Meet Your Host
CEO of ConstructReach
Paul Robinson is the Founder and CEO of ConstructReach, a national workforce development company with a key focus on diversity and inclusion. ConstructReach works to increase the visibility of the construction industry by educating students about career opportunities within construction. The company also works closely with general contractors, connecting leaders with interns and innovative internship curricula.
COVID-19’s Impact on Construction
Wednesday, April 15th @ 11AM CST
Steve Makredes
Target Corporation, Vice President of Construction
Steve Makredes, Vice President of Construction, leads the corporation’s Construction Capital Program including: New Stores, Remodels, Maintenance projects and Distribution Centers. He has experience designing big box retail as well as multi-story mixed use developments. He holds a degree in civil engineering master’s in structural engineering.
Target Corporation
Steve Makredes
Vice President of Construction
Tom Harmon
Taylor Brothers Construction Co., CEO
Tom Harmon serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and is responsible for the overall financial management, forecasting, planning, and day to day administrative support operations. He also coordinates all professional services and banking relationships.
Taylor Brothers Construction Co.
Tom Harmon
CEO
Mike Arasin
Fulcrum Construction, CEO
Mike Arasin founded Fulcrum Construction in 2003. He has over 30 years experience in retail commercial construction. Mike Arasin has grown Fulcrum into the multi-branched national contracting company it is today.
Fulcrum Construction
Mike Arasin
CEO
Construction Basics
(Career Pathways, Pay, Opportunities)
Wednesday, April 22nd @ 11AM CST via Instagram Live & Facebook Live
Thomas Crowther
The Crowther Group, CEO
In March 2017, after a 20-year General Construction Career, he founded The Crowther Group, a general construction firm located in Dallas, TX. The firm has been awarded projects with Fortune 50 enterprises and Dallas County's largest healthcare system, of which 30% of budget is with Disadvantaged and Minority businesses. The Crowther Group is also an active Industry Partner for Dallas Independent School District’s (DISD) P-TECH Program (Pathways to Technology Early College High School). Crowther connected its P-TECH participation with Target Corporation’s online community ConstructReach that is designed to encourage young people to choose construction as their career path.
The Crowther Group
Thomas Crowther
CEO
Tyshaun Allen
Taylor Brothers Construction, Marketing & IT
Tyshaun is a team leader with over 17 years of experience in the construction industry. He leads the IT and Marketing departments for Taylor Bros. Construction. He graduated from Ivy Tech Community College with an Associates in Computer Information Technology and is currently pursuing his B.S. in Business Management from Indiana University. His work experience also includes 5 years in the field as a laborer.
Taylor Brothers Construction
Tyshaun Allen
Marketing & IT
Dan Sivertson
Carpenters Union, International Representative
Dan Sivertson is an International Representative for The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. His duties include representing members and upholding the Constitution and By-Laws of the UBCJA. He works closely with Contractor’s and Owners to collaborate a professional partnership. He is also a Delegate for the Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters and serves as the Treasurer of his home Local Millwrights and Pile Drivers Local 1090. He lives in Cleveland, OH and has been a member of the UBC for 25 years.
Carpenters Union
Dan Sivertson
International Representative
The Future of Construction
Wednesday, April 29th @ 11AM CST via Instagram Live & Facebook Live
NELLY AUGUSTYN
Chipman Design Architecture, SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR
In her twelve years with Chipman Design Architecture, Nelly Augustyn has acted as both Project Manager as well as Project Architect for numerous retail and restaurant accounts. Running national expansion accounts for Ulta Beauty, Potbelly Sandwich Works and Bally Total Fitness. Recent projects include the highly-acclaimed Ulta Beauty Flagship locations in Chicago, IL and Manhattan, NY.
Her responsibilities include skilled coordination with the project’s landlord, consultant and contractor as well as survey site visits, preparation of construction documents for permit and construction administration. She has also taken the leadership role in the firm’s mentoring program by acting as an ARE licensure mentor. With more than fourteen years of experience in the industry, Nelly’s primary objectives are building strong client relationships, conceptualizing their needs and delivering a beautiful space.
Nelly is a recipient of the 2018 ICSC CenterBuild “Retail Leaders Under 40” award. Her award nomination focused on Chipman Design’s utilization of 3D gaming technology to create fully immersive client experiences for the Ulta Flagship Stores in both Chicago and Manhattan. Taking great pride in having helped grow the Ulta Beauty brand over the years through their extensive national expansion program, the company’s position aligns with her philosophy of empowering women in the workforce and body-positive messaging.
Nelly graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and is a licensed Architect in the State of Illinois.
Chipman Design Architecture
Nelly Augustyn
Senior Managing Director
Asha Baskaran
Target, Lead Program Manager, Architecture & Store Design
Asha Baskaran, lead program manager of Target Architecture, Store Design is focused on planning, resourcing and delivering remodels, new stores and re-branding projects for the Store Design Team. She also leads the Target Sustainable Building Council for developing model stores to showcase innovations in sustainable and circular design, materials and technologies. Asha’s 18 years at Target has seen her as an accomplished leader in finance, global operations and architecture. She advocates for ‘diversity with purpose’ as she has a strong belief that will bring the best solution forward. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Carlson School in Minnesota and in Architecture from Penn State University.
Target
Asha Baskaran
Lead Program Manager, Architecture & Store Design
Dan Lester
Clayco , Director of Field Diversity, Inclusion &Culture
As Clayco’s Director of Field Diversity, Inclusion & Culture, Dan Lester focuses primarily on endeavors that effect the community as a whole. Dan has the ability to help people navigate and successfully find solutions to the divest and inclusion issues they see at their companies. He believes people are our best and most important assets and he knows having a successful and diverse team is what makes a business thrive. Show a team an equitable culture and they will bring innovative leadership and ideas that transform a business.
Dan is driven by his passion to find ways to encourage and push adults and youth to thrive and adapt in all environments. He is active across many organizations and speaks frequently on a regional and national scale using personal experiences, relevant case studies and laughter to reach a wide range of audiences.
Dan received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Management Information Systems with a Minor in Information Science & Technology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Clayco
Dan Lester
Director of Field Diversity, Inclusion & Culture
Mental Health
Wednesday, May 6th @ 11AM CST via Instagram Live & Facebook Live
Roberta Moore
Founder, EQ-i
A licensed psychotherapist and executive coach with nearly four decades experience in professional services, Roberta Moore is the founder of EQ-i Coach and author of Emotion at Work: Unleashing the Secret Power of Emotional Intelligence . Certified in Emotional Intelligence through Multi-Health Systems, Inc., Moore utilizes her extensive background as an accomplished business executive and licensed therapist to help executives, business teams, and sales teams achieve workplace and personal success.
In her almost two decades as an individual and family therapist, Moore learned that the key skills responsible for successful personal relationships are the same ones that spark workplace success. With this discovery, Moore has been able to help companies succeed by focusing on emotional and cognitive intelligence behaviors and tools. By using specific, practiced skills, individuals learn from Moore the EQ skills needed to inspire, engage, relate, and ultimately increase productivity and profitability.
Moore has graduate degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy, International Management, and Taxation. Her undergraduate degrees are in Finance and French. She is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist; Certified in the EQ-i 2.0, EQ 360, MBTI and DISC assessments; a Leadership Specialist Coach; and a CPA.
EQ-i
Roberta Moore
Founder
Jennifer Curry
Professor, Human Sciences & Education, Louisiana State University
Jennifer Curry, Ph.D., NCC, Shirley B. Barton Endowed Professor in the College of Human Sciences and Education, teaches in the Counselor Education and Higher Education Administration programs at Louisiana State University. Her professional experiences include serving as a professional school counselor in elementary, middle, and high school settings. Her research interests include career and college readiness and school counselor development. She has published over 40 peer reviewed articles and five books including, “Career and College Readiness of African American Students: The Journey Unraveled” published by Lexington books; “P-12 Career and College Readiness Counseling in Schools” published by Springer; and “Integrating Play Therapy in Comprehensive School Counseling Programs” published by Information Age. She has presented her work nationally and internationally on a wide range of school counseling topics at over 150 professional conferences. Additionally, she is the associate editor of the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) Professional School Counseling journal. Dr. Curry has also served as a delegate of ASCA’s national assembly, President of the Louisiana School Counselor Association, and president of the national Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling. She is the recipient of the LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, Louisiana Counseling Association’s Research Award, ASERVIC’s Judith Miranti Lifetime Service Award, the Roger Aubrey Northstar award for the person most likely to change the field of counseling, the American Counseling Association’s Ross Trust Award for School Counseling, the Biggs-Pine publication award, ASERVIC’s meritorious service award, LSU’s College of Education Early Career Award, and Louisiana Counseling Association’s Advocacy Award.
Louisiana State University
Jennifer Curry
Professor, Human Sciences & Education
Chris Brink
Director of Construction, Ryan Companies
Chris is a Director of Construction at Ryan Companies US, Inc., a commercial real estate company with development, design, construction, capital markets and real estate management services. He manages project teams that build spaces for retail, multifamily, senior living, office, and pharmaceutical manufacturing uses.
Chris started with Ryan Companies in 2004 through an internship in Civil Engineering and is now part of the Ryan “Intern Champion” committee and the ConstructReach Advisory Council. Both groups are focused on providing opportunities for the next generation of youth through the construction industry.
Prior to starting at Ryan Companies, Chris worked his way through college by doing carpentry and concrete work for a bridge construction company. This was his first opportunity to experience construction and is where he made the decision to pursue a career in the industry.
Chris has been impacted both personally and professionally by mental health, which has heightened his interest in learning more about the many facets of mental health.
Ryan Companies
Chris Brink
Director of Construction
Virtual Interviews & Resume Tips
Wednesday, May 13th @ 11am CST via Instagram Live & Facebook Live
Michael B. Kennedy Jr.
KAI, CEO
As CEO, Michael embraces change in this ever-evolving industry. His innovative and entrepreneurial spirit has helped make KAI a technology front-runner through the early adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other cutting-edge technologies. A second-generation leader, Michael worked closely with his father, Michael Sr., KAI’s Founder, to position KAI for future success. He spends much of his time leading KAI’s strategic vision business alignment, expanding into new markets, developing new clients, and promoting diversity within the industry workforce.
As a Minority Business Enterprise, KAI started and has continued under Michael to serve the urban core of cities to transform depressed neighborhoods into thriving communities. Through working with Community Development Councils, higher education and K-12 schools, commercial office clients, health centers, retail outlets, HUD and public housing authorities nationally.
Michael has expanded KAI’s outreach nationwide with the opening of branch offices in San Antonio, TX; Atlanta, GA and Omaha, NE and has grown a diverse staff from 60 to well over 100. He has also grown the firm’s revenue from $8 million in his first year as president, to more than $35 million.
KAI
Michael B. Kennedy Jr.
CEO
Shannon McDonald
Accounting Analyst, Taylor Brothers Construction
Shannon received his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting from Indiana University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Management from Indiana University. He is currently an Accounting Analyst at Taylor Bros. Construction and has six years’ experience in the construction industry.
Taylor Brothers Construction
Shannon McDonald
Accounting Analyst
Kelly Marshall
Human Resources, Google
Kelly Marshall is an HR professional with over 12 years of experience within CPG (General Mills), financial services (Capital Group) and most recently, tech (Google). Across these roles, she has used a consultative approach to help shape HR and culture, focusing on business needs and organizational goals. Leveraging her strong relationship orientation and broad perspective, Kelly builds trust quickly and is able to influence at the most senior levels. Bringing teams together to collaborate on critical people and talent needs has helped Kelly turn cultures around and ensure organizations are set to achieve their goals.
Kelly Marshall
Human Resources
Additional Industry Insights
Reid Ribble
NRCA’s CEO
The Honorable Reid Ribble is NRCA’s CEO. Before becoming CEO, Reid served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure, he served on the Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Budget and Finance, and Foreign Affairs Committees, where he served as vice chairman of the Committee on Emerging Threats. During his time in Congress, Reid met with more than 25 heads of state and in his capacity on the Committee on Foreign Affairs traveled extensively throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Yet roofing is in his blood. For more than 30 years, Reid was the president of his own roofing company in Kaukauna, Wis. As a contractor, he volunteered countless hours serving on numerous NRCA committees and on NRCA’s board of directors. As part of his 25 years of service to the organization, Reid served as NRCA’s chairman of the board from 2005-06.
He married DeaNa, his high-school sweetheart, in 1975. They have two married children and five grandchildren.
Reid Ribble
NRCA’s
CEO
Nathan Kowallis
Vice President of Operations, McCarthy
Nate Kowallis is a commercial construction professional with more than two decades of experience. Before attending Brigham Young University, Nate worked as a carpenter and roofer on residential construction projects in California. Upon graduating, he continued to develop his field and operations skills working as a field superintendent, and then as a project engineer when he joined McCarthy Building Companies in 2008. While working his way up in management roles, Nate has managed a wide range of projects types including high-end hospitality and entertainment projects in Las Vegas, and higher-education, commercial office, and transportation projects in multiple markets in the U.S.
Over the course of his career with McCarthy, Nate has held a number of leadership roles including project manager, project director, and vice president of operations. He currently serves as the Dallas Business Unit leader for the company.
Nathan Kowallis
McCarthy
Vice President of Operations
Brenday Curry
Curtom-Dunsmuir, CEO
Brenda Curry is a native of Los Angeles. She earned a B.A. degree from the University of California at San Diego; a Masters degree from the University of Southern California; and is a graduate of the Minority Developers Executive Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1982, Brenda founded and is President of CURTOM Building & Development Corp., a construction firm that provides Construction Management and General Contracting Services. In 2000 Curtom-Dunsmuir was formed. The principal officers of Curtom-Dunsmuir are Brenda Curry and Ronnie Jones. CURTOM and Curtom-Dunsmuir have worked on a wide variety of construction projects in both the public and private sectors.
Curtom and Curtom-Dunsmuir have nationwide experience in the construction of big box retail stores, supermarkets, banking centers, interior renovations of large public institutions, sustainable affordable housing projects, and the rehabilitation of residential and commercial buildings and designated historical landmarks. These projects include construction of Wells Fargo Banks, Bank of America, Target Stores, Mervyn’s, Albertson’s Supermarkets, Sav-On Drug Stores, Rite Aid Drug Stores, apartment complexes, childcare centers, modification and erection of Electrical Generating Stations for the Dept. of Water and Power and for Southern California Edison.
The firm’s growth, over 30 years, is due to its ability to earn a reputation for high quality, cost effective and on-time completion of projects. Attention to risk management and implementation of safety controls ensures the highest degree of project success. Curtom-Dunsmuir is selective about the projects it participates in. It is important that the projects are well designed, compliment the immediate community and include amenities and services that will empower the residents. Typically on Curtom-Dunsmuir projects extensive outreach is performed to ensure maximum participation from other women and minority owned firms. Further, Curtom-Dunsmuir insists that subcontractors on their projects hire local residents and women as part of their workforce.
AWARDS
Woman of the Year
MWBE Advocate of the Year
Target Corporation Diverse Supplier of the Year Award (2009, 2010 and 2011).
Contractor of the Year
Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women
Brenda Curry
Curtom-Dunsmuir
CEO
As we navigate during these times of uncertainty, our community will remember those who were "present & actively engaged" and provided a sense of guidance and stability for those in need. ConstructReach is committed to helping the construction community work through these challenging times.
We are confident that together we will continue to create a brighter future for the construction industry.