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J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. (Findorff) is pleased to announce the recent promotion of nine members of the senior leadership team to Company Shareholders. These talented individuals continue to play a vital role in the Company’s commitment to advancing the commercial construction industry. They join the current Findorff ownership team of President and CEO Jim Yehle and Executive Vice Presidents Brian Hornung, Jeff McLean, and Jeff Tubbs in guiding the strategic direction of Findorff. “We are excited to grow our leadership base with these individuals,” says Chairman Rich Lynch. “We look forward to engaging others in the future, as our foundation for ownership expands.”

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‍Matt Breunig has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Matt joined Findorff in 2006 as a Project Engineer and was promoted to Director of Project Management in 2016. His project portfolio includes University Square, Danisco, Edgerton City Hall, and UW–School of Nursing before he began his focus on projects in the education market sector. During his tenure, he has overseen and supported the construction of over $1 billion in education projects. Matt 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 and is involved with educational organizations including WASBO and the UW–Stout Industry Advisory Committee.

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‍John Feller began his career at Findorff as a Project Manager more than 25 years ago. He now brings his industry experience to the role of Preconstruction Vice President. John is actively involved in the life cycle of projects during the earliest stages including facilities master planning, budgeting, and value engineering. John currently manages the preconstruction efforts for Findorff’s large-scale residential projects located across the United States. He is actively involved in the AGC of Wisconsin, Madison Rotary, the National “W” Club, and serves on the Board of Catholic Charities.

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‍Bob Hougard serves as Project Executive to the Science & Technology market. With 40 years of experience in the industry, Bob contributes his technical expertise in highly regulated markets including industrial, pharma, food & beverage, and advanced manufacturing environments. His knowledge of lean fast-track design and construction methods, expertise on facility scale-up capabilities, and go-to-market strategies are some of the reasons Bob was recognized as The Daily Reporter’s Icon of Construction in 2020. Bob joined Findorff in 2006 and is currently active in the American Heart Association (AHA) Executive Leadership Team and Wisconsin Technology Council.

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‍Luke Hutchins was hired at Findorff nearly 20 years ago as a laborer. Since that time, he has progressed his career through various project management roles and currently leads Findorff’s travel group. As Director of Project Management, his group has successfully completed nearly three dozen major projects across the United States including local student-housing developments such as The James on the UW-Madison campus and The Commons at Marquette University. Luke’s community involvement includes serving as Board Chair of Second Harvest Food Bank, and being active in the AGC of Wisconsin and United Way. The key roles Luke has had earned him recognition with In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018.

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‍Jim Martin joined Findorff in 2003 and has been instrumental in the construction of many iconic projects including the Overture Center for the Arts, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, and over 200 retail bank branches throughout the Midwest. Jim was promoted to Vice President of Project Management in 2019. Today, his focus is supporting the project management staff including training and development. Jim served on the Ronald McDonald House of Madison Board and was the 2018 recipient of the Red Shoe award to recognize his contributions to the expansion of the Ronald McDonald House. He is a member of AGC of Wisconsin and North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters Training Fund, volunteers as a coach with Verona Wildcat Youth Hockey, and was honored as a 2019 recipient of The Daily Reporter’s Icon of Construction.

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‍Jason Mattila is a United States Military Academy West Point graduate who began his career at Findorff over 17 years ago. Since 2020 he has served as a Project Executive. Jason is responsible for providing guidance, technical support, and team leadership as part of the “end-to-end” project plan to ensure complex Science & Tech projects are delivered successfully. He is an active AGC of Wisconsin member and a registered State of Wisconsin Professional Engineer. His community involvement includes volunteer work with United Way and the Verona Wildcat Youth Hockey Association. Jason was selected as part of In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2012.

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‍Christin Mlsna has over two decades of industry experience and leads Findorff’s K-12 and higher education initiatives as Director of Education Market & Communication Services. She brings strategic communications, engagement, facilitation, and marketing services to corporate, education, and non-profit clients during the planning, design, and construction phases of a project. Her creative work and drive for excellence have set new standards in the industry and have helped achieve success on over $2 billion in school referendum projects. Christin speaks locally, regionally, and nationally, sharing best practices for engaging internal and external stakeholders. She is actively involved in many industry and community boards, receiving several awards for her efforts.

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‍Ben Pechan graduated from UW-Whitewater with a master’s degree in accounting before finding his niche in the construction industry 15 years ago. Ben joined Findorff in 2018 as CFO and as a member of the board of directors. He oversees finance, accounting, business technology, and corporate risk at Findorff. He is an active member of the Agrace Finance Committee, UW Whitewater Accounting Advisory Board, and Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Madison Chapter. Ben is a recent In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 and CFMA honoree, as well as a Wisconsin Institute of CPAs Business and Management award winner. He currently serves on the executive committee of the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Ben is heavily involved in driving the Company’s corporate governance, strategic planning and execution, and overall corporate risk management strategies.

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‍Eric Plautz began his career at Findorff over 20 years ago as an intern on the Overture Center for the Arts project. In 2020, he was promoted to Project Executive. During his tenure at the Company, he has enjoyed the challenges of helping construct unique and complex environments including MMoCA’s glass stair and gallery spaces, local restaurants, education, and office facilities, such as Epic’s Farm and Storybook Campuses. Eric is a member of the AGC of Wisconsin and the MMoCA Board. He is a volunteer for the American Diabetes Association, United Way of Dane County, Meals on Wheels, and mentors UW-Madison Civil Engineering students. He is a Class of 2019 recipient of In Business’ 40 Under 40 recognition.

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Kevin Tebrinke has over 40 years of experience with pharmaceutical and consumer products companies with expertise in strategic manufacturing and facility planning. His understanding of owner-side management, engineering, and operations makes him a valuable partner from project conception to completion. Kevin will facilitate communication between owners, architects, engineers, and regulatory consultants to develop an early understanding of the requirements and client objectives of a project.

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Kevin serves as President of the International Society of Lyophilization and holds eight patents in continuous processing.Kevin enjoys many hobbies including sailing, traveling, brewing beer, and roasting coffee. Please join us in welcoming Kevin to Findorff!

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Findorff team members play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. Join us in congratulating three of our team members who were recently promoted to Senior Project Manager.

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‍Mike Luther: Mike brings 14 years of industry experience to his new role as Senior Project Manager. He began his career as an intern, joining Findorff after graduating from UW-Madison with a Civil Engineering degree. During his career at Findorff, Mike has been involved in the building and renovations of 30 ORs with various health systems including UW Health at The American Center and the American Family Children’s Hospital. He is currently working on the SSM Health South Madison Campus project. Mike lives in Stoughton with his wife, Jennifer, son, Brecken, and red lab, Arie.

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‍Mike Stern: Mike started as an intern with Findorff while attending Marquette University and joined the Company as a Project Engineer after earning his degree in Civil Engineering. He has managed several prominent Milwaukee-area projects including The Moderne, the ProHealth Mukwonago Hospital expansion, The Commons at Marquette University, as well as Marquette’s new College of Business Administration—his alma mater. He has been on the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee (AGC-GM) Board of Directors since 2018 and currently serves as the AGC-GM’s president. Mike lives in Pewaukee with his wife, Kari, and three kids, Madison, Mackenzie, and Elliot.

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‍Peter Saindon: Peter earned his degree in Civil Engineering from UW-Madison while serving in the U.S. Army as a crew chief/gunner on Blackhawk helicopters. While his focus for the last four years has been on the construction of K-12 education projects, Peter started in Findorff’s Special Projects Group and then held key roles on projects including Hub on Campus Madison and Genesis Medical Center in Iowa. He has also been a LEED professional with the U.S. Green Building Council since 2010. Peter lives in Marshall with his wife, Kasey, and four children, Sofie, Evelyn, Mila, and Jack. Outside of work and family, Peter is involved with local recovery groups that help guide men struggling with addiction.

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Shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Kaleb Anderson set his sights on working at Findorff. His goal was to work in the Special Projects Group, even if it meant he had to wait. He worked for a local subcontractor for five years before a role in the Special Projects Group became available, and Kaleb stepped up. Since then, he has successfully helped the team manage hundreds of projects, each less than $2 million.

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Nearly six years later, Kaleb has been promoted to lead Madison’s Special Projects Group. Whether it’s commercial tenant build-outs, remodeling corporate environments to meet ADA compliance, or helping to solve unique and complex client needs, Kaleb brings his architectural and construction experience and tenacious nature to serve clients.

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When Kaleb isn’t head-down solving challenging issues, he is enjoying the outdoors spending time with family and friends. Please feel free to contact Kaleb and congratulate him as he begins his new role!

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Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition over the years for quality craftsmanship. Most recently, AGC of Wisconsin and The Daily Reporter recognized five buildings we constructed. Plus, one project received special recognition from ENR Midwest.

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‍Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field: This new multi-purpose stadium serves two Sun Prairie community high schools (Sun Prairie West will open in Fall 2022). The facility has seating for over 4,000 spectators and is ready for competitive football, soccer, lacrosse, the Sound of Sun Prairie (high school marching band), and other co-curricular activities. The stadium was designed and built with spectator and user experience in mind. The facility includes a mid-level plaza that’s fully accessible, increased parking, new locker rooms, and an artificial turf field.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, Excellence in Partnering Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award

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‍Exact Sciences Discovery Campus: This Campus is comprised of several buildings including the former Rayovac Headquarters Office Building, which was converted into the Exact Sciences Customer Care Facility (159,000 square feet). Replacement of the exterior and MEP system of an occupied, 34-year-old Madison landmark on the South Beltline kicked off this large project. Upon significant renovation of the original facility, Findorff constructed a new clinical lab and warehouse (169,000 square feet) and a new production lab (75,000 square feet). The amenities building (112,500 square feet) was built to connect all the structures, including a cafeteria, conference rooms, and a work-out facility. Additionally, a parking structure with 950 stalls was constructed to support employee parking for the campus. The entire campus development was completed in 30 months, from concept to completion.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, New Construction & Renovation | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award

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‍Forest Edge Elementary School: This new, 122,225 square-foot elementary school is situated next to a beautiful forest in Oregon, Wisconsin. The school has a large cafeteria, performance stage, and three courtyards with an outdoor classroom to encourage outdoor learning. The classroom areas have large group collaboration spaces and small group instruction rooms to promote collaboration as well as individual learning. Additionally, the building is the first Net Zero Energy school in Wisconsin which means it produces at least as much energy as it consumes annually. The school features several innovative and sustainable elements including solar panels, geothermal wells, electrochromic glass, a battery system, and no natural gas serving the building. Interactive stations that highlight the unique and sustainable features of the school are on display for student learning opportunities.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, Environmental Excellence Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award

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‍Innovation One: Located within Madison’s University Research Park is Exact Sciences’ new corporate headquarters, named Innovation One. The new core and shell building unite team members and departments that were dispersed across multiple sites into a collaborative and flexible office environment spanning five stories. The new headquarters favors walkability and includes vibrant workspaces with ample natural light from the curved glass curtain wall on the exterior.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award | ENR Midwest honored Innovation One with an Award of Merit.

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‍Verona Area High School: The new 590,000-square-foot high school covers four levels and has 670 rooms over a seven-acre footprint. The academic core of the building is three stories high and surrounds a large atrium with seating for 1,000. The school also includes a field house, an aquatic center with two pools, a performing arts center, a greenhouse, and specialty classrooms and labs. The overall campus is 161 acres and contains a geothermal field, seven athletic fields including a competition stadium, a cross country running course through a 50-acre forest, and the Military Ridge State Trail.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award | The Daily Reporter, Top Projects Award

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AGC of Wisconsin also recognized Bell Labs: with a BUILD Wisconsin award. The new headquarters features a reception lobby that offers transparent views of the executive board room and the beautiful forest surround. Many design elements feature natural wood and clean refined stainless details, bridging nature and innovation. The facility houses a research lab, office spaces, and amenities such as workout rooms, café, outdoor terraces, and walking paths for the 100 staff and daily visitors.

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‍Awards: AGC of Wisconsin, General Contractor-Commercial Award

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‍Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work!

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Findorff really is different when it comes to the extra value we bring to our client relationships, projects, and communities. That may include providing new insights derived from drone footage, helping strategize a company’s sustainability goals, or moving a 115-year-old tavern across the county and rebuilding it.You read that right! Dubbed the “world’s slowest pub crawl,” Findorff recently dismantled a historic tavern and relocated it 27 miles north to Old World Wisconsin. The tavern, located in the Dodge County community of Old Ashippun since 1906, was operated by two generations of the Wittnebel family and will become part of a new brewing experience exhibit for the Wisconsin Historical Society.

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For over a year, Findorff worked with a trusted team of subcontractors, the Town of Ashippun, Ashippun Fire Department, WE Energies, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin State Patrol to plan every aspect of the well-orchestrated move. Led by our experienced Special Projects Group, the historic building was divided into three large sections including – first floor, second floor, and roof. The sections were then loaded onto trailers with an 80-ton crane and later made the journey down Highway 67. Traveling at speeds from 10 to 35 miles per hour, Findorff crews and a caravan of semi-trailers, courtesy of Heritage Movers, took 95 minutes to complete the trip from Old Ashippun to Eagle, Wis.

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How does a historic building like this get disassembled, moved down a major highway, and reassembled – in a way that preserves all the important elements? The answer involves careful precision. To see a time-lapse of the dismantling, relocation, and reconstruction, click here.”We could not be more excited to see the tavern arrive on-site. We look forward to honoring the legacy of the tavern as we tell the story of brewing in Wisconsin,” said Old World Wisconsin site director Dan Freas. The historic tavern is the first historic structure moved to Old World Wisconsin in more than 25 years. Cheers to that!

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Findorff really is different when it comes to the extra value we provide to our clients and our community – whether that is managing a school referendum, bringing sector experience to a project, or working shoulder to shoulder with others in the community to build a home for a family in need.

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Our new slogan “Building & Beyond” is the promise to bring additional benefits to client relationships, projects, and the community. Recently, we collaborated with Exact Sciences and Habitat for Humanity of Dane County to help construct a home for a local family with limited resources.During the day-long event at the Exact Sciences’s headquarters on Madison’s west side, temperatures and energy levels soared. Nearly 150 Findorff and Exact Sciences employees helped frame walls later used to construct a home located on the City’s north side. Tara M. Rai, his wife Guarani and their two children will move in to their new home in a few short weeks. Tara says, “We are thankful and fortunate to be chosen to receive a Habitat home. I want my family to be safe and secure. I look forward to learning new skills by working with the Habitat volunteers.”Building is our craft, but going beyond is our privilege. We recognize that team building and community support are in our DNA!

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Coming soon, find out more about how Findorff worked with the Wisconsin Historical Society on moving a century-old building.

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Throughout Milwaukee and its surrounding communities, momentum is building – literally. With major developments underway and others about to start, Findorff is honored to have a hand in the City’s latest building booms.For over 46 years, Findorff has had a strong presence in Southeastern Wisconsin and has consistently ranked as one of the Top Milwaukee-area construction firms as referenced by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Findorff’s new slogan, Building & Beyond, is an indication of how our experience, focus on innovation, and client solutions, represent the company going forward. Going beyond what is expected is where the true value and industry commitment can be found. Here are a few projects around town that demonstrate these company values.

– Tim Prince, MHA, FACHE – Senior Advisor

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‍At Findorff we often reflect on how our work is always in service to others. The spaces we create are not the end in themselves. Rather, these spaces enable our clients to research, serve, produce, and create.  This is reflected through our extensive healthcare projects.Inherent in our character is a drive to build these spaces as if they were where we or our loved ones might receive care; in fact, they often are. We relish the chance to apply our craftsmanship to spaces that nurture and support care providers and patients. We welcome the opportunity to bring our creativity and innovation to spaces that inspire such incredible work. Whether we are building an MRI suite, remodeling inpatient spaces, building clinic exam rooms, or finishing the engineering infrastructure for a NICU, we treat these spaces with the same dignity and respect you apply to each moment of care you have with a patient.

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So, during National Hospital Week, we would like to show our respect for our healthcare clients and the tremendous work you do every day. Please also know that your daily dedication inspires us in our efforts to deliver spaces that can support you in your efforts to help and to heal. Thank you for making a profound and lasting impact on all of us.

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To learn more about Findorff’s hospital work, check out our Healthcare Experience. For information to work with Findorff on healthcare opportunities, please reach out to Jeff Eckstein, AIA.

Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition from year to year for quality craftsmanship. Most recently these four projects we proudly constructed received accolades:

Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work!

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