By Joshua Burd
PS&S has added two key executives as it continues a major expansion of its architecture, engineering, design, surveying and environmental team.
According to the Warren-based firm, Steven Bitterman recently joined its ranks as a senior project executive in architecture, while David Frenze arrives as a senior director for MEPF engineering. John Sartor, CEO and president of PS&S, said the moves come amid a five-year strategic growth plan that involves expanding into new geographic areas with new capabilities and partners.
“Steven’s strengths are building teams and fostering client relationships,” Sartor said. “His experience leading global teams on complex projects will be invaluable given our role as the lead designer on the redevelopment of the 80-year-old Holland Gardens public housing complex in Jersey City.
“David will be instrumental in our continued expansion in biopharmaceutical industry and will lead our Doylestown, Pennsylvania, office,” Sartor added. “David’s more than two decades of experience will be instrumental as we work on the Roche and Novartis manufacturing expansions.”
Bitterman previously spent 13 years at Gensler, where he was a principal and studio director who led the global Verizon account and was successful in the management, administration and construction of large- and small-scale architectural and interior design projects, according to a news release. PS&S cited his extensive experience managing teams and directing strategy, projects and programs with a concentration on corporate headquarters design, pharmaceutical, consumer products, technology and energy sectors.
He will be responsible for bringing together the PS&S design team that will work on overseeing the design and construction of the new Jersey City redevelopment project, which he estimates will be a four- to five-year endeavor.
“The Jersey City public housing redevelopment is a transformative project and will be a role model for future mixed-use redevelopment projects across the country,” Bitterman said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to be at PS&S leading the design team and working alongside the developer, Winn Development on this $500 million endeavor. This project undoubtedly will continue to solidify and elevate PS&S’ reputation in the tristate area.”
Before joining PS&S, Frenze spent more than 25 years in the mechanical consulting engineering industry, most recently at Gannett Fleming. The licensed engineer has extensive experience in the management, programming, planning, design and coordination of MEP/FP projects in many sectors with a specialty in biopharmaceutical and is responsible for tracking and instituting compliance requirements with national, state and local codes on projects.
“Over the years I’ve worked with some of the principals at PS&S on other biopharmaceutical projects so I am delighted to be joining the firm as I continue to work on large-scale complex projects and take on new challenges in business development,” Frenze said. “While I’m excited to work on high profile manufacturing expansions with our existing clientele, another of my primary goal over the next two years is to garner new growth opportunities in the biopharmaceutic sector out of our Doylestown office.”
Frenze is certified by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design scale. He’s also an National Committee Participant for the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, for clean rooms and clean utilities and is a member of ISPE National and Delaware Valley Chapter.
“While we continue to hone the skills of our existing employees we are delighted to have these new hires which will help us as continue on our strategic growth plans,” Sartor said. “These projects will continue to solidify PS&S as a leader in mixed-use residential projects, as well as in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. And we continue to make inroads in large scale infrastructure projects in the tristate area after a strategic acquisition last year.”
