TOLEDO, Ohio, December 11, 2024 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, celebrates the election of new members to the firm’s Board of Directors, the appointment of five new principal owners within the organization, and other key promotions for planning year 2025.
New Board Appointments
The main role of SSOE’s Board of Directors is to set the overall direction of the firm and protect shareholder interests. It sets the high-level mission, direction, and priorities of the company, and is also responsible for appointing, evaluating performance, and planning the succession of SSOE’s CEO. Its responsibilities also include oversight of SSOE’s stock program. SSOE is pleased to welcome the following individuals to its Board of Directors for a 3-year term:
- Greg Brogley, PE, PMP – Executive Vice President, Facilities Operation Manager
- Robin Whitney, PE – Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
- Jim Jaros, CPA, JD – Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer
- Brett Susany (re-elected) – Senior Vice President, AI Integration / PMO
The Board also appointed Laura Morton, AIA, NCARB, Senior Associate, as Board Observer. Jason Christen, PMP, current Board Observer, will continue his term until December 2025.
Board Members Continuing in Office:
- Jeremy Woodgate, PE, SE – Executive Vice President, Chair of the Board
- Brett Susany – Senior Vice President, AI Integration / PMO, Vice Chair of the Board
- Vince DiPofi, PE – Chief Executive Officer
- Matt Oberts, PE, LEED AP – Executive Vice President
- Jim Lewis – Executive Vice President
- Jeanne Cormier – Outside Director
- Larry Covert – Outside Director
- Doug Goare – Outside Director
- John Pemberton – Outside Director
Five New Principals Named
SSOE also announced the addition of five new principals. This designation at SSOE acknowledges that key leaders extend beyond the C-suite, encompassing roles in technical, account management, and project management, alongside traditional people management paths.
Division Manager Adrienne Taylor, PE, has been with SSOE for over 18 years, progressing from a junior engineer to leading the Industrial Chemical Process division. She manages operations for process engineers, piping designers, instrumentation and controls, and project managers, supporting chemical client projects through expansions and greenfield projects. Taylor was appointed a board observer for SSOE’s Board of Directors in 2022, a reflection of her significant contributions to the company. She holds a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton and became a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio in 2010.
Senior Project Manager Dana Brumley, PE, PMP, has 27 years of experience in project / design manager roles overseeing projects from concept to construction completion. She has been successful in managing and engineering projects involving the design of advanced technology facilities and chemical process systems. Brumley excels at establishing and maintaining positive client relationships and developing staff within her purview. Brumley has worked on many advanced technology projects across multiple industries, including EV battery and semiconductor facilities. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Oregon.
Faith Perales, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager, has nearly three decades of experience in interior design and project management. She has completed a wide variety of new construction and renovation projects for large-scale industrial / battery, government, healthcare, commercial, education, and hospitality sectors. As part of SSOE’s commitment to professional development, Perales participated in the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ mentoring initiative and SSOE’s 2024 Leadership Toledo Signature Class, a program that helps participants develop a deeper understanding of the Toledo region. In addition to her workload, she has also served on SSOE’s Project Management Strategy Group, most recently serving as Vice Chair. Perales graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and holds both a National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and LEED AP certification.
In addition to continuing his term as a Board Observer on SSOE’s Board of Directors, Business Leader Jason Christen, PMP, has over 20 years of project management experience. He leads the project managers in SSOE’s Glass and Manufacturing Division. His education and experience in Lean management, coupled with his documented leadership excellence, provides a strong foundation for his team and clients. Christen graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and is also a graduate of the Institute for Lean Systems Executive Excellence Program. A LEED Green Associate, he credits his role as a Noncommissioned Officer in the Army and Army National Guard for developing his exceptional leadership skills, which he has carried forward into his professional career.
Program Manager Rick Fox, PMP, has over 19 years of experience managing large, complex, fast-track projects in the chemical and manufacturing industries. Fox started his career at SSOE as a college intern in March 2005. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology in December 2005, he was hired by the firm full-time. Over the years, his leadership at SSOE resulted in numerous promotions. In 2007, he was promoted to Assistant Project Manager, in 2011 he transitioned into the Project Manager role, and in 2017 he was promoted to Senior Project Manager. In 2022, Fox became a Program Manager and in 2024 he took on the additional responsibilities of Department Manager, leading the project managers for our chemical business.
CEO Vince DiPofi, PE, stated, “Congratulations to Adrienne, Dana, Faith, Jason, and Rick on becoming principal owners of SSOE. Each of these individuals has demonstrated exceptional leadership within their respective areas of our business and made tremendous contributions to our overall success. This is a significant accomplishment, and they have been instrumental in leading our mission to deliver unparalleled client value that advances the AEC industry. I commend them on their achievements!”
Other Key Promotions for Planning Year 2025
Greg Brogley, PE, PMP, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and will continue in his role as Facilities Operation Manager. He joined SSOE in 1998 as a civil engineer. Brogley’s leadership has been instrumental to SSOE’s strong entry and subsequent leadership in the EV Battery market as well as the development of a complex projects team, and he has contributed greatly to our improved ability to pursue and manage these large projects across numerous Strategic Business Units (SBUs).
Mike Newman, PMP, has been promoted to Senior Vice President and SBU Manager. He serves as the High-Tech (HT) Strategic Business Unit Manager of SSOE’s Advanced Technology (AT) Operation. Newman joined SSOE in 2019 with over 20 years of experience supporting the semiconductor and technology industry. Under his leadership, HT continues to experience significant growth, achieving the criteria to move from a division to an SBU this year. This growth is attributed to his success in diversifying the firm’s AT client base including one of SSOE’s largest programs. His business acumen has also helped the firm successfully manage the addition and integration of new colleagues from an acquisition last year, nearly doubling the division’s headcount and bringing new expertise and services for its clients.
In addition to these promotions, the firm has two principals that are being promoted:
Bill Kussro, PE, SE, P. Eng, has been promoted to Vice President, Engineering and Design. He is a licensed civil and structural engineer in all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. Over the past two years, Kussro has led SSOE’s Structural Practice Group, working to improve quality and efficiency by standardizing, streamlining, and enhancing processes for work execution. This has led to the launching of additional disciplined-specific practice groups within the firm. He also champions initiatives throughout the firm in the continuous improvement and Lean design and construction spaces.
Brian Watko, PMP, Division Manager of SSOE’s Advanced Technology, Tool Install Operations has been promoted to Vice President. In this role, he is a critical part of the leadership team, managing the highly detailed work the firm performs in the semiconductor industry for its single-largest client.
To view a full list of SSOE Leadership, click here.
