SSOE group is a privately owned company with day-to-day involvement of its shareholders.
Asterisk denotes Board member.
BOB HOWELL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PRESIDENT*
Bob Howell began his career with SSOE in 1980. During his tenure, he worked his way up from a draftsman trainee through draftsman, designer, senior designer, and project manager. He was named an associate in 1990.
In 1993, Bob helped “kick start” the firm’s food sector. He was named a principal in 1999, ultimately taking the helm of all Industrial Process Operations in 2004. Under his leadership, the Industrial Operations group grew significantly–adding a number of Fortune 500 and international clients to the company’s roster. Bob moved into an International Operations position in late 2008 to support SSOE’s expansion globally, specifically in Asia, where he assisted in growing our Shanghai office into SSOE’s second largest office at the time and initiated our acquisition of NKS / d-Tech in India. In October 2009, Bob was named Chief Operating Officer, responsible for SSOE’s global operations.
In 2006, Bob was elected to SSOE’s Board of Directors and served as Chairman from December 2007 to December 2012. Due to term limits, Bob relinquished his Board seat in 2013 and became a non-voting Board Advisor. He was re-elected to the Board in December of 2013 and now serves in a permanent capacity during his tenure as CEO. Bob serves on a number of community boards and was recently honored by EY as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award for Michigan and Northwest Ohio.
VINCE DIPOFI, JR., PE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT*
Vince holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and Michigan with more than 30 years of professional experience. He started at SSOE in 2000 as business leader for SSOE’s food group, which eventually rose to a #2 ENR ranking. He was instrumental in developing engineering alliance relationships with several of SSOE’s Top 10 clients and spearheaded the Value Promise program, which documents savings SSOE initiates for clients. Vince works with account managers in developing accounts globally and has championed efforts for more strategic proposals and an improved win rate. He was named a Principal in 2006. Vince has been influential in fostering a culture of business development within SSOE and has held previous roles as Director of Business Development, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and provided oversight of SSOE’s Mexico and China operations.
JIM JAROS, CPA, JD
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER / CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT*
Jim joined SSOE in 2001 as Chief Financial Officer and provides our leadership with a vast array of domestic and international business experience. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an Attorney licensed in the states of Ohio and Michigan. In his career, he has functioned in multi-faceted roles as both a financial officer and as legal counsel.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bowling Green State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. Jim is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs as well as the American, Michigan, Ohio, and Toledo Bar Associations. Jim serves on various charitable boards including the Toledo Legacy Foundation, Financials Executives International, and All-Saints Church.
MICHAEL MURPHY
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL BUILDING*
Mike joined SSOE as an entry-level controls engineer in 1987 and now serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Senior Vice President, General Building.
Mike earned a Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery. Prior to serving as the Food and Consumer Products (FCP) SBU Manager, he held the positions of Project Manager and Business Leader as well as Account Executive for the cereal market sector, working with companies such as General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Quaker. Mike was named an Associate in June 2001, a Sr. Associate in June 2005, and became a Principal in 2010.
MARY STEPNICK, AIA, PMP
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mary joined SSOE in 1984 as a drafter in the Architectural department. Over the course of her 30+ year career at SSOE she has experienced and led many changes. Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Technology (Individualized Program) from the University of Toledo in 1990, obtained her Architectural registration in 1996, and was promoted into a Senior Project Manager role in 1998—eventually leading the Project Management department in the Automotive and Manufacturing Facilities business unit. She became Project Management Professional (PMP) certified in 2008. In 2011, Mary moved from the operations side of the business to corporate, serving as the Director of Quality, later being promoted to the position of Chief Administrative Officer with oversight of SSOE’s corporate functions. Mary works out of SSOE’s Chandler, Arizona, office.
DANIEL VINING, PMP
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND INNOVATION
Dan serves as Senior Vice President, responsible for the firm’s international—China, India, and Mexico—operations as well as Greenfield Ventures, Inc., an entity created to fund R&D and innovation initiatives within the company. He has more than 25 years of project management experience as well as expertise in glass manufacturing and process, food process, and construction. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo, an OSHA 30-hour certification, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
DOUG BERNER, PE, PMP
STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER; ENERGY, GLASS, CHEMICAL, AND MANUFACTURING (EGCM); SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Doug has more than two decades of professional design experience within the chemical, refinery, and industrial markets. He joined SSOE in 1988—he was named an Associate of the Firm in October 1999, a Senior Associate in 2005, and a Principal in 2009. Doug is a graduate of the University of Detroit and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2009.
JENS EBERT, PE, PMP
DIVISION MANAGER, FOOD AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS, PRINCIPAL*
Jens is currently a Division Manager for SSOE’s Food and Consumer Products (FCP) business unit. He started with SSOE in 2010, but has more than 28 years of experience in the consulting engineering business. This includes more than 10 years as a process / project engineer providing design solutions for a wide range of industrial, manufacturing, and food / beverage projects. Many of those projects resulted in products that were new or unique in the marketplace.
Jens earned his Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) from Pennsylvania State University and his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He is also a registered Professional Engineer in the mechanical discipline and has a PMP certification. Jens works in SSOE’s St. Paul office and lives across the river in south Minneapolis with his wife, son, and two Saint Bernards.
NATHAN CZERNIEJEWSKI, PE, PMP
GENERAL MANAGER, EPCM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT*
Nate joined SSOE in 1995 as a student intern and quickly advanced within the organization. Over the years, Nate has gained invaluable experience by serving as SSOE’s on-site engineering manager for Toyota in San Antonio, Texas; Princeton, Indiana; and Valenciennes, France. Subsequently, he served as Section Manager, Senior Project Manager, On-site Lead Construction Manager, and Division Manager before becoming General Manager for SSOE’s Construction Management Division. Nate is a graduate of the University of Toledo and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In addition, he obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2012. Nate was named a Principal in 2015.
JIM LEWIS
STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER, FOOD AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS (FCP), SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT*
Jim started his career with SSOE in 2001 as a contract staff member with SSOE’S Food and Consumer Products SBU. He became an employee of SSOE in 2002 as an Engineer 3. His career continued to progress and in 2009 he was promoted to Section Manager of FCP’s Controls Department. In 2011, Jim was named Department Manager, in 2015 he became a Principal, and in 2017 he was selected as the FCP SBU Manager. Jim is a past recipient of SSOE’s Leadership Award for demonstrating leadership in all facets of his SSOE career: both as a Department Manager (leading staff across five locations) and as a Project Manager (with accounts earning more than $2M in revenue). Jim is a graduate of the University of Toledo, where he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.
CATHERINE MYERS, PE
STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY (AT), SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT*
Catherine joined SSOE in July 2017 and brought with her 25+ years of expertise and a deep familiarity with the semiconductor industry. She previously held the position of Senior Vice President for CH2M’s Industrial and Advanced Technology Business Group with responsibility for the semiconductor market—overseeing $200 million in annual revenue. Most recently, Catherine had been the Director of Industry and Community Partnerships within the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering at the University of Portland. In addition to serving on SSOE’s Board of Directors, Catherine also serves on the board for two local organizations in Portland, Oregon, where she resides and works.
CHRISTOPHER O’CONNOR, PE, PMP
STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER; HEALTH, COMMERCIAL, & EDUCATION; SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Chris has 25 years of experience, beginning his career in SSOE’s civil / structural department in 1990. In 2011, Chris became a Principal at SSOE and in 2016, he was promoted to lead SSOE’s Healthcare, Commercial, and Education (HCE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Previously, Chris served as a Business Leader in SSOE’s Industrial Facilities group and was appointed Director of Business Development, responsible for driving growth and enhancing account management to help fulfill SSOE’s mission of making clients successful by saving them time, trouble, and money. He has also served as a Project Manager on major industrial, commercial, and retail projects across the United States. Chris is a graduate of the North Dakota State University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering. He works out of SSOE’s St. Paul, Minnesota, office.
LESLIE ACCARDO, ISO 9001: LEAD AUDITOR, PMP, LEED AP BD+C
QUALITY SYSTEMS MANAGER
Leslie joined SSOE in 2001 as a Store Planning Specialist. She has served in a variety of roles during her career at SSOE, including Store Planner, Interior Designer, Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, and Quality Compliance Manager. Her project work at SSOE has primarily revolved around the retail and facilities industries which has given her a solid background for the operations side of the business. In 2015, she was promoted to Quality Systems Manager and is responsible for SSOE’s quality management system including maintenance of the firm’s ISO 9001:2015 compliance program. She also oversees knowledge management, lessons learned, and various continuous improvement initiatives. Leslie works out of SSOE’s Troy, Michigan, office.
MIKE GRIGGS
DIRECTOR OF COMPUTER & INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Mike started with SSOE in 2000 as a systems coordinator for SSOE’s helpdesk department. Since then he has held a variety of roles including Systems Analyst, Systems Administrator, IT Department Manager, and now Director of C&IS. In his role, he is responsible for the firm’s information technology, design technology, and database and applications groups. Mike has his bachelor’s degree from Baker College in information systems management. He is also Microsoft certified in configuration operations management.
BETSY HURNER
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Betsy has nearly 20 years of experience marketing the architecture, engineering, and construction management industry. In her role, Betsy oversees a lean, focused, and energetic department of B2B marketers responsible for all marketing, communications, and public relations functions. She builds awareness of and shapes SSOE’s brand through various marketing communication channels and also oversees business planning, account management, and the proposal process.
Betsy joined SSOE as a student intern in 2000. Graduating from the University of Toledo in 2001, she has served in various positions, rising through the ranks of the marketing department to become Director of Marketing in 2015.
BRAD ROWE, CCWP
DIVISION MANAGER, MEXICO OPERATIONS, PRINCIPAL
Brad joined SSOE in 2011 as the HR Business Leader, Talent Acquisition and Staffing, bringing extensive recruitment experience in the AEC industries to the firm. In 2015, Brad was promoted to Director, Talent Acquisition, taking on the additional responsibility of leading SSOE’s International Human Resources team. As part of SSOE’s international expansion, Brad helped establish our Mexico operation and office in 2014 and, in 2018, Brad took on the leadership of SSOE’s Mexico operations. As the Division Manager of our Mexico Operations, Brad is responsible for the strategic vision and growth of our operation in Mexico. During his career at SSOE, Brad has provided leadership on a number of strategic initiatives, including talent acquisition, culture, diversity and inclusion, mergers and acquisitions, and international operations.
Brad received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from The University of Toledo in Ohio and earned his Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) certification in 2013. He was named Senior Associate in 2011 and Principal in 2018.
JENNIFER WUERTZ, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP
DIRECTOR OF TALENT MANAGEMENT, VICE PRESIDENT
Jennifer joined SSOE’s Human Resources department in 1993. She served in various positions within the Human Resources Department before being named Director, Talent Management, in late 2014. In 1999, Jennifer was named an Associate, and in 2006, she became a Sr. Associate, and finally a Principal in 2016. Twice a graduate of the University of Toledo, Jennifer has received both her Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management and her Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), having attained certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). She is a member of both the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Northwest Ohio Human Resource Association (NOHRA).
BOB MCCAIN, PE
DIVISION MANAGER, SOUTHEAST U.S. INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, VICE PRESIDENT
Bob joined SSOE in 1997 as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and two years later was promoted to Mechanical Department Manager. In 2017, Bob was named Division Manager within SSOE’s Automotive and Manufacturing Facilities (AMF) SBU—with a specific focus on Southeast U.S. Industrial Operations. He was named an Associate in June 2001, a Senior Associate in June 2005, and a Principal in 2009. Bob is a graduate of the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He works out of SSOE’s Nashville, Tennessee, office.
MATTHEW OBERTS, PE, LEED AP
SBU MANAGER, AUTOMOTIVE FACILITIES, PRINCIPAL
Matt started his career at SSOE in 2007 as the Mechanical Engineering Department Manager in the Facilities SBU. In 2009, Matt obtained both his Professional Engineering (PE) license and his LEED for New Construction Accreditation. He was promoted to Technical Division Manager in 2010 within SSOE’s Automotive and Manufacturing Facilities (AMF) SBU, named an SSOE Principal in 2015, and is currently the SBU Manager of AMF. Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. In addition, he earned an MBA in Strategic Management from Davenport University.
GREGORY ROSSLER
DIVISION MANAGER, PROCESS, VICE PRESIDENT
Greg has over 34 years of experience in the AEC Industry with a technical background in Instrumentation and Controls related to the Refining, Glass, Chemical and Manufacturing industries. He joined SSOE in September 2004 as a National Account Executive through SSOE’s acquisition of AVCA Corporation where he managed the company’s business development process. In September 2006, Greg was promoted to Division Manager of the Industrial Process Regional Offices Division and has grown that position over the years to a current position as Division Manager for all Technical Resources and Project Management within SSOE’s Energy, Glass, Chemical, and Manufacturing (EGCM) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). In addition to his Division Management responsibilities Greg also maintains involvement in a number of major accounts and has played key roles in SSOE’s successful acquisition and integration of Orbital Technical Solutions (OTS), East Ohio Machinery (EOM) and Evergreen. In his current role, Greg provides leadership for staff residing in seven SSOE locations that includes the project management organization as well as all technical resources including, mechanical process, chemical, piping, furnace design, machine design, environmental, power, instrumentation, and controls.
BRETT SUSANY
DIVISION MANAGER, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY BASEBUILD, VICE PRESIDENT
Brett has over 20 years of experience in project management and mechanical engineering, with a strong focus on basebuild facility retrofits and process tool installation. As a part of the merger between SSOE and Evergreen, Brett joined SSOE in 2013 as a Principal and Sr. Project Manager. His experience with project management has been demonstrated on projects large and small and he has proven his ability to organize and mobilize project teams, while providing support for site offices often on multiple concurrent projects. Brett is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering. Brett splits his time between client sites and SSOE’s Hillsboro, Oregon, office in the Portland Metro Area.
CLEM WOOD
VICE PRESIDENT, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Clem is responsible for maintaining client relationships and pursuing new opportunities globally to support SSOE’s Advanced Technology group, with a specialized focus on high tech and advanced manufacturing. With nearly three decades of program / project management experience in the semiconductor industry, Clem joined SSOE as a Principal as part of SSOE’s merger with Evergreen EDC. He has a history of providing superior oversight on projects large and small. He has maintained overall responsibility for ensuring engineering quality for numerous ramp and retrofit projects, including basebuild, fit-up, and tool install (150mm, 200mm, and 300mm technologies). Clem’s expertise lies in managing design and construction contracts, developing standards for tool installation design, and his ability to effectively balance management of engineering and construction responsibilities. Clem earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering. Clem spends much of his time on the road, frequently spending time in SSOE’s Shanghai office as he pursues China’s growing semiconductor market. He is based out of SSOE’s Hillsboro, Oregon, office.
JEREMY WOODGATE, PE, SE
DIVISION MANAGER, HIGH TECH, PRINCIPAL
Jeremy is a Division Manager in SSOE’s Advanced Technology (AT) SBU. Jeremy joined SSOE as AT Structural Department Manager through the firm’s merger with Evergreen EDC in 2013. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada and previously worked for Intel Corporation as one of three licensed structural engineers worldwide (at the time). There, his responsibilities included technical oversight for the development of tool install master designer packages used across all of Intel’s fabrication facilities. Missing the challenges of the consulting world, Jeremy left Intel and joined Evergreen EDC in 2007, where he focused on projects in the solar and microelectronics business sectors. During his time with SSOE, Jeremy has worked as Structural Department Manager, Project Manager, and most recently, Division Manager. He was named a Principal in 2017 and works from SSOE’s Hillsboro, Oregon, office.
JOE BADALAMENTI, PE, PMP
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, FOOD & CONSUMER PRODUCTS, PRINCIPAL
Joe is a Senior Account Executive and Project Manager for SSOE’s Food and Consumer Products (FCP) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Joe joined SSOE in 2002 as business leader and office manager for the newly established Kalamazoo, Michigan, office where he continues to work. He graduated from the Michigan Technological University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and from the University of Dayton in 1985 with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
During his tenure at SSOE, Joe has worked in the FCP SBU leading major projects in the U.S. and China. He was promoted to Senior Account Executive in 2015, working to develop business with new and existing clients, while managing projects and providing process engineering insight and mentorship to SSOE staff. Joe is a registered professional engineer in Michigan and Ohio and was named a Principal in 2017.
MICHAEL DUFFEY, PE
DEPARTMENT MANAGER, CIVIL, PRINCIPAL
Mike has more than three decades of professional industry experience including significant military service. Mike joined SSOE in 1999 and currently serves as the Civil Department Manager within SSOE’s Automotive and Manufacturing Facilities (AMF) SBU. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron and is a graduate of the United States Air Force Air War College. Mike has served on the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Ohio Board of Directors since 2009 and was named President of ACEC Ohio in July 2016. Mike was named an SSOE Principal in 2011.
S. SONNY HAMIZADEH, AIA
ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENT MANAGER, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, PRINCIPAL*
Sonny joined SSOE in 2012. He is a registered architect in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania with more than 30 years of experience in project design and layout, constructability reviews, construction administration, and project management. In his current role, Sonny oversees SSOE’s Healthcare, Education, and Commercial (HCE) SBU’s business development efforts and manages the architectural department staff, spanning four states, from SSOE’s headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. Sonny received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architectural and Environmental Design from BGSU as well as an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Design from Monterey Peninsula College in California. He was named an SSOE Principal in 2017.
MICHAEL HICKMAN
BUSINESS LEADER, PRINCIPAL
Mike joined SSOE in 2010 through an acquisition of EOM (East Ohio Machinery, Ltd) and was later named an SSOE Principal in 2015. As a past-owner of EOM, Mike brought many years of experience in engineering, business operations, and business development to SSOE in addition to vast expertise in the metals and power sectors. Mike is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio and Texas and a member of the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron in 1976 and works out of SSOE’s Alliance, Ohio, office.
ROBERT “SCOTT” GOODWIN, CHST
CORPORATE SAFETY MANAGER
As Corporate Safety Manager, Scott Goodwin is responsible for providing safety leadership, training, and guidance. This includes conducting safety audits and inspections for SSOE’s corporate facilities and construction work sites as well as developing contractor qualification standards, reporting safety metrics, and authoring weekly safety tips for staff as well as the company’s safety blog.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Safety Engineering Technology from Fairmont State University and is a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST). He has been a firefighter for over 34 years and a Lieutenant for over 18 years. His specialties are technical rescue, but more specifically, confined space rescue, swift water rescue, and ice rescue. Scott is also a security officer of nine years, holding a private investigator license and extensive tactical training.
LOUISE SCHLATTER, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
MASTER ARCHITECT, PRINCIPAL
Louise joined SSOE as its first female registered architect and quickly became the go-to architect for large, complex buildings and working for clients such as Honda, Ford, Toyota, General Motors, and Kellogg, as well as confidential clients in the chemical and semiconductor industries. Louise was also one of the firm’s first registered professionals to learn and embrace CAD technology and provide international design services to clients. She took on the challenge of becoming SSOE’s first certified LEED® Accredited Professional (AP) and has leveraged it to help SSOE’s clients achieve a number of firsts, including Platinum certification for Volkswagen’s $1 billion automotive production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Today, as a Master Architect, Louise helps resolve project challenges, develops technical solutions, and mentors staff with her 35+ years of experience. In 2016, her efforts were recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) when she was honored with AIA Ohio’s “Mentor of the Year” award. Louise received her Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Cincinnati as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo. She is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute and the AIA’s national, Ohio, and Toledo chapters. Louise’s many firsts and valuable contributions led to her being named an SSOE Principal in 2017.
Outside Directors
LORI GILLETT
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT / OWNER OF KOKOSING, INC.*
JOHN PEMBERTON
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING FOR INTEL CORPORATION*
SUE KING
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONS CONSULTANT OF SDK GROUP*
