Congratulating 9 Team Members on their Promotions!
We are proud to announce the promotion of 9 of our team members as they grow in their career and develop their expertise in the construction fields.
Woodward’s people are the cornerstone of our success and long-standing position in the community. We strive to provide them with every opportunity for growth and development in their careers. We are proud to announce the following promotions of our talented team members!
Grant Alexander, Project Executive After completing his role as Sr. Project Manager on the Four Seasons New Orleans, Grant has been promoted to Project Executive! His leader on the project, Lee Currault, comments “Grant is a resilient, determined, selfless team member who leads by example with reliability, courage, and humility. He is a knowledgeable builder and an even better manager. I’m proud of him and looking forward to this next phase of his career.”
Johnnie Borries, Project Manager Johnnie Borries of our Gulfport office has recently been promoted to Project Manager. She was an integral team member on The Pearl Hotel in downtown Bay St. Louis. VP of the Gulf Coast Region, Mike Wallis, notes “Johnnie is a hard-working, tenacious teammate and leader. She has taken on many new challenges over the past couple of years and has risen to meet them with courage and reliability. She always puts her team first and never hesitates to asks hard questions.”
Jinny Carmouche, Assistant Manager of Estimating Jinny has been promoted to the Assistance Manager of Estimating, where she serves as a key leader in Woodward’s Estimating department. She has excelled in resource and schedule management of Woodward’s robust list of preconstruction projects. Greg Collins, Director of Estimating, comments, “Jinny is a vital member of the estimating department. Even after a very difficult year, she remained as reliable as ever, determined to meet the needs of our team and the company. Everything we do at Woodward is clearer and easier because of Jinny.”
Cristin Cortez, Business Development Manager Cristin has transitioned to the role of Business Development Manager, where her natural skill for networking and connecting to the community is able to thrive. VP of Preconstruction, Chris Michel, shares, “Cristin brings incredible energy, urgency, and passion to the business development team. She proactively researches opportunities and uses her intelligence and networking skills to understand the people and forces behind the scenes. Her ability to pinpoint issues and her willingness to step up and take action makes her a tremendously valuable asset to the Woodward team.
Kevin Derbigny, Lead Estimator
Kevin has been promoted to Lead Estimator, after working in the department since 2018. Since arriving at Woodward, Kevin has grown in ability to lead project estimates, work with subs to clarify and refine pricing efforts, and compile organized and transparent budgets for clients to support our preconstruction efforts. Most recently Kevin led the winning bid for the Hurricane Ida Renovations at 141st Readiness Center and we are proud to return to the site! Director of Estimating, Greg Collins, states, “Kevin does excellent work and is a pleasure to coach and work alongside. He is a diligent, reliable teammate and has become a great leader and contributor in our department. I’m looking forward to his continued growth at WDB.”
Casey Ginder, Senior Project Manager
Casey Ginder joined Woodward in 2018 with 13 years of construction experience. His performance as Project Manager on South Market’s The Odeon solidified Casey’s arrival at Woodward as “one to watch”! We are proud of his promotion to Sr. Project Manager, and see his expertise being applied to the complex renovation underway at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Lane Louque, SVP of Operations states, “Casey Ginder Casey brings his full attention and focus to work every day. He strives for perfection and is becoming a great coach and mentor to his team. His thoughtfulness in communication and ability to seek solutions earn him the trust of everyone involved in his projects.” Casey also offers his leadership in professional organizations, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the ABC Bayou Chapter.
Kate Harrison, Assistant Project Manager A proud graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi‘s Construction Management program, Kate has worked at Woodward from summer intern to full-time team member! She has recently been promoted to Assistant Project Manager where she is currently working on Tulane’s Student Housing Redevelopment. Four Seasons New Orleans Project Executive, Lee Currault, notes, “Though still early in her career, Kate has earned the respect of our trade partners and clients through her willingness to do whatever it takes and her steadfast reliability. She has grown so much since joining us as a college intern. The sky’s the limit for Kate.”
Jay Hernandez, Senior Project Manager, Special Projects
Jay has been promoted to Senior Project Manager on Woodward’s special projects segment. Jay’s 20+ years experience in construction serves our fast-track, quick response construction division well. “Jay’s knowledge in the field and ability to communicate with our trade partners earns the respect and excellent performance of everyone on our job sites. His relationships and customer service are exceptional. His sincerity, warmth, and reliability help build lasting relationships for Woodward” comments Bob Dowty, Project Executive over Special Projects.
Hunter Thibodeaux, Project Manager
Hunter joined Woodward in 2017 as Assistant Project Manager on Newman School’s Science and Technology Center. This successful design-build project resulted in zero change orders, excellent safety stats, and secured additional work around Newman’s uptown campus. Hunter’s involvement on the project proved he was capable of complex projects with sophisticated clients. He was an integral part of the success on Ochsner’s Benson Cancer Center and went on to lead a number of unique Ochsner build outs. His promotion to Project Manager is well deserved, and we are proud of his dedication to some of our most complex projects. Jeff Cherry, Project Executive over Healthcare projects notes, “Hunter is reliable and keeps his promises. He is determined to help the project meet its goals and resolves issues before they become problems for the folks in the field. He makes the field his priority and works hard to understand and meet their needs.”