W. R. Newman and Associates, Inc.

Brian Gesell serves as a Vice President with W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc.  He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree and started with the company shortly after college graduation in January 2006.

His capacity as construction project manager for commercial retail and medical office developments begins at project inception through completion.  Brian’s responsibilities include handling presentations of project proposals and working with owners, developers, and subcontractors in developing and executing contracts.  He plays a key role in managing and troubleshooting day-to-day project operations.

Brian’s key projects during his time at WRN include more than 75 Tractor Supply Company retail projects, numerous other retail projects, assisted living facilities, and healthcare/medical office facilities throughout the United States.

Bryan Knuckles serves as Vice President with W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc., completing over $200,000,000 of construction work for the company.  He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Arkansas and started with the company in 1991.

His completed projects include industrial, retail, office, and medical buildings.  Bryan’s primary focus and expertise is the construction of medical facilities, having built surgery centers, donor services centers, and dialysis clinics across the United States.

He works closely with Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI), beginning with construction design meetings with the owner, architect, and engineers, followed by construction permitting, bidding, scheduling, and subcontractor letting of contracts.  He then closely manages project construction until state health approvals and acceptance is obtained, thus ensuring DCI is obtaining a quality end product.

John Moran is the Chief Financial Officer for W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc.  He began working at the company in 2010 after nine years in public accounting with an emphasis on the construction industry.

John is a 2001 graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, AL with a B.S.B.A. degree, and received his Masters in Accounting from University of Tennessee – Chattanooga in 2002.  His current responsibilities include Finance and Accounting functions, cash management, insurance/risk management, managing bank loans and credit facilities, maintaining compliance for contractor licensing in 48 states, state and local tax compliance, employee health insurance and benefits, human resources management and information technology.

As a certified public accountant, John’s extensive background in finance and accounting, financial policies, procedures, and internal controls and technology further strengthen WRN’s operations. ?Prior to joining W. R. Newman & Associates, Inc., John worked with a variety of construction contractors, including General Contractors, whose average annual volume ranged from $50 million to $350 million; and Heavy Highway Contractors, whose average annual volume ranged from $100 million to $150 million.

John is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of Construction Financial Management Association.  He served as Middle Tennessee Chapter of Construction Financial Management Association Chapter President from 2015-2017.  He is also a member of several other accounting societies.  John teaches in the Sunday School Program at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN.

Lee Thomas serves as President of W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc.  Lee is a 1997 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He has worked in the construction industry since he graduated college, when he went to work as a rock and demolition blaster for an explosives company.  Prior to moving to Nashville in 1997, Lee was raised on his family’s farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  He spent his childhood working the crops and cattle with his Father and his Brother.  Lee came to work for W.R. Newman as a project manager in 2000, and became a partner in 2012. 

In his role as President, Lee monitors projects and relationships through constant communication with company leaders.  He also handles site selection, budget proposals, and due diligence assisting owners and developers with potential future development and lease procurement.  All of this is done reinforcing some of the company philosophies of W.R. Newman, Honesty and Integrity with Excellent client service.

During his tenure at WRN, Lee’s key projects have included serving as Relationship Manager for Tractor Supply Company for 16 years with over 600 projects completed, Relationship Manager for McDonald’s for 8 years with over 30 projects completed, overseeing construction of Town Center Retail and Medical Development – Mt. Juliet, TN and construction of Graves Crossing Retail Development – Mt. Juliet, TN, and the successful opening of W.R. Newman’s regional office in Los Angeles, California.

Lee is an active member of the Parent Association Board at the Oak Hill School in Nashville, TN and the West Meade Swim & Tennis Club Board of Directors in Nashville, TN.  After hours, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, attending their sporting events, hunting and golfing. 

Tom Pappas is a licensed architect and serves as Chief Executive Officer of W.R. Newman & Associates, Inc.  He joined the company in 1990. During his tenure, the company has increased annual sales volume by 50 times.  He is directly responsible for the sales, marketing, and architectural and engineering coordination with clients and design-build teams.

Site selection, lease procurement, construction budgeting, scheduling, and closing negotiations are all part of Tom’s extensive experience.  In his role as Chief Executive Officer of WRN, Tom’s duties include overseeing project management, estimating, multi-state licensing, quality control, and client retention.

His construction responsibilities includes development of medical office buildings, warehouse distribution centers, restaurants, retail facilities, and multi-use developments.

Tom’s major completed projects include more than 500 Tractor Supply Company stores, with multiple developers throughout the United States; 100+ retail/medical centers throughout the southeast United States; Design-build of multiple office buildings averaging 40,000 SF; Multiple YMCA locations in the Middle Tennessee area; and other multiple-location customers including Pep Boys, AutoZone, Somerset Tire Service, Cracker Barrel, McDonald’s, Firestone and Wells Fargo.

He is a former member of the American Institute of Architects, Construction Specification Institute, and National Certification of Architectural Registration Board.

Tom is a former chairman of the board for the YMCA and, since 1992, serves as an active board member.

Zach Davis serves as an Estimator at W.R. Newman Associates, Inc. with his office based out of Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011 with a degree in Art History with a focus in Graphic Design. Zach started with W.R. Newman in 2022.

Zach worked previously for Breeden Construction as a Virtual Design Construction Specialist and helped build the company up to a nationally recognized multi-family. He has completed multiple high-rise apartments, commercial buildings and renovations throughout West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, D.C and Virginia. Zach also comes with an extensive background in Civil Engineering, notably his experience in Agtek Dirt Modeling Software.

Zach’s responsibilities at W.R. Newman include estimating, dirt modeling, negotiating projects and hiring sub-contactors.

Cash Holman worked at W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. in 2017 as a Summer Intern, where his role included soliciting bids, estimating, job site visits, and assisting project managers.

Cash graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree and officially joined W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. in 2018 serving as a Project Coordinator where his role includes estimating, budgeting, preparing contracts, and coordinating commercial construction projects.

Prior to joining our team, Cash worked for Wherry Brothers General Contractors. Working in the field on Residential, Commercial, and Educational buildings.

Charlie Logsdon serves as a Project Manager with W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. He is a 2007 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Prior to joining our team in 2015, Charlie was with PBG Builders Inc. for eight years. Projects there included stadium improvements, religious facilities, medical office buildings, office buildings, and pre-engineered metal buildings.

His role at WRN encompasses establishing and evaluating construction schedules, estimating project costs, preparing contracts, and obtaining required permits. He also oversees construction projects from the early stages of planning, budgeting, and scheduling to project completion and client satisfaction.

Charlie’s areas of expertise are new construction and renovation projects, with key projects being Tractor Supply Company retail stores.

He is a Board Member of the Middle Tennessee Branch of Associated General Contractors and serves as Board President of the Associated General Contractors Construction Leadership Council.

Chris Myers serves as a Project Manager at the W.R. Newman & Associates, Inc. office in Los Angeles, California. He is a 1997 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Management and a 2003 graduate of Nashville Tech with an Associates Degree in Architectural Engineering Technology. Chris started with W.R. Newman in 2003 as a Project Coordinator.

Before the opening of the WRN Los Angeles office in 2013, Chris was a Project Manager / Estimator for Sun State Builders in Phoenix, AZ and W.E. O’Neil in Los Angeles, CA. He completed multiple projects in various industries including office, medical/lab, restaurant, automotive, education and aerospace. Chris became a LEED AP in 2009.

Chris’ responsibilities at W.R. Newman include hard bid and negotiated projects, budgeting, estimating, hiring subcontractors, scheduling and assuming the role as the primary point-of-contact for developers and other clients. His primary focus is managing projects on the western half of the country – which has included Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Washington and California. Chris has completed over 50 Tractor Supply Company ground-up and remodel projects throughout the United States.

Ernesto Flores serves as a Project Coordinator at W.R. Newman & Associates, Inc. He started in June 2016 in the W.R. Newman office in Los Angeles, California.

Prior to joining the company, Ernesto was a Superintendent / Project Manager for Unified Real Estate Services in Los Angeles, CA – managing residential new construction. Before this, Ernesto spent several years in the Property Management industry.

Soliciting bids, estimating, writing contracts and obtaining required permits are part of Ernesto’s responsibilities at WRN.

Ernesto is a member of Toastmaster’s International. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, beach volleyball, snowboarding and L.A. Dodger baseball.

Jeff Hall joined W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. in 2016 as a Project Coordinator, where his role includes estimating and budgeting, preparing contracts, and overseeing retail construction projects.

Mr. Hall graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, and has been active in various aspects of commercial real estate development and construction management since 2003.

Prior to joining the company, Jeff was a Project Coordinator for Development Management Group, focusing on feasibility studies, permit coordination, scheduling, and managing office renovations.  He also served as Director of Development for Hometown Sonic, LLC, overseeing all real estate and construction activities for the Sonic Drive-In franchisee.  Jeff began working in the industry with Redd Realty Services, where he spent four years as a Project Coordinator/Regional Real Estate Manager and was involved in the development of over 25 CVS Pharmacies.

Kevin Curran serves as a Project Manager at W.R. Newman & Associates, Inc. He is a 2012 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and started with the company one year later in 2013.

Estimating, scheduling, writing contracts, handling RFI’s and submittals are all primary roles that Kevin plays on the WRN team.

His key projects during this time at W.R. Newman include Dialysis Clinic Inc., Nephrology Access Center, Home Training Center and Donor Services.

Rob Turner serves as a Project Manager with W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. He graduated in 2000 from Lambuth University in Jackson, TN with a Bachelor of Science degree and started working at WRN in 2014.

Prior to joining the company, Rob served as project manager at Contractors Heating and Cooling, Assistant Project Manager at Lee Company and Assistant Project Manager at Batten and Shaw.

In his role as Project Manager at W.R. Newman, Rob handles estimating, preparing contracts, and obtaining required permits. He oversees construction projects from the early stages of planning, budgeting and scheduling to project completion and client satisfaction. His areas of expertise are projects ranging from commercial renovations to ground up retail facilities.

During his time at WRN, Rob’s key projects have included McDonald’s restaurants and Tractor Supply Company retail stores.

Rob is heavily involved in the community as a member of Community Church in Hendersonville, TN, a Membership Commission member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and a member of the Nashville Alumni Association of Lambuth University.

Wes Spencer serves as a Project Manager at W.R. Newman and Associates, Inc. He is a 2010 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Construction Management and started with the company in July 2013.

Prior to joining our team, Wes was a Healthcare Construction Manager with Batten & Shaw, Inc.

Developing and directing all activities related to the construction project and outside contractors are part of Wes’ responsibilities at WRN, including planning, estimating, management, coordination and financial control of the construction project. Wes monitors and supervises projects, ensuring adherence to quality, safety and project deadlines.

His area of expertise is Healthcare Construction and Wes is a LEED Green Associate. His primary focus at W.R. Newman is building dialysis facilities for Dialysis Clinic Inc. ranging from major remodeling of existing facilities to ground up construction.

Zach Krisch serves as a Project Coordinator with W.R. Newman & Associates. He graduated in 2022 from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree.

Zach started off as an intern with the company in May of 2021. He assisted a project manager with estimating projects, preparing contracts, coordinating with sub-contractors and utility companies, and creating budget numbers for new clients.

Prior to joining our team, Zach worked for his family business in Illinois renovating houses in the residential construction sector.

Zach enjoys golfing, fishing, camping, and hiking in his free time.