Locations
E.M. Harris Construction Co., Inc.
President
Key Contacts
Owners, Principals & Senior Executives
Don Buchmueller's Bio
As President, Don Buchmueller oversees all construction operations for E.M. Harris Construction. He joined the company in 2010 after a 20 year career with S. M. Wilson & Co. in St. Louis, MO, where he held the position of Project Executive and was a Member of the Executive Committee. While there, he managed over $100 million annually in a variety of commercial and multi-family residential construction projects for clients including Best Buy, Boone Hospital Center, Home Depot, Washington University and The Salvation Army. He has extensive experience in both new construction and renovation, including healthcare, education, retail, senior, mixed-income and market-rate multi-family housing. Don also served as Division Manager of Geotechnical and Construction Services with Professional Services Industries, Inc. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly University of Missouri – Rolla.
Mike Harris's Bio
E.M. "Mike" Harris is the founder and Chief Executive
Officer of E.M. Harris Construction Company and the founder and
Chairman of Capital Consultants, Inc., a real estate consulting firm
now employed in 37 states. Mike has owned and operated his own
construction business for most of his professional career and
incorporated E.M. Harris Construction in 1989. Following his
leadership, the company has successfully completed over 150
construction projects throughout the Midwest and has played a key role
in the revitalization of St. Louis.
Mike has managed hundreds of millions of dollars in
construction, consisting of new construction, rehabilitation and
conversions. With his extensive experience in the construction of
publicly funded and tax credit supported projects, Mike has developed
expertise in managing projects with tight budgets, tight schedules and
multi-layered funding. He is outcome-oriented and works closely with
each client to identify desired results and develop a package of
services and a project team to achieve the client’s goals.
In addition to creating innovative project-tracking procedures,
he has developed a variety of methods for ensuring Section 3
involvement and minority participation in construction, thereby
providing real work opportunities to local residents.
Mike has been a licensed real estate broker for the State of
Missouri for over twenty years, and he is certified by the Mortgage
Bankers’ Association to inspect multi-family properties.
Philip Krull's Bio
Philip Krull started with E.M. Harris Construction in 1996 and serves as Senior Vice President and as a Project Manager. Phil coordinates with all involved entities to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget requirements and with high standards of quality. Phil is an excellent problem solver and has overseen some of the company's largest and most complex projects, including Council Tower Senior Apartments, the 14th Street Mall (Crown Square) revitalization project and Soulard Market Lofts. Before joining E.M. Harris, Phil was Project Architect for Jeffrey A. Brambila, AIA Architects & Planners. Phil has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Kansas and is a Registered Architect in the State of Missouri. Phil is also on the Board of Directors of the Grand-Oak Hill Neighborhood Community Group.
Vic Hoffmeister's Bio
Vic Hoffmeister started with E.M. Harris Construction in 1995 and serves as Vice President and Director of Preconstruction. Vic handles a variety of responsibilities, including conceptual/detail estimating, value engineering, bid processing, purchasing, scheduling and resolution of onsite problems. Vic works with Project Managers during the preconstruction phase of all projects. With years of experience as an Estimator and Project Manager, he has worked on a wide variety of projects and brings a wealth of knowledge to all E.M. Harris projects. Vic has Associate Degrees in Business Administration and Construction Management and a Certificate of Proficiency in Mechanical Drawing.
Estimating, Purchasing & Preconstruction
Operations
Chaz Jaquess's Bio
Chaz Jaquess joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2010. He recently completed the Windfall Trace Apartments Phases I and II, Kingdom House and the historic renovation of a former Coca-Cola bottling facility. Chaz has over 16 years of new and renovation construction experience, including multifamily housing, offices, healthcare, education and industrial facilities. He has worked for clients such as the Housing Authority of St. Louis County, DESCO Group, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and St. Louis University High School. Chaz has also provided services as an owner's representative and third party inspector in seven states for clients such as U.S. Bank, Bank of America and Raymond James. Chaz received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Chuck Gottlieb's Bio
Chuck Gottlieb joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2010 as a Project Manager. Chuck has 42 years of construction experience and has managed a wide variety of new and renovation construction, including multifamily housing, senior living facilities and religious facilities. He recently completed the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity House in Rolla, MO, the Hyde Park South historic renovation development in north St. Louis and the Centennial and East Central Towers renovations in Indiana. Prior to joining the firm, Chuck was a Senior Project Manager with R.G. Ross Construction Company for over 11 years, specializing in multi-family, HUD and MHDC financed developments. Chuck holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and is a licensed engineer in Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oregon. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Concrete Institute.
Max Jackson's Bio
Max Jackson joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2017 as a Laborer on the TKE Fraternity House project in Rolla, MO. Shortly thereafter, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and joined our home office as a Project Engineer. Max recently supervised the renovation of Woodbridge Apartments, a 115-unit apartment complex in Kansas City, MO, and currently oversees the renovation of Silver City Apartments, a 160-unit apartment complex in Kansas City, KS. He also works closely with our Director of Preconstruction, reviewing plans and bids, providing takeoffs, reviewing and approving submittals, handling communications between subcontractors and architects and managing subcontractor contracts.
Ryan Lane's Bio
Ryan Lane joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2017 as a Project Manager. He recently completed the Pine Lawn Manor development, consisting of 41 new homes, and the 24:1 Cafe/Grace Hill Office buildout. Ryan began his construction career in the field as a carpenter's apprentice framing houses. In 2008, he joined S. M. Wilson & Co. as a Project Engineer working on the Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group's St. Louis plant redevelopment. Ryan also managed several architectural/industrial sheet metal projects as a Project Manager for Lackey Sheet Metal. Prior to joining E.M. Harris, Ryan worked for nearly six years as an owner's representative with Cushman and Wakefield, managing construction for nearly 100 projects in 22 states for clients such as the Art of Shaving, Aaron Inc., ECCO, 7-Eleven, Carters, and Cricket Communications. Ryan received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Missouri State University and is LEED AP certified.
Steve Shawke's Bio
Steve Shawke joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2018 as a Project Manager, and he currently manages the renovation of Silver City Apartments, a 160-unit apartment complex in Kansas City, KS. Steve has over 22 years of new and remodeling construction experience, including senior living, retail, offices, education, industrial, civic/public works and entertainment facilities. He has worked in nine states for clients such as Washington University, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Target, Kohl's, CertainTeed and Wal-Mart. Steve has excellent planning and organization skills and years of experience with plan reviews, estimating, contract negotiations, subcontractor buyout, scheduling, cost control and quality control. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, emphasis in Construction Management, from Marquette University.
Business Development, Marketing & Sales
Michael Harris's Bio
Michael Harris grew up in the construction industry beside his father who built E.M. Harris Construction. Michael has over a decade of project management experience in multi-family housing, industrial and commercial construction, and consumer electronics. He is known for his ability to skillfully coordinate construction projects, utilizing transparency and open communication to ensure each job is performed in the most feasible way and with the highest degree of quality. Michael has a Master's Degree in Construction Management from Washington University in St. Louis.
Finance & Accounting
Rebecca Kraus's Bio
Rebecca Kraus joined E.M. Harris Construction in 2017 and serves as our Controller. She manages project accounting and also oversees office operations, including IT, human resources and health insurance. Rebecca has overseen MBE/WBE and Section 3 compliance on twelve government-financed projects. Prior to joining E.M. Harris, Rebecca worked six years for Nooter Construction, serving as Project Accountant and most recently as Project Accounting Manager. Rebecca received her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Missouri State University.
Tom Schmittgens's Bio
Tom Schmittgens oversees the accounting, finance and risk management functions of E.M. Harris Construction Company. Prior to joining E.M. Harris as Controller, Tom worked for 19 years primarily in the construction industry, following nine years in the tax department of the audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG. He most recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Ambassador Floor. Tom received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Saint Louis University. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteers managing various youth sports programs.