AUSTIN, Texas, November 11, 2024 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm named #2 in Manufacturing Design by ENR, announces Shawn Pankratz, Principal Division Manager who specializes in semiconductor cleanroom and basebuild design program management, will be a featured speaker at the 7th annual Advancing Construction Planning & Scheduling Conference. This event, taking place from November 13-15, 2024, at the Fairmont Dallas in Texas, brings together over 180 industry and operational leaders to discuss innovative strategies for maximizing project certainty, mitigating risk, and enhancing team integration.
Pankratz will join Michael Tokar, CHST, STSC, Construction Executive at Gilbane Building Company, on Thursday, November 14th, to present “Partnering with Owners and Designers for Collaborative Risk Mitigation and Project Success” at 11:20 a.m. (CST). This session will focus on balancing client preferences for specific manufacturers with practical procurement considerations, streamlining permitting processes by addressing code compliance and jurisdictional requirements, and supporting owners in making informed decisions that align with project schedules to minimize delays.
“Participating in the Advancing Construction Planning & Scheduling Conference is a fantastic opportunity for us to share our experiences as owners and designers collaborating on risk mitigation and project success,” said Pankratz. “Our growth across the U.S., particularly in Austin where the construction industry is booming, is pivotal to this partnership. With a local presence, we are strategically positioned to support innovative projects in electric vehicle, large-scale battery, and semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring we bring the latest industry insights and regional expertise to the conference.”
Steady Rise, Driving Growth
Pankratz joined SSOE in 2013 as a Project Management Assistant through a strategic acquisition. He quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted to Assistant Project Manager just six months after his hire, Project Manager a couple years after that, and Senior Program Manager / Project Manager in 2020, entrusted with overseeing key programs for core clients—including those for SSOE’s single largest client. In June 2023, he was promoted yet again, now serving as Principal Division Manager for the Basebuild team in SSOE’s Advanced Technology group.
Today, Pankratz is responsible for overseeing multiple groups within SSOE’s Basebuild business unit, including Project Management Mechanical, Process, and BIM/VDC resources. He continues to support the growth of the firm in SSOE’s Austin location and has been instrumental to the firm’s expansion in Columbus, Ohio—another burgeoning high-tech hub. SSOE has maintained a local office in Columbus since 2008 but has seen a more than 50% increase in its local staff in the past two years—a clear indicator of growth. The firm has also experienced significant growth in Austin and across Texas since establishing operations in 2022 and anticipates in-state project work to increase at a similar pace as in Central Ohio.
Notably, Pankratz was named a 2024 Top Young Professional by ENR Northwest, a list celebrating the excellence of young construction professionals by recognizing individuals under 40 years of age who have shown extraordinary career leadership and service.
A graduate of Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, Pankratz has over a decade of experience in project and business operations, with special emphasis on semiconductor cleanroom and technology manufacturing design projects. His support has been instrumental to SSOE’s consistent ranking among the Top 2 Semiconductor Design Firms in the U.S. (ENR, 2017-2024), which has occurred for the past eight of Pankratz’s 10-year tenure with the firm.
For more information about the Advancing Construction Planning & Scheduling Conference or to register, click here.
