PRESIDENT

With over 30 years of industry expertise, Mr. Ruppel is a seasoned leader in contracting, construction, and consulting. His broad skill set encompasses estimating, design, permitting, construction, and project management. He has successfully contributed to projects across a wide range of industries and states, from straightforward building renovations to complex, multi-billion-dollar mega projects. His deep industry knowledge spans forestry, heavy civil works, telecommunications, multimodal transportation, rail infrastructure, and vertical construction.

Having spent 80% of Kiewit career on projects, Mr. Ruppel brings a hands-on, practical approach to transforming complex plans into successful, on-time, and on-budget project deliveries.

His expertise extends to strategic leadership, team and talent development, operational planning, accurate estimating, procurement management, and claims support. Known for his leadership, Mr. Ruppel excels at guiding projects through complex business environments, consistently delivering exceptional results, building high-performing teams, and driving operational excellence.

VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

With over 35 years of experience leading change management initiatives and project management, Julia has a proven track record of success in implementing new strategies to achieve organizational goals. Julia’s leadership style is collaborative and can motivate employees to achieve their goals through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Julia is committed to building trusting relationships with others and fostering a positive workplace culture.

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Gary Strike currently is the Vice President of Operations at Aspen Project Management, collaboratively guiding owners through all phases of commercial vertical and horizontal projects. Previously Gary served as the Branch Chief of the Architect and Engineering Branch at the Bureau of Land Management's, National Operations Center, as well as Branch Chief of the Project Management, Project Development, and Technical Services Branches with the Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division. He also was a project manager directly leading the delivery of projects. A registered Professional Engineer in Colorado and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, Chico.

VICE PRESIDENT OF PROJECTS

James Begley Kerrigan is a seasoned civil engineer and project manager with over 15 years of experience at the Federal Highway Administration’s Central Federal Lands Division. He has led the full lifecycle delivery of complex highway and infrastructure projects, with a proven track record of managing budgets, coordinating multi-agency stakeholders, and navigating challenging environmental and political contexts. James brings deep technical expertise in roadway design, construction management, and federal acquisitions, including MATOC and A-E procurements. Notably, he directed pavement preservation efforts across 43 national parks and successfully delivered high-profile projects in remote locations like the Grand Canyon and Beartooth Highway. His leadership and engineering acumen consistently drive results in quality, efficiency, and compliance.

COST MANAGER

Susan K. Lee brings over 25 years of progressive leadership in the electric utility industry including engineering administration, project management, and third-party attachment to electric utility infrastructure. She is renowned for driving innovation, optimizing asset utilization, and delivering measurable business results for Hawaii’s largest electric utility. Susan is a proven leader in joint use infrastructure, cost management/containment, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional team development, with a track record of generating new revenue streams, implementing strategic initiatives, and building strong partnerships with public and private stakeholders.

PROJECT ASSISTANT

Kamalei Lee is an accomplished engagement strategist and project manager with a proven track record of driving constituent engagement, streamlining operations, and leading high-impact initiatives across nonprofit, higher education, and consulting sectors. Kamalei holds an M.A. in Management from the Drucker School of Business at Claremont Graduate University and a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of La Verne.

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER