Charles Hess – Manager Member

Charles “Chuck” Hess has more than 41 years of experience building projects up to $150M. Chuck, with his brother, built HESS Construction from a small general contractor to a multi-delivery organization completing nearly $300M annually, including large, complex, fast-track design build projects.  In 2016 Chuck and Christopher Carpenito acquired Cooper and have focused on employing the best people, instituting the best processes and providing the highest quality to Cooper’s clients.

 

 

Chris Carpenito – Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Carpenito has more than 25 years of experience in construction. Initially a CPA construction accountant and consultant for an international firm, Christopher worked with some of the largest builders in the nation. He next served for years as a VP for one of the largest construction providers in country and most recently as the EVP and CFO of HESS Construction.  Christopher’s experience as former CFO, combined with his operational experience working on projects ranging from small business to over $1B with large, complex organizations helps him bring a unique combination of experience and leadership to Cooper as well as relate to and understand the needs of even the largest and most complex clients.

 

Pamela Murray Johnson, P.E. – Chief Operating Officer

Pamela Murray Johnson has more than 32 years of experience in the construction industry. Pamela is a registered professional engineer and construction manager specializing in the development and delivery of large-scale fast – track projects. She is responsible for Preconstruction, Guaranteed Maximum Price development, and the implementation of on-site construction. Pamela’s primary experience is in projects ranging from $500,000 to $150 million, including Highway Bridges, K-12 Schools, Higher Education Facilities, Courthouses, Healthcare Facilities, Government Properties, Commercial and  Community projects. She provides an essential function at Cooper including managing the needs of current clients; and pursuing opportunities and solutions with future customers.

Katie Lee – Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Katie has more than 15 years of experience in construction accounting, originating during her time as a CPA and Auditor for a regional accounting firm during which many of her clients were construction-based. Katie has a unique understanding of the financial needs of construction companies and works closely with our subcontractors as well as our clients to solve problems and ensure risk is managed for all parties and cash flow is maintained – a critical part of the success of any construction project.  Katie has an especially strong understanding of the concerns faced by small business subcontractors and partners with them so that all parties to the  contract are successful.

 

Richard Hillringhouse- Project Executive

Rich is responsible for project staff mentoring  and management, financials, preconstruction, operations, and procuring new work.  He has more than 50 years of experience in construction as an engineer and builder; mobilizing capital programs, project planning, land acquisition, and fast-track delivery methods.  His experience includes managing fast-track construction projects; knowledge of, and access to, the local subcontracting trade market and the local regulatory agencies and Code Officials.  Rich has market experience in constructing federal government facilities;  K-12 schools and higher education facilities; hospitals and commercial buildings; recreational and athletic center facilities.  Rich is experienced in CMAR, Design-Build, and Design-                                                                                         Bid-Build delivery; completing projects with values of up to $150M.

 

Joe Lee – Project Executive

Joe has more than 23 years managing field operations and field labor and has responsibility for managing the self-performed labor force for Cooper. Joe ensures that Cooper hires  and retains the highest quality craftsmen, and monitors productivity, quality control, and safety hand-in-hand with Cooper’s Corporate Safety Director.  Joe has extensive experience operating in the most hardened and secure facilities and is trusted by such clients to mobilize Cooper’s Rapid Deployment self-performed forces on a moment’s notice.  This particular element of the self-performed workforce is pre-cleared to work in some of the most sensitive environments and can therefore rapidly access such sites and get to work to solve client urgent needs.