By Joshua Burd
Hollister Construction Services has announced nearly a dozen promotions within its executive and project delivery teams.
The Parsippany-based firm said that both Brendan Murray and Matt Higgins have been promoted to the role of executive vice president. In their new role, they will continue working with the management team to implement and execute critical strategic initiatives contributing to Hollister’s success.
“Matt and Brendan have been a key part of Hollister’s transformation taking us to the next level,” said Christopher Johnson, head coach of Hollister Construction Services. “Brendan has developed and supported delivery teams that focus on the clients’ needs and deliver on their expectations. Matt has been instrumental in streamlining processes and enhancing operational excellence.
“I am excited to continue seeing them in action leading our team to success.”
Murray joined Hollister in early 2014 as vice president of construction, the firm said in a news release. In that role, he oversaw and led all the day-to-day activities of the project delivery teams.
The firm touted his 23 years of extensive industry knowledge and strong leadership skills. Prior to joining Hollister, Murray founded and oversaw a multimillion-dollar regional construction services firm, where he served as a liaison between clients and design partners.
He is a LEED-accredited professional and attended Rutgers University, where he majored in civil and environmental engineering.
Higgins joined Hollister in 2013 as vice president of operations, bringing 25 years of business and industry expertise, the news release said. Providing overall direction and guidance to the operational activities of Hollister, he has been instrumental in the implementation of better procedures and management methods, generating strategies and policies associated with the firm’s goals.
As executive vice president, Higgins will continue to measure progress and adjust processes accordingly to keep the entire organization on track, the news release said. He will continue to work closely with teammates, coaching them and ensuring they reach their full potential.
Higgins graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in business administration and management.
Hollister also announced a series of other promotions.
Brandon Alviano was promoted to project manager after joining Hollister as assistant project manager in 2015. With more than 16 years of construction industry experience, Alviano works closely with his team on the overall planning and scheduling of major projects in the New York region.
His first assignment involved the transformation of a historic, 175,000-square-foot structure into a retail and commercial destination in the Bronx. Currently, he is collaborating with the preconstruction team on the design and planning of the first and tallest e-commerce distribution center on the East Coast, a 370,000-square-foot facility. Alviano holds a degree in urban planning from Ohio University.
Mary Muñoz has been promoted to project manager after joining Hollister in 2014 as assistant project manager. She has been involved with key projects in the corporate sector, including the construction of City National Bank’s headquarters in the historic Hahne & Co. building in Newark and multiple phases of renovation for Audible.
Muñoz is now managing the fit-out of a state-of-the-art corporate office in Jersey City for Nuts.com. She earned a master’s of engineering management in 2017 from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Mohamed Attia has been promoted to senior project manager from project manager after joining Hollister in early 2016, the news release said. A civil engineer with more than 14 years of experience, Attia has a lead role in Hollister’s self-storage sector and manages some 600,000 square feet of self-storage construction in New Jersey and New York, including Extra Space facilities for The Hampshire Cos. and CubeSmart facilities for Urban Storage Fund.
Attia attended Stevens Institute of Technology, where he received his master’s in construction management, and holds a Project Manager Professional certification. He also holds certifications in 3-D and 4-D BIM modeling and Revit architecture, structure and MEP.
Edison Buenaventura has been named senior project manager, having joined Hollister in 2015 as project manager with more than 16 years of industry experience. He now supports and guides his teams through the successful delivery of projects in New Jersey and New York, the news release said, including the repositioning of a 450,000-square-foot Class A office building in Secaucus and the construction of The Brooklyn Grand, an 84,000-square-foot, eight-story residential and retail building in Brooklyn.
Buenaventura is currently managing the ground-up construction of a 13-story supportive housing complex in the Bronx and site improvements to an industrial site in Jamaica, Queens, for DO & CO New York Catering. He earned a bachelor’s in physics and mathematics from Aguirre Abad National College in Ecuador and holds several New York City certifications.
Jon Schoenleber has been promoted to senior project manager after joining Hollister as project manager in 2014, the firm said. With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Schoenleber was responsible for the delivery of Langan’s new 72,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Parsippany and 400 Alexander Park’s 70,000-square-foot interior and exterior overhaul in West Windsor.
He is currently part of the team delivering Lighthouse Point, a project that is transforming Staten Island into a 400,000-square-foot mixed-use retail and residential destination. Schoenleber has 10-hour and 30-hour OSHA certifications.
Keith Lovas is now project executive of field operations after joining Hollister in 2013 as project manager and then being promoted to senior project manager. He brings nearly 20 years of experience, managing a multitude of projects within Hollister’s seven core sectors.
In his new role, Lovas provides oversight of all field operations, management and direction of superintendents and all field staff, the news release said. He also ensures all health and safety guidelines are in order, ensuring all worksites are in compliance with Hollister’s policies and procedures.
Lovas attended Villanova University, where he received a civil engineering degree.
John Clark has been promoted to project executive after serving in the role of senior project manager, Hollister said. With more than 22 years of experience, he has managed a diverse range of construction projects in the corporate, food, educational, governmental, health care, industrial, residential and retail sectors.
As project executive, Clark is leading his teams with the delivery of industrial and residential projects, including the renovation of a warehouse for Atalanta International and the ground-up construction of two residential buildings in Jersey City. He received his MBA with an emphasis in finance from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s in construction management from Boise State University.
Tina Girardo joined Hollister in 2011 as project coordinator and has worked her way up to operations manager for Hollister’s New York region, the firm said. As part of the New York delivery team, Girardo is Hollister’s in-house expert on all New York transportation and building departments permitting and abatement requirements.
In her new role, she is responsible for the training of Hollister’s New York team, the news release said. Girardo has also taken a role in sales and relationship-building with clients, prospects and partners. She has been an active member of the Professional Women in Construction Forum, New York Chapter for several years.
Alexis Capozzi has been promoted to operations manager for Hollister’s New Jersey region after serving first in the role of project coordinator and later as project coordination manager, the firm said. As operations manager, Capozzi works closely with Hollister’s teams to ensure the successful delivery of their projects.
Her many years of industry experience and familiarity with construction technology allow her to contribute to process improvement and problem solving company-wide, the news release said. She touches many areas of responsibility, including employee training, insurance management, project controls and software administration.
“I am pleased to announce the promotion of our teammates and congratulate them on their new role,” Higgins said. “Their dedication and hard work have been instrumental to Hollister’s growth and well-established reputation as a leader in the industry. We are very excited to see them succeed and are committed to their continuous growth.”
