2022 Mid Summer Conference Speakers
Mike Cosgrove, Hon. Aff. AIAMI | PCIA
Session: Risk Drivers 3.0
Bio: As PCIA’s President and CEO, Mike has established a reputation as being a hands-on, problem-solver for his clients’ insurance and risk management needs, and he assists in training their staff to reduce their firm’s professional services risks. His expertise includes risk evaluation and insurance placement, contract reviews and negotiations, assistance with mergers and acquisitions and international project pursuits. Read more.
Kim Nowak | MDOT
Session: Mackinac Bridge, Then and Now
Bio: Kim, who has served as executive secretary of the MBA since May 2019, oversees all operations, management and maintenance of the Mackinac Bridge. She previously served as the chief engineer at the bridge since 2002, overseeing bridge maintenance work, as well as contracted design, inspection and construction work. A Grand Rapids native and St. Ignace resident, she is a member of the International Cable Supported Bridge Operators... Read more.
Sam Clark, AGC | Clark Construction
Session: Advancing D, E & I in Design and Construction
Bio: Sam Clark continues the Clark Construction Company lineage as President and CEO, being the fourth to serve over the firm's 75 years. He served in the U. S. Army from 1991 to 1994 and was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. Upon his honorable discharge, Sam enrolled in Northern Michigan University where he obtained a 8. S. in Building Construction Management. Read more.
Dannis Mitchell | Barton Malow
Session: Advancing D, E & I in Design and Construction
Bio: Leading Client & Community Engagement for Barton Malow Builders, Dannis manages business development for the Detroit Market and oversees the company’s efforts in leveraging resources to increase utilization of disadvantaged businesses and workforce candidates on construction projects. She builds and manages relationships with key stakeholders including developers, union representatives, and educational institutions... Read more.
Oscar Cobb | SmithGroup
Session: Advancing D, E & I in Design and Construction
Bio: Oscar Cobb has more than 20 years of experience in the architectural and engineering industry. His portfolio of mechanical system design includes retrofit and new construction designs for commercial, healthcare, institutional, and industrial buildings, as well as hazardous storage applications, alternative energy laboratories, and data centers. Learn more.
Elvana Hammoud | DTE Energy
Session: Future of Energy
Bio: Elvana has been with DTE Energy for the past 24 years. Her work has focused on leading large-scale initiatives, encompassing cross-functional and cross-organizational projects, aimed at transforming DTE Energy into a first quartile company among its peers for customer experience and cost and quality. She has held various roles in different business organizations at the company including managing major enterprise projects... Read more.
Susie Fox | Kiwanis Ski Club
Session: Pine Mountain Ski Jump Modifications
Bio: Coming soon!
Phil Niemi, P.E. | Integrated Designs
Session: Pine Mountain Ski Jump Modifications
Bio: Philip serves as both Secretary and Treasurer for Integrated Designs, Inc. In addition to these responsibilities, he is the company senior structural engineer and principal project manager. Based in Marquette and Brighton, IDI is a full-service architectural design firm, with the firm's primary focus in the K-12 and higher education sector throughout Michigan. Phil is also versed in bridge design and is a National Highway Institute certified bridge...Read more.
Stan Kaczmarek | Gundlach Champion
Session: Pine Mountain Ski Jump Modifications
Bio: Stan is President of Gundlach Champion, Inc. (GCI). He began his career at GCI as an estimator then was promoted to chief estimator and was responsible for all preconstruction services. In 2019, he was promoted to Senior Vice President. During his more than two decades with GCI, Stan has worked on a variety of projects, including many of the company’s largest, such as the City of Marquette Municipal Service Center, Eagle Mine...Read more.
Dr. Daniel T. Altier, PhD, MBA | Altier Development Consulting
Session: Team Cohesion = Behavioral Economics
Bio: Dr. Altier took a thorough understanding of learning, motivation and change theories, with a comprehensive understanding of individual and group dynamics, and successfully applied them to business. Prior to beginning Altier Development Consulting, Dr. Altier served as the Senior Director of Executive and Team Development for Barton Malow Company for 10 years. There he applied his knowledge and skill to Project Teams... Read more.
Bob Tagatz | Grand Hotel
Session: History of Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel
Bio: Tagatz has over 33 years of experience in historical preservation in Michigan, Florida and Georgia. More than two decades ago, Tagatz came to Mackinac Island because of his interest in the Grand Hotel and the study of turn-of-the century wood frame hotels (the Grand Hotel being one of only eleven still standing today). He assembled the Grand Hotel’s first archives and is well known for his dynamic presentations on the hotel’s history. Read more.