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 23 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 13 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.
Jim Gladhill – Division Executive
James has more than 21 years of experience in the State, Local and Education markets and is responsible for leading all activities related to these clients. James has built projects ranging up to $75M, including schools from K-12 through Higher Education, Dormitories, Libraries, Community projects, and Lab space as well as Administrative Buildings. James’ brings to Cooper and its’ clients an extensive understanding of the often unique needs of these clients and works proactively with them from the preconstruction process through closeout to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget while maximizing program value.
Joe Lee – General Superintendent
Joe has more than 21 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.