Burke Construction Group, Inc.

A 35-year payroll, personnel specialist, and office management professional, Carol Cleveland-Thompson is the Vice President of Corporate Services for Burke Construction Group. Ms. Cleveland-Thompson is responsible for all aspects of the company’s administrative and human resources duties. Additionally, Carol manages all of Burke Construction Group’s information technology requirements. Ms. Cleveland-Thompson also is a member of the Burke Executive Committee, where she shares her extensive knowledge and experience. Ms. Cleveland-Thompson graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Education & Human Resources and earned an AAS degree in Human Services from Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, New York.

Jim Colegrove brings more than 20 years of construction industry experience to Burke Construction Group. Mr. Colegrove is responsible for supervising and managing all phases of the construction and development process for Burke Special Projects. Possessing an extensive background in the construction industry, which includes knowledge of street improvements, Clark County Building Department codes, civil engineering and all facets of commercial construction, Mr. Colegrove is the recipient of Orange Coast College’s Construction Department Award of Merit. A graduate of the Rapport Leadership program and the Leadership Management Incorporated program, Mr. Colegrove is also recognized as a National Accredited Educator for the Associated Builders and Contractor’s Apprenticeship Program.

Kevin Burke earned his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in business management from Kansas State University. Since joining the company in 1989, Mr. Burke has held various leadership positions within the organization, culminating into his appointment as President & CEO in 2001. Kevin lends his industry knowledge through his membership on the Board of Directors for the Nevada Contractors Association (NCA), the Board of Trustees for the Kansas State University Foundation, and as Strategic Advisor for PIRCH – an experiential retailer. Previously the Governor-appointed Chairman from 2009 – 2012, Mr. Burke continues to serve on the Nevada State Contractor’s Board. Additionally, he is a member of several professional organizations, including NAIOP, the Young Presidents Organization (YPO-Gold), and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.  Serving Southern Nevada since 1984, Burke Construction Group currently holds licenses / registrations in 26 states.  Recognized in 2016 as one of the Top 4 Local Commercial General Contractors, some of Burke Construction Group’s notable clients include: PIRCH, Walmart, Cashman Equipment Company, Barclaycard, SolarCity, Marnell Properties, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Peccole Nevada, Focus Commercial and the Clark County School District.

Bob Gittings is an authority in the accounting world with over 30 years of financial experience. His current role as CFO confers responsibility for all financial operations at Burke Construction Group, which includes serving on the executive committee. Mr. Gittings relocated to Las Vegas in 2003 to be Chief Financial Officer for the Las Vegas division of SelectBuild Construction. Prior to SelectBuild, he spent 16 years with S.A.S. Rubber Company, (a subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber Company) progressively advancing in the areas of finance and accounting, culminating in the position of treasurer/ controller. Mr. Gittings attended Cleveland State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in Economics and earned his CPA in 1987.

A 20 year construction executive, Dimitri Mihaloliakos is Vice President of Estimating for Burke Construction Group, Inc. Prior to his current position, Dimitri served as Chief Estimator. Before joining Burke Construction Group, Dimitri built a strong reputation in the construction industry working for firms such as Martin-Harris Construction and The Jaynes Corporation. Active in the commercial development community, Dimitri is a member of the Nevada Contractors Association (NCA), NAIOP and the leadership organization, Vistage. In 2010, Dimitri was honored as one of In Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 honorees. Previously, he has volunteered his time and knowledge as a visiting professor for the construction science program at UNLV. Dimitri studied at UNLV where he received a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management with a minor in Architectural Design.

Thad Lawrence brings over 18 years of professional estimating and construction experience to the Burke Team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Westminster College and carries a B-100 Limited Commercial Building License. Thad is also a LEED® Accredited and OSHA 30-Hour Certified Professional. As a certified U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Quality Management specialist ,Thad provides expertise for Burke’s Federal Project Division, including top level support and commitment to our extensive quality assurance program and all other internal project management and implementation plans, policies and procedures.

As Vice President of Operations, John Travassos brings over 30 years of construction experience to Burke Construction Group. Mr. Travassos joined Burke in 2006 and has held various leadership positions including Project Manager, Senior Project Manager and Director of Operations for both Burke’s West/Southwest Division and Upper Midwest Division. Mr. Travassos is also a member of Burke’s Executive Committee. During his tenure at Burke, Mr. Travassos has supervised some of Southern Nevada’s largest and most notable construction projects. A LEED Accredited Professional, with an emphasis on Building Design and Construction, he shares his leadership as a member of Nevada Contractors Association (NCA), where he previously served as Chairman of the Permits and Inspections committee. Additionally, Mr. Travassos completed the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.

With an accounting career spanning over 20 years and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from UNLV, Debbie Schmitt has mastered the art of finance, especially in the construction industry. Throughout her career, Debbie has grown passionate about the people she works with. She prioritizes team appreciation and works hard each day to foster an environment where employees feel valued and uplifted. With an intense level of dedication and expertise, Debbie strives to be a teacher and mentor for her team members, aiming to create a mentality that encourages others to meet goals and deliver quality results. Her gregarious personality brings an element of light heartedness and warmth to any team or project. When she is not crunching numbers, Debbie loves to participate in outdoor sports however, outdoor sports do not love her. She has broken her elbow mountain biking and dislocated her hip four wheeling. Now she just plays pickle ball.