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.
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.
A new apartment complex will open in Madison’s historic Greenbush neighborhood by the beginning of fall 2024, with construction set to begin in December 2022. The complex, Chapter at Madison, is expected to help alleviate housing stress for UW-Madison students and will feature a mural and cultural exhibit showcasing the Greenbush neighborhood’s culture. More information can be found by reading this article.
Over twenty high school students had the opportunity to work alongside Findorff, Hooper Corp., and Pieper Electric trade professionals for a week. They received hands-on experience and learned about jobsite safety. Check out this video to hear what fourteen-year-old Yevka Yngsdahl, Glacier Creek Middle School student participant had to say.
Rib Lake School District Board selected Findorff to work with the district through the referendum and eventually the building process. Officials cited Findorff’s ability to communicate project goals during the referendum, successfully budget the project, predict construction trends, and contract quality subcontractors as reasons they selected Findorff. Read more here.
The McKenzie Regional Workforce Center in Fitchburg, WI, is close to completion. In this space, they’ll train and support the next generation of skilled tradespeople and entrepreneurs. Read more here.
Centro is the leading non-profit serving Latinx in Dane County and we are proud to help it expand its 40-year legacy, constructing a new building that has dedicated space and resources for its community to thrive. Read more here.
On May 19, the Food + Farm Exploration Center installed the world’s largest potato masher. Towering over the crowd, the nearly 39-foot tall potato masher can be seen from miles, welcoming visitors to the center. The giant potato masher honors the agriculture industry and celebrates all who are involved in growing and eating the produce. The mission of the Exploration Center is to connect people to the food they eat. Read more here.
Findorff’s Business Development and Marketing department is led by a group of incredibly dedicated individuals passionate about creating lasting and impactful relationships with partners and clients across not only the state, but the country. Over the past year the team has evolved and grown, creating opportunities for new and familiar faces alike. We are thrilled to officially congratulate these leaders and welcome our newest addition!
Chad Eschler, Vice President of Business Development
With 16 years of experience at Findorff, ranging from Yard Superintendent to Special Projects Manager to Business Development, Chad’s new position as Vice President of Business Development is recognition of his commitment to always building strong partnerships and finding ways to provide value to our clients and communities. Chad’s focus moving forward is on continuing the tradition of not just finding projects for the team but finding the right projects for the team while expanding Findorff’s client base.
In his new role as Vice President of Business Development, Chad will:
- Provide strategic direction and vision for business development
- Manage both the local and regional business development teams and develop talent
- Manage business development opportunities and relationships
Christin Mlsna, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
With 26 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development, Christin’s move into her new role as Vice President of Marketing & Communications recognizes her talent and passion for blending these areas of focus to create engaging communications and the best possible client experience. In this new role, Christin will continue to provide executive leadership for Findorff’s education division while expanding her responsibilities to include Findorff’s marketing and communications.
In this role she will:
- Serve as senior leader for all marketing and communications
- Provide strategic direction and vision for marketing, communications, client experiences, and client services
- Track and monitor successful marketing and communications outcomes
Susan Matthews, Director of Marketing
With extensive experience working in a wide variety of businesses from start-ups to billion-dollar brands, Susan joins us in the new role of Director of Marketing. Susan brings a fresh perspective on how marketing can best support both Findorff and our partners. Her creative ideas will enhance our efforts in marketing planning, strategic marketing, and storytelling,
Within this role she is responsible for:
- Creating marketing goals and strategies
- Developing and managing all marketing campaigns
- Directing marketing and communications plans
- Providing day-to-day oversight of the marketing team
Jeff Tubbs will continue to serve Findorff as Executive Vice President. Jeff serves as a senior leader for the Business Development department in addition to supporting Findorff’s strategic planning where he provides new approaches for upcoming divisions and expansion opportunities.
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.