I am thrilled to announce my next step in a career spanning 43 years in the construction industry. I am embracing the role of Owner Representative, leveraging my extensive background as a general contractor and consultant on numerous projects.Joining Rider Levett Bucknell (RLB) presents an exciting opportunity to manage the Bally’s Casino project. This venue stands as one of the most ambitious private development projects in the city, encompassing: the largest casino in the metropolitan area, 100-room hotel, 3,000-Seat event center, 1,940 car parking structure and a scenic public-private riverwalk.Furthermore, the project entails comprehensive public and private efforts, including building a new elevated Jefferson Street, utility improvements for the city along with development of several city intersections. Additionally, the project will oversee the decommissioning of the largest active printing plant at the Tribune Freedom Center along with Union Pacific Rail spur used by the Tribune. Several challenges and achievements lie ahead in this transformative project.

Leaving LendLease after 43 years I ventured out on own with a consulting company working on several predevelopment energy sector projects, including a 10 MW battery factory, solar farm projects, Biofuel and fuel cell energy projects.

Delivered several major projects with diverse teams, ranging from a traditional Construction Management delivery to Design-Build opportunities and Minority partner agreements. Major projects completed or underway over the last few years include: River Point Tower – 1.4 million square foot, 52-story composite concrete and steel office tower with 1.5 acres plaza abutting the Chicago River; University of Chicago Laboratory Schools – Renovation of a 100-year old K-12 institution in 9 phases over three years while the 300 students and staff maintained within classrooms. This included a Design-Assist process to upgrade all mechanical systems while maintaining the existing systems for occupied areas. In addition, there was a new build Arts Wing that consisted of a 425-seat recital hall, choral and opera rehearsal rooms, Black Box Theater music labs and art class rooms; 1407 On Michigan – 15-story, 264,000 square foot mixed-use residential tower with medical office space (Rush Medical Center Outpatient Care) and parking. Project included design-build mechanical procurement and was won by proposing a creative solution of delivering a L-shaped tower over the podium and keeping under the PUD Height limit; AbbVie Network Optimization Program – Relocation of campus utilities to allow for campus reconfiguration and consultation including both the selective and mass demolition of 900,000 square feet of obsolete facilities and Lathrop Homes – Renovation of 16 historic preservation buildings and the reconfiguration of 354 residential units, a new ground up 59-unit residential building and the revitalization of the river’s edge with a new boat ramp, pedestrian and bike path bridge.

As operations director I led the construction operations for the Multi-site group. This business unit served the retail and hospitality sectors with 200 employees across the country managing small general contractors with hundreds of site locations under construction. In our peak year we managed over $300mil in revenue. In addition to the US Business unit I led the development of workflows to perform work and assisted in the creation of business practices for the newly form Canadian Multi-Site business unit. This allowed us to service clients on both sides of the boarder. Clients and sites managed included: 7-Eleven – 1,000 site renovations, brand re-imaging and new stores over two years; JPMorgan Chase – 700 site renovations for the Chase Private Client and Sales Add programs performed in 14 states; Other Programs included: McDonald's Side-by-Side Drive Thru, CitiBank Rapid Response Renovation, USBank Project Flinch, Burger King/Carroll's Renovations, Extend Stay Hotel Renovations; Golden Living- nursing home renovations; Armark food service renovation for military base locations.

During this time, I worked directly with Bovis Lend Lease Americas COO to assist in national project operations process and operational excellence improvement development plans. I performed a project reviews and forensic analysis on underperforming projects in the national portfolio and assisted in their recovery plans. Assisted and provided reporting of the National portfolio based on reviewing each business units’ projects into a national report for the Global Operations director monthly calls. Provided training for operation initiatives nationally. Training programs included role out of the P-6 schedule consistency initiative, Profit Plan Reporting and Train the Trainer on conducting effective project reviews.After assisting the National I spent six (6) months in Toronto, Canada providing preconstruction and design management services for a Public-Private Partnership pursuit. The pursuit was for a design, build, own/operate 700- bed hospital, medical office building. Parking structure and Co-Generation plant capable of servicing the electrical, heating and cooling needs all on a greenfield the 41-acre development.

This was an exciting time over these few years working with great teams on some of the most exciting high rise buildings in the City of Chicago. Projects include the new 49 story Hyatt Center office tower. Hyatt was one of the first projects started after 9-11 and with the reality a need for high levels of security including bomb resistance and barrier features were built into this new high rise. The Clare at Water Tower was one of the largest CCRC projects in the country and took the continuing care concept to a high rise environment (50 Story)in the heart of Streeterville.In addition, the two projects on of Dearborn and Kinze created a unique opportunity to build two projects at the same time across the street from each other. They included the new Marriott Springhill Suite and Residence Inn which opened in April of 08 and across the street the new 45 story office tower for Mesirow Financial.

Retuned to Chicago and competed two twin 6 story office buildings then built the Material and Life Science Building for Northwestern University. When completed I became the Project Manager and Superintendent for their new microelectronic clean rooms.

First employee of a new Schal Associates Division located in Washington DC. Went to work on a new 10 story office building that included three epical shaped atriums. Schal Mid Atlantic became the first tenant of the project located at 1331 F Street.

Worked as the primary estimator for the firm and looked at every high rise project Schal was involved with at the time. Projects from 123 Wacker, to 100 Riverside, Madison Plaza 2, the AMA building and several buildings that never were built. Exciting time and I was learning to build with your mind when you do the estimate. But I needed to build.

Second project was the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Trading floors and computers with big blue (IBM) large computer rooms and processors. Would love to go back now and see how much smaller the equipment is. Then off to 12 story suburban office buildings and corporate headquarters where I would learn many of the processes and management functions that I use today.

Started by processing shop drawings and tracking stone from Italy. Madison Plaza was is a 45 story high rise and great start for a young person in the business