Expert Details
Construction: Commercial, Residential, Municipal, Healthcare, and Retail
ID: 739512
Illinois, USA
Expert has been employed by general contractors and building owners for extensive general contracting and carpentry trade work. These applications have included concrete forming; designing build light gauge steel and wood framing; drywall sheeting; installing suspended ceiling systems; finish carpentry; doors and hardware; windows; exterior siding; roofing; flooring; system furniture; window coverings, partition wall systems; toilet and building specialties; railings; fencing; decks and balconies.
Expert's progressive career promotions have moved from apprentice carpenter to journeyman carpenter, carpenter foreman, general foreman, superintendent, and project manager. He is now the principal of his consulting firm, and he holds a General Contractor License for the City of Chicago.
He is an expert in the following areas:
• Construction safety, including fall protection; scaffolding; confined spaces; ladders; lifts; hoisting; trip/fall prevention; barricade; temporary protection; hazmat & dust containment; and personal protection equipment (“PPE”). Extensive OSHA and safety training and classes
• American Disability Act (“ADA”) compliant
• Quality control (“QC”), quality assurance (“QA”) and managing/coordinating special inspections & testing
• Municipal and health department building permit acquisition and sign-off
• FAA/Department of Aviation building permit signoff and compliance
• Occupied space renovation including projects at O’Hare International Airport, City of Chicago firehouses, schools and other municipal buildings, including grocery store and offices
• Off hour and shift work. On call 24/7. Available to work in a secured area requiring security clearance
• Construction trade labor unions dealings, member since1989 at Carpenters Local 10
• Commercial hardware. Certified Medeco Hardware Inc., Keymark hardware Inc., and other specialty hardware installers. Experience with panic hardware, door closures, door coordinators, double egress doors, sliding doors, and automated doors
• Power tool operations including Hiti and Redhead
• Counter tops including Corian, Formica, granite, fabricate and install
• Finish carpentry, cabinets, casework, millwork, and closet systems
• Building envelope, exterior siding, cement siding including Hardy Board and certain Teed weather-rated building wrap systems (Tyvek, Owens Corning, and Typar)
• Fire walls, fire rated walls, fire rate openings, and fire stop construction
• Concrete formwork, reinforcing steel (“rebar”), embeds, placement, and finishing
• Retail and commercial furniture, fixtures, and equipment (“FF&E”) including system furniture by Steelcase, Herman Miller, Ultra Wall, and Vaughn Wall panel systems
• Escalators and speed walkways associated construction
• Tenant Improvement (“TI”) including design build light gauge metal framing (metal studs) for walls and soffits; wall systems; suspended ceiling systems; and other TI specialty installation
• Restroom and other wet area construction including toilet accessories and partitions; ADA grab bars; exhaust fans; wall hung lavatories; counter tops; corner guards and baby changing tables
• Commercial & retail walk-in coolers/freezers and refrigerated fixtures, Hill Phoenix, Hussmann, and Lozier
• Custom single family home, townhouses, and condominium upgrades (modifications, renovations, and build to suit)
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1993 | Degree: Chicago Carpenters Apprentice Program | Subject: General Construction Practices | Institution: Carpenters Local 10 |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2007 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal and Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert is a hands-on journeyman carpenter with over 30 years of experience in the commercial, residential, municipal, healthcare, and retail construction industry.Expert is a 1993 journeyman carpenter graduate from the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters. He completed the four-year master apprentice program, and he has been employed by general contractors and building owners for extensive general contracting and carpentry trade work. The above includes concrete forming; designing build light gauge steel and wood framing; drywall sheeting; installing suspended ceiling systems; finish carpentry; doors and hardware; windows; exterior siding; roofing; flooring; system furniture; window coverings, partition wall systems; toilet and building specialties; railings; fencing; decks and balconies. Expert has attained progressive career promotions, starting as an apprentice carpenter to journeyman carpenter, carpenter foreman, general foreman, superintendent, and project manager and now the principal of his own consulting firm. Expert holds a General Contractor License for the City of Chicago. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: General Foreman of Carpenters | Department: Aviation |
Responsibilities:General foreman for the Department of Aviation at a major international airport. Manages employees and contractors for multiple ongoing renovation and maintenance projects through the airport. Activities include overseeing the carpenter shop and a staff of 25 carpenters and other trade professionals performing carpentry, painting, flooring, tile, plumbing, electrical. On call 24/7.Projects have included: • Terminal 1 Concourse C: complete remodel of men’s and women’s restrooms • City of Chicago: operations tower • City of Chicago: complete remodel of administration buildings • American/United Airlines: renovation of offices and operations areas • O’Hare Operations: new construction for snow command center • South Electrical Airfield Vault: renovation of new doors and installing hardware • Airfield Capitol Door Program: renovation project replacing various airfield door and frames • Emergency Response: addressing various unforeseen hazards to the public (broken windows, frozen water pipes, airfield accidents) |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2007 | Employer: City of Chicago Department of General Services | Title: Construction Expert | Department: |
Responsibilities:Maintained, repaired, renovated, and expanded Chicago-owned properties including City Hall, Chicago Fire Department stations, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Police Station libraries and other city-owned buildings.Projects included: • Chicago Police Academy, renovation of new workout and training facility • Chicago Public Libraries, replacement of floors, offices and bathrooms • Chicago Fire Academy, renovation of doors and office areas • Board of Education, renovation of 6 story building converting to new office and storage facilities • City Hall, remodel of Mayor and Aldermanic office |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2005 | Employer: Oakley Construction Contractors Chicago | Title: Project Manager and Superintendent | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for administrative and field project operations for public works, private, government, commercial, multifamily and residential entities.Major project: Loyola Medical Center: Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy 6-story renovation. Project scope included elevator renovation, new sewer and parking lot improvements, interior framing, fire stop, installation of doors with panic device hardware and install of millwork. Extensive renovations to bathrooms for ADA accommodations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2002 to 2004 | Employer: George Sollitt Construction Company | Title: Carpenter Foreman | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for onsite field operations and self-performance of various projects.Major projects: • Chicago Public Schools Kelly High School Archer/California, 350,000 square foot three-story addition from footings to the roof. Installation of windows, doors, band room, and multi-tiered concrete stage. • Chicago Public Schools, Eugene Field Elementary (7019 N Ashland Boulevard). Brand new construction of school, handled all aspects from foundation, parking lot, gymnasium, elevator, doors, hardware, and lunchroom (including installation of kitchen equipment). • Shriners Hospital, Oak Park, Illinois. Served as lead foreman on construction of entrance and lobby area as well as renovation of exam and x-ray rooms |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2002 | Employer: Pepper Construction Company | Title: Lead Carpenter | Department: |
Responsibilities:Served as lead carpenter for major commercial GC construction company with focus on high rise construction and commercial building maintenance accounts.Major projects: • Marshall Field’s State/Madison, Chicago, Illinois. House carpenter worked in the local carpenter shop maintaining property. Conferred with designers (Michael Kors, H&M, Guess) fabricating displays for the sales floor. Also built and maintained local sports bar and Starbucks on premise. • The Garlands of Barrington, Barrington, Illinois. Served as lead carpenter for the Villas portion of the project (a retirement community consisting of condos and villa type housing). Performed necessary changes to the floor plan per clients’ requests. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 2001 | Employer: Hussmann Corporation | Title: Lead Carpenter | Department: |
Responsibilities:Served as lead carpenter for company focused on the remodeling and updating of grocery stores. Oversaw replacement of walk-in-coolers and freezers/display refrigeration cases as well as upgrading pharmacy fixtures. Maintained ADA compliance.Four major projects: • Jewel/Osco Grocery Store 59th/Pulaski Chicago, Illinois. Remodel of existing store including new store fixtures, coolers, deli cases, frozen food display cases. Renovation of existing pharmacy and cosmetics area. Renovations of bathrooms to accommodate ADA requirements. • Jewel/Osco Grocery Store 119TH/Pulaski/Alsip Illinois. Small renovation including new ceiling cooler and freezer cases. Renovations of existing washrooms for ADA compliance. • Jewel/Osco Grocery Store 95TH/Stony Island, Illinois. New store in a strip store setting. • Meijer, Bolingbrook, Illinois. Cooler, freezer and shelving install (new construction). |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1999 | Employer: The Roberts, Ecker and Mock Corporation | Title: Lead Carpenter | Department: |
Responsibilities:Served as lead carpenter for company focused on interior office space buildouts including specialty glass store front office space and custom pre-finish wall panels. Serviced several companies in the Chicago downtown area as an in-house carpenter position handling repairs as needed.Four major projects: • CNA Insurance, Van Buren/Jackson Chicago, Illinois. House carpenter where Expert's team converted multiple floors into new office spaces along with millwork. • Zurich Insurance Towers, Schaumburg, Illinois. Renovated offices to a Herman Miller type storefront setting with glass installation. • USG, Chicago, Illinois. New construction installation of Ultra Wall a prefinished removable wall office system which included an aluminum storefront type finish. • Arthur Anderson Accounting Firm, Chicago, Illinois. Provided custom millwork when needed, also provided routine maintenance to office area. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 1996 | Employer: R&D Thiel Carpenter Contractors Inc. | Title: Lead Carpenter | Department: |
Responsibilities:Lead carpenter for two locations in the downtown area. General maintenance, store fixtures, small remodeling within the sales floor. Among other projects: Woolworth, Chicago: Maintained interior of store keeping in mind of public interaction. Small renovations to accommodate public and city inspection needs. Provided routine maintenance for public safety. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2007 to Present | Agency: City of Chicago | Role: General Foreman of Carpenters | Description: Oversee various project at O'Hare airport. Manage a full staff of 25 carpenters and other trades. Self perform remodeling or new construction jobs. Maintain 60k+ doors on airfield property with key control access. |
Career Accomplishments
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| 1989-Present: Union Journeymen Carpenter in Chicago. Carpenters Local 10. 2023-Present: General Contractors License with the City of Chicago. 1993-Current: Maintains certification or advanced training in the following areas: • Aerial Lift Training • Ceiling Systems • Construction Management • Firestopping • First Aid • Hardware • Hardware Electrified • Layout • OSHA • Fall Injuries • Respiratory Protection • Personal Protective Equipment • Preparing for Weather Emergency Action • Fire Prevention • Scaffolds in Construction • Preventing Workplace Violence • Permit-Required Confined Spaces (Entrant) |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Small claims represented Plaintiff in a bad remodeling case. Judgement was for Plaintiff for full amount of claim. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Expert holds numerous certificates with the City of Chicago. |
Fields of Expertise
airport construction, residential building construction, commercial construction, government facility, building construction, construction, construction industry, construction industry standard, construction safety, construction safety management, ADA compliance, ADA accessibility, ADA design, quality control, quality assurance, quality assurance engineering, quality assurance project plan, FAA compliance, power tool, fire wall, fire rate wall, concrete formwork, retail furniture, commercial furniture, furniture, furniture manufacturing, furniture design, escalator, escalator standard, walkway, restroom construction, restroom accessibility, restroom accessory