Our Team - BKV Group

Willy Bermudez

Willy is a dedicated and highly motivated senior designer with over 20 years of experience in single and multi-family residential design as well as retail interiors. His diverse experience encompasses new construction, renovation, expansion, and planning of complex large-scale residential, student housing, hotel, and mixed-use projects. Willy is a valued leader at BKV Group and is known for his contemporary design aesthetic, attention to detail, and collaborative approach to leadership.

Matthew Brooke

Matthew offers extensive design and documentation experience in institutional, commercial, and residential building types with an expertise in building technology and sustainable design. With experience in project sizes ranging from small to mid-size, he is proficient at coordinating efforts with clients and consultants throughout all phases of a project.

Joe Brown

Joe has many years of architectural experience with a specialization in adaptive reuse. His renovation projects include the award-winning Schmidt Artist Lofts and A-Mill Artist Lofts. Joe has worked extensively with teams on historic buildings across the country, converting them into modern, urban environments.

Craig Carter

Craig has more than a decade of nationwide experience in architectural programming, design, documentation, and construction administration with a focus on public facilities and government projects. He is a national leader in fire station design and construction, utilizing an innovative research-based approach. His projects have won awards for design as well as for demonstrating an exceptional level of cooperation between government and the private sector. Craig is an expert in the detailed requirements that enable public facilities to be effective tools for their users. With a family background in public service, Craig understands the culture of local government and strives to create an excellent working relationship with his clients by focusing on timeliness, follow-through, and clear communications, while keeping the best interests of the citizens at heart.

Charlie Charlton

Charlie represents both BKV Group and the project owners throughout the construction process. He utilizes his expertise as a Construction Administrator to ensure that design performance is achieved and verified during construction. Charlie enforces BKV Group’s tactical approach to quality control by focusing on clear communication, project controls, monitoring, and detecting potential schedule delays & cost overruns before they occur in the field. His strong client relations have fostered innovative ways to resolve complex project issues in a timely and effective manner.

Joseph Daly

Joseph brings a wealth of electrical engineering experience to projects, including lighting and lighting controls, power distribution, UPS systems, generators and fire alarm systems. He believes the key to project success is abundant and timely communication throughout the design process.

Lionel Dayton

Lionel has completed major design projects utilizing post-tensioned concrete, precast concrete, cold-formed steel, composite beam and joists, heavy timber, and conventional wood framing materials. Lionel has been a structural project manager and engineer of record on projects of variable size, from single-family home renovations to $50 million mixed-use building complexes. He has an extensive background in fastener production, testing, and design for all connection applications.

Jonathan Delcambre

Jonathan has wide-ranging experience in the field of architecture and design from various sectors around the globe. Over the course of his career, he has helped create and produce a wide range of design concepts and documentation including, educational facilities, single family homes, international airports, hospitality, master planning, and large mixed-use towers.

Mike Dugan

Mike has over 30 years of experience in the design and specification of plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning, process piping, high purity water systems, chemical and gas piping systems, fire protection, and building automation systems. His project design and management experience includes work in a wide variety of markets, including commercial and industrial buildings, housing, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, laboratories, and correctional facilities. Mike also has experience with forensic and code research.

DuWayne Jones

DuWayne Jones has over 20 years of experience, primarily with county and state government facilities. As a primary client liaison, his responsibilities include organizing, directing and executing work assignments, monitoring budget, scope and schedule for multiple projects at a time. DuWayne’s experience includes working closely with clients, often involving multiple stakeholders to understand their mission and unique project requirements and develop architectural solutions that enhance their operational goals.

Larry Farris

Code Specialist
As dedicated part of our Construction Administration team, Larry brings the expertise of a Certified Building Official and a Certified Building Inspector. Larry has a solid background in commercial and residential construction methods. As a Certified Code Specialist, Larry closely monitors BKV Group’s projects with his extensive knowledge in both national and statewide building codes and enforcement practices. Larry is also a Certified Plumbing Inspector & Certified Mechanical Inspector. Quality assurance control in design and construction is critical in Larry’s role on BKV Projects.

Renato Gilberti

Renato has over 20 years of experience in residential, mixed-use, senior living, and hospitality practice areas. His desire to be challenged and develop high-quality architecture drives him to create innovative and progressive designs. Renato’s experience includes design leadership, master planning, diagrammatic studies, and rendering development on local, state, national and international projects. He is a LEED-Accredited Professional with experience on multiple LEED projects.

Heather Gleason

Director of Business Development
Heather is experienced in leading business development for companies across many different verticals and has focused on commercial/multifamily real estate for the past several years. She is a results-driven expert who strategically leverages our internal multifamily housing resources to exceed our client’s goals through innovative thinking, creative problem-solving and team collaboration. Heather is an active member of CREW Chicago, ULI, LeadingAge IL, and the City Club of Chicago. For fun, she is a dedicated globetrotter and passionate yogini.

Brady Halverson

Director of Landscape Architecture
Brady’s work includes a broad range of project types including site design, master planning, corridor and transit-oriented development studies, comprehensive and redevelopment planning and process facilitation, and new town planning for both public and private clients. A common thread in all of Brady’s work is an emphasis on sustainability and creation of meaningful places that offer unique design solutions specific to each client’s needs.

Jim Hansing

Jim Hansing has over 25 years of experience in architecture, construction administration and project management on base building and interior construction projects. His project experience is primarily in housing, office, education and government building types. He has a demonstrated knowledge of all aspects of project design and documentation from schematic design to project closeout.

Edward Heinen

Director of Specifications
Ed’s work includes maintaining a core practice in specifications writing and management of project manuals and managing BKV Group’s specialized specification writers, while pursuing expertise in high-performing, sustainable buildings and landscapes.

Liza Kapisak

Liza delivers design solutions that focus on aesthetic appearance while delivering functionality and efficiency. She has extensive experience in communicating with clients to develop programming and comprehensive concepts while exploring creative space planning solutions as well as finish and furnishing selections. She partners closely with architects, engineers, consultants and other professionals on all projects to ensure success.

Ashley LaRocca

Director of Business Development
Ashley LaRocca has 20 years of experience in the residential architecture, real estate, and development industry. In her role as Director of Pre-development Services, Ashley provides a strategic value proposition within the real estate development and architecture industry. BKV Group’s pre-development services address the critical first phase of a real estate development, which includes identification, evaluation, and owner acquisition of potential development sites.

Julie Lux

Director of Business Development
Julie has over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, focusing on the multi-family market. She is an active member of CCIM, MNCREW, MHA and is board president of the East Bethel Economic Development Authority. Julie joined BKV Group in 2017 to head up the newly created Pre-Development Services group where she is leveraging her real estate experience to assist BKV Group’s clients source and acquire development sites.

Mark Manetti

Mark has extensive experience in programming, planning and designing government and education projects. He is a loyal, conscientious and hardworking professional with a proven track record of managing and successfully implementing all phases of design and construction related services. Mark has a service-oriented approach to design, with a history of effectively managing design team resources to achieve project profitability.

Lauren Myers-Young

Director of Business Development
Lauren has more than 20 years of experience in business development, marketing, and strategic planning in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Lauren specializes in business development in the areas of housing, government and corporate clients. She is an active member of SMPS, DCBIA, CREW and DC Real Estate Group. Lauren joined BKV Group in 2012 and was instrumental in transforming a new practice site into a 30-person, multi-disciplined studio.

Kyle Olson

Kyle is responsible for performing and directing others in the design, evaluation, and retrofit of metal, concrete, masonry, and wood structures. He’s experienced in the preparation of engineering studies, design documents, building and support structure layouts, engineering and construction cost estimates, and construction documents. He is also responsible for supervision of design personnel, final project checking, and communication with clients pertaining to design and construction issues.

Chris Palkowitsch

Chris’ architectural experience is focused on senior, affordable, and market rate housing. Chris is passionate about creating high quality and innovative architecture. He believes in a client-focused approach that emphasizes collaboration to create exceptional and highly functional projects. As a design lead for BKV Group, Chris combines his senior housing project experience with ingenuity and client input to develop designs that enhance the lives of residents.

Henry Pittner

Henry is an award-winning licensed architect, author and presenter who has gained national recognition for his leadership managing, programming, planning and designing governmental projects. With more than 35 years of experience, he has led more than seventy projects in twelve states for city, county, and state clients including courts facilities, detention and correctional facilities, government centers, system and site master planning, and civic design.

Emily Rappe

Director of Professional Services
Emily’s education and experience in the architectural profession provides expertise in orchestrating the coordination of project scheduling and assignment of project teams, including professional staff recruitment and the hiring process for all practice sites. She coordinates the professional service operational functions that enable teams to complete project work, including development and refinement of tools and standards to enhance BKV Group’s project delivery process and design efforts.

Charlie Robinson

Director of Structural Engineering – Minnesota
Charlie has many years of experience in structural engineering, including structural design and analysis of steel framed structures, timber, cold-formed metal framing, reinforced masonry, reinforced concrete, retaining structures, deep and shallow foundations, and the analysis, assessment, and renovation of existing structures. His expertise extends to many different project types, including multi-housing, municipal buildings, business centers, and many others. He is an excellent problem solver with an outstanding ability to learn new technologies and processes quickly.

Alex Sawka

Alex is skilled in offering innovative mechanical design solutions to projects. He is a highly motivated and resourceful individual who interacts productively with people from diverse backgrounds. Alex is a conscientious team player with excellent problem solving and troubleshooting skills, able to design innovative solutions that promote maximum efficiency while requiring minimal maintenance. He has experience with projects in many different housing markets, including multi-family housing, student housing, and hospitality.

Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah’s experience spans mixed-use and residential, institutional, federal and municipal government, and higher education design for both public and private clients. He brings leadership in sustainability and project management to the team with an emphasis on fostering design quality and environmental stewardship. Jeremiah also co-chairs the Sustainability committee within BKV Group, helping to foster opportunities within projects and processes to include sustainable initiatives.

John Stark

As Project Manager, John brings over 30 years of experience on a myriad of project types with a specialty in sustainable and historic projects. He orchestrates timely communication between owners, architects, engineers and specialists to make projects successful. His consensus-building management style and mentorship provides everyone an opportunity to contribute.

Brad Sullivan

Brad has extensive experience in all phases of architecture from conceptual design to construction administration. His varied experience has ranged from very large complex projects such as high-rise, mixed-use residential housing, and master planning, to small- and medium-sized projects such as adaptive reuse historic renovations and interior tenant improvements. With an emphasis on organization and clarity, he coordinates the efforts of the project team, maintains document compliance with project criteria and facilitates communication with all members of the team.

John Treiber

John has experience in design and project management of multiple project types including mixed-use and build-to-suit commercial, residential and retail renovations and new construction. John’s role involves working closely with clients, often involving multiple stakeholders to understand their mission and unique project requirements, and developing architectural solutions that enhance their operational goals.

Megan Van Beck

Megan has extensive experience in the residential, corporate, and hospitality design sectors. She is involved in all phases of a project, from planning and programming to construction administration, and her dynamic approach to the design process helps her to deliver unique and purposeful interior spaces. Megan brings energy and passion to each project as she strives to create exceptional design for every client.

Marisa Zambuto

Marisa’s work experience has focused on public, municipal, and government building projects. She is highly detail-oriented and has extensive practice creating basis-of-design documents, documenting existing conditions, and coordinating demolition and construction phasing. Marisa’s commitment to sustainability includes a drive to retain the embodied energy in our existing structures, and her ease with BIM technology to manage phasing and communicate design intent make her the ideal architect to participate in any remodeling efforts. She is also experienced in sustainable design practices including the USGBC LEED certification process and has completed LEED documentation for numerous projects.

People

We have earned a reputation for high standards and expectations—and for outstanding people who do exceptional work. You can learn more about us here.

Partners

Jack Boarman

Jack Boarman

Michael Krych

Michael Krych

Kelly Naylor

Kelly Naylor

Lois Nicholas

Lois Nicholas

Thomas Daszkiewicz

Thomas Daszkiewicz

Bruce Schwartzman

Bruce Schwartzman

Jack Barbaccia

Jack Barbaccia

Mathew Nugent

Mathew Nugent

John Maisto

John Maisto

Mark Harris

Mark Harris

Chad Kurdi

Chad Kurdi

Leaders

Willy Bermudez

Willy Bermudez

Matthew Brooke

Matthew Brooke

Joe Brown

Joe Brown

Craig Carter

Craig Carter

Charlie Charlton

Charlie Charlton

Joseph Daly

Joseph Daly

Lionel Dayton

Lionel Dayton

Jonathan Delcambre

Jonathan Delcambre

Mike Dugan

Mike Dugan

DuWayne Jones

DuWayne Jones

Larry Farris

Larry Farris

Renato Gilberti

Renato Gilberti

Heather Gleason

Heather Gleason

Brady Halverson

Brady Halverson

Jim Hansing

Jim Hansing

Edward Heinen

Edward Heinen

Liza Kapisak

Liza Kapisak

Ashley LaRocca

Ashley LaRocca

Julie Lux

Julie Lux

Mark Manetti

Mark Manetti

Lauren Myers-Young

Lauren Myers-Young

Kyle Olson

Kyle Olson

Chris Palkowitsch

Chris Palkowitsch

Henry Pittner

Henry Pittner

Emily Rappe

Emily Rappe

Charlie Robinson

Charlie Robinson

Alex Sawka

Alex Sawka