SAME SB COI Webinar: Responding to Current Economic Headwinds

Mark Fergus, FRICS is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who has provided contract administration, project controls, project and cost management, and advisory services since 1991. As Executive Vice President for Cumming Management Group, Inc. Mark is responsible for Commercial Management and Cost Management advisory across the United States and leads the market insights team. Mark has worked for contractors, developers, and consultants in Southeast Asia, Japan, the Middle East, and the U.S. on large scale mixed use, infrastructure and technology projects. Mark currently serves on the Construction Sector Advisory Forum and Global Standards Committee for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is Scottish Business Network Ambassador. Mark is based in Chicago Illinois.

Rudy Renda serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Strategy & Special Projects, for the Southland Holdings family of companies. Mr. Renda oversees various plant and conveyance projects for Southland Holdings and has been instrumental in the company’s completion of some of the most complex projects in the US. He combines nearly 30 years of construction experience, leading various components of contract administration and compliance, resource management, partnering strategies, customer relationships and coordination across all subsidiaries of Southland Holdings

Brian Coltharp, PE joined Freese and Nichols in 1992, just days after graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a civil engineering degree. As he developed his technical expertise, he also absorbed the company’s long-standing culture and values, grounded in integrity and a family atmosphere. He became our President and CEO in 2017.

Brian’s professional philosophy melds tradition with solid business planning for the future, and under his leadership we have grown to more than 1,100 employees in more than 30 offices across the United States. He steadfastly advocates the principles of treating employees well and providing top-notch client service. Brian coordinated Freese and Nichols’ comprehensive approach to delivering across-the-board services to clients, reflecting his practical mindset toward problem solving. As we have grown, he has led a renewed focus on values, to encourage employees both old and new to embody the slogan LEADS: Learn Continuously, Engage as Family, Act with Integrity, Deliver Quality, Serve Always.

As an engineer and water practice leader, Brian was responsible for more than $1 billion in pipeline and pump/lift station projects, including the Tawakoni Water Supply Project for North Texas Municipal Water District and the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent Pump Station for Dallas Water Utilities. His influence has enabled the company to continue building on its reputation as a trusted advisor to clients and a nationally recognized Great Place to Work.

Brian’s service extends to numerous community and professional organizations. He has served on the board of United Way of Tarrant County since 2018 and was Chair of its 2021-22 annual campaign. He serves on the boards of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas; the University of Texas at Arlington College of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering; Downtown Fort Worth Inc.; and North Texas LEAD. He also is a longtime member of the American Water Works Association, for which he has served on national technical committees

Sally S. Clark, CPSM is a marketing and business development professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the federal, defense, and financial market sectors, providing strategic marketing, program development, and events management services. As Vice President at AFG Group, Inc. (AFG), she oversees and coordinates corporate strategy and regional marketing, proposals, and communications efforts as part of AFG's broader initiative to expand geographically into a nationwide presence.

Sally is a member of the SAME Executive Committee, is Chair of the SAME Small Business Community of Interest, and is a Past President of the SAME Mid-Maryland Post. She is the recipient of the 2019 SAME Post Small Business Liaison Officer Award, recipient of the 2018 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Marketing and/or Communications for the SAME Mid-Maryland Post, and a 2017 graduate of the DC/NoVA Post Leadership & Development Program. Sally is also a Board Member with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) National Capital Chapter, and an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).