Client Focused. Results Driven.
David Buckland
Director of Project Management
David, in his role as Director of Project Management, is responsible for the delivery of all commercial real estate and construction of commercial projects. He is a highly skilled Project Director with over 20 years in the industry. His vast experience working on all facets of these projects, from design management to project planning to construction management through closeout, gives him an acute understanding of every aspect of large-scale projects and programs. His international project experience ranges from large multi-story residential developments to Primary Care Health Centers and Airports. David is a highly motivated individual with outstanding communication skills with project partners, suppliers and external stakeholders.
Prior to joining SLS, David served as a Director of Project Management overseeing a portfolio of real estate projects which included the following activities; schedule and scope definition, design management, preconstruction, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and delivery. His largest project to date comprised building over 1,000 apartments in 5 buildings ranging in size from 23 to 31 story's. David began his career working as a Geotechnical Engineer performing many onsite investigations and designing foundations for new build projects.
David is from Ontario Canada and attended both the University of Waterloo and the University of Western Ontario where he received his bachelor's and Master's degree in Civil Engineering. He has spent a lot of his professional career living overseas in the UK and has been living in Dallas for the past 5 yrs.
George Watts
Director of Project Management
For more than forty years George has formulated project teams and led the charge to deliver more than $6 billion in aggregate completed project value. George is a strong advocate of Lean Construction Practices and aims to implement the methodology across numerous project delivery systems including Progressive Design Build and Integrated PD. In his career George has served in several roles including real estate investment banker, real estate developer, general contractor, and since 2009 he has exclusively represented Owners in their major capital programs including Mixed Use Commercial; Professional and Collegiate Sports; Higher Education, and Healthcare.
George is an experienced public speaker and presenter on a variety of construction industry topics including team building; Lean; contract negotiations; alternative project delivery systems; and leveraging the benefits of technology for trustable data exchange across project teams. He currently serves on the faculty of instructors for the American Institute of Architecture as well as the Construction Managers Association of America where he also serves as a Board member. He has taught exam prep courses for Certified Construction Managers (CCM) as well as LEED AP. He has chaired national conferences on IPD, as well as Preconstruction. He is a past Board member of the US Green Building Council and former Core Group (Board member) of the Lean Construction Institute. George’s articles have appeared in Construction Tech Review Magazine. His white paper on IPD, “Only as Strong as Your Contract” was published by Hanson Wade (London).
Mandy Squib
Director of Preconstruction & Cost Management
In her role as Director, Mandy is ultimately responsible for all facets of the Preconstruction, Cost Estimating & Cost Management process for all projects in North America. Mandy oversees the SLS Preconstruction team and supports all regional leaders with her expertise while also diving into the details of highly complex cost planning projects locally in the Central Region. Mandy has almost 20 years of industry experience and before joining SLS she worked for a couple of very reputable General Contractors across the US. Her previous experinece allows her to offer unparalleled expertise in overseeing all aspects of the preconstruction process by providing continuity from planning and design through procurement while managing teams and procedures with both strategic and analytical strength. Mandy is highly versed in GMP negotiation and commercial contract management as it pertains to the financial aspects of the contract.
The belief that collaboration, consistency, accurate budget development, detailed cost processes and accountability are the cornerstones of good relationships is what has rendered Mandy’s excellent reputation in the DFW market with Clients, General Contractors, Trade Partners & Design Professionals. Mandy's individual work product speaks for itself and she has been an integral and dynamic part of changing the DFW skyline throughout her career by working intimately with clients to achieve viable and constructible projects. The planning and budgets for these projects are not only developed within optimum value margins but are also set-up for mutual success of the Client's proforma and industry partner success as her attention to detail adds value to all involved.
In Mandy's free time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and her children, managing/coaching/cheering on their sports teams, traveling to new places, laughing during a moms' night out, and reading a good story.
David Freswick
Director of Project Management
East
David is a driven project management professional with over 16 years of experience. In his role as Director, David is responsible for overseeing all Mission Critical projects and supporting numerus Project Mangers across the US. His background prior to SLS includes expertise in heavy civil and complex MEP environments, general contractor management and owners’ representation, of projects in excess of $600M. His experience includes projects in the sectors of government, aerospace, light rail, healthcare, higher-education and mission critical. He is adept at leveraging his negotiation and team building skills to mediate contracts and create profitable relationships with all trade partners, David has successfully undertaken complicated and highly technical projects, from conception to completion, while meeting or improving timeline targets and staying within budget requirements. He has a proven track record of creative problem solving and uniting stakeholders, which improves efficiency, increases productivity, and fosters cooperation toward the common goal of project completion.
After graduating Cum Laude from the University of Alaska, Anchorage with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, David moved to the continental US to be closer to family. He enjoys his time with his wife and three children, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and snowboarding. He also enjoys investing in the next generation of construction professionals and has served as a mentor for teams competing in the Associated Schools of Construction heavy civil and commercial competition.
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Adam Wnuk
Senior Project Manager
Adam, in his role as Senior Project Manager, is responsible for the financial health and successful project delivery of commercial and mission critical construction projects. His experience spans all aspects of the development lifecycle including site selection, due diligence, proforma development, contract negotiation, project controls, project management, change and contract management through closeout. His international project experience ranges from mission critical program level engagements (including speed and go-to-market strategies) to multi-story interior white-box fit-outs for Fortune 500 technology companies. Adam is an expert in site selection, contract negotiation, project management, and financial analysis.
Prior to joining SLS, Adam served as a Director of Real Estate overseeing all real estate portfolio related activities including preliminary site selection, underwriting, execution, and project design, development and delivery. His deal experience eclipsed 9 million square feet spanning all markets across the western half of the United States and Canada. Adam began his career working in the debt capital markets in various sectors of fixed income, most notably real estate and public infrastructure.
Adam is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Pennsylvania State University where he received his bachelor's degree in Finance. He has spent his professional career living between New York, Los Angeles and most recently Dallas.
Andrew Bautista
Senior Project Manager
Andrew is a well-versed Senior Project Manager in the Biopharmaceutical and Life Science sectors. He is responsible for executing all aspects of the project life cycle, from pre-construction through technical project execution and commissioning. With 7 years of experience in high-rise ground up construction, Aviation, and Life Sciences, Andrew has developed a keen attention to detail, with a strong communication skill set, to ensure that both end user and design intent is translated to successful constructability. Andrew has proven to be an integral player in projects ranging from $200,000k to $2B, offering monetary and schedule saving solutions to complex technical problems found during construction and engineering.
Andrew was born and raised in Ventura County, California. He graduated from California State University, Chico with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He found interests in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) competition teams for Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, camping/off-roading, and spending time with his family.
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Paul Collins
Senior Project Manager
Mr. Collins is an accomplished senior MEP project manager with vast expertise managing, executing, and planning highly complex MEP, BMS and EPMS projects in live facilities and across large campuses. In addition to his MEP expertise, Mr. Collins is also a seasoned senior project manager and can lead any type of construction project from inception to completion. His skills and knowledge range from the preconstruction process, strategic planning through project management, and commissioning. Mr. Collins has excellent communication and organization skills and has a depth of experience when it comes to managing and coordinating with multiple stakeholders in large organizations to ensure that all owner requirements are met.
Adam Nikssarian
Senior Project Manager
Adam in his role of Senior Project Manager, is a highly skilled leader with a deep understanding of technical project collaboration. Through his tenure in the industry, he has had significant exposure to multiple market sectors in which he’s proven capability to deliver at a very high level. He has had the opportunity to work with many clients in Forbes Top 500, allowing him to refine his ability to quickly adapt and add immediate value to every endeavor in which he is involved. Adam’s expertise in project controls, construction management, and budget / schedule oversight.
Prior to joining SLS, Adam was a project manager for a top GC nationally, handling projects from commercial, to Labs/ Cleanrooms, and MEP Utility enhancements. Adam began his career in San Francisco and has since relocated to Arizona where he now resides as a Senior PM for SLS.
Adam is a graduate from the California State University Chico where he received is Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management. At Chico he met his wife Kasey and currently has two daughters, Brynn and Hallie.
Dustin Johnson
Senior Project Manager
During his project management career, Dustin has worked in multiple market sectors in multiple metropolitan areas, always demonstrating his ability to provide projects on-time, on-budget, and of superb quality. Dustin has excelled in the commercial tenant improvement, research and development laboratories, hyperscale data center, educational, utility infrastructure improvement, and specialty space sectors, delivering projects for top-tier clients wherever he has worked.
Beginning his career in the San Francisco Bay Area after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the California State University, Chico, Dustin began working primarily for the technology companies also based there. Dustin was primarily focused on the delivery of new ground up projects, as well as highly sophisticated, MEP intensive spaces utilized by these tech giants where they developed their latest cutting edge products before they were ready to be released to the market.
Dustin relocated to the PNW at the beginning of 2020 and continues to provide top tier project management services to clients located in the greater PNW region. From working in downtown Portland on commercial tenant improvements and exterior building upgrades, thriving in the Silicone Forest providing research space for a local semiconductor industry supplier, to working in remote areas on hyperscale data center campuses; Dustin has demonstrated time and time again that he is capable of building highly capable teams, and as a consequence, has continued to deliver superior projects to his clients.
Zak Kowal
Senior Project Manager
Zak, in his role as Senior Project Manager, is responsible for delivering turnkey Owner’s representative solutions, with a focus on consistency and continuous, repeatable, scalable success. As a passionate and respected leader, he is focused on overseeing SLS operations in the greater Chicago Metro and across the broader Midwest Markets. He has extensive experience managing large portfolios in a multitude of asset classes including Commercial, Mixed-Use, Healthcare, Mission Critical, and Hospitality. His areas of expertise consist of strategic planning, risk mitigation, supply chain management, dispute resolution, QAQC, budget and schedule development, and data driven decision making.
His prior experience includes Director of Real Estate and Development for a stealth Real Estate Tech Startup focused on aggressive growth strategies while developing and implementing all reporting, standards, best practices, and processes for cross functional development teams. He also has a decade of experience working in a managerial position for three large, ENR awarded GC firms based in the Midwest. Zak is a graduate of Purdue University. He is LEED AP BD+C certified and Project Management Professional (PMP) certified.
Patrick Mitchell
Senior Project Manager
Patrick is a motivated and driven Senior Project Manger with a wide range of construction and project management experience. His 10 years experience in the industry includes primarily highly complex and technical "mega" projects in the oil & gas, semiconductor and mission critical industries. Prior to joining the SLS team, Patrick worked as the Senior Site Manager for a Mechanical Contractor in the semiconductor industry in Arizona. Patrick has a proven track record of successfully driving project teams to deliver projects on budget and on schedule. He has an excellent communication and organizational skill-set, especially when dealing with complexity and ambiguity in a complex mega project environment. Patrick is an expert at solving technical problems and implementing efficient processes within a team to increase productivity.
Patrick was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Patrick enjoys the outdoors (hiking, camping, off-roading), scuba diving, traveling, real estate, and spending time with family and friends.
Kyle Lawson
Project Manager (QA/QC/QX)
Mr Lawson is an experienced project manager who specializes in quality control / quality assurance and commissioning. Kyle has over 12 years experinece in the industry and has predominantly focused in the hyperscale mission critical environment . In his numerous years of experience, Kyle has had exposure to many facets of mission critical construction projects from pre-construction, planning, OFE procurement to field installation and L2-L5 commissioning process. Kyle has led multiple teams with excellent communication and organization to execute high profile projects successfully, his meticulous pre-planning skills are extremely valuable when working on highly technical hyperscale projects in pressure situations through the commissioning phases in order to meet turnover dates. Kyle is also well versed in working in critical live environments and understands how to navigate technical facility upgrades by implementing processes and procedures with all parties involved in the project. Through his prior experience as an electrician, he was responsible for managing technical MEP campus upgrades and he learnt how valuable it is and how to coordinate with multiple stakeholders and ensure that all owner’s requirements are met.
Justine Phan
Cost Manager
Justine is a self-motivated construction professional. Her background prior to SLS includes experience in field engineering and estimating for a major General Contractor. While Justine was a field engineer, she was the lead on underground utilities, concrete foundations, and tilt panel walls. Furthering her career, Justine utilized the knowledge from the field to help her transition over into estimating. With her time in Preconstruction, Justine has successfully done detailed quantity takeoff, created estimates for complex projects, cultivated relationships with Trade Partners within the industry, and has helped clients hit their target budget with value engineering options. She has a great mentality to harness positive communication and improve efficiency within her projects. Justine's experience includes reviewing documents at a conceptual level all the way up to finished 100%CDs. She is a highly driven individual that is quick to learn, quick to listen, and determined to give her clients the best support.
After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in Construction Science and a minor in Finance, Justine moved back to Texas to pursue her career. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her Fiance, working out, playing tennis, and lots of reading.
Steve Stephenson
Project Manager - Loan Monitoring
Steve is a hard worker with an entrepreneurial spirit driven by his continuous service for excellence to the construction industry. His industry knowledge was developed from hands-on experience in the field and project managing complete projects. His field knowledge ranges from residential remodels to commercial ground-up construction projects working with various trades. With more than ten years of experience, Steve has developed site monitoring, project management, and project cost control skills.
Before joining SLS Consultants, Steve had a general contracting business managing multiple skilled labored trades. As a business owner, Steve focused on the operations of running a construction business and training and developing his subcontracting team to help continue growing his business. With hundreds of completed residential and commercial projects under his belt, he is excited to bring his skill set to the SLS Consultant team.
Steve grew up in East Texas, an hour outside of Dallas, TX, where he helped his dad with their family construction business. After graduating high school, he moved to Dallas, where he received his undergrad at the University of Texas Dallas. With his excitement for the construction industry, Steve went on to receive his Masters’s in Construction Management from Oklahoma University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in East Texas.
James Barton
Senior Project Manager
James is an experienced Project Manager with a passion for complex Mission Critical work. With over 15 years of industry expertise, he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to ensure projects are delivered to the highest quality and standards. James has a vast amount of experience ranging from greenfield ground up builds to retrofits of highly secure spaces. James has led multiple projects and teams through all aspects of a project life-cycle, from field installations through level 5 commissioning. With his pre-planning capabilities, projects are delivered successfully while mitigating potential cost and schedule risks.
As a Project Manager at SLS Consultants, James is responsible for many different types of on-site deployments, including, but not limited to Electronic Security, CCTV, and Structured Cabling.
When not immersed in work, James loves spending most of his time with his wife and daughters. He enjoys woodworking, and has a love for all outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking to recharge and find inspiration. He is dedicated to continuous learning and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in Mission Critical.
Lacey Lilly
Senior Project Manager
Lacey is a skilled project manager with diversified construction management experience in complex commercial, civil, custom residential, and mission-critical projects. She has performed work on greenfield sites as well as existing facility retrofits. Her qualifications include working as a low voltage NFPA 70E qualified critical switcher, as well as multiple certifications as a commercial 3rd party inspections including soil compaction, foundations, concrete and storm sewer layout and installation, and wetlands delineation.
Lacey is a proven leader who focuses on being team-oriented, organized, and tech-savvy, which allows her to make informed decisions in real time. With her experience, she can effectively forecast and preemptively mitigate potential project shortfalls - minimizing potential schedule impacts and associated costs. Her interpersonal skills are key to maintaining healthy professional relationships with owners, stakeholders, and contractors, keeping complex projects flowing with excellent communication and ease.
Lacey was born and raised in Somerset, PA working with her family’s farm and construction business before relocating to Central Virginia where she obtained a degree in Construction Technology from ITT Technical Institute. She is currently completing her B.S. in Operations Management from Southern New Hampshire University. She resides in Virginia on her family farm with her husband, son, dogs, and beloved livestock. Lacey enjoys horseback riding, paddleboarding, drag racing, and other outdoor sports when she is not volunteering with local 4-H mentoring programs and promoting off-track thoroughbred rehabilitation and training through the TIP program.
Joseph Torres
Senior Project Manager, PMP, RCDD
Joseph Torres PMP RCDD is a seasoned professional with a remarkable skill set that combines construction project management expertise with an in-depth knowledge of Information Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure. As a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Joseph possesses a unique combination of skills that allows him to seamlessly integrate the complexities of both project management and technology infrastructure design. This distinctive blend enables him to effectively navigate and manage the intricacies of projects, ensuring the delivery of exceptional results.
With a wealth of experience in the field, Joseph has overseen numerous projects from inception to completion, consistently demonstrating his ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate resources effectively. His expertise extends across various areas, including project planning, budgeting, risk management, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement. Joseph's commitment to professional growth is evident as he actively engages with industry associations, attends conferences, and maintains his certifications to stay abreast of the latest advancements and industry trends. With his unwavering dedication, and passion for excellence, Joseph continues to drive innovation and elevate the standards of project management in the field.
Brett Wagner
Senior Project Manager
In his role as Senior Project Manager for SLS Consultants, Brett is responsible for hands-on delivery of complex commercial projects. He specializes in understanding client needs and optimizing delivery of project initiatives. Brett prioritizes clear communication of project goals with key stakeholders to build strong, cohesive relationships. Bringing to the table well-defined constructability and coordination experience allows him to ensure successful project deliveries, regardless of the circumstances.
Prior to joining SLS, Brett worked for several best-in-class general contractors, gaining the technical experience and leadership skills that allow him to operate at an elite level on the owner's representation side. Bretts primary industry sectors of focus are healthcare, life-science, and biotechnology projects. He is well versed in design management, adaptive scheduling, and multidisciplinary coordination strategies. Throughout his career he’s excelled in the logistical coordination of delivering construction projects in complex operating environments.
Brett was born in San Francisco, California and currently operates out of the Bay Area. He completed his Bachelor’s in Materials Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He enjoys staying active through outdoor activities.
Tara Williams Elrod
Senior Cost Controls / Preconstruction
In her role as Senior Preconstruction and Cost Manger, Tara is passionate about developing client relationships by building trust through services provided. She is responsible for managing Preconstruction, Cost Estimating & Cost Management activities at the project level with a proficiency in highly complex projects from a diverse portfolio. Tara’s project abilities range from conceptual estimating, detailed design cost estimating to buyout and procurement through the project life cycle encompassing project management and change management.
Tara joined SLS after spending her career with admired ENR top 100 firms and brings a wealth of experience providing her clients seamless project delivery services from start to completion.
Tara was born and raised in the Llano Estacado area of Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Construction Engineering Technology (CTEC). In her spare time she enjoys all things TTU, traveling to new places and sampling menus, live music, hunting and fishing.
Eoin Sexton
Cost Estimator / Manager
Eoin Sexton is an experienced construction professional who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics from the Technological University of the Shannon Midwest. His experience and expertise covers various market sectors of the construction industry, including mission critical, mixed-use, commercial, and life sciences.
Eoin is highly knowledgeable in the realm of cost estimation and cost benchmarking, which informs his overall approach to financial review and project reporting. His expertise extends to activities like quantity take-offs and cost reconciliations at all stages of design and construction.
Eoin relocated to Dallas from Ireland. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, rugby, and soccer. He has a strong passion for travel and seeks opportunities to explore and experience the world as much as possible.
Matty Becic
Controller, CPA
Matty Becic is a highly skilled CPA with over a decade of experience in corporate and closely held company taxation. Throughout his career, Matty has developed an impressive reputation for providing expert financial advice to companies of all sizes.
As a controller of a leading construction company, Matty is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and tax planning. He works closely with executives and project managers to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget while maintaining strict compliance with tax laws and regulations.
Matty is known for his attention to detail and his ability to identify potential financial risks and opportunities. He is a proactive problem solver who is always looking for ways to improve the company's financial performance. He has a deep understanding of the unique challenges that construction companies face and has a proven track record of helping companies to achieve their financial goals.
In addition to his work as a controller, Matty is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Institute of CPAs and the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from a Chico State university and has completed advanced coursework in tax planning and construction accounting.
When he's not working, Matty enjoys spending time with his family, traveling to new destinations around the world, playing golf, soccer and being a part of a great community in Portland, OR. He is passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the tax and accounting industries and is always looking for ways to improve his skills and knowledge.
Kylie Durish
Business Coordinator
In her role as Business Coordinator, Kylie is responsible for supporting all SLS business activities. With her dynamic attitude and administrative skill set, she provides support to the SLS leadership team on executive level tasks, spearheads SLS’ marketing strategy, and maintains organization of general business activities.
Her background prior to joining SLS includes extensive experience in administration, customer service, marketing, and sales. Kylie is skilled in understanding marketing plans and is driven by results to develop creative strategies.
Kylie grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and a minor in Marketing. After graduating, she moved back to Texas to pursue her career. In her free time, Kylie enjoys attending concerts, being active, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"Stephens ability to provide detailed cost estimates and constant feedback on design options helped the owner make smart decisions in good time. His creativity and knowledge around sequencing of construction helped us design the most cost efficient project we could while keeping the design intent. I hope to work with Steve again in the future."
— Russell Carr, P.E
Associate
Arup