Daniel Gerdes — President
Dan founded Gerdes Construction in 2010, but has been involved as a construction company owner for nearly 20 years. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Florida’s prestigious M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management and has worked on a vast array of projects, including large industrial facilities, big box retail stores, large private residences and many dental and medical offices. He is passionate in his belief that buildings should reflect their environments and fit together seamlessly in every detail both inside and out.
Kimberley Summers — Chief Financial Officer
As chief financial officer for Gerdes Construction, Kimberley heads up our business operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting with systems from Stetson University and a master’s degree in accounting with systems from the University of Florida. Prior to joining our company, she served as an IT systems manager specializing in billing and planning with Tropicana Products, Inc. and as a systems project manager with Price Waterhouse. She is also a past board chair and administrator with Waldorf Sarasota.
Cynthia Frank — Office Management
As a 4th generation Floridian, Cynthia has followed the growth of Florida’s Gulf Coast throughout her life and her business career. With parents in the lumber business, her interest in construction came early. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in housing and business from Florida State University, she worked as a real estate appraiser for more than 16 years. Along with holding real estate sales and broker’s licenses, Cynthia has worked in related areas, including title insurance and commercial lending. She has also owned and managed several businesses.
Marty McKay — Superintendent
Marty is a trained union carpenter from Wisconsin, who moved to Florida in 1988 and founded McKay Custom Builders, a trim and door installation company. Since then, he has worked for some of Southwest Florida’s largest commercial contractors and has completed the interior trim out on a number of large custom homes from Tampa to Naples. As a superintendent for Gerdes Construction, Marty has experience with all facets of commercial and multi-family construction, from difficult structural repairs to new construction and dental/medial office interiors and remodels.
Todd Hardgrove — Superintendent
Having started as a roofer for his father’s company, Todd has spent his life around the construction industry. As an experienced carpenter the former general superintendent for an area home builder for many years, he has worked on many large commercial and residential projects. He also has in-depth knowledge and experience in construction for dental and medical offices, as well as for retail shopping center new construction and renovations.
Rick Liska — Superintendent
Rick has more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry, mostly in high-end residential remodeling and historic preservation in Michigan. Among the high profile projects he has supervised are the restoration of the historic Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, MI, and restoration of Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater, which dates back to the vaudeville era. As a superintendent for Gerdes, Liska will be responsible for project site management, scheduling, worker and trade supervision, budgeting and code compliance.
Jonas Steury — Superintendent
Jonas has more than 30 years experience in the construction industry. At an early age he started working with his family in northern Indiana as a framing subcontractor building custom homes and remodels. His years of experience in sales and management for a high volume contractor there emphasized the value of customer relations. During his 20 year tenure here on the Gulf Coast he has worked as a Field Supervisor and as a Superintendent assisting other local builders of custom homes, condos and commercial projects. Jonas prides himself in doing what’s best for each client and giving them a great finished project on time and on budget.
Tony Redcay — Superintendent
Tony came from his native Pennsylvania to the Sarasota and Gulf Coast area over 16 years ago to continue his career as a contractor and project superintendent which has spanned more than 25 years including many church projects, commercial, multi-dwelling units, and hotel construction. Working for his father’s small construction company from an early age impressed upon him the importance of family, honesty and professionalism in the industry as well as ingraining a lifetime love of building. Florida public school certified, Tony’s priorities include implementing workplace safety, organization and effective communication with business and residential clients.
Lloyd Smith — VP - Operations
An established resident of the Sarasota area, Lloyd is a passionate and detail oriented construction Project Manager with over 25 years of leading projects from ideation to timely and successful completion with an emphasis on client communication and exceptional customer service. OSHA certifications attest to Lloyd’s commitment to jobsite safety. Experience and training from a carpenter to a construction business owner ensure his ability to provide value engineering insights in design build projects to develop, maintain and exceed budget, quality and schedule expectations.
Edward Wattling — Superintendent
A Florida native, Ed is a second generation builder who grew up on job sites and has worked as a Construction Professional in South West Florida for more than 40 years. His background in the industry includes a wide array of successfully completed Residential and Commercial projects as well as holding State Certifications as a Builder and Roofer. Maintaining Quality and Performance as a Superintendent are honed skills which ensure that he is an asset to any project. A married father of two and proud grandfather of four grandsons, Ed is a devout Florida Gator fan and enjoys golf with good friends on weekends.
Reid Piper — Superintendent
Reid relocated to the Sarasota area about 6 years ago. While he was born in New Jersey, as a teenager he moved with his family when they retired to a farm in Indiana. Consequently, having earned a Criminal Justice degree, he worked for many years as a Deputy Sheriff. Upon his retirement from law enforcement Reid embarked on a career in the construction industry as a residential builder in the Fort Wayne area where he was involved with all aspects of the construction trade from permitting to managing sub-contractor hiring and evaluation to dealing with suppliers and design. Drawing on his experience as a construction professional, Reid accomplishes project goals by defining project purpose, scope, safety and finance. What he enjoys most is working out solutions to problems through attention to detail and helping people.
Carmen Ward — Project Manager
Carmen has a strong corporate background in signage industry and has had general construction industry experience for the last 10 years. She has led many high profile turnkey construction projects and has a knack for branding, marketing, and building relationships. Carmen has an in-depth knowledge of working with diverse stakeholders, managing multiple projects and leading various teams for several fortune 500 companies. Strong communication and organizational skills are key components of her professional success as well as understanding the importance of balancing quality and budget for projects and leading cross functional teams to deliver project objectives on time. Carmen strives to lead each project with integrity and is committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience. It is her life’s work to lead innovative and creative projects to successful outcomes never shying away from a challenge and confident in her ability to deliver results on schedule.
James (Jim) Reyes — Sr. Project Manager
Jim is a business major and has worked in construction over 35 years starting as a project engineer after his military service with the 82d Airborne Division. His many awards in service include commendations for his work on Government projects. Jim has gone on to working on Government projects as a project recovery specialist, working on military bases around the country. After his stint with the Government projects, he pursued his commercial career doing a high end shopping mall in the Caribbean as a Quality Control/Quality Assurance Director, and later was assigned as interiors Senior Project Manager for the Miami Dolphins Stadium & Ft. Lauderdale airport. He has successfully completed several high rise condominiums on the west coast. He has two children and two grandchildren and lives in Palm Harbor Florida. Jim loves fast cars and is an avid collector of baseball cards and memorabilia.
Blake Plymel — Superintendent
Bio will be posted Soon.
Bob Wheeler — Superintendent
Bio will be posted Soon.
