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SALT LAKE CITY — Leading general contractor Jacobsen Construction Company is pleased to announce two new appointments in executive company leadership as part of the company’s efforts to accommodate strong growth in Utah’s booming economic recovery.
In a unanimous decision of the Jacobsen Board of Directors, Matt Radke has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Dennis Cigana has been named the company’s Chief Development Officer (CDO). Both appointments became effective June 14, 2021. Radke and Cigana each have decades of successful leadership experience at Jacobsen and a proven track record of delivering exceptional building results for clients, helping the company achieve the distinguished reputation it enjoys today.
Radke joined Jacobsen in 1995 as a project engineer and quickly earned the trust of colleagues, trade partners and project owners with his eye for detail, tireless work ethic and personable approach. His precise understanding of each client’s vision for their project has successfully guided Jacobsen through some of its most complex and demanding undertakings ever. He became Vice President of Construction in 2018 and Executive Vice President of Construction in 2020. Radke is filling the COO role previously held by John Fortuna, who retired in January after 28 years with Jacobsen.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead talented, passionate and committed field teams who continue Jacobsen’s track record as an innovative and successful builder of difficult projects,” Radke said. “I’m excited to lead and serve the company in my new role. With this change, we will continue changing skylines while we also keep a strong hold on our culture of strong ethics, caring for the safety of our people and delivering an excellent construction experience for our clients. I love that our company continues to have a lasting impact by building enduring cities and communities that improve quality of life and bring people together.”
Radke will provide strategic direction to Jacobsen’s sizable operations workforce, which includes project leadership for Jacobsen’s regional and national public, private, health care, religious and national market segments; self-performed concrete teams; project safety, scheduling and employee training personnel; and the company’s vertically integrated Jacobsen Building Services and Jacobsen Flooring Services teams.
Cigana started as a senior estimator at Jacobsen in 1999 and rose through the ranks of the company to serve as Vice President of Estimating starting in 2010 and Executive Vice President of Preconstruction starting in 2017. He mostly recently served as Executive Vice President of Preconstruction and Business Development. Cigana’s influential leadership over many years at Jacobsen has shaped the company’s preconstruction technological prowess, ability to provide added value to clients through smart design choices and materials selections, and understanding and foresight of market conditions. Cigana is known to Jacobsen clients, subcontractors and employees as a leader with integrity and incredible know-how. He will be the first CDO in Jacobsen’s history, a move that reflects the company’s deep commitment to strategic planning for long-term growth.
“I feel fortunate to lead the efforts of tremendously talented professionals who know what it takes to win meaningful construction projects and deliver on the dreams and aspirations of our clients through careful pre-planning of our onsite work,” Cigana said. “We are also fortunate to work in a resilient industry and in markets with lots of exciting work available. Despite the industry-wide challenges of the past year, 2021 is shaping up to be abundant with large and meaningful project opportunities, and it’s up to us to seize the moment by building genuine connections of trust with prospective and current clients. By doing even more to elevate the quality of the experience that our clients have with us during the early stages of project ideation and brainstorming, we can take our dearly held value of thrilling the client to a whole new level. I welcome the challenge.”
Cigana will provide high-level strategic direction to a diverse set of Jacobsen teams that work in business development, project development, preconstruction project management, estimating services and more.
Radke and Cigana are assuming their new roles at a time of immense opportunity, excitement and historical significance for Jacobsen’s more than 600 employee-owners. In January, Jacobsen employees moved into the company’s modern, newly built Salt Lake City headquarters; and in 2022, Jacobsen will celebrate 100 years since its founding. Jacobsen is also currently involved with exciting and significant projects such as The West Quarter, Liberty Sky and Kensington Tower in downtown Salt Lake City; the new Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi; and the historic renovation and restoration of the Salt Lake Temple.
“Matt and Dennis will be instrumental in steadily guiding Jacobsen forward on its exciting charted path. And I have every reason to know they will be successful,” said Jacobsen President and CEO Gary Ellis. “They have proven to be exceptional leaders, thoughtful professionals and leading experts in their areas of influence. The communities where we live and work are eager to build and grow in 2021 and beyond. And with strong leaders like Matt and Dennis in place, we are well-positioned to exemplify the traits of steadfast reliability, skillful building expertise and true client partnership that are in such high demand. Their direction and leadership will help our people every day to thrill our clients, provide the unique Jacobsen experience, hold tightly to our core values and demand excellence of one another.”