Skender, a Chicago-based construction, design and manufacturing firm, has announced the recent promotions of five individuals on the firm’s expanding operations team. The employees, Pete Conlin, John Estes, Jeff Krause, Brian Ribordy and Dan Torres include a new safety director and four new directors of field operations.
“These five individuals epitomize our core values and embody what it means to be a leader at Skender,” said Justin Brown, president. “Their enthusiasm and proven track record of driving successful projects in the field is unparalleled, and their ability to execute projects, meet deadlines and satisfy our clients is impressive. We are thrilled to announce their well-deserved promotions and look forward to their continued leadership over our field operations teams.”
Pete Conlin—promoted to director of field operations from senior superintendent, team leader—joined Skender in 2011 and successfully completed several large-scale tech build-outs, including Motorola Mobility, Google, ConAgra Foods and GGP. Conlin continues to demonstrate his strong loyalty to Skender and his team, and currently plays an integral role in building out Skender’s new manufacturing facility prior to production start. In his new role, he will oversee all field operations of tenant improvement projects.
John Estes joined Skender in 2013 and was promoted to director of field operations from senior superintendent, team leader. A driving force behind Skender’s successful field operations at Northwestern Medicine, Estes has served as superintendent for numerous high-profile build-outs at Northwestern Medicine and, as team leader, helps guide Skender’s healthcare field operations teams. In his new role, Estes will oversee all field operations of healthcare projects.
Jeff Krause was promoted to director of field operations from senior superintendent. Krause joined Skender in 2017 and has overseen field operations of Skender’s largest ground-up project to date, Hyatt House in the Fulton Market neighborhood of Chicago. Through his vast experience leading field operations of high- and mid-rise developments, Krause has led Skender’s team through the successful Hyatt House project that has consistently been ahead of schedule. In his new role, he will oversee all field operations of ground-up projects.
Brian Ribordy, who joined Skender in 2011, was promoted to director of field operations from senior superintendent, team leader. Prior to his current work at North Shore Place assisted living, Brian successfully completed the Woodlawn Station affordable housing project in Chicago and Grandbrier of Prospect Heights ground-up memory care and assisted living facility. He continues to demonstrate his expertise in managing ground-up projects in the affordable and senior living sectors. In his new role, Ribordy will oversee all field operations of multi-unit projects.
Dan Torres, CHST, STS-C was promoted to safety director from SPQ manager. Torres, who joined Skender in 2018, specializes in safety, production and quality with a mindset that each are interconnected and of equal importance. During Torres’ time as SPQ Manager, Skender won its sixth construction safety award since 2013. Another measure of safety in the construction industry is the experience modification rate (EMR), which calculates past cost of injuries and future chance of risk. As further evidence of an exceptional safety record, Skender’s EMR is 22 percent lower than the national average.
