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There are a lot of new faces at Kansas City, Mo.-based Burns & McDonnell this year, starting with CEO and President Leslie Duke.
Duke took over as head of the employee-owned engineering, construction and architecture firm in early 2024. Since then, he has expanded the leadership team to strengthen the company as it capitalizes on opportunities created by the Act of Employment and Investments in Infrastructure and the Inflation Reduction Law. .
In addition to a number of promotions, Duke announced three new C-suite roles:
- Chris Baxter as Chief Risk Officer.
- Matt Olson as chief innovation officer.
- Joe Podrebarac as security manager.
The company is investing in more people amid a “building renaissance fueled by massive infrastructure investment at levels not seen since the New Deal,” according to a Burns & McDonnell press release.
Leslie Duke
Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell
Duke first joined Burns & McDonnell in 1999 as a structural engineer in Houston and has held several leadership roles during his 24-year tenure, including opening and growing several new offices, according to the release. Most recently, Duke served as regional president and general manager of the South Central Region and played an integral role in launching the company’s engineer-to-buy and build delivery method.
Duke earned a bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering from Texas Tech University and was named a Texas Tech Distinguished Engineer in 2018. She is the company’s eighth CEO, succeeding Ray Kowalik, who retired at the end of 2023 after of 36 years in the company.
Other new or expanded features include:
- John Olander will continue as Chief Operating Officer, focusing on technology and innovation. From now on, Olander will oversee the company’s Office of Innovation, led by chief innovation officer Matt Olson, and the company’s global business, technology and security consultancy, known as 1898 & Co.
- Bob Reymond has been promoted to the new role of Director of Power Operations, overseeing the company’s Power Group and Oil, Gas & Chemical Group. Reymond, a Burns & McDonnell board member, moved into the new role after leading the OGC since 2015.
- Mark Swanson has been promoted to Senior Vice President and succeeds Reymond at the helm of the OGC.
- Paul Fischer has been promoted to the new role of Director of Growth Operations. This elevated role will allow Fischer, a member of the Burns & McDonnell board, to continue to provide guidance and vision for the company during a time of growth. Fischer will also oversee the Transmission and Distribution Group, led by Jamey Bertram.
To continue the growth trajectory and provide a greater support structure for the company’s North American regions, Duke is promoting three leaders who will report to Fischer:
- Zach Herrington will lead the Western regions of America, consisting of the California, Mountain and Southwest regions.
- Jerry Fan will lead the North American regions, consisting of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Upper Midwest and Midwest regions.
- Allen Xi will lead the South America region, consisting of the South Central, North Texas, Southeast and Florida regions.
