Florida Certified General Contractor with experience in areas including Complex Construction Project Management, Contract Negotiation and Management, Leasehold Build-outs, Acquisitions & Leases, Analysis/Due Diligence, Strategic Planning, Corporate Compliance, IT Systems, and Finance/Budgets. Positions included roles of Officer, Construction Executive Project Manager and General Counsel for legal and corporate entities and background of former private legal practice, including the review, drafting and modification of thousands of contracts and corporate documents, complex litigation and union contract negotiation including extensive litigation and arbitration/mediation experience.
Summary Areas of Expertise General Construction
Current Florida Certified General Contractor, with extensive background as General Contractor in State of Iowa. Combined extensive experience in multi-project construction executive project management. 20+ years of diverse construction experience with direct responsibility for planning and building multi-million dollar commercial and residential projects.
Background includes in-house counsel and private legal counsel experience in contractor, engineering and architecture setting including representing Owner while in private practice. Extensive litigation and dispute resolution experience includes large delay and change order claims, professional negligence and contractor fault claims, and construction failure analysis. Represented Owners, Contractors, Architects, and Engineers.
Broad private practice with focus on Construction Law, Corporate Law and General Practice Topics. Experience encompasses pretrial courtroom work; drafting briefs, motions and oral arguments; taking depositions from all types of witnesses and experts and litigation, administrative hearing and mediation/arbitration. Outstanding discovery, research, and due diligence skills combined with strong negotiation and mediation skills. Other areas of legal experience include
Burger Construction Consulting Group, L.L.C. - Florida 2004 - present
President
President of a construction-related general contracting and consulting company provided guidance to companies for business operations, claims and litigation support, and full general construction operations. Combine seasoned background and significant experience in Florida and Iowa for law, finance, real estate, risk management, construction, finance and business management.
Ø Complete construction projects including commercial and residential construction, remodeling and custom cabinet making using familiarity with 3D Modeling software techniques for customer presentation.
Ø Served as a construction subject matter expert (SME) for Patrick Air Force Base for large change order claim preparation and review
Ø Consulted on foreign country logistics, proposal development, estimating and best construction practices for CSS International for building projects in Haiti.
Ø Supervise the completion of all construction by engaging contractors and managing them, or self-performing, including the inspection and completion of all warranty work, and the evaluation of all contractor and subcontractor compliance and completion.
Ø Serve as a Consultant for a forensic engineering firm (CTL Chicago) providing financial overview and analysis, as well as review of corporate accounting and finance, general budgetary and financial aspects of clients business including business plans, strategic plans and compensation analysis systems. Assist clients with facility assessment, leasing, investment/expansion opportunities and life cycle remodeling costs. Active participant in preparing market development plans consistent with the company's strategy by purchasing existing leasehold interests or extending those leases.
Sole Practitioner - Des Moines, IA 2010 - present
Iowa Attorney, with work predominantly in business law and contractor and design professional service contract review including Owner representation.
Ø Business law included multistate licensing and corporate compliance research and filings.
Ø Other areas of practice included employment law, general business and corporate law, contracts, copyright, trademark and patent work, OSHA, pension and retirement plan law.
Dreher, Simpson and Jensen, P.C. - Des Moines, IA 1993 - 2010
n Practicing Attorney (1993-2010) n Managing Partner and Shareholder (1996-2005)
Managing Partner (to 2004) of a firm with legal, financial and information technology responsibilities. Practicing Attorney with broad general practice including contracts, construction contractor fault claims, and construction failure analysis. Work included business law, as well as representation for professional liability for accountants, architects and engineers.
Business Management
Ø Interviewed, participated in selection of support staff and service providers.
Ø Responsible for business budget and spending with P&L accountability.
Ø Managed new lease for office space and build-out/relocate
Legal
Ø Practice included arbitration, mediation, and extensive litigation in state, federal and bankruptcy courts.
Ø Highly computerized practice including large volume document construction change and delay (200,000 construction-related documents for $30M claim/counterclaim).
Ø Experience encompassed pretrial courtroom work; drafting briefs, motions and oral arguments; legal research, case management taking depositions from witnesses and experts, and litigation. Includes appearance before Supreme Court.
Ø Skilled in conducting client interviews, handling pre-suit discovery and investigations and analyzing potential cases.
Ø Consistently handled a large and diverse caseload and accountable for developing new business.
Ø Large cases included Medicaid Entitlement litigation with State, FICA tax issue for mentally handicapped with DOJ, Construction Delay claim, Due diligence for Business acquisition. All successfully resolved to benefit of client
Ø Provide strategic business consulting services to officers on proper setup and corporate structures and expansion to assure their future success and limit their personal exposure and liability.
Ø Provide in-house review assistance to local counsel for motions, responses, replies and other pleadings, including research and memoranda of law concerning litigation issues.
Ø Review and advise on documentation such as sale agreements, employment agreements, purchase agreements, professional contracts, leases and corporate document compliance.
Burger and Udelhofen, Attorneys at Law - Ankeny, IA 1991 - 1993
Professional liability defense firm including accountant, architectural, engineering and contractor representation. Practice also included personal injury, worker's compensation, and business law, with related litigation and dispute resolution.
n Practicing Attorney/Shareholder/Managing Partner
Construction focus included construction and business law, business contracts, architectural/engineering contracts and construction contracts, contracting operations and finance. Construction arbitration, mediation, and litigation experience in professional negligence and contractor fault claims; Researched law regarding contractual and regulatory matters; Drafted employment agreements, purchase contracts, independent contractor agreements, and service contractor agreements; Negotiated settlements mediated and/or arbitrated resolutions to cases and litigated various cases from personal injury, worker’s compensation and unemployment to professional liability.
Hansen Lind Meyer, Inc. - Iowa City, IA 1986 - 1991
Top 150 Architectural/Engineering firm at the time, with 500+ employees and six offices and practice in all 50 states. Was a major provider of architectural, engineering and planning services for healthcare, criminal justice and courts, and industry and university research facilities.
n General Counsel/Senior Principal
In-house consultation on all aspects of corporate legal environment, including leases, employment law, multi-state licensing and business practice, professional liability, contracts, corporate structure, plan benefit documents
Ø Conducted negotiation of contracts and settlements and provided legal and business assistance and advice on all contracts for professional services. Acted as Liaison to Banks and Insurance carriers for capital and operating finance, ESOP funding and Owner transition, multi-year, multimillion dollar professional liability policy negotiation and negotiation of other lines. Liaison to accounts, plan benefits administrations, auditors, attorneys and other outside professional consultants
Ø Performed facility analysis, due diligence and assessed leasehold improvements, sought out appropriate properties and negotiated new leases for new office spaces in Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. and Sacramento California
Ø Participated in all professional liability defense efforts including strategies, selection of outside counsel, settlement discussions, discovery and trial including participation in significant construction litigation as co-counsel and on multi-million dollar claims analyses.
Ø Wrote or reviewed all HLM legal documents including custom contracts, corporate submittals and internal documents.
Ø Assisted in major ownership transition from founding principals by assisting in development and legal review of ESOP, collateralization documents, credit line security agreements and employment agreements including required restructuring of corporate organization.
Burger Construction Company, Inc. – Iowa City, IA 1973 - 1986
Closely held, 100-year-old family commercial general contracting firm with $10M in annual construction contracts.
n Vice President
Responsible for contribution to development of tactical business plans, strategic leadership/execution, sales/marketing, contract negotiations, revenue growth, asset management, key alliances/partnerships, market penetration, customer service, fiscal accountabilities and staff management.
n Construction Project Executive
Held full project management responsibility for one-third of the construction volume of the business including responsibility for associated client contact and negotiation, project estimating and pricing, scheduling, budget and project management including on-site visitation (sometimes including full time superintendence) for plan and contract and OSHA compliance.
Ø Executive Manager or Project Manager of over 500 construction projects including personal on-site supervision of several of company’s largest projects. Produced, coordinated and enforced construction schedules for all of these projects. Offered services from construction management to basic construction on contractor awarded projects.
Ø Designed and personally programmed computerized financial accounting package including inventory control, estimating and scheduling.
Ø Participated in the evaluation, due diligence and feasibility studies for expanding market territory.
Ø Active involvement with City officials and authorities both during permitting process and throughout construction.
Ø Managed the activities and responsibilities of subcontractors in accordance with contract documents.
Ø Completed projects on time and under budget.
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Education, Licenses and Training
Juris Doctorate (JD)
University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, KS Continuing Legal Education 15-hours per year including ethics requirements
Bachelor of Arts Degree
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Florida Certified General Contractor License #CGC 1520934
OSHA 30-Hour Course - 12/2011
Speaker at Construction Law Seminars - 2000 & 2001
Speaker at numerous client in-house seminars
Bar Admissions: Iowa Bar 1974 Publications Author of publication of Iowa section on Mechanics Lien law for ABA Computer Skills Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro and Photoshop, Computer-Aided design for 3D modeling, CPM scheduling programs, database management
Interests Scuba Diving, Youth Baseball/Football Coach, Avid Reader, Photography, Cycling, Piano playing, Home Chef
Construction Projects Detail
Highly experienced in projects involving construction management, estimating, design, contract negotiation, and monitoring history. Categories of projects included Hospital and Healthcare; Education Facilities at University and Secondary Education Level; Criminal Justice Facilities including Courts and Prisons; Residential including Private Residence and Fraternity/Sorority, Nursing Homes; as well as various one-of-a-kind projects. Project History is from General Contractor Experience in Iowa. Florida General Contracting includes smaller residential and commercial remodeling and cabinet making.
Construction Projects Detail
Foundations/Slab
Ø Elevator Installations, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Six buildings on campus foundations for elevator shafts.
Ø North End Zone addition to Kinnick Stadium at University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Foundations for additional stadium seating.
Ø Thomas and Betts Corporation, Iowa City, IA: Factory addition including foundations and slab.
Ø James River Corporation, Tipton, IA: Factory addition including foundations and slab.
Ø Northwestern Bell Facility, Iowa City, IA: Addition including elevated and cantilevered slabs.
Ø Perpetual Savings and Loan Building, Iowa City, IA: Foundations and flat slab work for a two-story banking facility.
Ø Iowa State Bank, Iowa City, IA: Foundations and flat slab work for a one-story banking facility drive-in.
Ø Army Corps of Engineers, Coralville, IA: Iowa Coralville Dam warehouse and storage facility as well as various support facilities including foundations and flat slab work.
Ø Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Sculpture piece and foundations for a circle of massive limestone blocks depicting an ancient coliseum at the basketball arena.
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Removal, deepening and re-pouring of intercollegiate swimming pool for Olympic diving trials.
Ø 10,000 sq. ft. private residence, Fairfield, IA: Foundations for house, swimming pool area, perimeter brick and stone retaining walls, paths, recirculation stream and two retention dams for ponds with related flat slab work.
Ø University of Iowa, Fairfield, IA: Foundations and slab for complete swimming pool facility on campus.
Masonry Walls
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Elevator installations for six buildings on campus and erection of a five-story masonry wall.
Ø Elementary schools in South East Iowa: Masonry wall erection for four schools.
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Addition to a power facility including masonry wall erection.
Ø 10,000 sq. ft. private residence, Fairfield, IA. Masonry walls and detail brickwork, as well as perimeter walls around swimming pools and gardens.
Ø University of Iowa hospitals, Iowa City, IA: Numerous individual projects involving mason walls at surgical and patient suites where masonry construction was called for rather than steel studs.
Ø Veterans Hospital, Iowa City, IA: Numerous individual projects involving mason walls at surgical and patient suites where masonry construction was called for rather than steel studs.
Ø Army Corps of Engineers, Coralville, IA: Coralville Dam warehouse and storage facility, as well as various support facilities including masonry wall work for buildings.
Steel Erection
Ø Northwestern Bell Addition, Iowa City, IA: Five-story main addition structural steel columns and beams. Worked on an additional four stories including galvanized steel support for precast cladding.
Ø Thomas and Betts, Iowa City, IA: Structural Steel framework for tilt up precast walls for a factory addition.
Ø James River Corporation, Tipton, IA: Structural steel framework for precast walls for a factory addition.
Ø Perpetual Savings and Loan Building, Iowa City, IA: Structural steel erection for a two-story banking facility.
Ø Iowa State Bank, Iowa City, IA: Structural Steel erection for a one story banking facility and drive thru.
Ø 10,000 sq. ft. private residence, Fairfield, IA: Erection of structural steel roof framing to support 12/12 pitch roof with 1” thick slate shingles.
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Installation of steel catwalks and curtain support structure at stage area of Hancher Auditorium.
Pre-Cast Concrete Structures
Ø Northwestern Bell Addition, Iowa City, IA: Five story addition including all floors clad in pre-cast concrete panels.
Ø Thomas and Betts, Iowa City, IA: Tilt up precast panels welded to structural steel frame for factory addition.
Ø James River Corporation, Tipton, IA: Tilt-up precast panels welded to structural steel frame for factory addition.
Ø University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA: Mechanical penthouse addition on 10th floor including use of tower crane and installation of precast cladding.
Elevated Slabs
Ø Northwestern Bell, Iowa City, IA: Five-story main addition pan formed elevated and cantilevered slabs on structural steel framework.
Column Erection and Form Work for Structural Reinforced Concrete
Ø Northwestern Bell, Iowa City, IA: Five-story main addition including structural reinforced concrete columns and beams, as well as pan slab work.
Four+ Stories/Floors
Ø Northwestern Bell Iowa City, IA: Five-story main addition including structural steel and structural reinforced concrete. Additional four stories including galvanized steel support for and installation of precast cladding. (Total project time was 13 months).
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Five-story addition including elevator installations involving six buildings on campus. (Total project time was 10 months).
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Mechanical penthouse addition on the 10th floor of the hospital including use of a tower crane. (Total project time was 3 months).
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Addition to the power facility including masonry wall erection for four stories (Total project time was 3 months).
Additional Experience
Ø Iowa State Bank, Iowa City, IA: Main addition, installation of steel studs and drywall, installation of exterior limestone facing, installation of acoustical ceilings, shop fabrication of cabinetry, installation of doors, frames and windows, and installation of miscellaneous items of finish.
Ø University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA various project: Installation of steel studs and drywall/plaster/masonry including exterior structural studs as called for, installation of acoustical ceilings, shop fabrication of cabinetry, installation of doors, frames and windows, and installation of miscellaneous items of finish.
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: General campus projects including classroom buildings, fraternities, sororities, dormitories, installation of wood or steel studs and drywall including exterior structural studs as called for, installation of acoustical ceilings, shop fabrication of cabinetry, installation of doors, frames and windows, installation of misc. items of finish.
Ø Veterans Hospital, installation of steel studs and drywall, including exterior structural studs as called for, installation of acoustical ceilings, shop fabrication of cabinetry, installation of doors, frames and windows, installation of miscellaneous items of finish.
Ø 10,000 sq. ft. private residence, Fairfield, IA: Custom shop fabrication of all windows, doors, wainscoting, flooring, window fans, trim, cabinets, and more.
Ø University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: Remodeled a portion of the old University of Iowa field house to change it from basketball arena to racquetball courts included installation of steel studs and structural components, court surfacing, ceilings and floors for 16 courts.
Ø Installation of stone sculpture at University of Iowa Carver Arena – sculpture resembles foundation of Parthenon in ancient Rome (and accurate to circumference), composed of numerous concrete foundations to support massive limestone blocks – stacked and pinned by epoxy – design of installation method for site to allow same geospatial attitude as Parthenon – coordination with University Architects and Design Artist.
Construction Management
Extensive Experience in fast track projects (where design is incomplete at project start) for University and private developer clients. Below is a major example of this:
Fast-track project to provide housing in small community in SE Iowa for attendees at large (10,000 people) conference. Began project planning on Thanksgiving for conference to start on Christmas. Project site was a hayfield on Thanksgiving Day. Organized and mobilized electrical utility contractors, electricians, plumbers, field utility workers, carpenters, laborers, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers to build multimillion dollar 200-unit trailer park: Project required 200 men and 86 pieces of equipment working 20 hours/day from start to finish over a 30-day period. Included eight miles of underground utilities (main sewer was 27 feet deep), trenching through 5 feet of frost, installation of 2-3 foot thick gravel surfacing, backfilling of all trenches with new unfrozen materials trucked in from offsite, placing of trailers, and startup. Managed project as onsite executive/superintendent. Design engineers on site one day ahead of my crews. Trailers all built new in Indiana during same time frame and trucked over the Interstate to project site. Park became permanent housing for small university and has won awards for design. At same time construction crews built multiple bath trailers using mobile homes and renovating to toilet and bath facilities for conference. All projects completed on time.
