Case Studies May 2026

Pickleball’s rise from backyard pastime to national obsession has reshaped retail real estate across the country. Warehouses and former big box stores are being reimagined as climate-controlled community hubs where players of every age gather to compete, socialize, and stay active. At the center of Ace Pickleball Club’s rapid expansion is Vincent Barrios, chief development […]

College athletics is no longer the industry it was a decade ago. The rise of name, image and likeness — NIL — has rewritten the financial and cultural contract between institutions and student-athletes, leaving athletic departments scrambling to keep pace. Coaches leave. Rosters turn over. Fan loyalty, once built on watching the same players develop […]

Conner Freiboth approaches construction as an integrated system, blending engineering, operations, and user experience. As a project manager for VASA Fitness, he operates at the intersection of design, construction, and end-user impact, helping scale a rapidly growing brand while maintaining consistency across a national footprint. VASA Fitness, headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO, is a chain […]

A university campus in Alaska operates at the intersection of extremes, where weather, geography, and infrastructure demands converge into a uniquely complex operational environment. For Chris Borst, director of facilities, maintenance and operations at the University of Alaska Anchorage, that reality defines both the challenge and the opportunity. Overseeing nearly three million square feet of […]

Amber Carrier thrives in environments where complexity meets clarity. As a project manager for Woodward Design + Build, she stands at the intersection of detailed execution and big-picture growth, helping drive a company that is expanding its footprint while doubling down on operational excellence. In an industry where delays and miscommunication are often accepted as […]

Adam Dutter did not set out to build a career in public education. His path into school construction came through the private sector, hospitality, and retail, shaped by years of managing complex facilities and capital projects long before he ever stepped onto a school campus as an owner’s representative. Today, as director of construction for […]

David Scarmardo understands that a school district’s most important work often happens quietly. Classrooms open on time. Floors shine. Heating systems run through cold Midwest mornings. Technology connects instantly for students who arrive with Chromebooks rather than notebooks. None of this happens by accident. It is the product of planning, maintenance, and coordination that begins […]

A campus that functions like a small city requires more than maintenance and logistics. It demands leadership that understands people, purpose, and the rhythm of daily life across generations. At the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, Edward Bancroft approaches that challenge with the mindset of someone who has grown alongside the campus […]

Operational complexity defines the landscape Logan Kelly stepped into when he joined Shell Mobility and Convenience USA in September 2024. Charged with leading facilities and maintenance operations across company-owned Shell gas stations and Timewise convenience stores, Kelly encountered a portfolio shaped by decades of mixed ownership. Some sites dated back to 1967. Others had been […]

Jon Potts did not arrive at project management through a straight line. His path into the electrical trades began during high school, when he spent summers working for a family friend performing residential electrical installations in custom homes. The early exposure gave him a feel for the fundamentals of the craft—and a quiet appreciation for […]