the URP Element Lab Facility, and the Exact Sciences B1 clinical lab and parking structure.
Matt Stadelman: Matt, recently promoted to Project Executive, has over 13 years of experience in the construction industry. Matt has recently worked on projects including ōLiv at Seattle, Hub at College Park, and the School District of Waukesha. Outside of Findorff, Matt holds the position of Lead United Council Member for United Way of Dane County as well as member of the Miracle League of Dane County.
JoAnn Taylor: JoAnn brings over 32 years of industry experience to her new position as Senior Project Cost Accountant. She handles all Core Spaces projects which is a significant effort. When she’s not in the office, she’s riding a UTV with her partner.
Aaron Zutz: As the newly appointed Director of Project Management, Aaron has 12 years of industry experience. Recently, he has worked on the successful Madison Metropolitan School District 2020 Referendum, the Verona Area High School, and the UW Credit Union on Excelsior Drive Campus Expansion. When not attending school board meetings or managing multi-million-dollar K-12 education projects, Aaron is volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as well as the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra as a board member.
On July 19th, Findorff, Madison Gas & Electric, the Oregon School District, and Slipstream hosted the 2022 Sustainability Forum at Forest Edge Elementary in Fitchburg. The forum, held at the largest verified net zero school in the Midwest, brought together area educators and leaders in renewable energy to discuss the journey to achieving a net zero building. These green subject matter experts shared forward-thinking approaches to planning, designing, and dreaming big on the journey to net zero.
Materials on how to begin the net zero building journey can be found here.
Findorff would like to announce the promotion of Brian Hornung to Chief Operating Officer. In this new role Brian will continue to work alongside the Board of Directors – Jim Yehle, Ben Pechan, Jeff Tubbs, Jeff McLean, and Rich Lynch – serving and leading Findorff.
Since 1997, Brian has served in a multitude of roles, starting in project management, leading field operations, and serving as an executive leader. Brian has worked across many industry sectors throughout his career, including corporate, k-12, higher education, high-rise residential, and complex science environments. Brian provides strategic vision and leadership to support Findorff’s success.
Jim Yehle, President & CEO of Findorff, shared the following about Brian: “For over 24 years Brian Hornung has been instrumental to the success of our company, driving innovation in the industry, and developing our talented people. As COO he will continue to focus on innovation and growth, while elevating, mentoring, and teaching our next generation of leaders. We are incredibly grateful for his servant leadership and enduring commitment to Findorff.”
Please join us in congratulating and celebrating Brian on this next chapter in his career!
Yesterday was the official groundbreaking for the new Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras in Madison, WI. A very well-attended event, this is an exciting time for the children of WYSO, as they will officially have a new music center. This center will be instrumental in expanding music education and performance opportunities for students throughout the state.
Check out this article for more insights.