LeChase Construction Services

James (Jim) J. McAuliffe brings a wealth of financial experience and national perspective to the LeChase executive leadership team.

In his role, Jim provides guidance on strategic initiatives and the firm’s continued financial growth as well as oversight of the finance, human resources and IT functions.

Prior to joining LeChase in 2020, Jim served as CFO and executive director for NPXe, a pharmaceutical and drug delivery device company. Over his 25-year career he has developed expertise in planning and forecasting, contract negotiations, risk management and a number of other financial disciplines. He has a B.S. degree in accounting and an executive MBA, both from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State.

With a track record for enhancing profitability and financial processes, Jim also displays the type of personal integrity that is core to the LeChase culture.

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, and acts as an advisory board member for the university’s construction management program.

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.

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.

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. 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 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 oversight for operations of the Conifer-LeChase Construction joint venture. In addition, 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, co-chairman of Villa of Hope’s annual charity golf tournament in Rochester 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.

A vice president based in Rochester, Brian Russo has oversight for operations of the Conifer-LeChase Construction joint venture. In addition, 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, co-chairman of Villa of Hope’s annual charity golf tournament in Rochester 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 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 and as a board member of Three Rivers Development and the Corning Community College Development Foundation.

Barbara Sauer became corporate controller in 2015 and was named vice president of finance in early 2019. In her role, she oversees  the company’s finance operation. She is also responsible for managing accounting operations; financial planning, analysis and reporting; and for ensuring compliance with financial policies and controls. 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 an executive MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a BS in accounting from St. John Fisher College.