About Us
S+B James is a construction and design firm offering services which range from pre-construction to post-construction. Throughout our collaboration together, we work closely with the owners and users to ensure the design and construction process is successful. We have built our reputation on long-term, successful completion of project goals and we strive to exceed our customer’s expectations in everything we do. For over 40 years, S+B James has diligently worked to meet client project goals and provide superior results. Since its inception in 1977, S+B James has been a full-service construction company, completing various work such as rough carpentry, facilities maintenance, demolition, excavation and grading, and more. Our clients’ trust is the foundation of our success. Over the years, we’ve developed strong, lasting relationships with local businesses and community organizations all down the west coast. Our relationships with our clients extends far beyond that of a traditional construction company, and that partnership continues after the work is done. Additionally, we’ve partnered with many charitable and nonprofit community organizations through various fundraising activities. One of our greatest joys is making our community an even better place to live.
Meet The Team
-
Allen Purdy
President - Oregon -
Terry Mackey
Vice President - Oregon -
Silas Nigam
President - California -
Heman Chand
Vice President - California -
Josh Walker
General Superintendent -
Jeff Scheid
Operations Manager -
Colleen Christensen
Payroll/Accounts Payable -
Joe Pipia
Vice President, Gaming & Hospitality -
Samuel Uccello
Design Director -
Joseph Sis
Design Project Manager, Oregon Architect -
Eric Trunnell
Senior Project Manager -
Curly Page
Superintendent -
Shannon Strange
Superintendent -
Josh Szigeti
Superintendent -
Jason Castillo
Project Executive -
Tim Bowden
Project Engineer -
Amber Beatty
Project Engineer -
Dan Pawloski
Field Project Executive -
Ronald Bray
Foreman -
Danielle Buell
Operations Engineer -
Josh Glass
Assistant Superintendent -
Christopher Lopez
Superintendent -
Todd Celiz
Superintendent -
Tyler Mendoes
Project Manager -
Darren Romriell
Senior Project Engineer -
John Callison
Sr. Superintendent -
Nicholas Chavez
Sr. Project Manager -
Pam Barnes
Payroll Specialist -
Chris Corbin
Sr. Project Engineer -
Cindy Sapigao
Sr. Administrative Manager -
Jonathan Fisher
Project Engineer -
Brandon Greim
Project Engineer -
Brian McCarthy
Project Manager -
Chris Perez
Sr. Project Manager -
Kayla DeHaven
Marketing Manager -
Valeria Mora
Marketing/Business Development -
Zack Vorhis
Sr. Project Engineer -
George Whitfield
Superintendent -
John Moses
Superintendent -
Sushil Yadav
People Person -
Tanya Downing
Office Manager -
Mark Earle
Sr. Superintendent -
Tim Beemer
Superintendent -
Anne Cuga
Project Coordinator -
Logan Newcomb
Project Engineer -
Bradley Maples
Sr. Project Engineer -
Edward Cruz
-
Benjamin Lucas
Project Engineer -
Troy Newman
Superintendent -
Ashley Machado
Project Coordinator -
Nick Gomez
Project Engineer -
Saagar Yadav
Project Manager -
Supreeth Mutkiri
Project Engineer -
Kenny Dees
Project Executive -
Zac Celli
Project Manager -
Matt Moore
Superintendent -
Quincee Zoller
Project Engineer -
Michael Delach
Sr. Project Manager -
Angela Le
Project Engineer -
Liam de Wit
Project Engineer -
Michael Heck
Project Superintendent -
Josh Downing
Certified Crane Operator -
John Doyle
Foreman -
Lauren Harrison
Project Coordinator -
Patrick Murphy
Project Manager -
Brijan Patel
Project Engineer -
Chris Edge
Project Manager -
Burt Witzelberger
Sr. Superintendent -
Bryson Wilkinson
Drafter II -
Nick Sanchez
Safety Manager -
Dustin Fretwell
Preconstruction Manager -
Gerret Robbins
Project Engineer -
Josh Geyer
Project Manager -
Monique Naranjo
Project Coordinator -
Gordy Gilmore
Project Manager -
Suha Musallam
Business Development / Marketing -
Chris Hilkey
Controller -
Karla Torres
Assitant Project Manager -
Austin James
Project Engineer -
Matt Langbehn
Sr. Project Engineer -
Art Aguilar
Superintendent -
Brandon Martin
Senior Project Engineer -
Sam Khan
Sr. Project Engineer -
Craig Langseth
Project Manager -
Bob Graves
Senior Superintendent -
Devin Furrer
Field Engineer -
Scott Meskimen
Project Manager -
Hayden Meyers
Senior Project Manager -
Jake Chavez
Project Engineer -
Jeff Salaun
Sr. Superintendent -
Rob Spohn
Project Manager -
Madisen Plummer
Project Coordinator
Allen Purdy
President - Oregon
Terry Mackey
Vice President - Oregon
Terry Mackey has been in the construction industry for 28 years, and his dedication to clients is the driving force behind his construction philosophy. He is the co-owner of S+B James Construction Management and has been with the company for 12 years. Terry grew up in California. He started his construction career after graduating from San Juan High School. After being in California for two years, Terry moved to Medford and spent the next 25 years learning all aspects of construction management and transitioning into managing several healthcare, institutional, parking, and pharmaceutical construction projects.
Some of the projects Terry has been involved with include the Roseburg VAMC SPD, APW, VA SORCC Bed Building 205, Kitchen and La Clinica Central Point Health Clinic. For Terry, one of his biggest accomplishments is becoming one of the owners of S+B James and carrying on the company’s long-standing legacy of building communities with strong foundations.
Silas Nigam
President - California
Silas has over 27 years of experience in the construction industry. Prior to S+B James, Silas has worked for multi-billion dollar General Contractors in an Executive Leadership role. One of Silas’s first projects was an OSHPD project (Ambulatory Service Building) in Antioch, CA. He learned that Healthcare/OSHPD projects are very technical and it’s important to understand the MEP and Fire Life Safety systems in a building. He feels that these kinds of projects helped him become a better technical builder. Silas appreciates how his job allows him to interact with people and with the passionate builders at S+B James.
Fun Facts about Silas:
- Likes to play sports and ride bikes
- Likes to hike at Lake Tahoe
- Has worked most of his career in the healthcare industry
Heman Chand
Vice President - California
Heman has been in the construction industry for 23 years and received his graduate degree from California State University, Cal Poly SLO. Heman’s first job at McDonalds’ actually taught him an important lesson that can be applied to construction: Harmony among workers is important to keep everything running smoothly, “leave no person behind”. This has transpired into how he manages and organizes his teams now. His career has also taught him the value of personal growth vs professional growth and how important it is for everyone to have a good work/life balance. Heman in his spare time is actively involved as a professor at Sacramento State University and volunteering in organizations such as WRMSDC to make an impact in our communities. He has also worked for one of the largest General Contractors in the country in a leadership role.
Fun Facts about Heman:
- Doesn’t know how to swim
- Parents immigrated to the U.S. when he was 7 years old
- Speaks Hindi (his native language) fluently
- Was employee of the month at McDonald’s three times
Josh Walker
General Superintendent
Josh appreciates S+B James because we focus on what is most important, the people! We set high standards for ourselves, investing in each member of the team and promoting a culture of continuous improvement to provide outstanding service to our customers, and that is something that Josh can get behind. Over the course of Josh’s career, he has learned the value of relationships. He puts more time and effort into the people he works with and his clients because those relationships last long after a single project is completed. His favorite project was the Shrem Museum of Arts at UC Davis. He felt it was challenging, but also fun to build! There was also a genuine passion that the client and community had for the project and he enjoyed seeing the expressions on people’s faces as they toured the project.
Fun Facts about Josh
- His first love is fishing
- He’s an outdoor enthusiast
- A family man with a wife and three children
Jeff Scheid
Operations Manager
Jeff can credit his work ethic and ability to overcome adversity to one particularly trying and difficult mentor and coach. Now that he is an adult, he understands the value of what that coach was trying to teach him even though he did not understand it, or like it, at the time. The qualities he learned then serve him well in the construction industry. Jeff enjoys not only the variety of his job as a Project Engineer, but that he finds himself learning new things regularly. While many team members have a favorite project that they’ve worked on, Jeff doesn’t! He enjoys the overall and collective work on company projects, goals, and processes that aid S+B James in being the best in the industry!
Fun Facts About Jeff:
- Loves to go hiking, camping, and boating
- Would rather spend his time in the outdoors, rather than inside
- Enjoys the energy of the city life, as well as “getting away from it all”
Colleen Christensen
Payroll/Accounts Payable
Colleen loves anything that is challenging that encourages teamwork and problem solving – collaboration breeds growth! She also welcomes change in everything that she does and has learned throughout her years the importance of working with good people who encourage growth and leadership. While Colleen has only recently joined the construction industry, she is inspired by watching all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make these projects happen. She’s excited to be part of our team, and we’re excited to have her!
Fun Facts About Colleen:
- Is married with two sons
- Her sons are in wrestling so the family does a lot of traveling
- Loves to go camping, hiking, and fishing
Joe Pipia
Vice President, Gaming & Hospitality
Joe’s first job was as an electrician for his Dad when he was the age of 16. He loved being on the job sites and preparing materials for jobs in the warehouse. It taught him to have a good work ethic and pace of schedules. One of Joe’s favorite projects that he worked on was the Red Rock Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Fun Facts about Joe:
- He has two dogs, a Shilo Shepherd/Malamute, and a German Shepherd/Husky
- He loves to go to Maui
- Baseball is his passion. He loves playing, coaching, and going to Giants/A’s/Rivercats games
- He loves the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and Detroit Red Wings
Samuel Uccello
Design Director
Samuel Uccello AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Assoc. is a licensed architect in both Oregon and Florida. He knew during his first job as a draftsperson that he wanted to be more than that, so he applied to Architect School at the University of Illinois in Chicago. One of his favorite projects was the Real Madrid Training Facility Snack Bar, coffee bar, restrooms and first aid station. It was a project in Spain where he incorporated the movements of soccer players into the design. There were great interior and exterior spaces where the public could watch practice games. Samuel really enjoys working with the design team at S+B James as they work together and pull from each other’s strengths.
Fun Facts about Samuel:
- Loves to design in 3D
- Has done a lot of traveling both in the United States and other countries
- Lived in Paris for a year and attended Ecole D’Beaux Arts – Versailles, France.
Joseph Sis
Design Project Manager, Oregon Architect
Joseph Sis, Assoc. AIA feels that he has really grown and changed over the years in his career. He has developed into the role of designing and building projects with his clients, rather than forcing his vision into it. Joe appreciates the company he works for and the people involved. They are a unique group of individuals who put their own different experiences to work to create amazing results. Joe’s favorite project was the Mercy Flights Hangar and Administrative Offices as it is an important part of the community and the project that brought him to S+B James.
Fun Facts about Joe:
- Appreciates a good micro-brew
- Likes to hike, but also play video games
- The military gave him confidence and important skills
Eric Trunnell
Senior Project Manager
Eric’s first job was as a Technical Services Coordinator for HMC Architects at a young age. It taught him how to run bids, QA/QC documents, how to better understand plans, and how to serve others. One of Eric’s favorite projects was leading a project for the Loma Linda Fire Department, and it was a 9/11 Memorial they built largely on community donations. It serves not just as a memorial, but a way to educate folks who may not have even been born on that day, about what happened and how it forever changed everyone.
Fun facts about Eric:
- My favorite hockey team is the LA Kings.
- He has a lot of pets, most are reptiles such as snakes, lizards/geckos, and even a Desert Tortoise. He also has a cat that his son picked out recently who’s become the best pet he and his wife have ever had.
- He also really enjoys tools, specifically RYOBI tools, and he not only collects them, but he’s part of a social media group that he and two friends started to help bring awareness to the brand, and to share their love for their products, which extend beyond just tools.
- His 2nd home is in Bullhead City, AZ, and when he’s not home in California, you’ll find him there. He loves the desert!
Curly Page
Superintendent
Curly’s first job was in elementary school while living in Australia. He rode his bike around, delivering prescriptions to the elderly. He learned the importance of work ethic and loved getting paid to ride around on his bike. Curly is a newer addition to the S+B James team, and he’s looking forward to working with us. Before joining us, Curly’s favorite project was working on the Henry Gates Law School at UW Seattle. It was a huge job with two tower cranes, eighty carpenters, and a lot of concrete. He had a lot of fun with the project details, but also because of the team he got to work with.
Fun Facts about Curly:
- Likes to work on cars
- You’ll find him hiking with his dogs or waterskiing
- Went to elementary school in Australia
Shannon Strange
Superintendent
One of Shannon’s most inspiring life teachers was his 8th-grade history teacher, Mr. Goodgame. He had the ability to bring the subject to life and taught Shannon the importance of respecting all people. Shannon has worked hard to get where he’s at today, starting as a carpenter for a small business right out of high school. He is now a superintendent at S+B James and, as a new employee, is appreciative of how welcoming and supportive the management team has been.
Fun Facts about Shannon:
- Grew up in Crescent City, Oregon
- Likes to work on home projects
- Likes to hike with his dog, Murphy
Josh Szigeti
Superintendent
Josh’s first job as Forman was actually his favorite so far! The FBI building was an enjoyable experience for him as he was able to develop his skills in leadership and motivating other people. In fact, over the course of his career, Josh has become more confident in making decisions in all aspects of his life. He enjoys working for S+B James and he appreciates the opportunities for growth and advancement in his field. He also likes that the company cares about the clients, the team, and that we’re more like family than anything else! Josh’s favorite thing about his job is the variety. He’s constantly getting new projects, working outdoors, and enjoys watching a project develop from start to finish.
Jason Castillo
Project Executive
Jason’s first job was working at his father’s Transmission Shop and what he liked the most about it was being able to build things. One of Jason’s favorite projects that he’s worked on was one in the middle of downtown Palo Alto in a live data center. The project consisted of the addition of 3 – 2 Meg Generators, a build-out of an additional 10sf of Data Center Space, and a seismic upgrade of the entire building. This project was exciting and terrifying all wrapped into one project.
Fun Facts About Jason:
- In college, he was a professional river guide on the Kings River.
- He loves to play all sports. His favorites are basketball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball.
- When he’s not working, he enjoys playing sports or hanging with the family and watching movies.
Tim Bowden
Project Engineer
One of Tim’s mentors, Scott Thomas of Metal Masters, taught him the value of letting things go, rather than taking offense. He feels that S+B James is coming through an ownership change and an influx of new employees with strength and positivity. His personal favorite project at S+B James was the HVAC renovation of an old mill building in Klamath Falls. He found signatures on the almost century-old beams, and it was one of the first projects where he was able to really be involved in planning stages of the work.
Fun Facts about Tim:
- Got his first job as a Senior in HS sorting for recycling
- Likes to be involved in the coordinating and problem solving stages
- Water or land? Why, tropical water, of course
Amber Beatty
Project Engineer
Amber’s first internship during college was in a warehouse setting for a local welding company. All the workers knew each other by name, they were eager to lend a hand, and the company always found ways to show their appreciation to the workers. She learned how much of a difference the culture of a company is when there is gratitude towards all levels in the workforce. That’s one of the things Amber enjoys about S+B James as well! She and her coworkers are very team-oriented, whether in the office or the field, they always have each other’s back. They look at challenges as a whole and take them on together. She was originally pursuing a different career path when a construction opportunity in procurement fell into her lap. After that, she was hooked on the different ways to construct buildings!
Fun Facts About Amber:
- Likes to go hiking and off-roading
- Loves being outdoors, especially at the coast
- Hopes to someday help build a water park or rec center
Dan Pawloski
Field Project Executive
One of Dan’s first jobs was going to a walnut orchard and picking up the walnuts from the ground that the machines did not pick up. It taught him that while the work is satisfying and you get something out of it you are also helping someone else and in this case, the farmer reaped the benefits of his orchard getting cleaned up for free. Dan’s dad, who was also in construction, was his best teacher in life. He set the model of giving a great day of hard work and life will treat you well. One of the most iconic projects Dan has worked on was 500 Capitol Mall which was a 25 story building in Downtown Sacramento.
Fun Facts about Dan:
- Dan retired for a bit to work with a non-profit Pacific Battleship Center. The Navy donated the USS Iowa to the team and Dan and his wife helped open it as a museum in San Pedro Ca.
- He got to ride and operate the Goodyear blimp
- He played and coached roller hockey for about 7 years with his sons. A great memory was when the kids were old enough to play on the adult teams with him instead of just coaching them.
- He and his family always had a lot of animals including pigs, horses, dogs, cats, turkeys, ducks and exotic frogs. They now have chickens, doves, Koi fish, turtles, dogs, and Frank the Tortoise.
Ronald Bray
Foreman
One of Ronald’s first jobs had him roofing houses, which lead him into framing houses. He’s progressed over the years, learning as many skills of the trade as he can which has made him very versatile and adept as a carpenter. His passion for woodworking started with his woodshop teacher, Mr. Helgeson. He showed Ronald not only how to work with wood, but how to see it for all of its possibilities. Ronald is proud to be able to show people all of the buildings he’s helped build around town. In fact, one of his favorite projects was a window project for a rather iconic landmark: The Rogue Valley Manor. He enjoyed being a part of its transformation and seeing the beauty of the finished product.
Fun Facts About Ronald:
- Super Troopers is his favorite movie – has it memorized
- Has terrible “sea legs”
- Volunteers for the local Junior Hockey Team
Danielle Buell
Operations Engineer
Danielle chooses to work for S+B James because she thinks we are a great company with great people! She appreciates that we are a strong team that operates with respect and we do our best to inspire the people around us. One of Danielle’s favorite things about her job is watching how the community grows with each construction project we complete!
Fun Facts About Danielle:
- Enjoys making a difference in the community
- Has grandchildren
- You’ll find her swimming, hiking, and working out at the gym
Josh Glass
Assistant Superintendent
Josh’s career in construction began as a general contractor, where he started with basic tasks like sweeping and pulling nails. He later transitioned into wood framing, which sparked a passion for the building and construction industry. Exposure to various personalities and trades has helped Josh become a better listener and more detail-oriented. Josh’s favorite and first project that he worked on was a mixed-use apartment complex in midtown Sacramento. He found the carefully coordinated work fascinating despite the busy environment.
Fun Facts about Josh:
- He has 4 kids (2 girls and 2 boys)
- He enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and shooting.
- He can hold his breath for almost a full minute!
Christopher Lopez
Superintendent
Christopher’s first job was bagging groceries, where he enjoyed working with diverse people. This experience taught him the importance of hard work and its rewards. Chris values spending time with his wife and kids. His favorite project has been the Newport Beach Country Club.
Fun Facts about Chris
- He is a Pittsburg Steelers Fan
- He loves to fish, play golf, and play poker
- He has completed 6 marathons!
Todd Celiz
Superintendent
One of Todd’s first jobs was as a finish carpenter. What he liked about that job was that he learned to be meticulous and precise so that the finished product was the best. This is something he has continued to apply to his work and jobs today. He believes it is important to do things meticulously and correct the first time around so rework is minimized or eliminated. One of Todd’s favorite projects was a 2 story TI job for the Laborers District Council. What he liked about this project is that all trades worked together and collaborated efficiently to bring the job in below budget and ahead of schedule. Todd’s favorite thing about life is spending time with his family.
Fun fact about Todd:
- He is a long-time Raiders fan.
- He likes to ride his motorcycle with a group of friends on organized rides to explore the area.
- He has a pit bull who is afraid of her own shadow and a Chiweenie who thinks he is a Rottweiler.
- He loves classic muscle cars and would like to own a 69 GTO someday.
Tyler Mendoes
Project Manager
“See the forest through the trees,” is what Tyler would tell his 20-year-old self. In his career, he has learned that it can be helpful to take a step back and look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on the small things. He enjoys being part of a collaborative team that can take complex tasks, analyze them, and finds solutions that benefit the whole. This was vital in one of his favorite projects which was a 211-unit affordable housing project in Oakland, developed to house homeless and families in need.
Fun Facts about Tyler:
- He was the first person in his immediate family to receive a bachelors degree
- As part of a challenge, he once cycled 20+ miles a day for a week
- He enjoys dirt biking
Darren Romriell
Senior Project Engineer
If you ask Darren about his favorite job, he’ll tell you about his time being an Airborne Paratrooper in the United States Army. It was an incredibly influential experience for him and taught him valuable lessons, such as the importance of working as a team and trusting his training and equipment. As far as construction goes, his favorite project was when he was part of the team that built the longest Bailey Bridge in a combat zone since WWII. Darren has grown throughout his career, and if he could give his 20-year-old self advice, he would tell himself, “It’s not about arriving at your final destination, it’s about enjoying the ride. Do the best you can in each position you have.”
Fun Facts About Darren:
- Describes himself as a “Country Boy refined by the City.”
- Loves to use his grill
- Spends his free time with his family, a “family man, through and through”
John Callison
Sr. Superintendent
John has had several people in his life that have been mentors, and even father figures. Each had their own lessons to teach him, and he came out with this mentality: Be positive, work hard, be a man, go with your instincts, and never quit. He’s also grown a lot through his career. He’s learned to be more patient and would tell his 20-year-old self to practice control by thinking before speaking and acting, and to stay focused and honest. John likes that his job allows him to be a leader and cherishes the relationships he’s developed over the years. He appreciates that S+B James Construction fosters an organized environment and an intelligent management and leadership team. His personal standards fall in line with the S+B James mission!
Fun Facts About John:
- Won the Elk Grove Fantasy Football Championship twice
- Loves to vacation with his family
- Has a Golden Labrador Retriever named Tucker
Nicholas Chavez
Sr. Project Manager
One of Nick’s first jobs was at Chick-fil-A. He enjoyed the opportunities he was given – he had excellent mentors and was able to attend a leadership program where he was equipped with many skills that have shaped him into much of what he is today.
One of Nick’s favorite projects that he worked on was the Mt. San Jacinto STEM Building. The building included many different features including chemistry labs, physics labs, biology labs, and even a cadaver room.
Fun facts about Nick:
- Nick loves the LA Dodgers, Golf, and RC Cars
- Nick is a proud father to 4 boys
- Outside of work, Nick enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and participating in outdoor adventures
Pam Barnes
Payroll Specialist
Pam’s first job was mucking stalls for elephants and tigers in a place called Jungleland in Thousand Oaks CA, and she loved it! She has always been a total animal nerd with aspirations to be a trainer and/or vet for exotic animals. It taught her that if you love something enough, even an undesirable job is worth doing if it gives you exposure to your passion.
Fun Facts About Pam:
- She used to own and operate a small horse boarding stable and had four of her own horses, including an offspring of a Budweiser Clydesdale.
- She used to participate in K9 Agility competitions up and down Oregon and Northern Cali with her Standard Poodles.
- While still living in Southern California, they devoted a year to attending as many concerts as possible and sitting as close as possible. They saw some great shows such as Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and John Cougar Mellencamp, just to name a few.
Chris Corbin
Sr. Project Engineer
Chris’s first job was as a concrete scrapper. That made him appreciate the people who work in the field as it is harder than it looks. One of his favorite projects he worked on was the Kaiser Cirby in Roseville.
Fun Facts about Chris:
- He has a very excitable dog named Clifford. He is an English red labrador and his best buddy.
- He organizes a yearly golf trip for some of the people in the industry. This year they are planning on going to Bandon Dunes in Oregon.
Cindy Sapigao
Sr. Administrative Manager
Cindy loves people. She appreciates their intelligence, drive, and good-hearted natures. She feels that she works in a distinctive, unique culture and is proud to work in the construction industry. In fact, one of her favorite projects, a large Kaiser project, highlighted the cohesiveness of the team. While Cindy enjoys her job, there is nothing more important to her than her family. She’s been married for thirty-five years, has two children, and two beautiful grandchildren. She looks forward to seeing them every day!
Fun Facts About Cindy:
- Likes the outdoors. Would rather be hiking than playing video games
- Would choose the city life over the country life
- Likes museums, theater, concerts, and shopping
Jonathan Fisher
Project Engineer
Jonathan’s first job was as a lifeguard but it wasn’t challenging enough for him. It made him realize that he needs to do something that challenges him mentally around people that are also being challenged. He like that in the construction field, everyone is learning, adapting, and being challenged at every level whether in the field or the office.
Fun facts about Jonathan:
- His first car had a light switch that powered the heater
- He would spend all his money on mountain bikes if he could
Brandon Greim
Project Engineer
One of Brandon’s first jobs was as a youth baseball coach. He loved giving back to the community and teaching the younger generation. It was very fulfilling to see kids working on their craft to better themselves in a game they love. Brandon thinks that one key similarity that sports and work have in common is working together towards a common goal. We are a team regardless of position or title. Everyone has a job and needs to do it to the best of their ability.
Fun facts about Brandon:
- He played college baseball.
- He is very family-oriented and he’s most proud of his relationship with his family.
- He is an avid outdoorsman. He loves snow skiing, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, boating, and spending a lot of time in Lake Tahoe.
Brian McCarthy
Project Manager
Brian’s first job was as a valet driver for a company in Redwood City. The scariest thing Brian has ever done is backflip off a pier in Hawaii over a coral reef.
Fun Facts about Brian:
- His favorite karaoke song is by Bryan Adams titled Summer of ’69.
- Brian is a sixth generation twin and his sister just had the seventh generation.
Chris Perez
Sr. Project Manager
Chris’s first job was as a union cement mason for a company that performed site and structural concrete. To this day, he says it has made him love concrete architecture as he knows the effort it takes to put good craftsmanship in place. It’s taught him a lot about the duties he performs today, from constructability to coordination, being in the field has made his professional career develop faster than he could have imagined. Chris’s best teacher on the field was his dad, as he taught him everything he needed to know about concrete.
Fun Facts About Chris:
- He is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan
- He is a hands-on BMW enthusiast. He builds out his own recreational BMWs and he enjoys performing his own services on them
- He loves digesting new information. He has an obsession with reading abstract documents from school district meeting minutes to obscure proposed bills in Congress.
Kayla DeHaven
Marketing Manager
Kayla’s first job was as a hostess for a restaurant called Awful Annies in Auburn, CA where she learned the importance of being patient and working efficiently. These two traits have served her well throughout her career, from working at an advertising agency to her current position at S+B James. Kayla enjoys helping others and solving problems big or small. When she’s not working, Kayla enjoys spending time with her husband and son and making improvements to their home.
Fun Facts About Kayla:
- Has gone skydiving, even though she’s afraid of heights
- Can play the piano
- Loves to cook and entertain with her husband
Valeria Mora
Marketing/Business Development
Val is a veteran and marketing professional. In her years in the military, she had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people and learned the importance of treating each individual with respect and creating genuine connections. One of her favorite projects is the marketing proposal for the new UC Davis Health Tower in Sacramento. This was an extensive pursuit that tested her abilities and her creativity.
Fun Facts about Val:
- Fixed Aircraft for the U.S. Air Force
- Enjoys practicing Aerial Arts, like silks
- Has three pets, all named after types of cheeses (Cheddar, Brie, Colby Jack)
Zack Vorhis
Sr. Project Engineer
Zack learned the importance of teamwork early on in his professional career. From his first job as a camp counselor to competing in his first ASC Reno competition on Sacramento State’s Electrical team, Zack’s positive attitude and eagerness to learn new things has proven to be a valuable asset. His favorite teacher, and old baseball coach, taught him how to have fun while still respecting the game of baseball, a concept that he now applies to everyday life.
Fun Facts about Zack:
- He taught himself how to ice skate and play hockey
- Favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers
- Prefers to watch Hockey live over all other sports
George Whitfield
Superintendent
George found his passion in construction from his first job as a “construction helper” when he was a teenager. He learned the value of teamwork and patience from that experience and would continue to learn throughout his career. His father was also very influential in teaching him important life lessons, including the value of honesty, hard work, and commitment. Construction stayed an interest for him and his favorite part of the job is “building!”
Fun Facts About George:
- Has two sons, Mack and Kash
- Started his first job at age 14
- Likes camping, boating, motorcycles, and scuba diving
John Moses
Superintendent
John’s first job was a construction worker fixing damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake. John prides himself on being a listener, which is a useful skillset to have when dealing with clients in the construction industry. John has over 20 years of experience in construction oversight capacity and brings extensive hands-on experience in working with project teams and subcontractors to ensure a safe and timely completion of all projects. Outside of his work life, the scariest thing John has done is spent a week alone in the wilderness. You may not be able to find John on social media, but you can definitely find him navigating through the outdoors taking in all the morning glory.
- Grew up in San Francisco so he’s a 49er and Giants Fan
- Proud Girl Dad – Has 4 daughters!
- Has gone skydiving before
Sushil Yadav
People Person
Sushil’s first job was at a video store called Home Video. That place taught him how to communicate with people and help them with their viewing needs. He also learned to be responsible and efficient.
Fun Facts about Sushil:
- He loves playing basketball with his 2 sons.
- Has been traveling a lot lately and wishes to make it to Europe soon.
- He’s a techie, so he enjoyed meddling with anything in the tech world.
- He loves putting family videos and pictures together to view during the holidays with family.
Tanya Downing
Office Manager
Tanya had her first job as a part-time filing clerk at American Express Financial Advisors while she was in high school. She learned at a young age how important finances and planning for the future was. She was fortunate to have a mentor in her life that always guided her and pushed her to reach for her goals and then to make new ones after success. Her mentor showed her by example, rather than telling her how to do things. Tanya enjoys spreading positivity and warmth to those around her.
Fun Facts about Tanya:
- Is married with two children
- Likes to work hard and play hard
- On the weekend you’ll find her hiking, camping, and boating
Mark Earle
Sr. Superintendent
Mark’s first job was as a gas station attendant during the time when they used to pump the gas for the customers. Meeting a lot of different people at that job helped him develop people skills and used them throughout his life. Mark enjoys playing golf, traveling camping, and being outdoors.
Fun Facts about Mark:
- He had his own construction company for 9 years
- His favorite baseball team is the Dodgers
- His favorite football team is the Raiders
Tim Beemer
Superintendent
Tim’s first job was as a fastpitch umpire. He liked the speed of the game and watching the players grow their skills over time. Tim’s best life teachers have been his uncle, dad, and grandfather. It was because of his grandfather that he started wrestling, which taught him some of the greatest self-discipline and grit.
Fun Facts About Tim:
- Tim is a Chicago Cubs fan and was partially named after one of their best players, Ryne Sandberg.
- He has always been a dog person but has an unrelenting infatuation with Dalmatians. I currently have my fourth and there are serious thoughts about attempting a Dalmatian plantation if I can convince my financial situation.
- He once built a 7-layer gummy bear pyramid, yes color-coordinated, while in geometry class. It was not the headache most experience!
Anne Cuga
Project Coordinator
One of Anne’s first jobs involved theatre where she was running lights and sound, a stagehand, and a turntable operator. She later worked as a stage manager. Anne found that she loves working as part of a team and making the pieces of something bigger come together. She believes that construction can be like one big production with a bonus that the results are more lasting. Over the course of her career, she started in technical theatre and later moved to construction. If Anne could tell her 20-year old self anything, she would say that being passionate about your job and working with good people is important, but that there are more ways to do that than one may think. During her free time, Anne enjoys reading, movies, live theatre, and enjoys boating.
Fun Facts About Anne:
- Has always lived in California
- Has a rat terrier mix rescue dog named Pebbles and a blue belly lizard named Blaze
- Played the piano and clarinet in high school
Logan Newcomb
Project Engineer
Logan’s first job was working in the field for an HVAC contractor in the Bay Area as an on-site admin. It was a good introduction to the construction industry for him and he learned quite a bit about the process involved in a TI project. Considering most of the projects he works on now are TI, this was a great first experience that has given him an alternate perspective on how buildings are built and how to navigate the guaranteed issues that will arise due to lack of information.
Fun Facts About Logan:
- Has a one-year-old Doberman named Dexter
- Traveled as a student ambassador to Australia when he was 11 years old and to the UK when he was 10
Bradley Maples
Sr. Project Engineer
Bradley’s first job was a plumber’s aid/laborer for journeyman plumbers. He loved learning the hands-on skills and working with extremely skilled people. During the course of his career, he learned to gain confidence in what he does and would tell himself that there are times where you’re going to be wrong. Bradley’s favorite project he’s ever worked on was a renovation of an existing parking garage into office spaces during his first internship. When he’s not working, Bradley is involved in the community whether it’s his church or simply hanging out with friends. You can catch him, his wife, and his two pups out hiking.
Fun Facts About Bradley:
- Die hard Giants and 49ers fan
- Comes from a very large family where he has 8 siblings
- Played rugby for 4 years while attending UC Davis
Edward Cruz
Edward’s first job was as an apprentice carpenter. He used to hate using the hammer as it hit his fingers all the time but the most significant thing he learned from this job is to work smart and plan ahead. Edward is mostly proud of his daughters and for building his first house and selling it.
Fun Facts About Edward:
- One of his hobbies is Mountain Biking
- He has 3 cats and 1 puppy
Benjamin Lucas
Project Engineer
Ben considers himself an adrenaline junkie and loves thrilling activities like riding the motorcycle, skiing, and summiting Mt. Shasta which was the hardest thing he’s ever done, but very rewarding. Ben also enjoys woodworking where he’s constantly working on his parents’ house on different projects.
Fun facts about Ben:
- He traveled to most States on the East and West Coast, and almost all of them West of the Mississippi. He’s also been to New Zealand and Alaska.
- He started working with tools when he was 6. He took a big interest in building when I was 12 and have been buying tools non-stop since then.
- He owns two motorcycles which he rides with two of his best friends frequently.
Troy Newman
Superintendent
One of Troy’s first jobs was being a laborer for a foundation company. It was his first glimpse into construction and made him realize what he wanted to do when he grew up. His favorite job he worked on was the Kois Center in Seattle. It was an oral surgery school in south Lake Union where they built a very high-quality and hi-tech facility.
Fun Facts about Troy:
He enjoys camping, boating, golfing, traveling, and historical sightseeing.
Ashley Machado
Project Coordinator
Ashley’s first job was in the food industry. She was a hostess and what she learned then that relates to what she’s doing today is to “work smart”. Since then, she has gone through 3 career changes which helped her learn that she can do whatever she sets her mind to and she wouldn’t change anything about her choices.
Fun Facts About Ashley:
- Her PR for deadlifts and squatting is 145.
- She is obsessed with playing pickleball when she’s not at work.
- She enjoys riding dirt bikes.
- She sometimes does clothing alterations/makes clothing in her spare time.
Nick Gomez
Project Engineer
Nick’s first job was bucking hay at a Lees feed. He loved that he got to work out at work and help customers. He sometimes had to work in 100-plus degrees and load a lot of hay for a big order, and that taught him the importance of customer service and how to talk to people in high-stress environments. One of Nick’s favorite projects that he worked on was the Del Campo High School science building. It was very cool for him to see the building go from nothing but dirt to a full two-story.
Fun Facts About Nick:
- He used to live in Boise, Idaho
- He is an avid chef and loves to cook
- He enjoys camping, fishing, and hunting
Saagar Yadav
Project Manager
Saagar learned numerous lessons during his professional growth, particularly in the realms of organization and meticulous attention to detail. He treasures his involvement in The Kaiser Behavioral Health project in Fairfield, considering it one of his favorite construction endeavors. Saagar prioritizes his family and cherishes every moment spent with them outside of work. He hopes to spend more time in the future traveling and seeing new places with his family.
Fun Facts about Saagar:
- Passionate Sacramento Kings fan
- First job was at Taco Bell
- Best pals with his Australian Shepard named Walter
Supreeth Mutkiri
Project Engineer
Supreeth’s first job was as an intern for a mixed-use building project on a construction site. He claims that it helped shape who he is today and impacted the way he thinks from what he was taught in school. Supreeth’s grandfather is the person who has had the biggest impact on him; he taught him the importance of staying motivated and being prepared for any challenges life may throw at you.
Fun Facts about Supreeth:
- He speaks 6 languages (mostly south asian)
- He loves watching documentaries
- He was a state level Tennis player
Kenny Dees
Project Executive
At 12-years-old, Kenny learned the importance of hard when he started mowing lawns for his neighbors so he could pay for his own BMX bike and racing accessories. His drive and work ethic continues to serve him well throughout his construction career where he has experience working on both public and private projects, spanned across varying sizes and degrees of difficulty. When he’s not working, Kenny enjoys spending time outside, preferably at a beach, with his wife and three kids.
Fun Facts About Kenny:
- Favorite football team is the Raiders
- Coaches his kids sports teams
- Has eaten rattlesnake
Zac Celli
Project Manager
One of Zachary’s first jobs was doing yard work and general labor for people in his neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods. He put out flyers and set up times and clients himself. His first real job was at Papa Murphy’s Pizza in high school. Both of those jobs taught him about hard work, and just getting the job done without complaining. Zachary’s best teacher was a field guy at one of his jobs. He once told him “It doesn’t matter if you’re a shiny shoe or a field worker – act like the project is in your own backyard. Then ask yourself how you would do each of the tasks of the work on the plans with your own hands if you had to do it yourself. That will help you understand the trades way better than just looking at lines on paper” and that stuck with him.
Fun Facts about Zachary:
- He has a golden doodle named Noodle
- He has family that he’s reconnected with across the world
- He’s traveled to 12 countries so far
Matt Moore
Superintendent
Matt started his career in the construction industry during one of his first jobs at his cousin’s residential roofing company. While his favorite project (a 1M SF office building for Google) never got built, the two years of pre-construction, working as the lead scheduler and pull planner ignited a new sense of passion which has helped to carve a new career path for himself. If he could go back and give his 20-year-old self advice, it would be to continue pursuing multiple career paths, but keep in mind that construction is his true calling.
Fun Facts About Matt:
- Graduated from college with five degrees
- Has been class 5 white water rafting
- Currently in the process of getting his private pilots license
Quincee Zoller
Project Engineer
Quincee’s first job was an internship with S+B James Construction. She loved the work environment and the people she got to see every day which is what drove her to come back as a full-time PE. Quincee loves to travel, shop, try new food, spend time with friends and family, hike, and be at the lake.
Fun Facts About Quincee:
- She goes to Hawaii at least once a year and has been to 6 European countries.
- Pasta is her favorite food and she is always on the hunt for new pasta restaurants.
- Soft pretzels are also one of her favorites and there’s a 100% chance she orders it if it’s on the menu!
Michael Delach
Sr. Project Manager
One of Michael’s first jobs in construction and engineering was interning at AECOM. He liked getting out to the field and seeing the issues for the projects he was working on in person. However, because AECOM is an engineering firm, he didn’t get to go out to a site often and he realized he should leave and get into construction. He loves the challenges that come along in the field. Every day is different and at the end of each project, there is a final product that everyone is proud to have been a part of. Michael feels that in the course of his career he has become more resourceful and learned to pay attention to the smaller details. In fact, one of the best teachers in his career as a Project Manager who taught him about the importance of taking the time to be thorough. “You can sprint through your work, but if you don’t do it right, it’ll take significantly longer to go back and correct the work you could have done right the first time.”
Fun Facts About Michael:
- Loves to garden and to travel
- Has gone skydiving in Hawaii
- Has gone spearfishing off an island in Panama
Angela Le
Project Engineer
Angela’s first job was a veterinary assistant. The best gift anyone’s ever given to her was opportunity. Angela’s parents escaped Vietnam and sought refuge in America for a better life and future, so she believes that opportunity and being a believer is the motto of life. Despite making a huge decision to move to Sacramento, she believes it was a good unexpected decision that no one anticipated. Outside of work, Angela loves making people laugh. She enjoys spending quality time with others, drawing energy from being around people. Angela loves being connected with people, herself and to the world so much so that if she could instantly become an expert in something, it would be languages.
Fun Facts About Angela:
- Has gone skydiving, bungee jumping, and white water rafting
- Rode on a ostrich and held a young alligator
- Ran the Nike Women’s Half Marathon 2 years in a row.
Liam de Wit
Project Engineer
Liam’s first job was as a gas station attendant at a local Chevron in Colusa in his freshman year of high school. It was always fun because he had a group of friends who were working the same job. The people skills that he gained from working at the gas station are still very valuable to him today when it comes to being able to handle any problem in a professional manner.
Fun facts about Liam:
- He’s a huge Sacramento Kings fan, he “bleeds purple” as he says.
- He has a new cat that proves to him every day that he’s from the streets.
- He loves to golf, play basketball, snowboard, snowmobiling, hike, and try new food.
Michael Heck
Project Superintendent
Michael Heck finds joy in various aspects of his life, cherishing his two sons, his flourishing garden teeming with fruit trees, and his passion for college and NFL football. Michael believes that his experience in the construction industry has instilled in him the value of investing in land and pursuing development opportunities. From his earliest days as a paperboy, Michael grasped the significance of punctuality and interpersonal interaction—a foundation he intends to integrate into his current role.
Fun Facts about Mike:
- Makes homemade jams with fruit from his garden
- Favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills
- Enjoys both the great outdoors and life in the city
Josh Downing
Certified Crane Operator
Josh is the certified crane operator for S+B James. In fact, one of his favorite projects was installing the tops of the Olsrud Family Community Playground during its remodel. He loves the variety of his job. One day he might be repairing equipment, and the next he’ll be running the crane. He’s certainly never bored! One thing he likes to remember, however, is to make sure to have some fun. “Don’t forget to play between working… Life is short, and before you know it, years have flown by.”
Fun Facts About Joshua:
- Love to go camping with his family
- Likes to hike, surf, snowmobile, and ride motorcycles
- Has been to Mexico eight times
John Doyle
Foreman
One of the most valuable lessons that John learned early in his life came from one of his teachers, Mr. Brown. He taught John the importance of doing something correctly and to the best of his abilities the first time so that he wouldn’t have to do it over. That lesson has carried with John throughout his career and has influenced his strong work ethic. John loves that his job is challenging and enjoys working with the S+B James Construction team. He feels that, as a team, we take great pride in what we can accomplish when we combine all of our skills and work together. While John has worked on many projects, he liked the challenge and complexities of working on the multipart Fire District 3 project, specifically the administration building.
Fun Facts About John:
- Enjoys sailing and gold mining
- Has three children
- Likes to make other people happy
Lauren Harrison
Project Coordinator
Lauren’s first job was as a swim lesson instructor in high school. She enjoyed working with kids, and doing so taught her a lot of patience. Lauren pursued her masters in Musem Studies and one of her favorite projects she recently worked on was acquiring new objects while working for the Aerospace Museum of California. She worked with other museums to transfer, transport, install, and develop exhibits for experimental aircraft.
Patrick Murphy
Project Manager
Patrick’s first job was as a construction laborer for a residential contractor. He loved being outside and making good money while still in high school and it taught him about the construction field and how hard it is to do what field crews do. One of his favorite projects he worked on was building Netflix headquarters.
Fun Facts About Patrick:
- When he was little, his parents would take him to Mexico for family trips and now he’s continuing the tradition with his family and hope to one day own a house in Mexico
- He loves teaching his son waterskiing
Brijan Patel
Project Engineer
Brijan’s first job was as an intern for a construction firm during his undergraduate. That firm lacked a lot of important key elements which made him realize the importance of working for a firm that has a great working culture and communication between the employees to make the project efficient and faster to complete. One of Brijan’s favorite hobbies is traveling. He traveled to about 12 states within the last 2 years.
Fun Facts About Brijan:
- Favorite Team – India Cricket Team
- Favorite Dog – German Shepherd
- He enjoys Travel, Skydiving, Scuba Diving, Bungee Jumping, Cliff Jump, and River Rafting
- He watched 8-9 movies back-to-back in a single day without any break
Chris Edge
Project Manager
Chris’s first job was delivering newspapers and while he did not like getting up at 4 am at the time, he appreciates the worth ethic and integrity that it instilled in him to carry through the rest of his life. With over 20 years of successful projects in the commercial construction industry working for multiple ENR Top 400 Contractors, Chris enjoys passing on his knowledge acquired from his mentors to current colleagues.
Fun Facts about Chris:
- Loves to golf, hike, and explore new places
- Delivered newspapers in Alaska before digital media
- Dreams of owning his own island!
Burt Witzelberger
Sr. Superintendent
Burt’s first job was as a janitor for State offices at his family-owned complex in Woodland. He was just 15 years old when he started. The family did a lot of tenant improvement construction in the 40-unit complex while he worked there and ignited his passion for his current career. Burt enjoys his job and appreciates the interaction in the field with different kinds of people – workers, owners, architects, inspectors, office personnel, and tenants. He likes the family-oriented team at S+B James and the fact that most of the team has worked together in the business with other local companies.
Fun Facts About Burt:
- If he could instantly become an expert in something, he would choose: Golf
- Once saved a person from choking!
- Dream: Play guitar in a 70’s rock band and tour the world
Bryson Wilkinson
Drafter II
Bryson’s first job was as a server’s assistant at a Season Ticket Holder’s restaurant at the Moda Center in Portland. He was lucky enough to go behind the scenes and see Portland’s Trail Blazer Memorabilia and their locker room. That job taught him a lot about meeting new people and how to talk to them. In Architecture school, one of Bryson’s favorite projects that he worked on was designing a three-story piano store and recital space.
Fun facts about Bryson:
- He used to have two bearded dragon pets, They were some of the coolest friends to have around
- He loves sports a lot that some call him the “ESPN Ocho” guy because he’s good at strange sports like dodgeball, cornhole, disc golf, and bowling. He also enjoys “typical” sports, where you’ll find him rooting for the USC Trojans, LA Lakers, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Nick Sanchez
Safety Manager
One of Nick’s first jobs was a construction laborer for concrete work. He always enjoyed the physical aspect of the work and feeling of accomplishment. Over the course of his career, he grew to be more analytical. In the construction and safety field, this has been an asset. Of all the projects Nick’s worked on, his favorite was at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Fun Facts About Nick:
- The Michigan Wolverines is his favorite college team along with the professional Detroit teams
- Once had a Chow dog named Brandy who he taught to blow her nose
- Once stayed in at castle in Ireland where he became friends with the owners of the castle
Dustin Fretwell
Preconstruction Manager
Dustin’s first job was at California Family Fitness as a personal trainer. It taught him the importance of showing clients that he cares and that developing and building relationships is key to success in any industry. His favorite construction project so far was a Tenant Improvement project for Blue Diamond Growers. It was a design-assist interior renovation of four existing office spaces within the campus and the team faced many growth opportunities. Dustin admires S+B James’ attention to detail and their emphasis on the importance of client satisfaction.
Fun Facts About Dustin:
- An avid basketball fan
- Traveling is on his bucket list
- A winner of the collegiate football national championship
Gerret Robbins
Project Engineer
One of Gerret’s first jobs was working on a cattle ranch. He liked working with animals and operating equipment. It taught him how to be a hard worker and to be selfless. When he’s not at work, he enjoys being with friends and family, snowboarding, riding dirt bikes, and fishing.
Fun Facts About Gerret:
- He rode a bull one time
- He has eaten escargot
- His favorite football team is the Green Bay Packers
Josh Geyer
Project Manager
Monique Naranjo
Project Coordinator
Monique’s first job was as a summer camp leader at the YMCA. She got the job after she volunteered. She had to fulfill volunteer hours and was dreading the job beforehand. She ended up falling in love with it and learned that trying new and unexpected things can be very rewarding. Her most significant teacher in life was a woman named Samantha, who helped Monique during a difficult time in her life. Monique learned that she should always try new things and give things a chance, even when she didn’t think she would enjoy it or be good at it. Samantha also taught Monique a basic, but important life lesson: Always be a good person because you never know what it will mean to someone.
Fun Facts About Monique:
- Loves to find and cook new recipes
- Has a talent for making traditional recipes vegan
- Likes the to hike in the great outdoors
Gordy Gilmore
Project Manager
One of Gordy’s favorite jobs was as the Director of Construction for Chipotle Mexican Grill. He loved the excitement of being part of the creation, of the Chipotle Brand, the stores, the process, the team, and most importantly, of the culture. In fact, he learned that a company’s vision and culture are the fuel that fires the heart of its best performers and makes its greatest achievements attainable. Later in life, he learned how a company’s culture is so very fragile and can be so easily broken. A poor culture can smother the most passionate performers. As S+B James continues to grow, Gordy hopes to contribute and lead in building and maintaining our extraordinary culture. While he’s only just joined us, he feels like S+B is like a family – Supportive and respectful.
Fun Facts About Gordy:
- Plays the guitar
- Avid Hockey fan
- Loves the outdoors, both on water and land
Suha Musallam
Business Development / Marketing
Suha’s first job was as a Graphic Designer for Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The biggest risk Suha has ever taken was quitting her job to pursue a freelance career in photography.
Fun Facts About Suha:
- Her passion is traveling the world. Some of her favorite places that she has traveled to are Iceland, Dubai, Greece, Jordan, Alaska, Prague, London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam, and more!
- She started a small business during the pandemic designing and selling custom LED neon signs
- She speaks Arabic.
Chris Hilkey
Controller
Chris’s first job was as a bottle sorter before they invented machines to get it done. Chris believes hard work in any task, no matter how small or trivial it seems will bring success in the long term. One of Chris’s favorite projects that he’s currently working on is the College of the Redwoods, Creative Arts Building. When he’s not at work, he’s either at CrossFit, or surrounding himself with family and friends.
Fun Facts About Chris:
- He can be too optimistic at times and tend to see only the good in all things.
- He absolutely loves surfing even though he doesn’t go enough to be that good at it.
- He loves being around people, however, he is extremely introverted.
Karla Torres
Assitant Project Manager
Karla is a versatile professional who thrives in dynamic environments. Her first job was working for Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), where she learned the value of adaptability in an ever-changing organization. Karla’s favorite project to date is the complete site modernization of an elementary school in La Jolla, CA. This undertaking allowed her to explore a new city and provided insights into the intricate decision-making processes involved in project planning, particularly in creating phase planning schedules.
Fun Facts about Karla:
- Karla has made it a tradition to attend an island reggae concert annually.
- Karla is a Dodgers fan; she shares this love for the game with her father.
- Karla enjoys creating spreadsheets. She finds structure to be an aspect that helps her stay organized in her professional and personal life.
Austin James
Project Engineer
Austin’s first job was working as a lumberjack. He spent his weekends splitting and stacking firewood and he learned the value of working hard and got some insight into what physical labor jobs are like. He’s had many teachers throughout his life, both personally and professionally. His favorite teachers taught him the importance of paying attention to detail. He found that lesson to be particularly valuable in construction, both in the office and on job sites. He appreciates working for S+B James and the way our team works together towards the same goal. “As a team, it is very collaborative and tight, allowing for growth over the year.”
Fun Facts About Austin:
- Loves the 49ers and the Sacramento Kings
- Favorite trip so far: Barcelona and Ibiza, Spain
- Dream: Professional Soccer player
Matt Langbehn
Sr. Project Engineer
Matt’s first job was as a youth basketball referee. Over the course of his career, he’s changed by trusting himself more and taking chances. He would tell his 20-year old self that when things don’t go the way you expected, it’s an opportunity to embrace chance and grow. When Matt is not working, he enjoys fishing, duck hunting and is currently learning about bowhunting. He wants to go on an elk hunt soon in Idaho or Montana.
Fun Facts About Matt:
- Has a yellow lab named Posey
- Favorite karaoke song – “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” by Toby Kieth
- Scariest thing he’s ever done was jump off a giant waterfall in Hawaii
Art Aguilar
Superintendent
Art’s first job was as an apprentice carpenter and he loved everything about it. He always loved working with his hands and creating something. Seeing the final product after they framed the structure gave him confirmation that this was the career path he would like to take. It taught him teamwork. Art’s proudest moment is getting married, starting a family, building his family home, and seeing his daughters grow.
Fun Fact About Art:
- He’s confident he can find a solution for everything
Brandon Martin
Senior Project Engineer
Brandon learned the power of communication through his first job working as a Barista at Dutch Bros. Brandon’s eagerness to continue learning and understanding his field of work has proven to be valuable for the team. His favorite teacher was his first superintendent who gave him the tools to find answers on his own instead of giving him all the answers. He couldn’t have asked for a better teaching method while trying to understand how the systems go together.
Fun Facts About Brandon:
- An avid hockey fan
- Enjoys the great outdoors by fishing
- Prefers to be outdoors when not working
Sam Khan
Sr. Project Engineer
After volunteering more than 200 hours as a tutor at a GED preparation facility, Sam got his first job as a tutor at Sylvan Learning Center. He became Tutor of the Year based on student progress and was even voted as “Favorite Tutor” by the students. This first job taught Sam that people can get their work done and contribute to a positive and fun working environment at the same time. He now brings these skills to S+B James and his experiences have taught him that “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”
Fun Facts About Sam:
- Loves the outdoors, especially Yosemite and Lake Tahoe
- Depending on the weather, you’ll find him hiking or playing video games
- Enjoys anything that brings people together
Craig Langseth
Project Manager
Craig believes that one of his most influential teachers, not just for school but for life, was one of his high school math teachers. She took math and made it relevant to real problems and practical applications. The real lesson was that if you show someone the “why” and the “how” it will be far more beneficial and more likely to be understood and retained. That’s a lesson for learning or teaching anything, not just math! Craig never stopped learning, and throughout his career, he learned the value of “working smarter, not harder” and maximizing opportunities outside of work as well. We’re happy to have him on the team!
Fun Facts About Craig:
- You can find him doing almost any outdoor activity
- Likes to travel and experience new things
- Loves spending time with the Kids
Bob Graves
Senior Superintendent
Bob’s first job was as a Carpenter Apprentice when he was 16 years old and still in High School. He loved working with his hands and the job taught him a lot about working with different groups of people.
Fun Facts About Bob:
- Loves to hunt elk, deer, pheasant, chukar, and quail
- Has a yellow lab
- Lived in Hawaii for two years with his wife
Devin Furrer
Field Engineer
Since his first job at a car auction, Devin has garnered invaluable lessons in hard work, independence, and customer interaction. Devin’s most cherished projects over the course of his career have consistently been those that facilitated people’s access to the great outdoors. Being an outdoors enthusiast, he has recently embarked on extended trips to explore Western Canada and the Grand Canyon and plans to continue going on adventures in the future.
- Refurbished and now drives his vintage farm truck
- Loves to cook, even when it goes wrong
- Enjoys bringing close friends on new adventures
Scott Meskimen
Project Manager
Scott used to build custom homes and lite commercial buildings. While he enjoyed going to work every day, he just didn’t feel like he was being challenged in his position. Striving for something that would push him to his full potential and offer advancement opportunities, Scott found himself at S+B James. Not only is he growing with his daily project challenges, but he continues to enjoy the people and the environment that he works in. One of his favorite projects to work on was the high-end retail store at the Ala Moana shopping center in Honolulu, Hawaii. There were many obstacles to overcome, but the store was opened as scheduled and within budget. Scott lives his best life by balancing his passion for his career and his love for his family.
Fun Facts about Scott:
- He’s a father and a grandfather
- He rides a motorcycle
- Prefers to spend his free time with outdoor hobbies
Hayden Meyers
Senior Project Manager
Two of Hayden’s most influential teachers in his life are his grandfather and father. They ran a family business and taught him the value of hard work and perseverance. His father demonstrated the importance of having pride and passion in the work being done. Hayden has already learned that while hard work will help you succeed, strong communication skills is the key to taking your career to the next level. He believes that creating and maintaining relationships with the people he works is one of the most important things to do. Hayden is looking forward to doing great things at S+B James’ Sacramento branch and appreciates the guidance and support he’s received from the S+B James team.
Fun Facts about Hayden:
- Has an English Chocolate Lab named Chip
- An avid rugby, baseball, and football fan
- Was Captain of the UC Davis 2015 DI-AA National Championship Team
Jake Chavez
Project Engineer
Jake is a man of simple pleasures with an enjoyment for many activities such as golf, baseball, darts, ping pong, and more. He advises his younger self to pursue what he loves, a principle that has guided him throughout his life. With the guidance of various coaches, Jake has learned the importance of teamwork and leadership, values he has incorporated into his life in and outside of work. His knack for woodworking has become a hobby, with Jake crafting furniture that reflects his skill. When he’s not in his workshop, you’ll find Jake outdoors, firing up the grill to barbecue and smoke meats, a pastime that brings him joy.
Fun Facts about Jake:
- “Let’s Go Dodgers!”
- First job was working for Geek Squad at Best Buy
- Loves the outdoors, especially
Jeff Salaun
Sr. Superintendent
Jeff’s first job was washing windows at the age of 14 and that taught him to be punctual at a young age. He is most proud of developing and maintaining relationships that have been built on mutual respect. One of his favorite projects that he’s worked on was the UC Med Co-Generation Plant.
Fun Fact About Jeff:
- He enjoys the outdoors, hunting, and fishing
Rob Spohn
Project Manager
One of Rob’s greatest teachers was a former employer. Being a “control enthusiast”, it took this employer to teach him the art of delegation after years of trying to do too much when it came to projects. He learned the value of a great team and their support of those projects. As a Project Manager, Rob has worked on many different projects. His favorite is the McClinton Cancer Center for Baylor Scott and White Health in Waco Texas. He really appreciated the importance of this project as the facility brought much needed cancer care to the region. Rob has joined S+B James and feels that we have a very talented team with diverse skills and backgrounds which allows us the to take on nearly any project while producing outstanding results.
Fun Facts About Rob:
- He is an avid football fan
- Loves being an empty nester (but loves his five kids!)
- Likes to build furniture
Madisen Plummer
Project Coordinator
Madisen is a dedicated project coordinator with a unique journey that began in education. She cultivated invaluable skills in communication, organization, and adaptability before embarking on a career transition that led her to discover her true passion in the construction industry.
Fun Facts about Madisen:
- Has a 25-pound cat named Kobe.
- Madisen experienced the vibrant festivities of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and embraced the local cuisine by trying alligator.
- Madisen enjoys baking sweet treats for her family every weekend.