Jim Pankow Inc. - Our Team

Our Team

More so than our history of past projects completed and happy customers - we are most proud of our people. Employee retention is one of our strongest points. The majority of our team has been with Jim Pankow Inc. for many years - and they have grown accustomed to working with each other.

Currently we employ 70 dedicated professionals and tradesmen who share the passion for design and building excellence. As of 2008:

53% of our employees have been loyal to the company for 6+ years

28% have been dedicated to Jim Pankow Inc. for 11+ years

And 19-individuals have been here for more than 16-years!!!

	Jim Pankow: President 31-years in Business Jim started this company in 1977. His first projects were homes and multi-family, but he quickly made the move to commercial structures. For 30-years Jim has made sure that hard work, integrity, accountability, efficiency and innovation were the foundation of this company. He has managed to hire, train, and retain some of the finest construction workers in the state – some of their names are listed below. “Integrity is the foundation this company was built on. Every decision that is made and each task undertaken must begin with integrity. Competence and ambition are the columns that when supported by integrity will ensure client satisfaction.” ~Jim Pankow
	Rob Hutter: Vice President / Project Manager 19 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Rob has been in the construction industry for his entire life. He is an expert at every level of the construction process and brings exceptional value to any project he manages. Many of our past customers call Rob directly to make sure he is leading their next job.
	Aron Pankow: Project Manager / Estimator 17 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Aron started working with the company fulltime in 1991. He has worked his way through the ranks studying all of the trades. Aron has worked with our Laborers, Carpenters, Concrete Crews, Steel Crews, and Masons. He is a Journeyman Mason and laid brick and mortar for many years in the field. Aron was brought into the office in 2005 as an Estimator and Project Manager. His many years of hands-on experience give him a unique advantage when pricing and managing jobs.
	Sue Hellmer: Project Management Assistant 16 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Sue coordinates all paperwork for the Project Management and Estimating Department. If you see a shop drawing, subcontract, purchase order, or any transmittal - it came from Sue’s desk. With over 16-years of coordinating the efforts of our project management and estimating department, Sue is an essential part of our daily operations.
	Debbie Birenbaum: Director Administration & Accounting 12 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Debbie is responsible for the numbers. She built our accounting system from the ground up and continues to oversee all accounting tasks. She is in constant communication with other department directors to coordinate all business forecasting - backlog, man-hours, and revenue.
	John P. Versey, AIA: Architecture Department Manager 3 years with Jim Pankow Inc. John spent the majority of his career working with traditional architecture firms. He is now a firm believer in the advantages of our Design/Build process and we are lucky to have him on staff. Above his design duties, John also coordinates the efforts of the entire architecture department. He can often be found presenting our projects to planning commissions and board meetings across Southeast Wisconsin.
	Jim Price, AIA: Architect 14 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Jim was the first licensed architect to be hired by our firm. He has designed dozens of projects for our company and is considered one of the best in the business. In particular, his knowledge of building code and manufacturing facility design are invaluable to our team.
	David Stoelting, AIA: Architect 3 years with Jim Pankow Inc. David has over 30-years of experience in architecture and facilities management. His responsibilities include the production of schematic drawings, working drawings, and construction documents. He can often be found presenting our projects to church and school boards.
	Dick Daehnert, AIA: Project Director 7 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Dick started with the company as an experienced architect and has successfully designed many of our projects. However, in recent years he has found a niche for his skill-set in the role of Project Director. His advanced knowledge of building design and the design/build process gives him, and our clients, many advantages. He is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the owner and our design/build team to assure your project is completed on time and within budget constraints.
	Chris Merklein: Project Director 2 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Chris is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all parties involved in your building project. He meets with clients early in the planning stages to assemble an accurate needs-analysis. He works directly with owners, architects, project managers, estimators, and local municipalities to assure deadlines are met and your project is completed on time and within budget constraints.
	Tom Feldman: Shop Supervisor 21 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Tom keeps our equipment in excellent condition. He takes extreme pride in making sure the construction crews have the proper equipment on the work sites. Tom is a big reason for our trucks and equipment always looking new.
	Harry Parks: Field Manager & Jobsite Superintendent 22 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Harry oversees the jobsites to make sure that all quality standards are met and deadlines are met. Harry’s job duties were recently increased - he has been promoted to Field Manager. Because he can relate to all of the field crew members so well, he has been designated as the main link between the office and the field.
	Don Stenz: Project Manager & Safety Manager 21 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Don has many years of experience as a Jobsite Superintendent, but is now a Project Manager with the Jim Pankow Team. His hands-on construction supervision experience is a tremendous asset to any project that he now manages. Don is another example of a JPI employee who is specifically requested by some of our best customers. Don also spends a lot of time staying current with the latest OSHA safety regulations.
	Pat Clapham: Jobsite Superintendent 15 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Pat has two major talents - Carpentry and Masonry. Because of his expertise with these two trades and his overall knowledge of the jobsite, Pat is now a Superintendent. He has a very calm demeanor, but his workers certainly listen when he speaks.
	Bob Schumacher: Jobsite Superintendent 24 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Bob is one of the most organized and over-prepared jobsite superintendents we have ever worked with. His job trailer is cleaner than most people’s houses.
	Jeff Zimmerman: Jobsite Superintendent 28 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Jeff’s dedication to Jim Pankow Inc. is unsurpassed. His ability to coordinate extremely complex jobsites is second to none. Jeff is commonly at the jobsite an hour before everyone else, and an hour after His commitment to excellence is at a higher level than most!
	Dave Mrotek: Jobsite Superintendent 22 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Dave is requested by name by some of our biggest customers. He has worked on hundreds of projects for Jim Pankow, Inc. and has a great track record for completing complex projects on time and under budget.
	Gary Kraus: Jobsite Superintendent 31 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Gary was the second employee ever hired by Jim Pankow. He is the mold for all that followed him - and a mold that should never be broken. With 30-years of service, employees like Gary are near impossible to find. He is a true professional and we are lucky to have him on board.
	Dean Wetor: Jobsite Superintendent 15 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Dean is a true perfectionist - he is not easily pleased with masonry. Dean was hired as a mason and is considered one of the best in the industry. When a truly complex masonry job comes up, Dean is usually in charge. Because of his vast knowledge of the construction jobsite and extreme attention to detail, he is now one of our Jobsite Superintendents.
	Matt Noordyk: Foreman - Warranty 15 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Matt is considered a jack of all trades, but has a true specialty with carpentry. His ability to get along with customers and attention to detail makes him the perfect warranty specialist.
	Jimmy Boerner: Foreman 25 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Jimmy is our number one concrete foreman. He is considered by many in Sheboygan County to be the best in the business.
	Don Lisowe: Foreman 25 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Don’s specialty is steel. He is always on the jobsite if steel is involved.
	Kerry Mrotek: Foreman 22 years with Jim Pankow Inc. Kerry is also a steel specialist. When framing up a steel manufacturing building or 50-foot tall church steeple, Kerry is usually on the site.