“As the size and complexity of our projects continue to increase, the promotions of these three individuals will ensure an abundance of success as we move forward.”

Shane Bauer, Chief Operating Officer | The Weitz Company 

Brian Baas, Assistant Chief Operating Officer 

Brian has been with The Weitz Company for 27 years and brings a wealth of operational leadership and deep knowledge across several core areas of the company. In his new role, he will support major projects in Iowa, Arizona, Mission Critical, Federal, and Commercial sectors. Additionally, Brian will place a strong focus on the development and growth of operational leaders and teams, helping to strengthen our internal capabilities for long-term success. 

Shad Cloeter, Corporate Director of Operations 

With over two decades of experience at Weitz, Shad has built a strong foundation in operations, with particular strengths in standards, processes, and financials. In his new role, Shad will oversee major projects in Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Industrial, and Aviation sectors. He will also lead our Quality, Operational Excellence, and VDC functions to ensure they are aligned with operational objectives. 

David Mellema, Vice President of Preconstruction 

Over his 30+ year career in the industry, David has extensive experience working closely with owners and designers ensuring accurate estimating for projects. As the Vice President of Preconstruction, he will lead all preconstruction efforts across the company, delivering consistent and strategic solutions that align with project goals and expectations. 

These leadership promotions represent more than organizational changes; they signal our ongoing commitment to operational excellence. Congratulations, Brian, Shad, and David on your new roles.  

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Rachel brings a wealth of experience in strategic marketing, brand management, and team leadership. Her career journey reflects her passion for communicating compelling narratives and building meaningful relationships across the community. 

Rachel comes to The Weitz Company as an experienced marketer with over sixteen years of expertise and a proven track record of success, primarily at the executive level. As the Vice President of Marketing, she oversaw the marketing strategies for three real estate brokerages and four ancillary businesses, transforming traditional approaches into innovative digital marketing and lead generation strategies. Throughout her career, Rachel has served diverse industries such as home services, e-commerce, real estate, development and finance. 

In her role, Rachel will focus on expanding The Weitz Company’s marketing efforts and brand presence by leveraging emerging trends and technologies to keep the firm at the forefront of key market sectors such as Aviation, Data Centers, Industrial Manufacturing, Commercial, and more. Her expertise will undoubtedly bring fresh energy and insight, further solidifying the company’s position as a leader in the field. 

“I’m excited to work with such a talented team and contribute to a company that has a profound impact on communities nationwide. Together, we will continue to build not just remarkable structures that shape communities, but strong partnerships and innovative solutions that stand the test of time.”

Rachel Delzell, Marketing Director | The Weitz Company 

Rachel, Weitz looks forward to seeing the positive impact of your leadership. Congratulations and welcome to the Weitz team! 

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An Iowa native, Nick earned his B.S. in Marketing Management from the University of Northern Iowa. He began his career in Johnston, Iowa before relocating to the West Coast, where he gained valuable experience in sales and relationship building in the agricultural insurance industry. Upon returning to Des Moines, Nick brings a wealth of skills and insight to his new position with The Weitz Company.  

“The Weitz Company’s legacy in Iowa is truly remarkable, and I am incredibly excited to join such a dedicated team that strives to create a positive impact to every community they build in. I’m looking forward to bringing my knowledge and skills from other industries to help continue to build the Weitz legacy.”

Nick Ross, Business Development Manager | Iowa

Since 1855, The Weitz Company has been recognized as an industry leader having built some of the most historic and significant projects in Iowa. Our Iowa Commercial team specializes in a variety of project types such as office environments, higher education, tenant improvement projects, healthcare, warehouse, manufacturing, aviation, and sports facilities. 

Learn more about our Iowa Commercial projects here.

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Nearly twenty years ago, El Bassiouny won a scholarship from the construction giant, Orascom PLC, to study in the United States. The scholarship took him to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering.

Following his education and research focused on solar and renewable energy systems, El Bassiouny was not certain where his career path would take him until receiving a job offer from Orascom to join the construction firm after graduation.

After a number of years with Orascom in Cario, he was given an opportunity to grow his career with the company’s counterpart in the United States, The Weitz Company. For the last five years with Weitz, he has overseen the company’s federal operations, and their data center construction specialized electrical subcontracting firm, EPI Power.

Throughout his time with Weitz, El Bassiouny has had the opportunity to work in a variety of sectors, including industrial, data centers, and electrical contracting, gaining exposure to a variety of projects under seasoned mentors.

“One of the things I feel is unique about this company and I get excited about is there’s so much opportunity,.”

Omar El Bassiouny, The Weitz Company – Director

El Bassiouny likes to emphasize to new employees just how many options they could pursue at Weitz; whether that is estimating the costs for a project, working on business development and contracts, or project management.  He encourages new employees starting a career in the construction industry to be a team player and take opportunities to have more responsibilities to let their contributions to the company shine through.

Ultimately, he believes what sets Weitz apart from other companies is the environment it offers its employees.

“It’s a big company but with a family feel,” El Bassiouny said.

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

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Determined to create a better life for her growing family, the young mother went back to school and earned her degree in civil engineering at the University of Florida, garnering interest from competing construction firms along the way.  

After interning with other companies in the industries during college, Charlotte started with Weitz as a Project Engineer shortly after graduation. During this time she was able to get a taste for different aspects of the construction industry early on. Now as a Project Manager II for Weitz – Florida, she continues to enjoy the variety her job brings.   

“My best advice is don’t believe the stereotypes,” Charlotte said. “I’m in heels one minute and work boots the next. At Weitz, you’re really given the chance to develop your own career path based on your interests.” 

Charlotte says the best aspect of her role is that every day is different. She has worked her way from Project Engineer to Project Manager II, finding a love for public sector projects and the immediate, positive impact they can have on local communities.  

“Charlotte is an outstanding example of what can happen when someone decides to lean-in and really put in the work. She never misses an opportunity to learn something new or effectively teach her staff new skills, which goes a long way towards making our entire team stronger.” 

Mark Huber, Project Executive for The Weitz Company

Ultimately, Charlotte wants to be an example for little girls that they, too, can find a home in the construction industry.  

For Charlotte, construction wasn’t a childhood dream or a family business. But when confronted with adversity, Charlotte made chose to forge a new path and build a new career with the help of company giving her the opportunities and support necessary to thrive. She’s been Growing With Weitz ever since. 

The Weitz Company encourages all its employees to follow Charlotte’s lead and embrace opportunities for continued growth. It’s part of how we Build a Better Way. 

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

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As a superintendent for Weitz’s Colorado business unit, Foster comes home from the jobsite dusty and dirty – and couldn’t imagine a better way to work. 

“It definitely has its stressors, but a big part of the job feels like playing – getting to climb scaffolds, walking around and talking to people, and having fun while we’re doing it,” Foster said. 

It took some trial and error for Foster to find her course. She left Cornell University after earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering. She started her career as a design engineer, but life behind a desk just wasn’t for her.  

Following a six-month trial stint in the field, Foster began looking for a way to shift to building construction. She eventually interviewed with The Weitz Company in Denver, Colorado and after starting as an engineer, began transitioning to a superintendent, overseeing critical project elements.  

Her first job as a superintendent is still her favorite – the Citizen Apartments project in Denver. “Everyone wanted to be there, everyone wanted to coordinate, everyone wanted to work together, and I feel like that’s why it was such a successful project,” Foster said.  

Foster credits the Weitz environment for helping her to grow into her career and forge a path that works for her. In fact, Foster isn’t sure she’d be a superintendent today if she worked for another general contractor. 

Citing the mentorship and support she received as a woman in a predominantly male field and as a young mother on a jobsite, Foster says that the opportunities Weitz has provided for her to learn and grow have helped her develop confidence and enjoy her role more and more. 

“You get out what you put in,” Foster stresses to employees in the construction industry. She encourages newcomers to invest time in building relationships and finding the right mentors, as she has at Weitz. By making that investment, Diana Foster gets to go to work every day and have fun with her coworkers, building new additions to the Denver skyline. 

“Diana is the ultimate team player,” said Laura Eathorne, Weitz Colorado General Manager. “She brings the best out of her colleagues and creates an environment built on collaboration. We’re excited to see what the future holds for her.” 

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

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While Weitz’s aviation division wasn’t established when Ben started with the company nearly two decades ago, it’s evident he’s been preparing for a role like this his entire career. 

‘Ben started with The Weitz Company as an intern, working while he earned his Construction Engineering degree at Iowa State University. He started full-time in January 2006 as a project engineer. After multiple operations roles over two decades, Ben was named General Manager of Weitz’s rapidly growing aviation division last fall. 

With every chance Ben has taken in his career, his family has been beside him. While large airport construction projects give employees the opportunity to leave their mark, they often require travel for employees and sometimes, their families.  

Ben has worked on seven projects during his nearly two decades with the company. Among the most notable are the Des Moines Downtown Hilton Hotel and the $1.5B Kansas City International (KCI) Airport. His exceptional leadership on the 1.1 million square feet single terminal at KCI helped to significantly impact the company’s aviation construction portfolio, providing the needed experience and momentum to support the launch a dedicated aviation division.  

The success of The Weitz Company’s aviation team doesn’t stop there. The group is currently underway with exciting projects at the Greater Orlando Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, and the Des Moines International Airport. With the many airport construction projects on the horizon, Ben and the aviation division are showcasing how taking advantage of growth opportunities at Weitz can transform your own career and the company!    

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

The post Grow With Weitz: Intern Turned General Manager, Ben Bunge Charts A Path For A Growing Aviation Construction Team  appeared first on Weitz.

Both awards were named in honor of two employees, Chris Harrison and Brian Baas, whose careers exemplify customer advocacy, Weitz core values, innovation, and leadership. These awards will recognize individuals who embody these same values and qualities, solidifying the legacy that both Harrison and Baas have built with the company over their tenure.  

The Chris Harrison Core Values Award

Core values are the foundation of our company’s culture and our guide for the future.  Our company’s core values serve as principles for building trust, fostering positive relationships, and nurturing growth while delivery premier results to our customers. The Chris Harrison Core Values Award will recognize individuals who, without exception, exemplify The Weitz Company’s five core values. 

Awardees will have displayed these values through their daily actions and encourage those around them to operate at the highest standard of excellence. They demonstrate our company’s commitment to integrity and excellence, understanding how these are integral to any project’s success.  

The Brian T. Baas Selflessness Award

Selflessness is a critical attribute to have on any jobsite to promote a true team culture. These individuals display and create an environment built on empathy and understanding that often leads to proactive problem solving when obstacles arise. These employees take the time to listen actively, empathize with the client and project team’s challenges, and offer effective support and solutions to address specific needs.  

The Brian T. Baas Selflessness Award will recognize individuals who, without exception, exhibit a selfless spirit and dedication to the greater good of our organization and the success of their project teams. These awardees take a long-term perspective by fostering strong teams, stepping up to take on new challenges, championing personal growth and development for colleagues, and prioritizing company advancement.  

At Weitz, we firmly believe that our employees are the best the industry has to offer. We strive to cultivate and recognize talent at every level. The Brian T. Baas Selflessness Award and Chris Harrison Core Values Award are another testament to two exemplary employees whose talents and achievements future leaders will continue to emulate for generations to come. 

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“My world is safety,” Anthony said. “Safety is everything. Here at Weitz, we mean that, we live by that.”   

During his nearly two decades at the company, the projects Anthony has worked on have taken him to Omaha, Phoenix, Kansas City, St. Louis, and cities throughout Iowa.  

His favorite project has been the Johnson County criminalistics lab in Kansas City, Kansas, a LEED Platinum addition to a 911 call center. While there, he enjoyed working with forensics staff and experiencing “the stuff you see on CSI.”  

Anthony got his start in construction when a superintendent who attended his church brought him on as a laborer when he was just 18. He went on to earn his B.S. in construction management at the University of Nebraska. After graduating from college, Anthony was working as a crane operator when he saw an ad in the newspaper for a senior preconstruction manager position at Weitz and decided to apply.  

After his hiring, Weitz encouraged Anthony to continue learning new skills on the job and invested in his growth. In his nearly two decades with Weitz, the experience Anthony has gained allowed him to grow into the role of senior project superintendent, overseeing operations and safety on sites.           

Anthony cites the people and the pace of the work as his favorite parts of his job. He describes Weitz as having a small-town feel where employees know each other’s names and even top leaders are open and approachable to anyone in the company.  

“That’s the best thing – is just seeing tangible results of your efforts. We can put up a data center in months. It’s pretty cool to see. We’re just a small contractor from Iowa that does big things.” 

Bill Anthony, Senior Project Superintendent for Weitz Mission Critical

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

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Currently a Senior Project Manager for The Weitz Company, Kubik shared that one thing unique to Weitz is the ability to drive your own career. He has always found company leaders open to helping employees forge a career path that is both challenging and rewarding. 

“I can confidently say I would not have the same opportunities at another company, and wouldn’t have had the same support.”

Dave Kubik, Senior Project Manager for Weitz Industrial

Weitz hired Kubik after his graduation from Iowa State University during the midst of a recession and construction slowdown. He started as an estimator at a time when the focus was on bringing in new projects. 

Since then, Kubik has held a number of construction roles at Weitz. That includes seven years on the estimating team while Weitz executed $800M+ of scope at Iowa Fertilizer Co., the first world scale facility built in nearly 25 years producing ammonia and granular urea fertilizer with total construction costs exceeding $3B. For three years after that, Kubik led the estimating and preconstruction team for Weitz’s industrial unit.  

Currently, Kubik lives in Ohio with his family while working on a major industrial project for Weitz that he calls a “dream opportunity.”  

During his tenure at Weitz, Kubik has had the opportunity to meet regularly with senior leaders outside of his business unit who are eager to provide essential guidance and direction. As he has risen within the organization, Kubik credits the leadership training Weitz provided, as well as the accessibility of mentors, to his growth and success. 

“They give you enough flexibility to help you discover how to find your own way, but there’s enough checks and balances to keep you inside the lines,” Kubik said.  

By supporting Kubik through various stretch roles, he has been able to gain experience on a variety of projects and now brings that wealth of experience to serve clients today. Weitz’s belief to invest in and challenge employees seeking to grow has been instrumental to employees like Dave.  

“Dave’s desire to drive lean, continuous improvement coupled with his versatility and ability to adapt in real time have made him invaluable to Weitz.  He leads by example by placing safety first while guiding our teams to Build a Better Way” 

Jesse Hammes, Vice President, Weitz Industrial

The Grow with Weitz campaign spotlights talented employees that have grown professionally in ways they wouldn’t have imagined while at The Weitz Company. These profiles illustrate our team’s commitment to growing from within and investing in our people at every stage. Interested in Growing with Weitz? Learn more at: https://www.weitz.com/careers/.  

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