BEAR Construction Co.

George and two of his brothers co-founded BEAR Construction in 1984 with the dream of building a company providing the highest caliber of services with the personal touch of a family firm. Under George’s leadership, BEAR has grown that concept into one of Chicago’s premiere General Contractors, completing over three billion dollars of work during his tenure. As BEAR’s CEO, George’s vision and integrity are manifested in everything that the company’s 200+ employees do. He has created a strong and vibrant company culture that prioritizes people over profits, ensuring that every project, no matter its size, is treated with the same level of importance and respect. George holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance with a minor in Real Estate and Insurance from Southern Illinois University and spent seven years as a union carpenter prior to starting BEAR. Generous with his time, George serves on a number of corporate and charitable boards and co-founded the BEAR Foundation, a non-profit that he currently chairs. He also was instrumental in the mentorship of a Chicago MBE general contracting firm and has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the CFMA Executive of the Year.

Since joining the firm in 2002, Dennis has completely transformed BEAR Construction Company’s role as a strategic advisor and partner to clients. Throughout Dennis’s 40-year career he has worked for Architecture, Development, Subcontracting and General Contracting firms which has allowed him to have a well-rounded insight into all aspects of the industry. Through his leadership of the preconstruction & estimating team, Dennis transformed the way BEAR predicts costs and labor upfront in order to see the entire life cycle of a project from start to finish before ever beginning the work. This degree of accuracy allows BEAR to find efficiencies within the work and build in cost and schedule savings for BEAR’s clients. Dennis is an integral part of BEAR’s executive leadership team, providing seasoned and steady leadership across all segments of the company’s operations. Dennis was a driving force behind BEAR’s involvement at the Old Chicago Post Office, the hugely successful renovation of the iconic structure that anchors Chicago’s entrance from the west. Dennis holds a degree in Applied Science from the College of DuPage and is ASPE Certified. Dennis is a member of the Boys & Girls Club Advisory Committee and is actively involved with the BEAR Foundation. He has personally helped raise millions of dollars for many of the charities that BEAR supports.

Jim co-founded BEAR Construction in 1984 with the vision of creating a company dedicated to hard work, high quality and the ability to evolve as technologies change. As President, Jim focuses his energies on the overall operations of the company, guiding policies related to efficiency, quality, safety and most importantly, the health and happiness of BEAR’s diverse workforce. Jim also oversees BEAR Construction’s Healthcare division, which under his leadership has become a leading construction entity in Chicago, the Midwest and beyond. As healthcare regulations and technology evolve rapidly, Jim keeps BEAR’s team on the leading edge of those trends and helps healthcare clients navigate the changing landscape to maximize the value and efficiency of their facilities. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in Building Science and Construction Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He serves on the Ascension Foundation Board and the Board of Governors for a Chicago metropolitan area Boys & Girls Club. He is affiliated with AFE, HESNI, ASHE and USGBC. He holds a LEED AP certification as well as an ASHE - Healthcare Construction Certification.

Scott joined BEAR Construction in 1987, working each summer during his studies at Northeast Missouri State University. Shortly after graduating with a Marketing degree in 1991, Scott joined the firm full-time and has worked the last three decades leading up to his current role as Executive Vice President. The majority of Scott’s career has been focused on commercial interiors and workplace design, and his experience and knowledge of those markets helps guide the firm’s strategy and policies across all aspects of the business. Scott currently oversees BEAR’s corporate interiors group, headquartered in the Chicago office, and was deeply involved in the historic renovation of Chicago’s Old Post Office. Along with these duties, he is also very involved in BEAR’s business development efforts, the marketing program and overall operations of the firm. During Scott’s tenure, the company has completed well over 200 million square feet of interior space, winning several Contractor of the Year awards along the way. Scott’s leadership style emphasizes fairness, inclusion and a client-first mentality that exemplifies BEAR’s ideals. Scott is professionally affiliated with the CBC, IFMA, BOMA, and CREN.

Anthony has 20 years' experience in all types of construction in the municipal and education sector. With his extensive experience, Anthony expertly navigates the public construction sector while providing superior customer service.

"Everyone at BEAR takes a high level of care to ensure their clients have a great experience and receive a quality project that will be enjoyed for years to come. It’s amazing to be part of a company that will do whatever it takes to ensure that we deliver on all aspects of every construction project we build."

Paul has more than a quarter-century of commercial real estate and construction experience in Chicago. He grew up in the trades, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and earned a Master of Science in Real Estate. Paul has led a BEAR property redevelopment team that won three BOMA Toby Awards including an international TOBY. Paul’s career began in property accounting, transitioned to tenant representation, property management and construction management. This diverse background provides Paul with a deep understanding of all parties’ roles in the construction process.

Paul directly manages BEAR’s Estimating team and oversees many Preconstruction and Scheduling efforts.

"My favorite thing about working at BEAR is the people I work with. Looking forward to being at the office every day is not very common in this world and I am thankful I get to say I do!"

Ryan leads the development and growth within the Industrial sector and manages a team of thirteen accomplished professionals with targeted experience in several specialized markets.

"It’s easy to stand behind a company like BEAR when the leaders share and promote the same set of values that you hold in high regard for your yourself. I am extremely fortunate to be part of such a motivated group that always persevere, even in the most challenging of environments.”

Tim and his team average nearly 100 projects each year ranging from smaller tenant maintenance projects to full multi-million-dollar contracts for complete office buildouts. He oversees construction projects of all types in downtown Chicago with a focus on repeat business for landlords at prestigious addresses such as theMART and 350 N Orleans.

"It's easy to look forward to coming to work every day when you work with such a great group of people. The family atmosphere is one of the keys to BEAR Construction’s long-term success. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for this company."

Tim is a dedicated Vice President who oversees the growing Milwaukee Office and services the entire state of Wisconsin.

"George and Jim Wienold have created a truly collaborative atmosphere at BEAR. Each BEAR team member brings their expertise to the table so we can give our customers the most cost effective, safe and efficient project."

Victor leads the construction and development of BEAR’s Healthcare sector with a team of fifteen individuals. He has nearly 40 years of Industry experience, with over 30 of those being focused on healthcare, in virtually every type of construction.

"I think we all take great satisfaction in successfully completing construction projects, but there is an extra level of pride when it comes to building healthcare facilities that enrich the lives of so many people."

John manages all of BEAR’s field personnel, project operations and the company’s environmental, health and safety programs.

"The entire executive team shares my passion and sense of responsibility as it relates to the full scope of BEAR's safety and project operation programs. I am proud of our steadfast commitment to these ideals and our focus on continuous improvement."

Kathy was previously a member of the BEAR Team from 1991-1995 before leaving to raise her family. She returned to BEAR in 2012 and served as Director of Finance and Administration for 10 years where she converted and updated BEAR’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and implemented other technologies developing today's sophisticated and full-featured accounting, payroll and HR processes. As Vice President of Operations, Kathy continues to oversee both the Finance and Administration operations at BEAR, but also focuses on providing better resources and training for the growing BEAR team. Kathy’s expanded leadership role includes employee development, expanding and improving BEAR’s DE&I initiatives and maximizing charitable and community outreach programs. Kathy is the Executive Director of the BEAR Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, as well as the leader of both the BEAR DE&I committee and the BEAR Cares program.

Brett leads BEAR's Marketing and Public Relations efforts and also works closely with the BEAR Project Management Teams on project pursuits.

"I truly enjoy working for a company that cares about the their clients as deeply as BEAR does, knowing that we just do things right and that we're not happy until the client is. We also have that same attitude with our own employees."

With nearly $200M of completed work to his credit on the Project Managment side, Nick has been one of BEAR’s steadiest and most successful project professionals. Nick now focuses his efforts primarily on client relationships and the pursuit of new workplace opportunities within Commercial Real Estate.

“Since my start at BEAR, I have seen the company evolve, grow and adapt. I am consistently inspired and driven to excel with the teams and client relationships at BEAR.”

Paola develops strategic plans to pursue and identify business opportunities that align with the company’s vision and experience across all markets.

“We are continuously amplifying a purpose-driven culture at BEAR. That is a direct reflection on the quality of work we do.”

Angie is responsible for recruiting, onboarding, learning and development, employee benefit programs and developing and implementing HR strategies that align with the company's overall business strategy.

“It's the people that make an organization great, and BEAR has great leadership and people! BEAR continues to grow, focus on its customers and employees, and give back to the community. I look forward to learning and growing with the team!”

Jim heads up the IT Department at BEAR and works with stakeholders at all levels of the Company to ensure that IT systems are secure and accessible.

“One of the things I love about BEAR is their willingness to consider new and different approaches to solving complex problems.”