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We are excited to announce the promotion of several outstanding team members at Findorff, whose exemplary leadership has truly made an impact. Congratulations to each of you on your well-deserved promotion!

Interested in a career with Findorff? Check out our open positions and apply today!

Findorff is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Milwaukee and an exciting new chapter of growth for the Milwaukee leadership team.

Chad Bathke, Vice President – Milwaukee 

Chad Bathke joins Findorff’s Milwaukee leadership team as Vice President – Milwaukee. Chad will play a crucial role in driving growth and strengthening the company’s presence in the Milwaukee area. With more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Chad has held several positions, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer.

Chad brings a wealth of industry knowledge and extensive experience in the education market, along with deep connections to the Milwaukee community through engagement and board memberships, including Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, Saint Joan Antida High School, and the United Way in Waukesha County. Chad has also been actively involved with the Associated General Contractors of America.

Chad will be joining Findorff’s devoted leadership team in Milwaukee.

Mike Stern, Director of Project Management

A dedicated mentor with 15 years of industry experience, Mike leverages his expertise and leadership to deliver award-winning craftsmanship to projects of all sizes in Milwaukee. Mike is passionate about serving clients and meeting their needs and has led teams on noteworthy Milwaukee builds, including The Moderne, multiple projects at Marquette University, Eagleknit Innovation Hub, and more.

Mike is active in the community, having served as a former president for the AGC of Greater Milwaukee. He is additionally on the Marquette University Civil Engineering Advisory Committee and Building Advantage Board of Directors. In 2024, Mike was recognized as a Notable Leader in Construction, Real Estate & Design by BizTimes.

B.J. Bowen, Director of Special Projects & Preconstruction

B.J. oversees preconstruction efforts and leads the Special Projects Group, a highly responsive and relationship-driven construction team that tackles small-scale projects for clients throughout Milwaukee. His leadership experience spans local projects such as Associated Bank, BMO, University Club Tower, Spring Creek Church, WeEnergies, and more.

Beyond construction, B.J. serves on the AGC Greater Milwaukee Board of Directors and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Light the Night Executive Committee, in addition to working with AGC of Wisconsin, Hunger Task Force, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee.

John Ferguson, Robbie Oldenburg, and Jeff Eckstein will continue to serve as Directors of Business Development in the Milwaukee market.

Congratulations to these incredibly talented individuals on their recent promotions at Findorff! This achievement is a true testament to your hard work and dedication.

Interested in a career with Findorff? Check out our open positions and apply today!

As 2025 begins, Findorff is proud to announce the beginning of a new era in its 135-year history. The company is now employee-owned with the introduction of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), rewarding hundreds of dedicated employees with the benefits of ownership.

Findorff employees take great pride in their work ethic and commitment to craftsmanship, and the company’s leadership wanted to find a way to reinforce their excellence even further. An ESOP will allow more employees to share in the success they help create.

“Our success is a direct result of our people, and we want them to more deeply benefit financially from their own hard work,” said Findorff President & CEO Jim Yehle. “We’re proud to be employee-owned and reward our talented team for the dedication they demonstrate every day. We look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding results for our clients in this exciting new chapter.”

In the face of this change, some things will remain the same. Findorff is eager to continue embracing its values of excellence, integrity, and collaboration, as a proud group of employee-owners further champion its mantra: Building & Beyond.

Construction is what we do, but going beyond is who we are. We’re constantly striving to go beyond what’s expected — but what does “beyond” really mean?

Going beyond is our team’s relentless dedication, tireless work ethic, and commitment to always going the extra mile. It’s about delivering more than just expert craftsmanship; it’s infusing passion, innovation, and attention to detail into every project, as well as our determination to exceed expectations.

We turned our annual Findorff Foundations publication into a video. Thank you to our clients and partners for your continued trust and partnership, which makes what we do possible. Let’s take a moment to reflect on and celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together this past year.

Findorff is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Matt Breunig to Vice President of Operations.

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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.

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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.”

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‍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!

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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‍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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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‍Please join us in congratulating and celebrating Brian on this next chapter in his career!

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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