Pepper Construction

Chris provides overall leadership of operational and financial functions across the company. He joined Pepper in 2015 after working domestically and internationally in a Controller role that allowed him to focus on business operations as well as accounting. Eventually Chris moved into a CFO role with a company that was struggling to survive, which gave him even greater insights on how to balance both appropriate risk and fiscal responsibility.

In addition, Chris gained a different point of view on business management while working for a private equity firm where he had the opportunity to participate in many deals with different types of businesses. The perspectives gained from viewing companies both from the inside and the outside helped to inform Chris' management approach. It centers around empowering people and helping them to remove the real or perceived roadblocks that can deter companies from acting on good ideas.

Chris is an active member of the FMI CFO Forum, which contributes to developing insights that benefit the construction industry and fosters collaboration among its financial leaders.

Chris Rayner has 30 years of industry experience, 17 which have been with Pepper. With more than $400 million in university construction experience, Chris leads Pepper Indiana’s higher education team. In addition to serving our higher education clients, Chris has also worked on $1 billion in healthcare projects and more than 750,000 square feet in K-12 spaces. .

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, and he is a LEED AP. He was a featured speaker at The State of Indiana Division of Supplier Diversity.

As president of Pepper Construction Group, Ken oversees strategic planning and operations across our construction companies in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. He ensures that best practices are shared and employed in alignment with our goals for industry leadership, growth and continued success. 

Ken's primary areas of focus in the industry  include building toward tomorrow through development and educational programs and creating new opportunities to enhance workforce diversity. He serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Builder’s Association, is a past president of  the Chicagoland Associated General Contractors and a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, American Contractors Insurance Group and Executive’s Club of Chicago. Additionally, Ken is an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. 

As president of Pepper Indiana, Mike McCann is responsible for establishing the company's vision and strategy and empowering teams to incorporate our guiding principals into day-to-day processes. With a background in operations, he is passionate about safety and works closely with the senior management team to ensure Pepper Indiana maintains and grows its position as a leader in Indiana. Mike joined Pepper as a project manager in Chicago before moving to Indiana to oversee its operations in 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering from Bradley University. 

Mike is a leader in the community, where he serves as president of the Indiana Construction Association board of directors, board member of the Indiana Construction Roundtable and member of the University of Indianapolis Real Estate Development & Construction advisory board, United Way of Central Indiana capital project funds committee and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Construction Engineering Management Technology advisory board. He serves as a mentor for both the Indiana Construction Roundtable diversity initiative and the Starfish Initiative program. Mike is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Lean Construction Institute. He previously served as a board member for the Coalition for Construction Safety (CCS) and as an adjunct professor at IUPUI.

As president, Scot is responsible for setting Pepper Construction Company's mission and vision and allocating the resources required to achieve its goals. Scot provides strategic oversight and support for every area of the company, making sure Pepper Illinois’ teams have the right opportunities and tools in place to excel. Since  joining the company in 1989, Scot has served in a variety of roles including overseeing Illinois operations, safety, marketing and Integrated Construction Services. 

Scot serves the community on the boards of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Harper College Educational Foundation.

As chairman and chief executive officer of The Pepper Companies, Stan is responsible for setting the strategic direction and overall resource management. Stan began working at the company in the field at the age of 15, and quickly rose through the ranks while working in many areas across the organization such as carpentry, marketing and project management along the way. At age 32, Stan became president of Pepper Construction Company.

Stan also worked in private equity, consulting, software development and sustainable products, gaining a broader perspective and additional leadership experience in the industry. In 2015, Stan returned to The Pepper Companies with a management philosophy that has been greatly influenced by his diverse industry experiences as well as by his father, Richard, and his grandfathers, Pepper founder Stanley F. Pepper and Dr. Roscoe Miller, former president of Northwestern University. Stan’s leadership style is routed in serving those he leads, with particular emphasis on capitalizing on new technologies and creating an environment that encourages a multi-generational team approach.

A leading voice supporting innovation in the construction industry, Stan serves on the BIM Forum and is involved in the community as chairman of the McGraw Wildlife Foundation. Stan is an Executive Committee member at his alma mater, Monmouth College.

Howie has been with Pepper for 33 years. He started when the company had only two personal computers and now directs information technology (IT) plans, schedules, policies and programs for the Pepper organization’s infrastructure, network communications and IT support. 

Utilizing his management and technical skills as well as his years of experience, Howie is committed to the continuous improvement of IT innovation, initiatives and employee productivity.

Each year, Howie lectures at Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering to the Master of Project Management students. His expertise makes him a sought-after expert for industry conferences and events, primarily focusing on technology adoption related to project and document management collaboration. Howie has served on the steering committee for the Associated General Contractors’ IT forum for the past four years and is the current chairman, and he is a member of the Technology Executive Network (TEN).

As chief strategy officer and CMO for Pepper Construction Company, Jacqueline helps establish the company’s business plan and growth strategy, where she focuses on relational approaches that drive metrics-based results. Jacqueline has also provided strategic expertise on projects through kick-off and team-building strategies, which particularly benefits teams with shared agreements.

Jacqueline has 28 years of experience in the industry, including extensive experience in business and market planning and analytics. Before joining Pepper, she served as chief marketing officer for NELSON and as group vice president and marketing principal for global architecture firm HOK. She holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from North Carolina State University, and she is a LEED AP.

Jacqueline is dedicated to the Ride Janie Ride Foundation, which assists individuals facing financial hardship resulting from ongoing medial treatment of various types of cancer. She is also a member of the City Club of Chicago. In 2015, Jacqueline co-authored the Changing Role of the CMO, featured in SMPS Marketer.

Shannan is a leading voice in brand and corporate communications. With more than 20 years of experience, Shannan ensures that Pepper's communications with the public and our employees align with the company's values in support of both our business and our clients' interests.

Her efforts include reputation management, media and stakeholder relations, digital and social communications and brand development and positioning.

Shannan is a member of PRSA, IABC, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and actively supports the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago.

Tim serves as Pepper’s in-house counsel. With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, including work in project design, construction management and post-construction dispute resolution, Tim brings a unique perspective to his advisory role.

Before pursuing his law degree, Tim earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from West Point. It was during this time that his appreciation for respectful leadership was developed. He carried it into his first private sector engineering job where he also learned the value of employee empowerment for shared success. His work representing project owners in dispute resolutions eventually triggered a desire for a career in the legal profession. Upon graduation from law school, he received a job offer from a construction practice group, which enabled him to capitalize on all aspects of his professional training.

Tim serves the industry as a labor management representative for the Builder's Association and the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA). In this capacity, he collaborates with labor leadership in the Chicago area to craft and manage ongoing relationships. Tim is a member of the Illinois bar and also remains a licensed professional engineer in several states.