LeChase Constr. Services LLC

With two decades of industry experience, Kyle L. Sayers brings well-rounded expertise and knowledge of field and office operations to the LeChase team, overseeing the management of projects and client relationships, and providing direction and leadership to support the team’s continuous growth.

Kyle began carving his construction career path as a teen, working as a carpenter and heavy-equipment operator for a residential contractor, farmer and the local municipality where he grew up. He continued honing his skills as a project manager for DiMarco Constructors Corporation. In 1997, he brought his passion for the business to LeChase, joining the ranks as a project engineer. Since that time, he has worked on a wide range of projects and markets in various capacities including director of preconstruction and director of field operations. He has significant experience leading teams and customers from the initial conception of a project to beyond its completion, with a keen focus on maintaining excellence in customer relations. Kyle was promoted to vice president in 2008 and named executive vice president in 2012. He was appointed chief operating officer in late 2018.

Kyle is a graduate of the Green Building Contractors’ Future Construction Leaders of New York State Program. An active member within the Rochester community, he co-chaired the Highland Hospital Foundation Gala in 2016, and is a member of the Sons of the American Legion—Matthew Clary Post. He is also a New York State Troopers PBA Signal 30 trustee.

He earned his B.S. degree in civil engineering technology from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and acts as an advisory board member for the university’s construction management program. He was named Distinguished Alumnus by RIT’s College of Engineering Technology in 2019.

Kyle’s business acumen and knowledge of every phase of the construction process makes him a valued asset to LeChase, and his dedication and understanding of client needs aims to further solidify the organization’s core ideology and values.

Neil Schiavi, a vice president in the Albany office, is responsible for growing LeChase’s business in New York’s Capital Region. In his role, he manages local client, employee and subcontractor relationships, oversees daily operations and works to ensure LeChase delivers services and projects that meet or exceed client expectations. Neil was named to his current position in 2016 after joining LeChase as a regional operations manager in 2011. Prior to that, he spent two decades as a partner/principal and vice president of operations at a Syracuse-based construction company. Neil has a B.S. in construction management from Syracuse University.

As vice president of preconstruction services, Peter Muench leads the LeChase team responsible for managing, developing, maintaining and overseeing all functions of assigned projects at the preconstruction phase. This includes addressing safety, construction planning and cost-control procedures as well as implementing Historical Cost Advisor – a tool to provide clients with meaningful estimates, based on historical cost and project data, early in the design. Peter started his construction career in 2000 and joined LeChase in 2005, progressing through roles in estimating, engineering, procurement and preconstruction. He was named director of preconstruction services in 2015, and appointed a vice president in early 2018. Peter earned a B.S. in civil engineering technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and actively participates in several industry and community-focused groups.

When R. Wayne LeChase succeeded his father as president and CEO of LeChase in 1981, the change in leadership introduced a fresh management style that reinvigorated the company and attracted an abundance of extremely qualified construction professionals. In 1997, Wayne also added managing partner to his title. In 2007, Wayne assumed the role of chairman and appointed William (Bill) H. Goodrich as CEO, also naming Bill managing partner in 2008. As chairman, Wayne continues to play an active role in shaping the firm’s strategy.

Prior to joining LeChase, Wayne practiced law at the offices of Johnson, Reif & Mullan, and later worked as a partner at the law firm of LaDuca, Offen & LeChase.

In addition to being a consistently effective leader and entrepreneur, Wayne believes in the importance of civic responsibility and is a champion of many important community initiatives. He is a former member of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (formerly Rochester Business Alliance) and is also a Life Trustee of the University of Rochester, Emeritus Trustee of St. John Fisher College and McQuaid Jesuit High School, and the former chairman of Greater Rochester Enterprise.

Wayne’s education includes a B.S. degree in business administration from John Carroll University and a J.D. degree from University at Buffalo Law School. He was awarded the Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award by Rochester Institute of Technology’s College of Business in 2004. In 2005, he was inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame, a program created to recognize exemplary leaders who have made outstanding and enduring contributions to business and community in the Greater Rochester region. Wayne also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Builders Exchange of Rochester in 2013. In 2018, the Rochester Business Journal presented him with an ICON Honors award in recognition of his career achievements and strong leadership both within and outside the construction industry.

A self-described extrovert, he exemplifies the principles of honesty, trustworthiness and integrity, and is extremely generous with his time, knowledge and resources. Wayne is the standard bearer for the characteristics essential to LeChase and is an engaged part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to its clients, employees and communities.

The University of Rochester (UR) has posted an online tribute honoring Wayne and Beverly LeChase for their commitment to the university over the past 30 years, and celebrating the overall contributions of the LeChase organization to those across the university community.

William (Bill) H. Goodrich began his construction career as an assistant project manager for John P. Bell & Son, Inc. prior to bringing his knowledge and experience to LeChase in 1985. Since that time, Bill has been an integral part of the LeChase team, serving in a variety of progressive roles throughout the span of his career. Bill was appointed vice president and partner in 1995, chief operating officer in 1997, president in 2002, CEO in 2007 and managing partner in 2008. Currently, as CEO and managing partner, Bill is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization, defining the culture, promoting a safe and healthy work environment and driving customer engagement.

He also mentors and empowers the executive management team through the entire organization to always do the right thing. Bill’s drive to elevate LeChase has led the firm in continuous adaptation to changing market conditions, increased revenue growth and driven organizational performance. He has overseen mergers and acquisitions as another way to strategically fortify the business. LeChase acquired C.C. Woods Construction Co. in Durham, N.C., in 2005; Northeast Construction Services in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2010; J. F. Schultze Construction in Charlotte, N.C., in 2011; and C. W. Brown in Armonk, N.Y., in 2015. In 2016, the company purchased Lendlease construction offices in Upstate New York and Raleigh-Durham to expand the organization’s talent and strength along the East Coast.

Bill is actively involved with several affiliations both regionally and nationally, and is serving as the United Way of Greater Rochester campaign chair for 2021. He is a board member for the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Enterprise, CMAC Performing Arts Center, Hillside Children’s Center and Lifetime Healthcare, and for many years supported Rochester Careers in Construction—a program that connects high school faculty and students with experts in the construction industry. He is an emeritus trustee of Keuka College and a former board member for Nazareth Academy School, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America and Rochester Downtown Development Corporation. He is also a member of the Associated General Contractors of America.

Bill earned a B.S. degree in business from Roberts Wesleyan College and an A.A.S. degree in construction engineering technology from Alfred State, the State University of New York College of Technology, where he was also the recipient of a President’s Medallion in 2010 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2014. He completed the Harvard Business School’s OPM program—an eMBA-style professional development program—in the spring of 2016.

Bill is a true champion of the core values that personify LeChase: safety, integrity, quality, customer care, diversity, family and community.

An integral part of the firm since 1993, William (Will) L. Mack was promoted to executive vice president and principal in 2002. In 2015, he was named president, taking on the additional responsibilities of the firm’s organizational structure, short- and long-term strategic implementation and customer and community connectivity. In addition to his leadership position with LeChase, he is also responsible for the engagement and organization of two of the firm’s joint ventures—Conifer-LeChase Construction and Carolina LeChase—serving as managing partner for each and representing LeChase’s side of the business.

A third-generation construction professional, Will entered the business at a very young age—journeying through the industry’s ranks during school breaks and later as a field engineer during college. Prior to joining the LeChase team, he worked at Edgewater Construction Co. and William J. McNeary Development Co. Will’s career of diverse expertise in project management, finance, real estate and business strategy now brings a wealth of knowledge and proven success to LeChase, and the skills he’s worked tirelessly to acquire are now used in planning the firm’s “get good work” strategy.

Will is actively involved with several affiliations, both regionally and nationally. He currently serves on the board for the Mary Cariola Children’s Center and the YMCA of Greater Rochester. He is also a member of Vistage—an international peer-to-peer membership organization for business executives. Will is a former board member for Builders Exchange of Rochester and the Rochester Area Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, as well as a former member of the Village of Fairport Planning Board. He also served alongside Bill Goodrich, LeChase CEO and managing partner, as co-executive leader of the American Heart Association’s 2015 Rochester Heart Walk, an annual community event that celebrates heart health and a commitment to take a stand against heart disease.

Will’s education includes a B.S. degree in finance from Siena College. Additionally, he has participated in various trade- and industry-specific programs and training.

Will leads the organization to focus every day on a common goal—a commitment to building strong partnerships with LeChase’s customers, employees and communities through safety, quality, innovation and values.

A vice president based in Rochester, Brian Russo has operational oversight on various initiatives, joint ventures, and projects. He leads several LeChase initiatives aimed at improving various processes and operations within the company. He began his construction career in 1997, serving as a project engineer, cost estimator and chief estimator at other firms before joining LeChase as director of preconstruction services in 2011. He became an operations manager in 2013, and was appointed to his current position in 2016. Brian has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators and a former participant of Boston’s Future Leaders Program – a top professional platform for emerging business executives. He completed the Future Construction Leaders program offered by the Associated General Contractors of New York, and has LEED AP® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

As manager of general warehouse and fleet operations, Chrissy Parulski is responsible for the regional warehouses that supply equipment, tools, materials and consumables to all LeChase jobsites, and for managing the purchase and maintenance of company vehicles and mobile equipment. Along with implementing consistent fleet and warehouse practices and policies across operations, Chrissy works with the LeChase safety team to ensure employees are trained to properly use equipment and tools in the field. In addition to her companywide role, she also manages allocation of labor for projects in the Central and Southern Tier Regions of New York. Before being named to her current role in 2014, Chrissy spent seven years as warehouse manager and project coordinator in the Southern Tier. She began her construction career doing field labor for LeChase in 1999.

Vice President James (Jim) McKenna leads the company’s pursuit and management of design-build projects. He also oversees the real estate development sector and manages key projects throughout LeChase’s operations. Starting as project engineer, Jim advanced through various construction management roles over the course of his career. Before joining LeChase in early 2021, he served for ten years as vice president of construction at a leading commercial real estate development and management company. There, he supported new development opportunities and oversaw design and construction of projects from the earliest concepts through closeout and occupancy. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio University, and is certified as a Design-Build Professional® through the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).  Jim serves on the board of the Upstate New York chapter of DBIA and is involved in various community activities in the Rochester, N.Y. area.

Gregory (Greg) Barkstrom joined LeChase as director of Real Estate Development in July 2018. In his role, he manages the company’s real estate assets and has responsibility for evaluating and managing future development opportunities. Greg has more than 25 years of experience in real estate. Prior to joining LeChase, he managed the retail development portfolio for a Rochester-area firm. He has extensive knowledge in all aspects of development including sale/lease negotiations, property opportunity evaluation and site selection. Greg has a BA in economics from Le Moyne College and is a licensed New York State Real Estate Broker.

As vice president of business development, Russell (Rusty) Smith is responsible for companywide marketing and business development efforts, including growing brand awareness and enhancing customer engagement. Rusty came to LeChase in 2014 as regional director of business development for the Southern Tier region of New York, having previously served as vice president and partner of a construction firm in Ithaca, N.Y. Prior to that, he spent 16 years in business development and management roles at another construction firm in the region. He became LeChase’s corporate business development director at the end of 2016 and was named a vice president in early 2018. Rusty is active in the Corning community, where he serves as a commissioner of the city’s planning board.

Barbara Sauer became corporate controller in 2015 and was named vice president of finance in early 2019. In her role, she is responsible for all financial operations of the company. She oversees accounting and finance; financial planning, analysis and reporting; taxes, payroll; operations support and special initiatives. Before joining LeChase as assistant corporate controller in 2011, Barbara spent more than 20 years at local and regional non-profit organizations, serving in roles that ranged from accounting manager to CFO and vice president of finance. Barbara has served as a director on several non-profit boards. She has an executive MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a BS in accounting from St. John Fisher College.

As director of information technology, Bing Paesang is responsible for the development, facilitation, management and security of the company’s information technology program, training, and resources. Prior to joining LeChase in 2014, Bing spent more than 25 years in diverse IT disciplines leading the development, deployment and support of global enterprise application systems, business intelligence, infrastructure and information security frameworks across a variety of industries. Bing has a B.S. degree in applied mathematics from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and actively participates in various construction industry and information technology focused groups.

Lee Sommerman, vice president, is responsible for growing LeChase’s business in Rochester and Central New York. In that role, he manages local client, employee and subcontractor relationships, oversees daily operations and works to ensure LeChase delivers services and projects that meet or exceed client expectations. Lee was named regional operations manager in  2013, having gained extensive experience as a project manager and project executive working on industrial, research and power facilities. He was appointed a vice president in early 2019. A career-long LeChase employee, Lee joined the company as a project engineer in 1995 after graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in civil engineering. He also has an A.A.S. in architecture from Alfred State College and LEED AP® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2002, he completed the Future Construction Leaders program offered by the Associated General Contractors of New York.