Findorff is fortunate to receive recognition from year to year for quality craftsmanship. Most recently these four projects we proudly constructed received accolades:
- Verona Area High School: Findorff partnered with the Verona Area School District to build a modern and adaptable educational facility that students, staff, and community members will benefit from for generations. The new 590,000-square-foot high school covers seven acres with four levels and 670 rooms. The academic core of the building is three stories high and features a large atrium and cafeteria with seating for 1,000. The facility also includes two pools, a Performing Arts Center, technical education spaces such as woods, metals, and small engines, and both indoor and outdoor athletic areas. The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America recognized this project as a winner of a 2021 Construction Risk Partners Build America Merit Award in the Building New or Renovation ($126 million or more) category.
- Exact Sciences Discovery Campus: To meet the Company’s growing responsibility as a global leader in early cancer detection, Exact Sciences sought a trusted partner to help transform an existing corporate building into the state-of-the-art Discovery Campus that encompasses a Customer Care Facility, Clinical Lab and Warehouse, Production Lab, and Amenities Building. In addition, a parking structure with 950 stalls was constructed to support employee parking for the entire campus. We are proud to have partnered with Potter Lawson on this project which resulted in being awarded the Commercial Design Awards Project of the Year as well as Best Renovation-Office from In Business.
- Bell Laboratories: The new 40,000 square-foot world headquarters in Windsor, WI includes a cafeteria, laboratory, open workspaces, enclosed offices, and meeting rooms and recently captured first place in the category of In Business’ Best New Development-Office in the Commercial Design Awards. Findorff constructed this headquarters building which provides additional capacity to Bell Labs’ research facility. The office departments were consolidated from multiple locations into one building. The headquarters features a seamlessly integrated exterior with access to an outdoor patio, boardwalk, and wildlife preserve.
- Jules Verne at Epic: The most recent addition to Epic’s fifth campus, called Storybook, is Jules Verne. The building is 90,000 square feet and houses 360 offices. The project recently netted two AGC of Wisconsin awards for its exemplary masonry work. Recognition includes the Best of Clay Masonry category and the Dennis Wilichowski Craftsmanship award. On the exterior of this themed corporate office, Findorff masons installed approximately 50,000 units of block, 145,000 units of brick, and 5,000 pieces of cast stone on the building.
Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work!
Findorff’s talented people play a significant role in the Company’s success, both on the job and in the community. We are happy to welcome our new Controller and Director of Accounting and recognize team members who were recently promoted. Join us in sending congratulations!
Donnie Bogle-Boesiger: Donnie brings a creative eye to Findorff’s projects in the Milwaukee market. As Senior Virtual Construction Specialist, he is passionate about exploring new ways to use technology that help inform project teams on potential solutions. Donnie, a registered LEED® Accredited Professional, enjoys roasting coffee for family and friends and spending time outdoors fly fishing and camping.
Derek Burdick: As a Madison native, Derek has enjoyed leading a wide range of projects throughout the area for clients including Epic Systems, Dane County Public Works, University Research Park, Exact Sciences, and Sentry Insurance. In his new role as Senior Project Manager, Derek looks forward to lending his industry experience on a couple of large-scale projects scheduled to break ground in the next several months. In Derek’s spare time he enjoys cheering on Wisconsin sports teams alongside his partner, Katie, son, Mason, and daughter, Kensley.
Bob Dillis: Bob began his career at Findorff in 2008 as a Project Engineer in the preconstruction department. Throughout the years, Bob has been an integral team member for many high-profile projects, including Epic Systems, UW Credit Union, and UW-Madison Biochemistry. In Bob’s new role as Senior Estimator, he will lead Findorff’s bidding efforts and collaborate with project teams on architectural design, value engineering, and constructability analyses. Currently living near Verona with his wife Becky, Bob enjoys running, outdoor activities, and lending a helping hand through Meals on Wheels.
Karen Gill: Since joining Findorff in 2012, Karen has displayed a passion for working with technology which aligns well to her new role as Director of Business Technology. In her role, Karen will bring her leadership experience to the Company’s Business Solutions and Information Technology teams. Karen lives in Oregon with her husband, Bryan, three children, Rebecca, Wyatt, Madeline, and their dog, Tula. In her spare time, Karen enjoys volunteering as a lacrosse coach and serving on her local lacrosse board.
John Kaltenberg III, P.E.: John brings over 15 years of industry experience to his new role as a Senior Project Manager. He has been a licensed Professional Engineer in Wisconsin since 2008 and a member of the Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association (WHEA) since 2016. John has completed several healthcare projects at (Advocate) Aurora, Wheaton Franciscan, and ProHealth Care, in addition to newer endeavors in downtown Milwaukee including the Block 7 Parking Structure and Bader Rutter’s new corporate headquarters. John has spent the past ten years mentoring Milwaukee’s inner-city youth through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. John enjoys spending time at home with his wife, Lisa, and their two young sons, John IV and Elijah. He is a huge Badger football and basketball fan.Eric Sadler: With over 14 years of experience, Eric has led many iconic and skyline-changing construction projects within the City of Milwaukee. As Senior Project Manager, Eric oversees construction efforts for multi-million-dollar projects and dedicates his time to mentoring the industry’s future tradespeople. Eric, a Milwaukee native, helps guide youth apprenticeships, educates high school students on career options in the construction industry, and helps provide on-the-job experience to college interns and co-ops. Eric currently lives in Franklin with his wife, Rachel, and their two children Declan and Estelle.
Tiffany Scheller: Recently hired as Findorff’s new Controller and Director of Accounting, Tiffany is a graduate from Georgia State University where she earned her Accounting degree. Prior to joining Findorff, Tiffany worked as the Chief Financial Officer for a commercial real estate firm. In her new role at Findorff, she will lead the financial and accounting operations and is responsible for financial reporting and corporate compliance. Tiffany lives in Madison with her husband, Steve, their three children, and two dogs. In Tiffany’s spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, playing soccer, biking, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Congratulations Donnie, Derek, Bob, Karen, John, and Eric on your well-deserved promotions, and welcome to the team, Tiffany!
Findorff is excited to share some recent industry news surrounding sustainability. Being sustainable protects our surrounding communities now and in the future. As an industry leader, we are privileged to have completed 36 LEED-certified facilities. And, of those facilities, we’d like to congratulate and highlight recent acknowledgments from the Dane County Climate Champions and the U.S. Green Building Council West North Central (USGBC WNC) Region 2020 Regional Leadership Award. They include:Dane County Climate Champions:
- Exact Sciences – Discovery Campus (2-Star/Water): Due to Exact Sciences’ unprecedented growth, the Discovery Campus includes a new 300,000-gallon underground rainwater storage tank that is used for flush fixtures and irrigation. Although an important piece to Exact Sciences’ commitment to sustainability, Exact Sciences’ initiatives go far beyond just rainwater storage, as their new facility, Innovation One – Exact Sciences’ Headquarters at University Research Park, has most recently received a LEED® Silver certification.
- Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District – Pope Farm Elementary School (2-Star/Water): Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District was recognized as a Climate Champion due to the District’s efforts to reduce salt use and increase water conservation at the new Pope Farm Elementary School. The new facility was constructed near the crest of a glacial moraine adjacent to the 102-acre Pope Farm Conservancy. The conservancy has panoramic views, restored prairies and interpretive trails that have inspired the school’s interior design. Each grade will have its own identity, all organized around unifying themes: pollinators. Grade-level graphics will help students find their way around and reinforce the school’s connection to the nearby conservancy.
- Oregon School District – Forest Edge Elementary School (3-Star/Other): Projected to be the first net-zero school constructed in Wisconsin, Forest Edge Elementary could receive a 4-Star Energy award in 2021 once building performance data is confirmed after one full year of operation. As a potential net-zero energy building, Forest Edge will use a combination of building energy efficiency and on-site energy generation to produce at least as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. Reflecting this progressive commitment of the Oregon School District, Forest Edge will be an innovative, sustainable building while maintaining a clear focus on creating exceptional learning spaces.
- Sun Prairie Area School District – Meadow View Elementary School (3-Star/Energy Use) & Token Springs Elementary School (3-Star/Energy Use): Utilizing 75% less energy than a typical elementary school, both Meadow View and Token Springs Elementary Schools feature energy-efficient building design, such as geothermal heating and cooling systems, rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, drought-resistant landscaping, and outdoor learning spaces. Also, Meadow View and Token Springs feature classroom areas that open to large collaboration spaces, green rooms, makerspaces, and exposed geothermal rooms to provide teaching opportunities for students about sustainability. By utilizing Focus on Energy’s Design Assistance (DA) program when building Meadow View and Token Springs, the District was able to receive an incentive payment of more than $350,000 from Focus on Energy and Sun Prairie Utilities!
- UW Health at The American Center (Emerging/Energy Use): As the first LEED® for Healthcare Gold certified hospital in the State of Wisconsin, The American Center strategically developed a one-of-a-kind health and wellness center committed to a completely patient-focused care model. This certification also ranks The American Center as one of 17 in the world and one of ten in the United States for Gold level certification in the healthcare category!
USGBC WNC Region 2020 Regional Leadership Awards:
- American Family Insurance East Regional Building (ERB), 2020 Award of Merit – Innovative Project, Interiors: Reducing energy costs by 32% was no small feat for the ERB renovation. Nearly 200,000 square feet of interior office space was renovated to update HVAC and lighting systems and add an efficient envelope system. This work played a significant role in the facility’s LEED® certification. In addition, a complete overhaul of the building automation system and direct digital control was included in the project to modernize energy-saving strategies through high-performance sequences of operation. And, over 75% of on-site generated construction waste was diverted from landfills while over 33% of total building-material content manufactured used recycled materials. In the end, the ERB surpassed a LEED® Silver certification and obtained LEED® Gold certification.
- The Commons at Marquette University, 2020 Certificate of Leadership – Innovative Design, New Construction: The Commons is Marquette University’s new, state-of-the-art, 292,000 square foot, nine- and 12-story conjoined co-ed residence hall facility. Prior to the start of construction, a focus was placed on sustainability and LEED® practices for The Commons. Throughout construction, emphasis was placed on proper erosion control, in addition, over 3,350 tons of materials were diverted from landfills, which was nearly 90% of the total construction debris. Furthermore, the project’s sustainable features include: a stormwater collection tank buried below the central courtyard, a green roof system that goes above and beyond the minimum stormwater collection requirements, low-emitting materials and products utilized throughout construction, as well as low-flow water fixtures and LED lighting installed throughout the building. Such building features allowed The Commons to achieve LEED® Silver certification.
Congratulations to all the teams for your award-winning work and sustainable efforts!
We are happy to announce that a few Findorff team members have received The Daily Reporter’s 2020 Newsmakers of the Year recognition. This designation honors professionals from across the construction industry who exceed in their roles. Congratulations Kenn, Aaron, and John on your dedication to your work!
Kenn Kosowicz: Educator of the YearFor Kenn, Learning and Development Manager, leading the Company’s training initiatives has been his sole focus for nearly a decade. Throughout that time, he has discovered that construction is first and foremost a communication industry. He tells his students that construction leadership interestingly has a lot in common with Air Traffic Control. Controllers usually manage multiple aircrafts at the same time and must make quick decisions to ensure their safety. Kenn develops the Findorff curriculum for field and office. That means, he juggles over 100 classes annually. We’re glad Kenn is manning our “aircraft” and we are grateful for his commitment to our Company and to the employees.
Aaron Zutz: Senior Project Manager of the YearLike a circus performer, Findorff’s Senior Project Manager, Aaron Zutz, can spin many plates at once. His true talent is the ability to compartmentalize large amounts of information from many sources and effectively communicate intricate details in simple terms.With over 10 years of experience in construction management, Aaron has much to be proud of. His biggest accomplishment to date has been serving as the Senior Project Manager for the construction of the new Verona Area High School and major renovations at three Verona Area School District buildings. This exceptional facility is ready and waiting for staff, students, and the community to enjoy the hard work he and his team put in over the last few years. Findorff is fortunate to have such a dedicated and detail-oriented Senior PM on our team!
John Tucker: Preconstruction Manager of the YearJohn says when people ask him what a Senior Preconstruction Manager does, he tells them that his background as an estimator and a project manager allows him to see things that aren’t there yet. We believe John’s “super vision” provides our clients with an expertise in successfully negotiating projects from inception to contract and guiding them through the design and budgeting phases.Since he began with Findorff in 2011, one of John’s favorite aspects of his role is collaborating with multiple contractors and vendors on bids as well as working to maximize the construction dollars to meet design goals. Everyone here at Findorff appreciates his construction industry dedication and extensive knowledge of cost.
Findorff: Green Builder of the YearSustainability is essential in our industry and drives everything we do. As an expert in sustainable construction, Findorff takes a holistic approach in our work to serve our project partners with their building goals. We also advance our culture and practice through the lens of sustainability to support the natural environment and local communities.
Findorff has been constructing sustainable buildings for decades, resulting in over $1.12 billion of LEED work. Findorff currently has 35 active and completed LEED projects. Led by Ben Austin, Findorff Sustainability Lead, we are excited to be positioned as the 2020 Top Wisconsin Contractor on ENR’s Top 100 Green Design Firms and Contractor list.
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.
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®).
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.
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.
Findorff is pleased to introduce John Ferguson as the latest addition to the Milwaukee-area team. As Business Development Director – Southeast Wisconsin, John will focus on serving the Company’s south-eastern and south-central market.
John is an accomplished business development leader with nearly 15 years of marketing and business development experience. He is passionate about client relations, community building, and driving strategies to enhance project and client outcomes. John shares Findorff’s commitment to community as an active member of The Rotary Club of Milwaukee, NAIOP Wisconsin, Commercial Association of Realtors (CARW), Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).“We are very excited to have John join our team. His deep industry knowledge and enthusiasm for building strong relationships with our clients, building partners and the community adds to our momentum,” said Jeff Tubbs, Vice President of Business Development.
It’s the time of year that we at Findorff highlight stories around our core values of Character, Community, and Craftsmanship. As we recognize our character this month, Findorff is celebrating the power of positivity. In the past 130 years, Findorff has experienced many remarkable milestones and has lived through some historical challenges. As a company built upon the character of our employees, we believe through struggle comes tremendous strength. This is never truer than today. However, throughout these past few months, we have found heartwarming ways our employees have helped each other, and their communities stay positive. Let us introduce you to D-Nelly.
Darnell Reynolds is a character with character. He began writing poetry in middle school and later made the transition into music. Eventually the persona D-Nelly was born. Today, Darnell raps about life, lessons, love, and all things positive. He says his career as an ironworker brings him great joy and his passion for music allows him to share those positive messages with whomever will listen, including those on the job site.
Darnell takes his leadership role on construction sites seriously as well. As an ironworker foreman, Darnell mentors apprentices on the job and enjoys sharing his knowledge of the industry with those new to the trades. Darnell exemplifies quality of character through his positive outlook and his love for family and community.
We at Findorff are proud to work with individuals who share our values so deeply.Stay tuned as we highlight another one of our core values, community, in the next installment of our 3 C’s series.