Case Studies November 2025

For Grand Rapids Public Schools, facilities are more than brick and mortar—they’re the foundation of equitable, high-quality education. Overseeing this transformation is Dale Cammenga, Director of Planning, Design, Construction, and Renovations. With four decades of experience in the design and construction industries, he leads the district’s ambitious facilities strategy anchored by the $305 million “Reimagine […]

For more than 26 years, Brandon Heinzen has embodied what it means to grow with purpose. Starting as a field electrician and rising through the ranks to project manager, operations manager, and now business development leader for healthcare at Hunt Electric, his journey is one of grit, mentorship, and ownership—both literally and figuratively. At Hunt […]

For more than four decades, Jon Papps has lived and breathed construction. From his early days managing large commercial and industrial projects to his current role as senior project manager at LS3P Associates, Papps has navigated nearly every corner of the built environment. His career path reflects a rare blend of hands-on construction management, deep […]

For Bart Battista, senior director of facilities, insurance, and safety at Best Friends Animal Society, his work is more than a career—it’s part of his family’s legacy. His parents were among the organization’s founders in 1984, and Battista himself spent summers on the grounds of the sprawling 5,000-acre sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. As a teenager, […]

When Melissa Cantrell discusses her work, she doesn’t start with floor plans or design software. Instead, she starts with people. As president of CDH Partners, a women-owned architecture firm based in Georgia, Cantrell leads with a people-first philosophy that shapes every project and every interaction.   “We’re more than architects—we’re partners in design with a […]

At the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, sustainability is not just a buzzword but a way of life. Overlooking the Mississippi River, this 1,622-room hotel—one of the five largest Hiltons in the world—is known for its southern hospitality and world-class guest experience. But behind the scenes, a transformation is taking place. Led by Director of Property […]

When Casey Markwell recalls his first week on the job at Rocky Mountain Health Care Services, he still pauses to gather himself. A call had come in about an elderly woman who used a wheelchair and lived in a single-wide trailer. She hadn’t been outside on her own in years; the only way she could […]

When Shiann Hernandez was a civil engineering student at Texas A&M University, she already knew that her future would be about more than designing structures—it would be about serving people. A trip to Nicaragua with the student organization Just for Water changed everything. Helping to install a water distribution system for an underdeveloped community, she […]

Standing high above the Sacred Valley of Peru, Aubrey Wyrick stared in awe at the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The sheer scale and precision of the 15th-century Incan masterpiece—constructed without cranes, concrete, or computers—left her speechless. As a project manager who spends her days wrangling complex schedules, coordinating contractors, and navigating modern building codes, […]

For Jerry Snead, division project manager for Alliance Material Handling, success is measured in more than project completions or profit margins. It’s reflected in the trust of long-term clients, the satisfaction of employees, and the strength of a company built on integrity. “At this stage in my career, my focus is really on doing a […]