Locations
Gilbane Building Co.
Key Contacts
Owners, Principals & Senior Executives
Adam R. Jelan's Bio
A forward-thinking leader, Adam is responsible for promoting the continued success of Gilbane’s operations, driving regional growth through Gilbane’s divisions, and ensuring that the highest levels of operational excellence are executed for clients. He works across all of Gilbane’s divisions bolstering growth in its geographies. Adam joined Gilbane in 2005 and quickly demonstrated outstanding abilities as a leader whose work ethic, creative management skills and engaging personal style have been an inspiration to all his colleagues. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and a recognized expert in Integrated Project Delivery, Lean Construction and Building Information Modeling. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction from Bradley University and Associate of Science in Science from Harper College.
Adam has a deep passion for inspiring others to achieve their personal best and advancing the industry with continuous elevation of project delivery. He serves as Executive Sponsor for Gilbane’s Military Advantage Employee Resource Group in support of veterans. He is a founding member and board President of the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Milwaukee.
Brad A. Gordon's Bio
Brad supervises all legal affairs including corporate policymaking, compliance, claims resolution, litigation management, labor relations, contracts and corporate governance and serves as Gilbane’s chief ethics and compliance officer. Licensed to practice law in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia and D.C., he is an adjunct professor of law at Roger Williams University Law School and a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers and frequently conducts professional seminars and participates in industry panels discussing topics ranging from risk management to corporate ethics.
Brad earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
In addition to teaching, Brad has served in various elected positions for the Town of Marion, Massachusetts, as a planning board member, school committee chairperson and currently Town Moderator.
Catherine Johnson's Bio
Katherine is responsible for developing and executing the company’s global people strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization and provides leadership for the company’s integrated ESG strategy. She is responsible for implementing and managing the company’s “People First” vision. She has more than 27 years of success in implementing strategies for global companies that have achieved organizational effectiveness, business goals for growth and innovative programs to attract and retain talent.
Katherine holds a Master of Education and Organizational Development from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.
Katherine feels Gilbane’s Caring core value resonates the most with her, as it truly puts People First. It speaks to who we are as a company and how we treat our people from safety to inclusion and more. Katherine has volunteered her time in targeted event opportunities to give back into her local community to help those who are less fortunate. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Volunteers of America, Colorado Chapter.
Chris Budris's Bio
As CFO, Chris Budris leads all financial operations of Gilbane Building Company. Chris is a Certified Public Accountant who previously served Gilbane as Midwest Division Controller and most recently as Corporate Controller. He is a leader and team motivator with the ability to identify and solve problems. His 30 years of construction industry includes international operations, business, and finance. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Truman State University.
Chris has a passion for the Construction industry and developing the next generation of leaders. He has been an active member of the Construction Financial Management Association for 25 years including serving the Chicago Chapter for 8 years as a board member and a term as Chapter President. He holds the designation of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional. Chris is an active member of his community and an avid supporter of United Way.
Dan Gilbane's Bio
Dan leads the company’s strategic initiatives, including oversight for its disaster and reconstruction services firm (GRS Disaster Response); G.O. Services which is a subsidiary providing equipment, job site safety, general labor, carpentry and final cleaning services; Gilbane’s Centers of Excellence which offers expertise in strategic markets; Supply Chain and Equipment; and the company’s acquisitions strategy.
A fifth-generation Gilbane family member, Dan has direct involvement with Gilbane’s acquisition strategy. Dan received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Brown University and received a Master in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
Dan is the co-sponsor of H@LA, Gilbane’s Hispanic and LatinX Employee Resource Group and was the United Way Campaign Chair for Greater Houston helping to raise over $70 million for some of the most vulnerable community members.
Donald Naber's Bio
During Don’s tenure with Gilbane for 14 years, he has implemented and managed various insurance and risk management programs. He oversees corporate Safety, Risk, and Insurance. He is versatile in structuring Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIPs) that provide value to our clients. Don received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Providence College.
As director of the Gilbane Insurance Group (GIG), Don works closely with Gilbane’s safety, purchasing, legal and operations department.
Heidi Debenetti's Bio
A Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) certified professional with more than 25 years of industry experience and knowledge, Heidi provides strategic leadership for the core functions of safety, risk, and insurance, information technology, and merger & acquisition analysis and diligence. She is also responsible for the strategic growth and profitability of Gilbane’s Federal and Southeast Divisions.
Heidi received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder and her Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University.
Heidi believes that there’s a difference between hearing what our clients say and really listening to and understanding what they are saying in order to partner to bring the right solutions forward. She believes that one of the ways we add value is through incorporation of cutting edge technology. Heidi serves as Executive Sponsor for empoWer, Gilbane’s Employee Resource Group dedicated to supporting women within the company.
Karen Medeiros's Bio
Karen leads Gilbane’s business development teams to execute the firm’s sales strategy and engages audiences to continuously build Gilbane’s global brand and visibility. Her collaborative approach has generated award-winning campaigns, innovative digital strategies and original channels that inspire connectivity with clients, industry partners and employees.
She has held progressive roles during her 20+ years at Gilbane including marketing management and client development in New England, divisional sales management in the greater Washington DC area, and corporate leadership. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Karen is inspired by serving her community. She is the Treasurer for Construction Safety Week, an industrywide annual event that brings together more than 70 national and global construction firms and sponsors to motivate everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary which is dedicated to serving veterans, military, and their families. She is a former elected school committee member in Somerset, Massachusetts and has served on several boards including the Somerset Federal Credit Union and the Charlton College of Business at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Paul J. Choquette's Bio
Paul oversees all business and sales strategies for the Mid-Atlantic, New Jersey, and West divisions and Gilbane’s Specialty Services. In addition, Paul Choquette also leads the company’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) strategy and provides leadership to its economic inclusion commitment which is core to the company’s ESG strategy.
A fifth-generation Gilbane family member, he is an active participant in the community and industry organizations. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Paul serves as chairman for the ACE Mentor Program of Washington, D.C., and is the executive sponsor of Gilbane’s company-wide Black/African American Employee Resource Group. He is on multiple boards and serves on the Executive Board of the Federal City Council. Paul supports an innovative and inclusive culture so that teams have a safe space to explore new ideas and tools to increase productivity and efficiency. Paul believes business transformations happen when teams feel comfortable leaning into responsible risks and being solutions-driven.
Ryan E.. Hutchins's Bio
Ryan is responsible for leading our business in New England, the Midwest, Texas, and Mexico. He oversees Gilbane’s innovation strategy, including providing executive leadership for the virtual design and construction (VDC) team, the Innovation Council which drives Gilbane’s innovation culture, and Gilbane’s robotics joint-venture with NeXtera Robotics.
With over 25 years at Gilbane, Ryan has held key operational and sales management roles. He has provided hands-on leadership to numerous transformational projects across multiple market sectors such as life science, corporate high rise, food and beverage, and more. Throughout his career, he has raised the bar for quality in construction standards, bridged labor relations, championed minority participation and workforce strategies, and initiated new services. Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Wentworth Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College.
Ryan believes we can move our business forward by embracing innovation and encouraging our employees to think creatively, solve problems, and lead with an inclusive mindset. He serves as the executive sponsor for Gilbane’s Young Professionals employee resource group which engages, develops, and gives a voice to the company’s younger generation.
Steve Duvel's Bio
Steve leads the continued development, growth and oversight of Gilbane’s New England division, which is comprised of more than 320 employees. Steve began his career with Gilbane in 1997 and has served in many positions with the company. He is the co-chair of the Strategic Advisory Council of the Roger Williams University Construction Management Professional Advisory Board and is serving on New England Council’s board of directors. Graduate of the 2012, Theta II, Class of Leadership Rhode Island, he is a Lean Practitioner and graduated from the Executive Leadership Program at Babson College. He is a current member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, Construction Management Association of America and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Steve’s leadership philosophy is to lead with your strengths. When we exercise our natural talents and strengths, one quickly concludes that we need others to be successful. He believes that diverse teams are the most successful teams.
Thomas F. Gilbane's Bio
Tom is a fourth-generation Gilbane family member and the seventh to lead the company since its start in 1870. Tom sets the strategy and goals for Gilbane, Inc. in collaboration with the board of directors and directs the organization’s growth through acquisitions or investments. He has been the driving force behind Gilbane Building Company’s expansion in the U.S. and internationally. Under his guidance, Gilbane operates with a “one company” philosophy that maximizes resources and expertise for our clients. He exemplifies an inclusive family culture and commitment to our core values and safety. A graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Business’ Advanced Management Program, he earned a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in civil engineering while majoring in project management. Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Babson College and a Certificate in Building Construction from the Rhode Island School of Design. He attended Brown University for three years studying liberal arts and served six years in the Army National Guard’s Engineer Battalion as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Thomas L. Laird's Bio
Tom is president and chief executive officer of Gilbane Building Company. A 35-year veteran of Gilbane, Tom joined the company out of college and has worked throughout his career in many leadership roles in multiple regions and services areas across the country.
An executive vice president (EVP) since 2012, Tom is Gilbane’s longest-serving executive leader. Most recently, he was responsible for overseeing the New York Division, which includes New York City, Upstate New York, and New Jersey. He serves as Gilbane’s champion for our Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) agenda and leads the company’s Innovation Council and Technology Group. Tom’s previous positions at Gilbane include senior vice president/regional manager of the Central region, district manager in the Cleveland office, and regional manager of business development in the Mid-Atlantic region. He earned his Master of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Cincinnati.
Tom served as board chairman for the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland and in 2012, was the recipient of the Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Non-Profit Board Executive of the Year for his work with ACE.
Estimating, Purchasing & Preconstruction
Operations
Finance & Accounting
Gregory Coverdale's Bio
Greg manages the overall direction and leadership of the internal audit function for Gilbane. His job responsibilities include examining and evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal controls and risk management processes for Gilbane Building Company and Gilbane Development Company. Greg has over 25 years of operational, financial, and compliance auditing experience in construction and real estate development. Greg earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell University while majoring in accounting. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Pennsylvania and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Greg brings a proactive approach to internal audit and works closely with our leadership teams and business units to identify, analyze, and manage internal controls.
Michael M. Costello's Bio
Mike is responsible for maintaining the quality and timeliness of the internal reporting and controls, monthly financial reports with forecast data, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cost, payroll and joint venture accounting. He is also responsible for the administration and internal maintenance and development of all national accounts for office equipment, office supplies, travel and travel-related services. A Certified Public Accountant, Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Psychology from California State University and his Master of Business Administration/Finance from California Polytechnic University.
Mike has a proven track record of delivering top and bottom-line growth for both large and small companies in the U.S. and overseas.