Gilbane Building Company

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.

With more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry, Dan brings an expertise and background in multiple building types and delivery methods that parallel and align with the core focus of Gilbane. He is responsible for the company’s operational accountability including profit and loss and ensuring the execution of the company’s ‘One Company’ vision, strategy and business plan. As part of his commitment to operational excellence and ensuring customer advocacy, Dan champions the strategic compliance function.

Dan earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology from the University of Northern Iowa and has completed executive training at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, University of Texas and Thunderbird University. Dan also is a Design Build Institute of America Professional.

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.

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.

Jay oversees Gilbane’s Supply Chain team, responsible for developing and implementing an enterprise-wide strategy for the acquisition of equipment, materials, and services while also creating cost savings, efficiencies, and other value-adds for our clients, projects, and businesses to achieve company objectives.

With extensive experience in the construction industry, Jay is a trusted leader in the management and implementation of measurable improvements across integrated supply chain platforms while ensuring strategic alignment with goals such as cost reduction, innovation, risk management, supply chain sustainability objectives, as well as enhancing opportunities for diverse and local market participation. He has successfully led operations both domestically and internationally, driving implementation and training across global resource bases.
Jay earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Emporia State University and a Master of Business Administration from Baker University, both in Kansas.
Jay serves as a board member for the Houston chapter of the Institute of Supply Management and gives back to the community by developing the next generation of supply chain leadership through university engagements. He participates in the Construction Industry Institute (CII) and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and is a member of the board of directors for The Ballard House, whose mission is to provide temporary housing for patients and their caregivers coming to the Katy/West Houston area medical facilities for treatment of life-threatening illnesses.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tom supports the ACE Mentor Program of America, serving for six years as chairman and now a member of its Executive Committee. His pledge is to ensure ACE programs continue to successfully prepare students for college and careers in the fields of architecture, construction and engineering, while building diversity and inclusion across the industry.

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. Tom also serves on the Legacy Board of Providence House and previously served on the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation.

Under Carolyn’s leadership, Gilbane’s Transition Planning & Management (TPM) and Facilities Management Service (FMS) have grown significantly. She specializes in large project portfolios with complex transition and facility management requirements in virtually every market sector. Known for her leadership, innovative approaches and commitment to preparing clients for successfully activating, occupying and sustaining operations of their new or renovated facilities, she is well versed in operational transition and facility activation consulting and with directing project teams. Carolyn graduated from Mercer University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications.

Carolyn’s team has a passion for working with their clients to fully understand the way they do business and what their future vision is for their new facility. They add value by capturing everything that needs to be done by the owner (outside of the construction contract) and ensuring there is a plan and resources in place to be fully operational on day one.

In 2011, Kahlil helped develop Gilbane’s wholly owned subsidiary focused on workforce development. First launched in Gilbane’s New England Division, Kahlil applied the core value of entrepreneurship to grow our workforce business, which is now utilized across all Gilbane Divisions, promoting workforce development and providing employment opportunities for a diverse population nationwide. Kahlil earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University and a Master of Urban Affairs/Planning from Boston University.

Kahlil is a role model for youth in under-resourced communities. He serves as vice-chair of the Cristo Rey High School board of trustees in Boston and was named vice-chair of the Governance Committee Boston for the Boston Police Activities League Board of Directors.

In addition to managing Gilbane’s Global Communications strategy, Lynn partners with clients to support public and stakeholder relations related to projects. Her deep experience in communications, marketing, and public affairs has been honed through numerous private and public sector leadership positions. As Executive Vice President for External Affairs & Strategy, Lynn was part of the executive management team that planned, opened, and operated the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. She served as Press Secretary to New York Governor George Pataki. During the 9/11 attacks, she was the Mayor’s Deputy Press Secretary, coordinating the City’s communications response in the aftermath. She is a member of Gilbane’s New York City Economic Inclusion Task Force which is dedicated to advancing opportunities for underrepresented businesses. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

Lynn is a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization pursuing constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and State.

Rebecca is responsible for directing Gilbane Building Company’s construction safety program working collaboratively with senior and local management teams to optimize Gilbane’s safety performance. Under her strong leadership and guidance, Gilbane maintains an outstanding safety record and continues to be an industry leader in workplace safety. Rebecca has held various roles since joining Gilbane and has been integral in implementing the company’s commitment to “Gilbane Cares,” an Incident and Injury Free approach to safety that has changed the company’s culture. Rebecca graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. She recently retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air National Guard, and is both a Certified Industrial Hygienist and a Certified Safety Professional.

Rebecca is active in the American Society of Safety Professionals’ Wisconsin Chapter as a Past President, Women In Safety Excellence Chair and Mentor.

Yvette leads the planning and execution of Gilbane’s corporate economic inclusion strategies to support our commitment to marketplace and workforce inclusion and diversity. She is responsible for developing and implementing Gilbane’s community benefit commitments and promoting and engaging small, local and diverse business enterprises. Yvette works to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, organizations, associations and trades to enhance contracting opportunities for small, diverse and local businesses and to promote inclusion and training of a diverse workforce on our projects. Yvette holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Master of Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University, and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University. She is a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Yvette feels entrepreneurship solidifies Gilbane’s commitment to seeing small, local and diverse businesses build wealth for their families and communities, while encouraging innovative and creative thinking by our own employees.

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.

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.

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.