2009 Board of Directors Election Bios

Jack Grothe
Owner/President, JG Construction, Inc.
Jack Grothe has been actively engaged in the construction industry since 1973. He is a licensed General and Electrical contractor in California as well as a dozen other western states. JG Construction, which has been in business since 1979, offers a full range of capabilities from tenant improvements to interior/exterior remodels to ground up retail construction. The client list of JG Construction includes a wide range of retail and commercial developers such as Regency Centers, Kimco Realty and Forest City Development. Retailers include Rite Aid, Walgreen’s, Toys “R” Us, McDonald’s, and Home Depot.

Jack served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Diamond Bar, Director and Logistics Chairman of the Diamond Bar Ranch Festival, as well as a Charter Member and Director of the Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce. He has been active in the local YMCA (his company has donated construction projects to the Y and he has served on numerous Y committees) and he has been Chief of the Indian Princess WaBar Nation.

Jack currently serves on RCA’s Career Development & Education Committee. He has been married to June for 25 years. They have grown children and live in Diamond Bar, CA. Jack is heavily involved in his children’s activities. Jack loves to travel, which he has done extensively. He and his family enjoy camping, fishing and spending quality family time together.

Michael Kolakowski
President and Chief Executive Officer, Konover Construction Corporation
Michael Kolakowski is Konover Construction Corporation’s executive responsible for the overall operation of the organization. Mike holds a degree in Construction Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has had over 20 years of experience in the areas of Construction and Project Management.  He currently serves on the RCA Board as an ISCS Liaison.  He has been involved with Associated Builders and Contractors for the past 10 years, was on the Board of Directors and held the position of President in 1996.  He is also involved with the Construction Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers, Connecticut Building Congress, Society for Marketing Professionals and several philanthropic organizations.

Through his numerous years of experience in all aspects of construction management, Mike is driven by a strong sense of urgency, high energy and focus upon corporate objectives.  He has established strong and cooperative working relationships with clients and colleagues while at KBE Building Corporation.  He motivates, inspires and manages by example.  Mike demonstrates the ability to run a successful and sound business.  He implements measures to ensure efficiency and cost effectiveness.  In addition, Mike assesses, analyzes and resolves problems in a timely manner.  He is decisive, concise and authoritative in making and implementing necessary plans and changes.  Mike challenges, develops, guides and focuses his staff.  He consistently seeks opportunities for learning, professional growth and expansion.

Mike McBride
Chief Operating Officer, Westwood Contractors, Inc.
Mike McBride was born and raised in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area and has resided there his entire life. He has been an active member of RCA’s Scholarship Committee, representing the association to schools in the Southwest. Early in his career he held various positions in construction as a drywall foreman, field superintendent and project manager for a few local general contractors that specialized in the construction of dental and medical facilities. In 1989 he began his retail construction experience with Zale Corporation as a project manager. During Mike’s four years at Zale Corporation, he obtained valuable knowledge and insight into the fast paced retail construction environment. During this time he also became acquainted with RCA and conducted business consistently with RCA members. Mike rose to the title of Manager of Construction at Zale Corporation prior to resigning to pursue a career opportunity with Payless Shoe Source in 1993 as Manager of Construction. During his one year stay at Payless Shoe Source, Mike gained valuable knowledge related to site development and freestanding building construction for retail projects.

In 1994, Mike made a life-long career move back to the general contracting side of retail construction when he began his employment at Westwood Contractors Inc. He started at Westwood as Director of Construction and rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer, which he has held for approximately 6 years.

Mike obtained a B.A. in Management and Marketing from Texas Lutheran College in 1983. He has been happily married to Vickie for 24 years and has two wonderful children, Matthew, 20, a student at Texas A&M University and Mackenzie, 15, a high school student.

Kent Moon
President and CEO, Lakeview Construction, Inc.
Kent Moon's experience includes 21 years in the construction industry with a focus on interior office build outs and specialty retail finish outs. In 1993, he and his partners founded Lakeview Construction, Inc. The company, focusing on specialty retail construction, is licensed and/or registered in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and has projects being built nationwide by 75 full-time superintendents. Headquartered in Pleasant Prairie, WI, Lakeview also has offices in Chicago, Kansas City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kent is president and chief executive officer and oversees day-to-day business as well as the company's quality control and safety program. He is a long-time member of the ICSC, an active member of the Puerto Rico Idea Exchange planning committee and a member of The Retail People.

Kent is currently on the RCA Board, serving on the Marketing and Communications Committee, overseeing the association’s Trade Show efforts. Outside of his busy work schedule, Kent enjoys spending time at the lake waterskiing with his family. He, his wife and two daughters reside in the Chicagoland area.

Chandler Weekes
President, Weekes Construction, Inc.
Chandler was born in Gainesville, FL and grew up in Greenville, SC after landing there in 1972.  After attending Valdosta State College, Chandler spent six years in sales followed by five years as a Professional Mountain Bike Racer.  He joined Weekes Construction in 1998, working in the field as a Superintendent before moving into the office as an Assistant Project Manager and then Project Manager.  In 2002 he assumed duties as Director of Marketing and in 2004 as the Vice President of Operations.  In 2006 Chandler became President.

RCA is currently on the RCA Board and serves on the Marketing and Communications Committee. Chandler is married to Giselle and they have a son, Max.