Skender Enhances Leadership Team to Support Strategic Growth

Skender, one of the nation’s top construction firms, today announced key changes to its executive leadership team, effective January 1, 2026. The Chicago-based general contractor is continuing to invest in its core markets—multifamily, healthcare, office and interiors—while accelerating strategic growth in Indianapolis, mission critical, and other emerging sectors.

New leadership appointments include:

• Andy Halik, promoted to President from Senior Vice President. Halik joined Skender in 2011 and has nearly 20 years of construction industry experience, most recently leading Skender’s Mission Critical and award-winning Interiors groups.
• Brian Bukowski, promoted to Chief Operating Officer from Senior Vice President. A Skender veteran since 2007, Bukowski most recently co-led the Mission Critical and Interiors groups alongside Halik.
• Brian Simons, promoted to President, Indiana, from Senior Vice President. Simons joined Skender in 2007 and has led the firm’s strategic growth in the greater Indianapolis area since 2020.
• Ashlee Pforr, promoted to Vice President, Interiors, from Project Executive. Pforr has led Skender construction teams since 2010, overseeing the firm’s largest and most complex interiors projects.

Jerry Ball, who is transitioning from President and CEO to Chief Executive Officer, said the leadership realignment reflects Skender’s long-term growth strategy, company culture, and commitment to client success.

“To support responsible and strategic growth, we need the right people in the right roles,” Ball said. “Andy and Brian and their strategic vision for the future of the company make them perfect for this next step. Ashlee’s leadership has been central to Skender’s interiors growth, helping landlords and tenants adapt their spaces for hybrid work and new ways of collaborating.”

Skender expanded into the Indianapolis market in 2020 to support valued clients such as Indiana University Health. Since 2022, Skender’s Indianapolis operations have seen a 400% increase in project volume growth—one critical reason to increase the firm’s investment in that market.

“We are underscoring our commitment to Indianapolis with the elevation of Brian’s role there, coinciding with our own office expansion and relocation to the new Grand on Main development in Westfield,” Ball said.

These promotions highlight Skender’s unique company culture marked by its exceptional employee tenure. Halik, Bukowski, Simons and Pforr have each been with the firm for more than 15 years.

“We believe in promoting people from within and recognizing hard work, dedication and long-term commitment,” said Ball. “It’s reassuring not only to our teams, but also to our clients who trust us with their most important projects.”