John Novak

Founder & President

As President, John is responsible for the strategic business planning and profitable growth of Novak Construction Company. Through John’s vision, tenacity and anticipation of prevailing market needs, Novak Construction has successfully transitioned to become one of Chicago’s premier general contractors and construction managers.

John attended Southern Illinois University. As a trained carpenter, he founded Novak Construction in 1980. John’s goal was to create a commercial firm that would be based on strong client relationships, superior quality work and a portfolio of various well‐known brands and project types. Today they span the retail, institutional and multi‐family sectors. John’s philanthropic efforts focus on a variety of causes – from education and the disadvantaged, to supporting hospitals and equine causes.

Mimi Novak

Chief Operating Officer

Mimi has worked for Novak Construction since 2010, and informally her entire life. Mimi provides executive leadership and oversight to Novak Operations both in the field and office. Mimi ensures our teams deliver best-in-class construction services to our clients with a focus on innovative solutions, risk mitigation, safety, QA/QC, and providing the highest level of customer service.

Mimi received her M.B.A. at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She earned a B.S. at Santa Clara University. She enjoys going to yoga, horseback riding, and running with her dogs in her free time.

Leanne Berry

Chief Financial Officer

As CFO, Leanne Berry leads the Accounting and Finance Department at Novak Construction.  She specializes in building high-performing teams, implementing software solutions, and developing processes that support operational and financial excellence. Prior to joining Novak, Leanne held finance leadership roles with Granite Construction and Moss & Associates.

Leanne earned her B.S degree in Accounting from Loyola University Chicago and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Dan Miller

Chief Information Officer

As CIO, Dan is responsible for all Novak technology. With 20 years of technical and project management experience, Dan prioritizes security, automation, systems/process improvement and AI advancement.

Prior to joining Novak, Dan has held CIO positions with Gold Coast Tickets and the real estate development company, Optima, Inc. Starting his career as a Technology Support Supervisor for United Parcel Service, he also served as Corporate MIS Manager at Ty, Inc. and technology consultant to Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts.

Dan earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University.

John Determann

Director, Pre-construction

John Determann joined the Novak team in 2000. He is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the pre-construction phase of Novak projects in order to meet cost objectives.

John works closely with each Project Director to prepare detailed estimates for each phase of construction, assembles the estimate, and conceives and analyzes cost models during the design development and bidding periods. He ensures that potential risk factors have been evaluated and value engineering has been applied, in addition to striving to establish an “iron clad” GMP on each individual assignment.

John also leads the transition from preconstruction to operations by organizing and facilitating handoff meetings between project teams. Throughout construction, he conducts site visits to assess project progress, compare work-in-place against estimates and budgets, and help ensure financial and operational alignment.

John attended Triton College and matriculated at DePaul University, concentrating on construction and business‐related coursework. He enjoys hunting, boating and spending time in Wisconsin with his family.

 

 

Pablo Aquino

Manager, Pre-Construction

Pablo recently joined Novak with over two decades of experience in the architecture and construction sectors. Throughout his career, he has held project engineer and project manager roles, building a strong foundation that led him to a career in preconstruction.

Pablo received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2003. In his free time, he enjoys going on walks with his significant other, taking annual cabin trips, watching college basketball, and spending time with their pets (Anakin & Padme).

Bob Burris

Project Director

Bob brings a strong combination of project management, field supervision, and estimating experience to every project. He has a deep knowledge of the retail market and experience with both ground-up and TI projects. He has a can-do attitude with a focus on the finish.

Bob received his B.S. in Construction Engineering from Southern Illinois University and is OSHA 10‐hour certified. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his three daughters and working on the restoration of his ’69 Chevy Truck.

 

 

Randy Coakley

Project Director

Randy Coakley joined Novak Construction in 2023 as a Project Director and has over 32 years experience in Development and Construction. Randy’s leadership style fosters collaboration and teamwork, empowering his project teams to excel and achieve their full potential.

Randy has overseen the execution of large-scale projects, including commercial developments, infrastructure projects, and public facilities, throughout his career. On site, he actively promotes a culture of safety and professionalism, setting high standards for project execution and quality.

Randy received his B.S. in Architecture and M.S. in Architecture and Civil Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In his free time, Randy enjoys cheering on the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Jim Hempleman

Project Director

A 33-year veteran of Novak, Jim brings his design knowledge to each project. He works with all participants in the construction cycle, including owners, architects, engineers and subcontractors. He manages ongoing client relationships and cultivates new opportunities that compliment Novak’s portfolio.

Additionally, Jim focuses on enhancing the younger ranks of Novak Construction by actively recruiting new talent from the top construction management and civil engineering programs in the country, such as Purdue University and the University of Illinois, as well as overseeing summer internships for the firm.

Jim holds M.S. degrees in both Architecture and Civil Engineering, as well as a B.S. in Architectural Studies – all from the University of Illinois in Champaign‐Urbana. He enjoys snow and water skiing, spending time with his family in Wisconsin and running marathons.

Steve Hough

Project Director

Steve joined Novak Construction in 2007 as an intern and worked his way to Project Manager by 2012. He continued to build his experience with another general contractor on commercial projects throughout Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin that ranged from $200,000 to $32,000,000. Now a Project Director at Novak, Steve oversees a variety of product types and is heavily involved in owner relations, team management, and subcontractor coordination.

Steve received his B.S. in Building Construction Management from Purdue University. Outside of work, he enjoys carpentry, gardening, visiting breweries, going to see movies, and spending time with his two kids.

Anand Nandula

Project Director

Anand Nandula is a results‐oriented, hands‐on Construction Manager with over 30 years of experience in managing and successfully completing multimillion-dollar commercial projects. Anand’s expertise spans all phases of project delivery, including design and drawing review, estimating, bid preparation and evaluation, contract negotiations, subcontractor qualification and selection, budget development and implementation, contract administration, and project scheduling. Equally important to his success is his ability to foster strong collaboration among clients, architects, consultants, engineers, and project teams, ensuring effective communication, seamless coordination, and successful project outcomes.

In addition to the large‐scale retail projects that Anand oversees currently, he has managed a variety of projects in the Novak healthcare and senior living sectors as well.

Anand received a B.S. in Civil Engineering, specializing in Construction Management at the Regional Engineering College in India. He earned his M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He enjoys spending time with family and traveling.

Karen Rugh

Project Director

Karen has been in the industry for 23 years. She has extensive knowledge in the retail sector, having worked on over 50 Whole Foods Market projects across across multiple regions and now leading the national rollout of Wayfair’s physical retail stores.

In early 2018, she was named Novak’s first Female Project Director. She understands a project’s life cycle and has a “take care of business” approach.

Karen received her B.S. in Civil Engineering, cum laude, from Washington University-School of Engineering and Applied Science in St. Louis, Missouri.  During her free time, she enjoys lakefront picnics, traveling often, museums and Chicago’s amazing restaurants. She is a city dweller married with two young daughters and a Norwich terrier.

Karen is LEED, AP.

 

 

Saliha Addeeb

Senior Project Manager

Saliha joined Novak in 2015 as a project engineer and has been moving up the ranks ever since. Within five years Saliha was elevated to an assistant project manager role, and in 2022 she was promoted to project manager. Saliha has experience working on a variety of asset types around the country, including industrial, retail, and mixed-use residential. She is an adept team player and enjoys coordinating with all members of the construction and client teams that she is a part of. She was recently promoted to Senior Project Manager in 2025.

Saliha received a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Purdue University in 2015. In her free time, she enjoys boxing, hiking, road trips, and traveling internationally.

Byron DeBord

Senior Project Manager

Byron focuses on managing retail client open-store remodels, as well as ground-up new construction. He has been involved in a number of complex projects in both Suburban and downtown Chicago locations. Most of his assignments have involved working with the client and architect during pre-construction to shape cost, scope, and other project criteria.

Byron received his B.A. from Columbia University in New York. He is LEED AP and USGBC Certified. He enjoys Chicago’s culinary and musical cultural offerings, is an avid golfer and is involved in U.S. Masters Swimming.

 

Andy Kivari

Senior Project Manager

Andy brings a breadth of experience to his Novak projects which have traversed the retail, senior living facilities and affordable housing sectors. Andy takes the lead in team meetings and communications, ensuring costs and scheduling will achieve project targets. Often times, Andy can be seen mentoring Novak’s junior team members.

Andy earned a B.A. in Business Management from Northwood University. In addition, he holds an A.A. in Applied Science, Civil Engineering Technology from Michigan Technological University. He enjoys trout fishing and watching sprint car races because they are “super fast.”

 

 

 

 

Ryan Powell

Senior Project Manager

Ryan has spent his entire career at Novak Construction and has quickly become an expert in complex construction on multiple product types. He thrives in an environment of fast-tracked construction and is a solutions provider for his clients.

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction Management from Purdue University. He enjoys cooking and traveling with his wife Jessica, and his children Brooke and Luke. They all love spending time with their dog, Millie.

Robbie Stangle

Senior Project Manager

Robbie is an 22-year industry professional. He previously worked at Power Construction, Skender Construction, and Reed Construction as a Project Executive. Robbie is an expert in project management, business development, and developing the skills of operations team members. Throughout his career, he has worked in many market sectors with most of his time spent in the healthcare market.

Robbie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Westwood College. He enjoys coaching his son’s baseball and basketball teams, hanging out in the backyard on the weekends, and boating and golfing.

Kevin Thieme

Senior Project Manager

Kevin joined Novak with over 15 years of experience in the construction industry as a Project Manager. He has previously worked for Bulley & Andrews, AECOM Hunt, and  LEVEL General Contractor. Kevin possesses an experienced skill set in project estimating, scheduling, project controls, and a client-centric approach to construction.

Kevin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Human Science, Construction Management from Colorado State University. He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, as well as fishing, hunting, horticulture, and working on his house.

Lowell Zarzuela

Senior Project Manager

Lowell’s experience includes work in the public and industrial sectors. He brings a strong business background and client service to each project focusing on reaching goals and early project completion.  Growing up in Chicago, Lowell takes pride in being a part of the construction team for the Maggie Daley Park adjacent to Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.

Lowell received his M.B.A. and B.A. in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago. He enjoys spending time with his family, attending concerts, watching movies, and cheering MMA and boxing events.

Ulises Ruiz

Senior Project Manager

Ulises joined Novak Construction in 2026 as a Project Manager and brings nearly 20 years of experience in civil construction, estimating, and project management. He has successfully led industrial, site development, infrastructure, and heavy civil projects ranging from $2 million to $60 million.

Eric Afable

Project Manager

Eric joined Novak Construction in 2024 as a Project Manager, bringing more than 17 years of experience managing commercial construction projects across a diverse range of industries and building types. With a background in architecture, he offers a unique perspective on design, constructability, and project coordination, helping teams deliver projects efficiently and successfully. Throughout his career, Eric has led projects ranging from interior renovations and adaptive reuse developments to building additions and ground-up construction. His portfolio includes retail, restaurant, industrial, and large-scale worship facilities. He has managed projects from preconstruction through closeout, overseeing schedules, budgets, contracts, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure work is completed on time and within budget.

Eric graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Eric leverages strong communication, accountability, and a collaborative approach to navigate challenges and deliver successful project outcomes.

Erik Eckberg

Project Manager

Erik joined Novak Construction in 2025 and works with the Walmart Industrial team, providing reliable, detail-driven construction services.  He has been in the industry for 8 years and his approach is both client and subcontractor focused. Erik has a background in Applied Engineering and Technology, with a concentration in Construction Management from Eastern Illinois University. He is also an FAA-certified drone pilot and maintains both OSHA 30-hour and OSHA 10-hours safety certifications.

Outside of work, Erik enjoys traveling the world, trying new restaurants, woodworking, landscaping, and spending time with his family.

Jennifer Inamoto

Project Manager

Jennifer joined Novak Construction in 2019 as a Project Engineer and was promoted to Project Manager in 2025. Since joining the company, she has become an invaluable member of the Wayfair and Whole Foods accounts, recognized for her exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to keep teams and clients aligned throughout every phase of a project. Known for ensuring project information and processes flow smoothly, Jennifer plays a key role in delivering successful outcomes while fostering strong client relationships.

Ryan Kraske

Project Manager

Ryan Kraske is a Project Manager at Novak Construction and has been with the company since 2019. A graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Ryan has built his career through hands-on experience and progressive leadership roles within the organization.

Mike Lestina

Project Manager

Mike brings a strong combination of project management and field supervision experience to every project. He has a deep knowledge of the retail market through his work on projects for Whole Foods, Costco and Aldi, as well as experience with both ground-up and TI projects.

Ben Mickey

Project Manager

Ben joined Novak in 2022 as an Assistant Project Manager with over 7 years of experience in the local Chicago construction market. Within 3 years of joining Novak he was promoted to Project Manager. He has previously worked for Macon Construction & Development having completed multiple mixed use and mid-rise developments across the North side of Chicago. Ben possesses an experienced skill set in coordination, estimating, cost management and scheduling with a preference for a hands-on analytical approach.

Ben attended Lane Technical High School in Chicago with an Architectural track where he learned manual drafting and AutoCad. He attended DePaul University for his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management as well as a Master’s degree in Real Estate. He enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and working on his 2-flat.

Grey Novak

Project Manager

Grey Novak brings 11 years’ experience to his commercial construction projects. He has served in multiple roles, and his level of experience has grown as he has had the opportunity to provide services to clients in various markets. Grey ensures that all project goals are met and every detail of a project is covered. His responsibilities include the overall successful planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure of each project.

Grey enjoys meeting new people and spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys hunting and traveling.

Laney Sparacino

Project Manager

Laney brings 30 years of construction experience to his role as Project Manager, with a career that started in the field as a carpenter before progressing to field superintendent and project management. Having worked his way through nearly every stage of the construction process, Laney understands what it takes to successfully deliver a project from the ground up. His experience across commercial, industrial, and residential projects gives him a practical, solutions-focused approach and allows him to be a strong advocate for both his clients and project teams.

Eryn Stacker

Project Manager

Eryn joined Novak in 2022 as a Project Engineer and has over 8 years of experience in the construction industry ranging from design, estimating, coordination, and project management.  Her time at Novak began on a partial adaptive reuse and partial new construction project of the former Sears department store in Portage Park.  Since then, she’s worked on retail/grocery open store remodels, and assisted living facilities.  Key account teams that Eryn has worked with at Novak include Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Whole Foods Market.

Eryn received a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Construction Management Certification from the College of DuPage.  When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.

Trevor Stoltz

Project Manager

Trevor joined Novak in 2025 as a Project Manager, bringing more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry.  Recently, he spent seven years on the ownership side of the business, serving as Facilities & Construction Manager for Von Maur/Dry Goods.  Trevor’s experience includes project estimating, scheduling, cost management, risk mitigation, and building lasting client relationships.

Trevor earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, following sports, and playing golf.

Mike Krzyszton

Project Manager

Mike has been with Novak since 2010 and worked solely with the Costco team from 2015 through 2020. Since 2020 Mike has been working on Walmart retail and industrial projects. He is involved in contractor scopes, contract negotiations and monitoring job budgets. He also handles day-to-day owner, architect and contractor issues and coordinates scheduling.

Mike received his B.A. in Industrial Technology & Management from Western Illinois University. He enjoys camping, watching sporting events and participating in fantasy football. He also likes to barbecue and cook at home.

Matt Wilson

Project Manager

Matt joined Novak in 2021 as a Project Engineer and has  advanced within the organization to his current role as Project Manager. With seven years of experience in the construction industry, he has contributed to a wide range of successful projects and built a reputation for effective communication, strong coordination, and a collaborative approach.

From 2021 to 2024, Matt supported Target retail remodel projects, contributing to the successful completion of 24 projects nationwide. In late 2023, he transitioned to Novak Development projects, where he has played a key role on notable developments including Advocate Webster Place, RUSH at North & Harlem, and the Galewood Residential project.

Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Illinois State University in 2019. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, biking, and traveling, as well as spending quality time with his wife, son, family, and friends.

Chris Gasparian

Senior Project Manager

Chris has more than 20 years of experience leading complex construction projects across the retail, industrial, education, healthcare, public sector, and municipal markets. He currently manages projects throughout the Southeast, overseeing programs ranging from large-scale distribution center renovations and automation upgrades to commercial developments and tenant buildouts.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and is an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) and LEED Green Associate. He enjoys travel and spending time outdoors with his wife and two children where they reside in Greenville, SC

Bill Pounders

Safety Director

With over four decades of construction experience,  Bill oversees the Novak Safety Program, Quality Control and Environmental Compliance as well as fleet vehicles and equipment. Bill’s responsibilities include performing safety audits/inspections of job sites on a frequent basis, promoting a zero‐incident/accident record for the company, developing a comprehensive Safety and Environment Compliance training program and continuously instructing and mentoring all field employees.

Bill holds a City of Chicago Concrete Contractor License, is an OSHA Construction Outreach Trainer, and Certified CESSWI Storm Water Inspector.  Bill received a Bachelors of Science degree from Northern Illinois University, and retired after 14 years of teaching Construction Management at Waubonsee Community College.

Crystal Novak

Vice President, Novak Development

Crystal has performed many roles during her tenure with Novak Construction including administrative, project management, and human resources. Crystal transitioned to Novak Development in January of 2022. She now assists in guiding and managing the development arm of Novak in alignment with the firm’s overall business strategy and core values.

Crystal earned an M.A. from Northwestern University and a B.A. from the University of Oregon. Her children are her greatest passion! She also enjoys hiking, making music, and vacationing anywhere near a hot spring.

Jake Paschen

Executive Vice President of Development

Jake is the Executive Vice President of Novak Development Company and is responsible for its real estate development and investment activities and its portfolio of retail, industrial and multi-family properties. Jake has wide-ranging experience in all aspects of real estate investment, ownership, development, asset management, and management and is responsible for all aspects of operations and all critical decisions.

Prior to joining Novak, Jake ran a group of real estate operating companies and a portfolio of office, industrial and multi-family properties owned by a high-net-worth family based in Chicago.

During his free time, Jake enjoys spending time in the outdoors, fly fishing, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, and spending time with his family.

Charles Bowling

Controller, Real Estate Development

As Controller for the Real Estate Development side of Novak Construction, Charles is responsible for all accounting duties and tenant accounts. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

He enjoys gardening,vacationing anywhere in Wisconsin and spending time with his wife and three children.