O‑A‑K Welcomes 42 New Employees

August 4, 2025

O‑A‑K Welcomes 42 New Employees

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(Grand Rapids, MI) August 4, 2025 – Owen‑Ames‑Kimball (O‑A‑K), local professional construction firm welcomes 42 new employees, including Said Abouchedid, Hannah Akey, Cody Arrigo, Todd Bell, Kevin Berrian, Noah Brittenham, Matthew Capra, Alex Casanova, Ferrell Clark, Ken Coombs, Savannah DeGraaf, Craig Flora, Marco Garcia, Frank Guerin, Brianna Heil, Emily Hintz, Laura Hoff, Brendan Hoffman, Owen Holverstott, Jim Hopper, John Hruska, Jennifer Jacobs, Brenden Koop, Brian Krommer, Thomas Locher, Cecily McCabe, Jennifer Mitchell, John Pahl, Carlos Rapalo, Izaiah Salinas, Larry Schoof, Justin Schuster, Noah Smith, Dave Spegal, Andrew Spurgeon, Maya Suckova, Nicholas Tanner, Mark Thomas, Argel Trejo, Joe Vaccaro, Jared VanderBor, Ryan Veranich, and Blair Zimmerman.

Said Abouchedid (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, is a Construction Management graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University who started at O‑A‑K as a field intern. His expertise includes project supervision, estimating, and subcontractor coordination, and he is proficient in tools like Procore, Bluebeam, and FastEst. Said is also bilingual in English and Spanish, as well as 30-hour OSHA certified.

Hannah Akey (MI), Assistant Project Manager, is a former O‑A‑K intern and has 11 years of construction experience. She has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech University and specializes in government and education projects. In her free time, Hannah enjoys baking, fiber arts, and homesteading.

Cody Arrigo (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, has 5 years of experience in luxury custom residential construction, and has been a carpenter’s apprentice, assistant superintendent, and project superintendent. He enjoys playing hockey and surfing, as well as spending time with his family.

Todd Bell (MI), Education Specialist, joins O‑A‑K after retiring from multiple roles at Kentwood Public Schools for the last 31 years, most recently where he oversaw the district’s business and finance operations. With his role at O‑A‑K, he’ll maintain client relationships, develop new partnerships, assist with bond campaigns and provide insight into community engagement in master planning. He aims to validate the theory of “Strong Schools, Strong Communities.” In his free time, Todd enjoys traveling, golf and hiking and spending time with his wife and three kids.

Kevin Berrian (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, joined O‑A‑K after graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.S. in Construction Management. He brings his experience in commercial scheduling, logistics, and subcontractor coordination. He holds an OSHA 30 certification and enjoys cooking, traveling, and soccer.

Noah Brittenham (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, brings experience from residential construction, with a background in various roles such as junior project manager and assistant superintendent. He holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Valencia College and enjoys golfing in his free time.

Matthew Capra (FL), Project Superintendent, has over 30 years of experience managing high-end residential and commercial construction projects across the country. He holds a degree from the Institute of Audio Research in New York, as well as a 30-hour OSHA certification. In his free time, Matthew and his wife enjoy giving back to the community through their church. They share their home with three rescue dogs and a cat.

Alex Casanova (FL), Project Engineer, holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and an A.A. from Florida SouthWestern State College. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he has expertise in project estimation, blueprint interpretation, and Microsoft Office.

Ferrell Clark (FL), Project Superintendent, brings 37 years of extensive experience in commercial and institutional construction. He holds a B.S. in Construction Management and an MB from Ferris State University, where he also taught. He is a journeyman carpenter, an NCCER Certified Trainer and a licensed builder (Michigan).

Ken Coombs (MI), Project Superintendent, joins O‑A‑K with 35 years of construction experience, as a foreman and field superintendent. He has experience in some major projects in southwest Michigan such as the 40,000 sf MOSO Village in Sturgis as well as the $80 million redevelopment of the Lee Paper Mill in Vicksburg. In his free time, Ken enjoys spending time with his family and friends, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.

Savannah DeGraaf (MI), Brand Manager, joins O‑A‑K with 9+ years of marketing experience, previously working at NAI Wisinski of West Michigan, the real estate company that marketed our current headquarters at 126 Ottawa. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Marketing and has served on the American Lung Association Board for the Michigan Chapter. In her free time, Savannah enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, especially by the water during Michigan’s beautiful summers.

Craig Flora (MI), Estimator,joins O‑A‑K with 7 years of estimating experience across a multitude of projects, from commercial projects to sales and trade clients. A graduate of Grand Valley State University and the University of Illinois, his experience ranges from projects in the greater Chicago area and back to West Michigan. In his free time, he enjoys running, watching college football, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Marco Garcia (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, holds an Associate of Arts from Florida SouthWestern State College and a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Florida International University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and going fishing.

Brianna Heil (FL), Project Engineer, brings a background in residential and light commercial construction. While earning her B.S. in Construction Management from Louisiana State University she earned 8 OSHA certifications and gained valuable experience from multiple internship opportunities. She likes to fish, read, walk her dog, and spend time with family in her free time.

Emily Hintz (FL), Administrative Coordinator, brings her experience in operations and property management. She supports the Florida operations team by bringing awareness of O‑A‑K at career fairs and expos, screening potential hires, and conducting interviews. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, trying new recipes, and exploring new places.

Laura Hoff (FL), Senior Estimator, has 5 years of industry experience, with a portfolio of over $1 billion worth of construction projects. She holds a B.S. in Construction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a 3-time ASAC Women of Construction Top Performer. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, baking, and target shooting.

Brendan Hofmann (MI), Project Accountant, is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University with a BBA in Finance. Prior to joining O‑A‑K, he grew up around the AEC industry, with his father as an architect. Brendan previously was an instructor for private hockey lessons. In his free time, Brendan enjoys playing golf, hanging out with friends and family, concerts, watching sports and being on the water, especially on Torch Lake.

Owen Holverstott (MI), Assistant Project Superintendent, is a former intern at O‑A‑K and a recent graduate of Ferris State University with experience as a residential platform framer, steel erection and trades mill work. He is 30-hour OSHA certified and Aerial lift certified. In his free time, Owen enjoys being in the outdoors, hunting, snowboarding, ice fishing, boating, hiking and spending time with family.

Jim Hopper (FL), Regional Vice-President, has worked in the construction industry for almost 30 years, with experience spanning Colorado, Florida, and Wyoming. He attended Kansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. In his free time, Jim likes to explore Florida’s outdoors with his family through boating, fishing, and biking.

John Hruska (MI), Senior Estimator, comes to O‑A‑K with nearly 40 years of estimating experience. He has completed several projects in West Michigan and has worked in several different capacities such as Architectural Designer to Estimator and Project Manager. John enjoys his time spent in Northern Michigan, working on his lavender farm with his wife.

Jennifer Jacobs (MI), Project Accountant, has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with minors in Journalism and Sociology. She has over 20 years of experience working in the finance and accounting fields. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, biking, scrapbooking and kayaking.

Brenden Koop (MI), Estimator, has 8 years of construction experience as an estimator, pre-construction manager and chief estimator in previous roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Ferris State University. In his free time, Brenden enjoys playing pickleball.

Brian Krommer (FL), Project Superintendent, has 40 years of experience across commercial, residential, and institutional projects, including government buildings, high-rises, schools, and custom homes. A former owner of multiple construction firms, he brings expertise in both large-scale development and detailed craftsmanship. Outside of work, he enjoys Cincinnati sports, outdoor adventures, and time with family.

Thomas Locher (FL), Civil Superintendent, brings over 25 years of experience in heavy highway and large-scale infrastructure projects and expertise in safety compliance and risk assessment. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering Tech from Northern Virginia Community College and enjoys golfing outside of work.

Cecily McCabe (MI), Marketing Manager, brings nearly two decades of experience across nonprofit, retail, and manufacturing sectors’ to O‑A‑K. Her expertise spans brand strategy, digital campaigns, content creation, and market analysis. As a seasoned leader, she combines creative vision with data-driven insights to drive strategic initiatives that deliver measurable results. Cecily excels at mentoring emerging talent and fostering collaboration, leading a team dedicated to serving O‑A‑K's clients and community through innovative marketing solutions.

Jennifer Mitchell (MI), Employee Experience Manager, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Western Michigan University, along with certificates from the Society for Human Resources Management and The Employer Association. With over 20 years of experience in workforce development and human resources, Jennifer excels in developing organizational strategies and processes that drive the success of talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement and performance management. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys strength training, golf, boating, traveling, and spending time with her family and two dogs.

John Pahl (MI), Project Superintendent, has his bachelor’s degree in construction management from Ferris State University. He has 14 years of experience in construction, ranging from commercial, healthcare, hospitality, multifamily with ground-up and renovation work. In his free time, he enjoys sports, spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and vacationing with his wife and three dogs.

Carlos Rapalo (FL), Project Engineer, earned his degree in Supply Chain Management from Florida Gulf Coast University. Before coming on full-time, he gained experience at O‑A‑K as both a Marketing and Business Development Intern and an Operations Intern. He is fluent in English and Spanish and enjoys fishing and soccer in his free time.

Izaiah Salinas (MI), Assistant Project Superintendent, has three years of construction experience working on new build homes and maintenance and renovation of older homes. Currently, Izaiah is studying to earn his college degree while working at O‑A‑K. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, adventuring outdoors and camping, since moving to Michigan from Texas.

Larry Schoof (FL), Project Superintendent, brings decades of construction experience. His career began in his teens, building custom stairs in California. After serving in the Army, including a tour in Operation Southern Watch, Larry moved to Southwest Florida in 2001. In his free time, Larry enjoys fishing, gardening, spending time with his family, and getting involved with his kids’ spots team extracurriculars.

Justin Schuster (FL), Project Engineer, has valuable experience in residential construction from his time in Colorado. With a degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in Supply Chain Management, he stands out in his effective material procurement, trade partner collaboration, and financial tracking skills. In his free time, Justin enjoys golfing, biking, fishing, and wakeboarding.

Noah Smith (MI), Project Superintendent, has six years of experience in commercial, educational, and industrial construction projects, specializing in carpentry and labor. He has OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health certification as well as a Field Worker Certification in ProCore Technologies. In his free time, Noah enjoys golfing, snowboarding and spending time with friends and family.

Dave Spegal (FL), Project Superintendent, has over 35 years of experience in the construction industry leading teams with a boots-on-the-ground mindset and a deep respect for craftsmanship. He is LEED Accredited and holds an OSHA 30 certification in Health Safety. Dave is a sports enthusiast and enjoys fishing in his free time.

Andrew Spurgeon (FL), Project Superintendent, has 32 years of experience in residential and commercial construction across Iowa and Southwest Florida. In his free time, he nurtures his passion for restoring classic American muscle and luxury cars from the 1960s and 1970s – particularly Corvettes and Lincolns. He attended Missouri Military Academy and St. Ambrose University, where he majored in Business Administration.

Maya Suckova (FL), Estimator, brings nearly 30 years of experience with a Construction Management and Estimating Certificate and Project Scheduling Certificate from New York University. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, cooking, going to the gym, and music.

Nicholas Tanner (FL), Preconstruction Project Engineer, graduated from Florida SouthWestern State College with a bachelor’s degree in business Supervision and Management. He has over 10 years of experience in leading appraisal teams. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, woodworking, reading, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Mark Thomas (FL), Senior Project Manager, brings more than 30 years of construction experience, both as a licensed Certified Building Contractor in Tennessee and Colorado, and a LEED Accredited Professional (AP). He holds a B.S. in Construction Management from Bowling Green State University and an Associates of Architecture and Civil Construction from Sinclair Community College. He enjoys hiking in nature, reading, and swimming in his spare time.

Argel Trejo (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, graduated with a degree in Construction Management from Florida Gulf Coast University, where he was inducted into the international scholastic honor society for construction management (Sigman Lambda Chi). Prior to his full-time role, he was an Assistant Superintendent Intern at O‑A‑K. He is fluent in English and Spanish and spends his free time playing soccer and working out.

Joe Vaccaro (FL), Project Manager, has almost 20 years of experience managing projects from design to delivery. He brings his expertise in sustainable strategies, safety, and productivity, as well as his knowledge of supervising specialized teams. Joe is multilingual in English, Italian, and Spanish and likes being a motivational leader for his team members.

Jared VanderBor (MI), Project Superintendent, has his Bachelor of Construction Management from Ferris State University as well as his associate in applied science in Building Construction Technology. He joins O‑A‑K with 10 years of superintendent experience, working in both residential and commercial construction. In his free time, Jared enjoys spending time with family, playing softball, and fishing.

Ryan Veranich (FL), Bid Coordinator, works with the Fort Myers office’s Preconstruction team. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University. In his free time, Ryan and his wife enjoy watching hockey games and all things related to high fantasy, especially Dungeons and Dragons.

Blair Zimmerman (FL), Assistant Project Superintendent, is a 4-year trade school graduate in Building Construction Technology. He brings over 20 years of experience in management and construction projects in condo and HOAs. In his free time, Blair enjoys playing murder mystery board games with his wife, fishing with his father, and cooking with his mother.

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We have signed a lease on new office space at 1595 W. Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing, and plan to formally open the location at the end of summer. O-A-K is headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids, with additional offices in Caledonia, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City, Michigan, as well as Naples and Fort Myers, Florida, and Castle Rock, Colorado. We employ 250 people across all of our locations and recorded $531 million in total revenue in 2025, according to Crain's Grand Rapids Business.

Our success has always been rooted in the expertise, judgment, relationships, and commitment of our people. We have been building in Michigan for 135 years, and that history reflects, more than anything, the strength of the people and partnerships behind every project we take on.

"Most of our clients like to have somebody local," said Frank Stanek, PE, President and CEO of O-A-K. "Working in the community, living in the community, and having offices in the community was really essential for us. Finding the right person to start up that office was also a key essential."

Expanding into Central Michigan is a natural next step. Clients O-A-K has worked with for years are active in the region, employees already live there, and trade partner and community relationships are already in place. Opening an office in East Lansing lets O-A-K deepen those relationships and gives partners the experience of working with O-A-K people who are members of their own community.

O-A-K will continue its focus on K-12, higher education, healthcare, government, and aviation clients as it grows in the greater Lansing area.

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The Right Person to Lead the Way

O-A-K recently named Tom Shanley to the newly created role of Director of Central Michigan Operations, where he will lead the East Lansing office. Shanley has spent most of his construction career working in the central and eastern Michigan regions, with experience at The Christman Co. and MIG Construction, and most recently as an owner's representative at Kramer Management Group.

Shanley is in the process of hiring a small East Lansing based staff of three to five people, who are expected to be working out of the office by the end of the year.

"We'll be continually growing our team as we go," Shanley said. "A lot of our field staff work out of mobile trailers and those types of things, but we want to be able to have touch down spaces to bring our teams in to talk, do safety trainings, and collaborative type things."

The office sits immediately east of U.S. 127, giving the team easy access to Shiawassee, Genesee, Livingston, Jackson, and Clinton counties.

"We feel pretty strongly that we can definitely help in this area," Shanley said. "The model that we have, it travels well, but we need that presence."

Meet Tom Shanley

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Built on Partnership

What sets O-A-K apart is the ability to advocate for the client, from the earliest stages of Preconstruction through the final days of a project. The team brings cost certainty and operational planning to complex, technically demanding work, giving partners the tools they need to make informed decisions at every stage. That approach does not change when O-A-K enters a new market. It travels with us.

As a 100 percent employee owned firm, O-A-K's people have a personal stake in every outcome. That is not a slogan, it changes how we work. When team members live in the communities they serve, that commitment deepens, and it shows up in every client relationship, every trade partner conversation, and every project delivered together. Guided by partnership, we are determined to build the best experience.

Become our Trade Partner

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Second Stop on a Bigger Map

East Lansing marks O-A-K's second recent investment outside of its home base in Grand Rapids. The company is also building a new office in Kalamazoo, at property it purchased last year in Western Michigan University's Business, Technology and Research Park. The 8,700 sf office is set to break ground this fall and open in early summer 2027.

Our Michigan Locations

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Read the story on Crain's Grand Rapids Business

July 2, 2026

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Where West Michigan Comes to Play | The Meijer Sports Complex Expansion

Where West Michigan Comes to Play | The Meijer Sports Complex Expansion

Ten years ago, the West Michigan Sports Commission broke ground on a vision. On May 11, 2026, they cut the ribbon on the next chapter of it.

Since opening in 2015, the Meijer Sports Complex in Plainfield Township has drawn athletes and families from across the country, quietly becoming one of West Michigan's most reliable engines for sports tourism and community recreation. But for WMSC President Mike Guswiler and his team, the original vision was never fully complete. A winning streak campaign and the right partnership brought that vision back to life.

O-A-K returned as Construction Manager to help make it happen.

"We wanted to build upon what we started," Guswiler said at the ribbon cutting. "We saw the Meijer Sports Complex producing the sports tourism we were looking for, but also serving as a community asset. So we brought O-A-K back to the table and said, 'Let's improve what we did.'"

The $13.5 million expansion adds the Alro Steel Championship Softball Field as its centerpiece, a signature venue designed to rival the facility's existing Boss Family Championship Field. The field features a canopy, press box, bleacher system, and lighting built for evening tournament play. Aquinas College's women's softball team already called it home during their spring season, and it will serve youth leagues from 8U and up alongside adult amateur and collegiate competition.

Rounding out the expansion: 20 new pickleball courts, two flex-use diamond fields, bullpen facilities, a concession building, restrooms, a playground, and 300 additional parking spots.

For O-A-K Project Manager Jared Gauss and his team, the project carried the weight of a returning partnership and a community that had been watching the complex grow for more than a decade.

"It was an exciting project," Gauss said. "The level of detail that went into this facility, from the bullpens to the bleacher system to the canopy and press box, everything was designed to put on a great tournament event."

The expanded complex is projected to welcome 200 additional teams annually and generate an extra $1 million in visitor spending for the region each year. For a facility that already returns roughly $90 million in annual economic impact on a $2.6 million operating budget, the expansion represents something more than square footage. It represents a community that keeps investing in itself.

"Our donors are going to be as pleased as we are with the result," Guswiler said.

So will the families, the athletes, and the teams who will call this place home for years to come.

June 16, 2026

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Mass Timber, Up Close: Inside Kalamazoo College's New Residence Hall

‍Mass Timber, Up Close: Inside Kalamazoo College's New Residence Hall

Some of the best conversations in construction happen on site, surrounded by the work itself. That was the case when Dan Gelder, project superintendent for Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., caught up with Susan Lindemann, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at Kalamazoo College, on site at their new residence hall for a conversation about what makes this project worth talking about.

"We are putting up our first new residence hall in 60 years here at Kalamazoo College," Susan said, "and we really think it's a special build."

Why Mass Timber?

For the Kalamazoo College team, mass timber was not just a structural choice. It was a values statement.

"Mass timber is really biophilic," Susan explained. "Studies have shown that introducing natural materials into a building space actually reduces anxiety and stress and improves productivity. We really want that for our students."

Mass timber products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam beams are manufactured by bonding layers of wood under pressure, creating structural elements strong enough to replace steel and concrete. The material is lighter, faster to install, and stores carbon rather than emitting it, making it one of the more compelling low-carbon options in construction today. All of the timber on this project is southern pine, sourced from the southeastern United States and manufactured in Alabama.

Sustainability at the Core

Mass timber is one piece of a broader sustainability story at Kalamazoo College. The four-story residence hall also incorporates geothermal heating and cooling, passive energy strategies, and high-performance building systems alongside student lounges, a community kitchen, a marketplace, study spaces, and other shared amenities. Construction is on track for completion in Summer 2027.

O-A-K recently welcomed students from Michigan State University's Mass Timber program to the jobsite, along with supplier SmartLam North America, for a tour as Quality Buildings LLC begins timber installation at the east tower and lobby. For the next generation of builders, there is no better classroom than the jobsite itself.

June 10, 2026

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O-A-K Opens New Office in East Lansing, Expanding Presence in Central Michigan

We are proud to announce that Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K) is opening its first office in the greater Lansing market, marking another step in our thoughtful growth across Michigan.